Eger Northern Hills
5
Day Itinerary •
Hungary
Five days in Eger and the Northern Hills takes you through one of the finest historic towns in Hungary and the extraordinary natural landscape that surrounds it. Eger is the home of the legendary Bull's Blood wine and the site of the remarkable 1552 siege when 2,000 Hungarian defenders held Eger Castle against a 40,000-strong Ottoman army in one of the most extraordinary military feats in Hungarian history. This route covers the complete Eger and Northern Hills experience. The extraordinary Eger Castle and the remarkable Valley of Beautiful Women wine cellar street, the fine Bukk National Park limestone plateau, the outstanding Miskolc cave bath at Miskolctapolca, the remarkable Aggtelek Karst UNESCO caves, the fine Holloko UNESCO village and the extraordinary Esztergom basilica.
Best Time To Visit
April to October, September for wine harvest
Getting There
Train from Budapest, 2 hours
Getting Around
Rental car for day trips, walking in Eger
Budget Per Day
Approx 12,000 to 28,000 HUF per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate
DAY 1
EGER CASTLE AND BULL'S BLOOD WINE
MORNING
EGER CASTLE AND THE 1552 SIEGE
Eger Castle, the extraordinary fortress above the Baroque town where 2,000 Hungarian soldiers and townspeople held off a 40,000-strong Ottoman army for 38 days in 1552, is the most celebrated castle in Hungary. The remarkable underground casemate system, the outstanding exhibits on the extraordinary Siege of Eger and the fine view over the Baroque town and the surrounding hills from the castle walls are all remarkable. Entry approx 2,800 HUF. Travel: 2 hours from Budapest
MIDDAY
EGER BAROQUE OLD TOWN
Eger's extraordinary Baroque townscape, the finest in Hungary after Budapest, has the most remarkable concentration of 18th-century architecture in the country. The outstanding Eger Basilica, the second largest church in Hungary, the remarkable Minorite Church on Dobo Square, the fine Lyceum building with its extraordinary camera obscura and the outstanding minaret, the northernmost surviving Ottoman minaret in the world, are all remarkable. Entry minaret approx 500 HUF. Travel: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
VALLEY OF BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WINE CELLARS
The Szepasszony-volgy, the Valley of Beautiful Women, is the most extraordinary wine cellar street in Hungary. The remarkable row of carved rock-face wine cellars offers the finest tasting of Eger's legendary Bikaver Bull's Blood red wine and the outstanding Eger white wines in the most atmospheric setting in Hungarian wine culture. Visiting the extraordinary individual cellars, tasting directly from the barrel and experiencing the remarkable Hungarian wine tradition here is outstanding. Tasting approx 2,500 HUF.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Eger thermal baths complex, one of the finest spa experiences in northern Hungary with remarkable open and indoor pools fed by natural thermal water, is the finest way to end the first Eger evening. Entry approx 2,500 HUF.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eger hotel or guesthouse Good breakfast in the finest Baroque town in Hungary. | Lunch: Eger old town restaurant Traditional Hungarian goulash in the most beautiful square in northern Hungary. | Dinner: Valley of Beautiful Women cellar dinner The finest Bull's Blood wine with Hungarian food in the remarkable valley.
DAY 2
BUKK NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
BUKK NATIONAL PARK LIMESTONE PLATEAU
The Bukk National Park, the largest contiguous forest in Hungary, covers a remarkable limestone plateau rising to 959 metres north of Eger. The extraordinary limestone caves including the fine Istvan-baarlang, the remarkable Olgas rock viewpoint and the outstanding beech forest of the plateau are all remarkable. The fine hiking trails across the Bukk plateau give the finest walking in northern Hungary. The remarkable wild deer and the outstanding birdlife including eagle owls make it extraordinary. Entry park free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SZILVASVARAD VILLAGE AND BUKK GORGE
Szilvasvarad in the Bukk foothills is the most extraordinary village in northern Hungary, its remarkable Lipizzan horse stud, the outstanding Szalajka Valley gorge with its remarkable waterfalls and the fine trout farm in the extraordinary limestone spring make it outstanding. The remarkable narrow-gauge forest railway through the extraordinary gorge to the Istok waterfall is the finest train journey in the Bukk. Train approx 1,200 HUF return. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
BEKENY CLIFF VIEWPOINT
The Bekeny limestone cliff viewpoint in the Bukk above Eger is the finest panoramic viewpoint in northern Hungary, its remarkable view of Eger below, the extraordinary wine valleys and the Matra mountains beyond giving the finest panorama of the Northern Hills. The remarkable walking path from the Bukk plateau edge to the Bekeny cliff through the outstanding beech forest is the finest short walk near Eger. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Subalyuk Cave near Cserepfalu in the Bukk is the only cave in Hungary where Neanderthal skeletal remains have been found. The remarkable guided tour gives the finest prehistoric cave experience in northern Hungary. Entry approx 1,500 HUF.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eger hotel Good breakfast before the Bukk drive. | Lunch: Szilvasvarad village restaurant Traditional Hungarian trout from the Bukk limestone spring. | Dinner: Eger town restaurant Outstanding Hungarian cuisine back in the Baroque town.
