A wonderful day trip from Budapest to Szentendre: a complete guide

Planning your trip to the beautiful capital of Hungary? If you have three days, consider a day trip from Budapest to Szentendre!

Also known as “artists’ village”, this picturesque town located 40 minutes away from Budapest is a wonderful place to spend a few hours outside of the bustling city.

I have been to Szentendre many times over the years, with friends, family, and now with 13-months-old Alexander in the pram. I love the cheerful atmosphere, the colourful houses and the relaxing Danube promenade. I always go back home tired and satisfied.

Keep reading to discover the best things to see in Szentendre, how to get from Budapest to Szentendre, what to eat, and much more.

Interesting facts about Szentendre

Location: Szentendre is located approximately 20 km north of Budapest and approximately 20 km south of the Danube Bend, where the Visegrad Castle is. It is built by the western shore of the Danube (actually a small branch of the Danube), with the Pilis mountains behind it. (Map here)

Population: Approximately 25000 people

Translation: Szentendre means Saint Andrew

Currency: The main currency is the Hungarian Forints. Cards are widely accepted (Visa and Mastercard), but some places accept only cash.

History: A tiny settlement until the end of the 1600s, Szentendre’s prosperity started growing when foreign settlers arrived: Serbs emigrated here because of the war with the Ottoman empire, but also Dalmatians, Greeks and Slovaks contributed to the current outlook of the town – a unique combination of baroque and colourful Mediterranean buildings. Many artists, inspired by the magical atmosphere and vivid colours, were attracted to Szentendre, so much so that the Szentendre Artists’ Colony was set up in 1926. Currently, a number of art museums, galleries, workshops and shops give Szentendre the name of Artists’ Village.

Travel tips for a day trip to Szentendre

As you prepare for this excursion, consider a few points:

• Szentendre is all about exploring the old town on foot, savouring the fairy-tale atmosphere and walking the cobbled streets.
• It is not a hidden gem. It is a popular destination from Budapest and it can get very crowded.
• Even though it is popular, many museums and exhibitions may not have many explanations in English or English-speaking staff. Download the Google Translate app on your phone to read the Hungarian explanations.
• Bring Hungarian Forints in cash, because cards are not accepted everywhere. I recommend saving on fees and exchange rates with the Wise Multicurrency card (here’s my review – I just love it!).
• There’s a drinking water fountain in the main square, and you can always fill your water bottle at a restaurant’s restroom.
• There are public restrooms at the train station. It costs 200 HUF to access it.

Best time to visit and how long to spend in Szentendre

Szentendre is very pretty all year round. During the spring and the summer, the scenery is green and positive; during the fall, the foliage is very picturesque; in December there are Christmas markets that fill the air with the smell of mulled wine.

However, you want to watch for super hot days in the summer, when temperatures can reach 40 C/ 104 F, and for winter snow. I’ve never been there on a rainy day, when I guess some of the charm will be diluted.

A half-day is a good amount of time to spend in Szentendre, meaning a full morning or a full afternoon. It’s enough to roam the old town, walk to the hill and admire the view, enjoy a snack, stroll along the Danube, and maybe even visit a museum.

For maximum enjoyment and relaxation, however, I recommend eating lunch in Szentendre, either before you take the train back to Budapest, or as the start your exploration. Consider it takes at least 40 minutes to get there (see more details below).

If you want to make it a full-day trip, you could combine it with Esztergom, or Visegrad and the Danube bend, in the morning, and then spend the afternoon in Szentendre. Here’s my hike with public transport to Visegrad for inspiration!

What to wear in Szentendre

The same clothes you pack for your trip to Budapest will be suitable for a half-day in Szentendre:

• Comfortable trousers and top
• A long skirt could look nice for some pretty pictures in the streets and alleys, or by the Danube
• I suggest avoiding short skirts because you will be sitting on public transport, and you may also want to sit on the grass or on stairs/steps
• Comfortable shoes are a must – it’s all cobblestone streets!

