5 Hungarian destinations for spring to dispel boredom

Spas, castles, look-out towers and pálinka festivals, or cultural programmes such as the Seuso-treasures or the Chagall Exhibition? Travelo.hu collected five Hungarian destinations that offer wonderful adventures for you in the spring as well.

Veszprém

Veszprém is called The City of Queens. It was built on seven hills; this is why it is called the Transdanubian Rome. Linguists also say that Veszprém’s name has a Slavish origin: ‘bezprim’, that means uneven. This indicates that there are falls in the city that makes it possible to hike. There are more look-out towers you can choose from, or if you have the courage, explore them all! There is also a guided walk in the city centre, also in English. Click here to find more information about it.

If you like arts, do not miss out the Chagall Exhibition in Veszprém that you can visit until the 19th of April. At the Dezső Laczkó Museum, you can admire over 150 works of his.

The Veszprém Zoo is definitely worth a visit because last year it welcomed a new zebra and a ring-tailed lemur baby. It is a perfect program if you travel with children but also for adults since you can take a huge walk in the area. There is a lovely pathway that connects the castle with the zoo. Furthermore, you can find nice pubs, bistros, restaurants, and cafés here.

Veszprém city — Photo: Alpár Kató – Daily News Hungary

Veszprém castle — Wiki Commons by Dávid Nagy

Székesfehérvár

It is The City of Kings because it used to be a capital, a coronation place, and burial-place for kings. It has a long and rich history. Its story begins when the first Hungarian king, Saint Stephen started a pilgrimage route to the holy land from here. This was when he made it a reigning capital. The Romkert (Ruin Garden) guards the rains of these old times up until these days. There is also an open-air museum, where visitors can get to know the Hungarian customs and traditions.

Today, Székesfehérvár is a big, busy city with lots of programmes and sights. The Árpád Bath and the Black Eagle Apothecary Museum are also top attractions. In April, there will be a Pálinka Festival where you can choose from at least 60 booths’ offer. Moreover, there will be many traditional Hungarian foods you can try.

If you are a romantic type or you love architecture, you must visit the Bory castle. The entire castle was built by Jenő Bory after the first World War during 40 summers, with his own hands, according to his ideas and plans. It is an interesting fact that he did not use any form of paper or drawings, he planned everything only in his head. He was working on it until he passed away, and he offered it to the love of his life.

Székesfehérvár — Wiki Commons by Teemeah

Székesfehérvár Püspöki palota bishop castle országalma — Wiki Commons by Attila Král

Székesfehérvár Árpád bath fürdő — Wiki Commons by József Riesz

Székesfehérvár bazilika cathedral — Wiki Commons by Tony Bowden

Gyula

The Almásy-Castle is one of the most wonderful sights of Gyula. Its renovation ended just two years ago, and there is already a new plan for adding a ballroom to the building. Right next to the castle is the Gyulai Castle Spa where visitors can admire the castle can admire the castle from the surface of the water. It has a special section, the Aqua Palace, where there are diving-boards and slides. The exciting news is that you can find a unique slide here, the only one in Hungary that goes upwards.

There are also many bars, cafés, and restaurants in the city. The atmosphere is kid-friendly, so it is a perfect destination for families as well. The castle of Gyula offers various programmes such as Renaissance morning on Saturdays and hawking shows. Visitors can try to write with birds’ feather or dress up like the people in the older times. Additionally, there are lectures about fruit preservation or smithing.

Gyula Almásy Kastély Castle — Photo: www.facebook.com/GyulaiAlmasykastely

Almásy-kastély castle Gyula — Wiki Commons by Erkelferencmuzeum

Gyula castle vár — Wikicommons by Domokdr

gyulai várfürdő castle bath — Photo: www.facebook.com/varfurdo

Vác

In Vác, you can visit the exhibition of a Munkácsy prize winner Merited artist, Ferenc Sajdik, a freeman of Budapest, at the Main Square. Click here for more information. Also, at the same location, there is the Church of the White, that got its name from the ‘white’ Dominican monks. In 1990, during a big renovation, 265 heavily decorated coffins were found full of treasures. You can take a look at them at the Ignác Tragor Museum.

The Cathedral of Vác is also worth a mention because it was built in the times when the city was separated into two halves with planks. In one half, the Hungarians lived, in the other, the Germans resided. Károly Eszterházy bishop commanded the planks to be torn down. He dreamt about “a miniature Vatican“, but the construction was never finished.

The Costes is one of the best confectioneries in Hungary. László Mihályi is its founder, who was the first baker to bring the French confectionary style to Hungary. If you are looking for outdoor programmes, take a walk Gyadai Teaching Path, where you will find your adventure no matter how old you are. There is a treasure hunt for the youngest ones, but you can also admire the stars in the evening.

Nyíregyháza

If you have not seen the Seuso Treasures yet, Nyíregyháza is the place you should go. The exhibition is open from the 27th of March until the 15th of April at the András Jósa Museum.

Nyíregyháza is famous for its safari park, which won the first prize at the Touristic Attraction of the Year competition in 2017. More than 500 species and 5000 animals live in the 300 acres park. In 2018, a dingo baby was born here; an animal that can be seen only here in Hungary.

Sóstófürdő is a bath next to the zoo that has a medical section as well. It is located on the shore of a beautiful lake surrounded by a walking path. For those who are seeking for longer walks, there is an oak tree forest right next to the lake. Another way to enjoy nature is to visit the János Tuzsin Botanic Garden. Here, you can admire a one-metre-diametred waterlily and a labyrinth built from 550 thujas.