The 8 Best Things to Do in Eger, Hungary

By Train

I would say taking the train is the second-best option to get to Eger. The trains go from the Budapest Keleti Train Station and takes 2 hours to get to Eger. Taking trains is affordable in Hungary and it’s a popular way to travel around the country.

Once you get to Eger, the train station is near the town center. You can either walk to the town center (around 20 minutes’ walk) or take a taxi.

The train ticket costs HUF 2,800 (USD 9) from Budapest to Eger. You can book train tickets online or directly at the Keleti Train Station in Budapest.

By Bus

Taking the bus to Eger is also an option. I like taking the bus or train because I love to see the countryside whenever I travel. The bus takes around two hours to reach Eger, similar to that of the train, although slightly slower.

The buses leave from the Stadion Bus Station in Budapest (in Hungarian Stadion autóbusz-pályaudvar). The ticket costs HUF 2,500 (USD 8), and can buy your bus ticket online here.

By Taxi

For the most comfort, you can also take a taxi to Eger. The good thing about taking the taxi is that it will pick you up and drop you off at the most convenient location for you, plus, it is the most comfortable as you can just enjoy the road trip.

The taxis in Budapest go at a set rate: HUF 440 (USD 1.30) per km. Eger is around 130 km from Budapest, so in total, it’s around HUF 60,000 (USD 170) for a taxi from Budapest to Eger one-way.

➡️ Book a one-day tour of Eger: includes private transport, guided tour of the city, and a visit to the wine cellars!

Map of Attractions in Eger

Best Things to Do in Eger

Visit the Basilica of Eger

The Basilica of Eger was my favourite place to visit during my trip to Eger. Initially, I wasn’t too excited about visiting the Basilica, but in the end, it’s one of the places you really cannot miss.

The Basilica of Eger is the second largest church in Hungary and it is really massive. It is almost 90 meters tall (including the dome) and has massive columns at the front.

It was designed by József Hild and built between 1831-37. However, the construction of the altars and the finishing the painting of the frescoes required a lot of detailed work and took almost 120 years.

I loved the interior of the basilica the most. The frescoes on the ceiling are so beautiful, and it feels so majestic being in such a huge church.

The Basilica of Eger is free to visit, and there is a mass every day at 7 am and 6:30 pm. On Sundays, there are additional masses at 8:30 am, 10 am, and 11 am. During significant religious events, the Basilica has a capacity for 4,000-5,000 visitors.

We visited at a time when there was no mass going on, and I found it was still worth it.

Here is what’s it like inside the Basilica of Eger:

Stroll Around the Old Town of Eger

Walking through the Old Town of Eger is like taking a step back in time. The Old Town in Eger is around the Dobó István Square, and it is so cute with its narrow, cobblestone streets, colourful houses, historic attractions, and souvenir shops.

The Dobó Istvan Square has many cafes and restaurants, so it’s a great place to stop by for food. When the weather is sunny during the day, you can also sit outside the cafes and soak in the sun. We had dinner at the square and it was also nice with the evening lights on.

During the winter, there is also a Christmas market at the square, including a Christmas tree. The nearby streets are decorated with Christmas lights, so it is a fun place to be.

Visit the Castle of Eger

Eger is mostly famous for its castle, the Castle of Eger. The castle has a significant place in Hungary’s history due to its famous battle against the Ottoman Empire in 1552.

The Ottoman Empire wanted to expand its control over Hungary, and for that, it had to take over the Castle of Eger, which was a strategic fortress in Hungary at the time. The Ottoman Empire sent a massive army of 40,000-60,000 soldiers to take over the castle which was only defended by 2,000 Hungarians (including soldiers and civilians).

The soldiers in the Castle of Eger were outnumbered but used smart tactics to defend the castle, such as pouring down hot liquid and tar from the castle walls on the attackers.

Ultimately, the Ottoman forces could not take over the castle, and the victory became a symbol of Hungarian courage and resistance.

A Hungarian writer, Géza Gárdonyi, wrote a novel about the siege Egri csillagok (“Eclipse of the Crescent Moon”) that further depicts the heroism of the soldiers in the Castle and tales of women’s bravery.

Due to Eger’s place in history, many schools organize field trips here and most Hungarian kids grow up visiting the Castle of Eger at least once, so it can be very busy if there is a school group at the time of your visit.

The premises of the Castle is pretty big and includes several museums within its grounds. There is also a bastion and from its top, you get great views of Eger (city skyline, Minaret, Basilica).

Go Wine Tasting

Eger is famous for its wine, and there is a legend that goes back to the Siege of Eger 1552. They say that the soldiers who were defending the Castle of Eger during the siege drank red wine mixed with bull’s blood.

The drink gave the soldiers strength to fight back to Ottoman soldiers who wanted to take over the castle. From drinking the red wine, the soldiers’ beards turned red, and it made the Ottoman soldiers scared and believed that the soldiers in the castle were drinking blood.

It is only a legend as red wine was brought into Hungary only later, but it gave the name for Eger’s most famous wine, the Egri Bikavér (Bull’s Blood of Eger).

There are many wine shops in Eger, even as you walk around the Old Town.

The best place to go wine tasting is at the Valley of Beautiful Women in the outskirts of Eger. It has loads of wine cellars and you get to experience authentic wine tasting in Hungary. The easiest to get there is by taxi, but there are also buses from Eger to the Valley of Beautiful Women.

Chill at the Baths

Hungary is known for its thermal baths, and there are also a few good ones in Eger. The biggest thermal bath in Hungary is the Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest, but if you are visiting Eger, you should not miss out on its thermal baths.

There is a main thermal bath in Eger which has both thermal water pools and pools that are more like adventure pools for kids.

If you want to see a historic thermal bath in Eger, then check out the Turkish Bath. The Turkish Bath is smaller but has an authentic Turkish atmosphere. The oldest pool at the bath, Turkish Pool, was built in 1610 so visiting is like going back in time.

If you plan to visit the thermal baths and explore the sites in Eger, then you’d need at least two days in the city. I recommend spending half a day at the bath, half a day to go wine tasting, and one day to explore the historic places. If you come to on a day trip from Budapest to Eger, it may be tight to relax at the baths and also see the main sites.

Take a Trip to the Bükk National Park

The Bükk National Park is just around 30 km/19 miles north of Eger. Bükk is a great place to go hiking and to spend time in nature.

If you are planning to visit Bükk from Eger, then the best is to go by car which gives you the most flexibility to explore the national park.

My favourite place in Bükk is Szilvásvárad. It’s a beautiful place for hikes in a forests with waterfalls. There is also a small train that runs from Szilvásvárad, and it is very popular for families with kids.

Restaurants in Eger

There are many restaurants in Eger, especially around the main square (Dobó István Square).

We stopped at one of the restaurants by the square and had some traditional Hungarian food. Most of the restaurants serve international dishes as well, so there is a wide-range of choice.

Some of the best restaurants are HBH restaurant, Palacsintavár for pancakes, Bötye lángos for lángos (Hungarian salty snack).

Where to Stay in Eger

Not sure where to stay in Eger? What I like about Eger is that the city center is not that big and can be easily walked. So, the best is to pick a hotel in the city center, and then you’ll be in close walking distance to all the major attractions.