Things to do in 

Hungary

Find alternative things to do across Hungary, from cellar lanes near Tokaj to village craft studios in the Danube Bend and basalt hills above Lake Balaton.

Cultural experiences: In Szentendre, just north of Budapest, step into the Skanzen Open-Air Museum and try folk crafts with local guides, an easy-going pick for seniors. In Mezőkövesd near Eger, learn Matyó embroidery stitches in a home workshop, then taste poppy-seed pastries at a neighborhood bakery. Couples can tour Herend Porcelain near Veszprém, watching painters at their benches before a quiet café stop. In Szeged, join a market-to-table cooking class to make fish soup, while wine fans head to Somló’s tiny hill wineries west of Veszprém for intimate tastings.

Day trip ideas: From Budapest, follow the Danube Bend to Visegrád’s hilltop citadel and Esztergom’s basilica, then stroll Szentendre’s galleries before riding the suburban train back. From Debrecen, cross to Hortobágy National Park for shepherd traditions and wide sky on the Great Plain. From Pécs, spend an afternoon among the Villány wine cellars, where limestone hills shape crisp whites and robust reds. From Miskolc, soak in the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath after a short forest walk.

Explore Hungary's regions: Budapest blends grand avenues with courtyard cafés and neighborhood markets on both sides of the Danube. Northern Hungary around Eger, Tokaj, and the Bükk Hills offers cellars, castles, and beech forests within a few hours of the capital. Transdanubia spans Lake Balaton’s north shore vineyards, Pécs’s Roman mosaics, and Sopron’s timbered lanes near the Austrian border. The Great Plain runs from Kecskemét to Szeged with paprika fields, art nouveau facades, and steppe traditions. The Danube Bend arcs close to Budapest with river islands, small museums, and easy hill walks.

Travel tip: Give Hungary 7–10 days for Budapest plus two regions like the Danube Bend and Northern Uplands; 12–14 days lets you add Lake Balaton and the Great Plain without cramming the schedule.

More places to see in Hungary

Hungary opens up once you leave Budapest, with lake towns, wine hills, Roman layers, and quiet plains. You can swim, taste cellar-to-glass wines, and step between courtyards where everyday life hums along.

Lake Balaton: Ride the ferry to Tihany and climb to the abbey for views over the water, then follow the lavender-scented paths above the village in season. Walk Balatonfüred’s Tagore Promenade before an easy lakeside dinner as the evening breeze comes in.

Eger: Circle the ramparts of Eger Castle and spot the lone Ottoman minaret poking over the rooftops. Soak at the warm pools in nearby Egerszalók in the late afternoon, then drop into a cellar in the Szépasszonyvölgy for a glass of Egri Bikavér.

Pécs: Wander the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter to see colorful ceramics and studio spaces, then step into the Early Christian Necropolis with its painted chambers. Pause for coffee on Király Street and, when it cools, find a garden restaurant tucked off Széchenyi Square.

Tokaj: Tour the cool tunnels of the Rákóczi Cellar and learn how aszú is made, then stroll the riverbank where the Bodrog meets the Tisza. Settle in for a late-afternoon tasting at a small family cellar and match a botrytised wine with a simple local cheese.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Watch fruit trees bloom along the Danube Bend, wander Budapest’s parks, and soak in open-air thermal pools as days warm. Drop into Easter markets in the capital or see folk traditions at the Hollókő Easter Festival, easy-going for families and seniors. Settle into café terraces in castle towns like Eger for unhurried afternoons.

Summer: Head to Lake Balaton to swim, sail, or cycle the lakeside path, with shallow shores ideal for kids. Follow lavender through Tihany, catch alfresco concerts in historic courtyards, then watch St. Stephen’s Day fireworks light up cities on 20 August. For a touch of luxury, pair vineyard dinners in the Balaton Uplands with sunset boat rides on the Danube.

Fall: Sip new vintages in Tokaj, Villány, and Etyek as harvest season fills cellars, a relaxed time for couples and food lovers. Walk forest trails in Bükk and the Balaton Uplands under gold leaves, then warm up in a spa hotel that suits slower-paced travellers. City breaks feel unhurried, with museums, markets, and fewer crowds.

Winter: Browse Christmas markets in Budapest, Pécs, and Győr for mulled wine and chimney cake, then lace up skates at City Park’s outdoor rink. Sit shoulder to shoulder in steamy baths while snow dusts the rooftops, a cosy rhythm seniors and wellness seekers appreciate. Brave the noise and colour of Busójárás in Mohács as winter draws to a close.

Across the year, expect fixtures like the Budapest Spring Festival’s concerts and exhibitions, June’s Night of the Museums, and July’s Sziget Festival on Óbuda Island. August brings Debrecen’s Flower Carnival and nationwide St. Stephen’s Day celebrations, while September’s Budapest Wine Festival pours at Buda Castle and late November ushers in Advent markets countrywide. February’s Busójárás in Mohács is the raucous farewell to winter that locals love to share.