Danube Bend Tour

Take a day trip outside of Budapest to discover charming corners of the Hungarian Danube Bend. Visit three beautiful towns along the Bend and learn some interesting historical facts about Hungary — all of this accompanied by picturesque views. In the summer months, a river cruise is offered on the return to Budapest.

Please, note that this trip needs at least 2 people to happen. Wait for our customer service to confirm the tour.

The tour's highlights:

• Visit the largest church in Hungary
• Enjoy a wonderful view of the Danube Bend
• Stroll around the Artists' Village
• River cruise back to Budapest (available from May to September only on weekends)

Why is the Danube Bend worth a visit?

Before delving into all the details of this tour, let's first explain what Danube Bend is. As you may already know, the Danube is the second-longest river in Europe and flows through four capitals (Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava and Belgrade). Danube Bend refers to a stretch of the Danube, not far from Budapest, where the river makes a sharp horseshoe curve. With rocky hills, thick forests and numerous charming villages, the area around the Bend is an interesting place to visit for those looking to change the scenery and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you have an extra day in Budapest, this is definitely a trip to consider.

A short visit to the Danube Valley from Budapest

Join us on a scenic route along the Danube river and delve more into Hungary's history. If you've already seen all of Budapest and are looking for an interesting tour, this full-day tour is a great option. Here's your chance to see more than just Budapest's city centre. The Danube river has always been of great significance to Hungary. The Danube Bend with its many villages and small towns is a particularly picturesque place — a fantastic location for a day trip. This Budapest Danube Bend tour gives you the opportunity to see three towns: Esztergom, Visegrád, and Szentendre. If you've never heard of them before, let's see why these towns are on our itinerary.

Esztergom: see the largest Catholic church in Hungary

The first stop of the Budapest Danube Bend tour will be in Esztergom, a city of great historical significance for Hungarians. Located just around 45 km (ca. 28 miles) from Budapest and on the Slovak border, it is situated exactly where the Danube river bends. It was the capital of Hungary for over 250 years and is home to Esztergom Basilica, the largest Catholic church in the country. Esztergom is also where Hungary's first king, Stephen, was born and later crowned. You may have heard of him when visiting Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Budapest.

During this Danube Bend full-day tour, we will pay a visit to the Esztergom Basilica, one of the largest basilicas in Europe. Until recently, this 100-metre-high church used to be the highest building in the whole of Hungary. Esztergom Basilica is also the burial place of many archbishops, among them, József Mindszenty. To make sure you get a good view of the basilica, we will briefly cross the river to neighbouring Slovakia via the Maria Valeria Bridge.

Visegrad: enjoy the view of the Danube Valley

The next stop will be Visegrad, a quiet town known for being home to Visegrad castle. The citadel, built on a steep hill after the 13th-century invasion of the Mongols, is Visegrad's highlight. Used briefly as a royal residence, today it offers a wonderful view of the Danube Bend. Visegrad is located just around 40 km (ca. 25 miles) from Budapest. During our visit here, you will get to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Danube Bend, after which you can join us to enjoy lunch in a great location. Please note, however, that the lunch is not included in the price, so it's necessary that you bring some cash with you.

Szentendre: walk around the artists' village with a tour guide

Often referred to as the Artist's Village or Painters' Town, Szentendre is a small and charming art town situated on the banks of the Danube river. During our guided tour, we'll stroll along its cobbled streets and see the town's historical centre and baroque architecture. You'll likely notice the variety of influences resulting from people of different nationalities that at some point lived in Szentendre, in particular Serbs and Greeks.

Once the guided walk is over, you will have some free time to do whatever you want. We recommend visiting some of the town's numerous museums like Margit Kovács Museum, Retro Design Center or the Hungarian Open Air Museum. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll likely enjoy a visit to the Szamos Marzipan Museum, dedicated to the founder of the Szentendre Marzipan Factory (Szamos Marcipán Cukrászda).

Danube river cruise back to Budapest

After the last stop in Szentendre, we will transport you back to Budapest. If you're participating in this tour in the summer months (May-September), you'll get to join a boat trip on your return to Budapest. On the other hand, in the wintertime or in case of low water, the return to Budapest will be by bus. In both cases, the tour ends in the city centre.

Why book this Danube Bend Tour from Budapest?

Are you looking for a nice trip that shows you more than Hungary's capital? Then this guided tour of the Danube Bend is a great idea. Our full-day tour of the Danube Bend is a great way to explore more of the country and gives you a chance to take a quick look at 3 different towns without worrying about transportation. Visiting 3 cities in one day as a tourist would likely be challenging, time-consuming and stressful if you don't have your own car. When you book this tour, you can let go of all these worries and just enjoy seeing Budapest's surroundings while being transported between the towns. Please note that hotel pick up is not provided. You should meet us at the meeting point specified below before the scheduled departure time.

In addition, this exciting day trip comes with a guide who will accompany the tour group and explain the history behind all the sights. As a cherry on top, if you happen to be in Budapest during the summer months, you'll get to experience the Danube Bend from the river by boat. The river cruise will take about an hour.