Hungarian Tourist House of the Year awaits with breathtaking panorama – photos
The Nógrád County tourist house chosen best of 2025 awaits with a breathtaking panoramic view and countless adventures. Check out the details and photos below.
Based on votes from nature lovers, the Somoskő Hiking Centre has been crowned the tourist house of the year 2025. The winner from Nógrád county was officially announced on site this Monday. Mirkó Petényi, CEO of the Active Hungary Development Centre, said at the ceremony that over the past few years, more than 110 tourist houses have been renovated with their support, the Hungarian News Agency wrote.
Extraordinary panorama from the tourist house, castles and nature walks
He expressed that the Somoskő Hiking Centre is located in such a natural environment and provides such a high standard of service that it serves as a shining example of what a modern tourist house should be. He explained that the social role of forests has changed significantly in recent years, and the Active Hungary Development Centre’s mission is to encourage outdoor activities. The forest offers real, tangible experiences—not digital or virtual reality—and walking in the woods helps people break free from everyday life.
- Two Hungarian villages won the “Oscars of rural tourism”
This year marked the sixth time that the Active Hungary and its Development Centre held the Tourist House of the Year competition. The public voted for five forest lodgings, including the Somoskő Hiking Centre. Coming in second place was the Büdöskúti Lodge in the Mecsek Mountains, while third place went to the Nagy-Hideg Hill Ski and Hiking Centre in the Börzsöny Mountains.
The 2021 Cycle Route of the Year is here too
Just a few hundred metres from Somoskő Castle, the Somoskő Hiking Centre boasts stunning panoramic views and offers accommodation for 45 guests across seven rooms. Its expanded building was opened in autumn 2021. From the centre’s terrace, visitors can admire Salgó and Somoskő castles.
- Long-awaited railway link to Budapest Airport and new terminal finally set to become reality
Nándor Skuczi (Fidesz-KDNP), president of the Nógrád County Assembly, highlighted that Nógrád is Hungary’s most heavily forested county, with 40 percent of its area covered by woods. László Kiss, CEO of Ipoly Erdő Ltd, explained that Hungary has two million hectares of forest—half state-owned. Over the past 15 years, state forest managers have prioritised meeting the intangible needs of welfare society.
In 2021, the forest cycle route between Somoskőújfalu and Eresztvény earned the Forest Cycle Path of the Year award.
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