5+1 best cycling tours around Budapest for the autumn

The best thing about cycling is that it is completely personal. You decide how far you want to cycle in a day and how many days you want to split. You can choose where to stop and what to see. One thing almost all rides have in common is that you get to cycle through beautiful scenery. Let’s take a look at the best cycling routes around Budapest.

Budapest-Szentendre

One of the most popular cycle routes around Budapest is the one to Szentendre, which follows the banks of the Danube almost all the way, including the banks of the ‘Római-part’ and Lake Lupa, where you can stop for a break. The final stop is a lively promenade. There’s little climbing on the 22-km route. At the end of a comfortable ride, you’ll find the charming streets, restaurants and ice-cream parlours of Szentendre town centre or you can take a break on the banks of the Danube.

Nagymaros-Zebegény

There is a reason why the Danube Bend is so popular with hikers: cycling paths of varying degrees of difficulty alternate with historical monuments and natural treasures. The area is full of peaks with breathtaking panoramic views. These are for cyclists who are not afraid of climbs and have the stamina as well. From Nagymaros to Zebegény, for example, it’s just over 18 kms, but you’re guaranteed to wake up the next day with aching muscles. It’s also worth taking a break at the Trianon Memorial on Kopasz Hill in Zebegény, and then at the Kós Károly lookout for views over the area, before tackling the more strenuous climb from Törökmező to Julianus Lookout. From the 482-metre peak, you can once again see the whole area from Pilismaróti Bay to the Visegrád Citadel.

Budapest-Dobogókő

Dobogókő is almost a legend among Hungarian cyclists, its wide serpentines are only for the truly trained legs! Dobogókő is situated 700 metres above sea level and is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

The 30-km ride starts at the Budapest border. First, you head towards Szentendre, then turn towards Pomáz to climb the serpentine road through Pilisszentkereszt, which is often 15% steep. At the top, however, you will be rewarded with a well-deserved panoramic view of the Danube Bend – and, of course, the restaurants and inns of the area to keep you going. For those who prefer longer trips, this route can be prolonged towards Esztergom.

From Szob to Vác

The EuroVelo6 route from Szob to Vác is more pleasant and comfortable. From Szob railway station, you can turn onto the mentioned international road network at Lutzenbach Castle. It’s worth stopping for lunch or a snack in Nagymaros, where you can enjoy a local burger,  with a view of Visegrád Castle on the other side of the river. Then continue through Kismaros to Verőce and then through the floodplain forest to Vác. Here you can treat yourself to a delicious pastry or sit in one of the cosy cafés on the baroque main square.

Off to Börzsöny!

The Börzsönyi cycle route, relatively close to Budapest, takes in the timeless houses of Kóspallag, the Basilica of the Hungarian Grand Dame of Márianosztra, and the Prison building which is next to the cathedral! Verőce has beautiful hanging gardens along the Danube. The ‘Puffy Castle’ is a neo-Renaissance building with a wonderful panorama that belonged to the burlesque actor Károly Huszár, who became famous abroad as Puffy, hence the strange name. Less experienced cyclists can take the train from Szob back to Verőce, but you can also cycle along the Danube.

+1 Budapest-Ráckeve via Csepel Island

Csepel Island can be explored at a leisurely pace by bike, following the cycle path near the Ráckeve Danube and the low-traffic roads. You can cycle to Szigetszentmiklós, where you can also visit the Úszóláp path. Ráckeve has the only surviving Gothic Serbian church in Hungary, built in 1487. If you arrive in the ‘City of Water’ on a Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to visit the market by the Danube and try the famous lángos. Next to the market, you can find the only working water mill in Hungary. The original submerged mill was completely reconstructed and rebuilt in 2010 and now serves as a museum. You can also buy freshly ground flour from the mill.