DAY 3
MISKOLC CAVE BATH
MORNING
MISKOLC CAVE BATH
The Miskolctapolca Cave Bath near Miskolc is the most extraordinary thermal bathing experience in Hungary and the only cave bath in Europe where natural thermal water fills the chambers of an actual limestone cave system. The remarkable passages, pools at different temperatures and the extraordinary underground swimming through the cave tunnels make it unlike any other bathing experience in Central Europe. Entry approx 4,500 HUF. Travel: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
MISKOLC DIOSGYOR CASTLE
Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, the extraordinary 14th-century Gothic fortress rebuilt as a royal hunting palace, is the finest castle in northern Hungary. The remarkable reconstruction of the royal chambers, the outstanding jousting tournaments held in summer and the fine view of the Bukk forest from the castle towers are all remarkable. The extraordinary programme of medieval events makes Diosgyor the most atmospheric castle in the Northern Hills. Entry approx 2,500 HUF. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
MISKOLC AND RETURN TO EGER
Miskolc's extraordinary Avas Hill, the remarkable volcanic hill covered with hundreds of wine cellars carved into the rock face and surmounted by the fine Protestant church and the outstanding wooden belfry, is the finest hidden attraction in Miskolc. The remarkable cellar street of Avas gives the finest wine tasting in the Miskolc area. Return to Eger for the evening. Free to walk.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Repashuta forest settlement in the Bukk National Park, the most remote inhabited place in Hungary, has remarkable traditional charcoal burners' cottages and the finest forest atmosphere in the Northern Hills. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eger hotel Good breakfast before the Miskolc drive. | Lunch: Miskolctapolca spa cafe Good lunch after the extraordinary cave thermal bath. | Dinner: Eger Bull's Blood wine bar The finest evening in the remarkable Eger wine cellar district.
DAY 4
AGGTELEK KARST UNESCO
MORNING
AGGTELEK KARST UNESCO CAVES
The Aggtelek Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Hungarian-Slovak border, has the most extraordinary stalactite cave system in Central Europe. The remarkable Baradla Cave at 25km the longest stalactite cave in Europe, the outstanding Concert Hall with its extraordinary natural acoustics used for classical music performances and the remarkable underground lakes make it the finest cave experience in Hungary. Entry approx 3,500 HUF. Travel: 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
AGGTELEK VILLAGE AND RETURN DRIVE
The fine Aggtelek village on the edge of the extraordinary karst plateau has the most remarkable traditional Hungarian village atmosphere of any settlement in northern Hungary. The outstanding views of the karst upland from the village and the fine walking trails across the remarkable grassland karst landscape are both excellent. Return south through the extraordinary Northern Hills landscape. Free. Travel: Return drive
AFTERNOON
EGER FINAL WINE EVENING
A final afternoon in the extraordinary Eger Baroque town, perhaps visiting the remarkable Eger Wine Museum to understand the full history of the region's famous wines, and ending the day in the Valley of Beautiful Women for a final tasting of the outstanding Bull's Blood and white wines. The remarkable atmosphere of the wine cellar valley at sunset is the finest in Hungary. Museum entry approx 1,500 HUF.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Szalamandra Amphitheatre in Aggtelek, where classical concerts are performed inside the remarkable cave system, is the most unusual concert venue in Hungary. Book ahead for summer performances.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eger hotel Early start for the Aggtelek drive. | Lunch: Aggtelek cave restaurant Simple Hungarian lunch near the most extraordinary caves in the country. | Dinner: Valley of Beautiful Women The finest farewell dinner in the wine cellars of the most celebrated valley.
DAY 5
HOLLOKO AND ESZTERGOM
MORNING
HOLLOKO UNESCO VILLAGE
Holloko, the extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Paloc village 80km southwest of Eger, is the finest preserved traditional Hungarian village in the country. The remarkable 55 medieval houses, the outstanding Paloc folk costumes still worn to church on Sundays and festivals and the extraordinary hilltop castle ruins above the village are all outstanding. Easter in Holloko, when the entire village celebrates in traditional costume, is the finest folk event in Hungary. Entry castle approx 600 HUF. Travel: 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
ESZTERGOM BASILICA
Esztergom Basilica, the largest church in Hungary and the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Primate, stands on a dramatic hill above the Danube bend on the Slovak border. The extraordinary neo-Classical dome visible for 50km in every direction, the remarkable Bakocz Chapel in red marble, the oldest building in Hungary to remain intact, and the outstanding treasury with the finest collection of medieval gold work in the country are all remarkable. Entry dome approx 1,500 HUF. Travel: 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
DANUBE BEND AND RETURN
The Danube Bend at Visegard, where the river makes its most extraordinary change of direction through the remarkable hills between the Pilis and Borzsony mountains, is the finest natural landscape in the Budapest area. The outstanding Visegad Castle above the bend, the remarkable river view and the fine medieval palace ruins in the town below are all outstanding before returning to Budapest or Eger. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Visegrad Castle above the Danube Bend, the magnificent 14th-century royal fortress from which Hungary was governed, gives the finest view of the Danube in Hungary. Entry approx 1,800 HUF.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Eger hotel Good breakfast before the Holloko drive. | Lunch: Holloko village restaurant Traditional Paloc Hungarian cuisine in the finest folk village. | Dinner: Esztergom or Budapest dinner Farewell to northern Hungary.
Where To Stay
Eger city centre, all nights The finest base for all northern Hungary day trips. Approx 12,000 to 25,000 HUF. Wine valley guesthouse option Stay in the Valley of Beautiful Women for the finest wine country atmosphere. Booking ahead Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead in summer and during the September wine festival.
Top Tips
1. The Miskolctapolca Cave Bath is unique in Europe. Book at least a week ahead in summer.
2. Bull's Blood wine tastes best from the barrel in the Valley of Beautiful Women cellars.
3. The Aggtelek cave tour takes 1 to 3 hours. The short tour is sufficient for most visitors.
4. Holloko on Easter Sunday in traditional Paloc costume is the finest folk experience in Hungary.
5. Eger is excellent value for food, wine and accommodation compared to Budapest.
6. The Bukk National Park hiking trails are marked but can be muddy. Good boots recommended.
Total Budget
18,500 to 43,000 HUF/day