How to get from Budapest to Szentendre

The easiest way to go from Budapest to Szentendre is by train, more precisely with the suburban railway line HÉV H5 on Buda side.

• It takes 40 minutes
• A one-way extension ticket costs 310 HUF, less than 1 EUR
• The train leaves every 20 minutes from Batthyany Metro Station and from Margaret Bridge Station in Budapest; the schedule shown on Google Maps is accurate (search for Szentendre and then ask for directions by public transportation).

It’s also possible to go to Szentendre by boat. It can be nice to go by bike. I do not recommend going by bus or by car.

Here you can find a detailed post with lots of useful information about how to go to Szentendre from Budapest.

How to get around Szentendre

The old town of Szentendre is very small and easy to explore on foot. You won’t need a car or a taxi.

The Main Street is more or less flat; there is a small hill with a couple of churches on top; the Danube promenade is flat and leads to a small beach.

Did I mention that all streets are cobbled? Make sure you wear comfortable shoes 🙂

What to see in Szentendre

Szentendre is a very pleasant place to spend a few hours, relax and enjoy this colorful corner of Hungary.

So, what should you do on this day trip from Budapest to Szentendre?

1. Stroll around the Old Town of Szentendre

It’s just a few streets, a square and a river promenade, but it feels like walking in a fairy tale! Enter the Old Town with Dumtsa Jenő street, where the information point is located (map here, go inside and grab a paper map as a souvenir). Start browsing the beautiful handmade souvenirs at the stalls, there are so many!

Shortly, you will reach the main square Fő tér, decorated with colorful lampshades, and obviously marked by a church (Blagovestenska Orthodox Church) and by a Memorial Cross (map here).

Choose any of the streets to the left and climb the small hill until the white church of Saint John: the view of the Mediterranean red roofs is so pretty! Nearby, the red Belgrade Serbian Orthodox Church stands in contrast. (map here)

Go back to the main square and continue along Bogdány street, crowded with restaurants and local shops. The access to the Danube promenade is at the bottom of the street – it’s a small branch of the Danube, so it’s very peaceful and relaxing (map here).

Like all respectful European villages, however, all the gems are hidden in the side streets and alleys. Take some time to climb stairs, turn a corner, and you will be rewarded with old wooden gates, walls covered in ivy, hidden courtyards and cute cafés.

There are many benches all over the place, to rest and watch the world go by.

2. Admire the view

There are two nice viewpoints to admire the beautiful panorama of Szentendre:

• From the Templom tér square, on top of the small hill by the main square Fő tér, you are surrounded by red-tiled roofs with weird windows that look like judging eyes 🙂 (map here)
• From the Szerb kereszt, literally “the Serbian Cross”, you can relax and admire the village centre and the peaceful Danube (map here)

3. Visit interesting museums and unusual exhibitions

Did I mention that Szentendre is called Artists’ Village? 🙂 Well, there are a few art museums and galleries to visit, right in the old town.

• The Margit Kovacs ceramics museum – her style is very unique.
• The Ferenczy Museum – it houses a collection of Szentendre’s painting, sculptures and graphic art, as well as temporary exhibitions of national and international artists.
• The ArtMill – contemporary art museum and exhibitions.
• The Amos and Anna Museum – the works of a local Jewish couple are showcased in this small museum, Amos’ drawings and Anna’s paintings, heavily influenced by the Holocaust and the sadness Anna felt after Amos died in a concentration camp.
• There are many more art galleries and studios – just be inspired and step inside! Find more info here.

Not into art? There are plenty of quirky museums and exhibitions too, all easy to find in the centre of Szentendre:

• The Szamos Marzipan exhibition and workshop – wonderful creations from flowers, to Michael Jackson, to the Hungarian Parliament, all made of marzipan!
• The Retro Design Centre – travel back to the 70s with old cars, magazines, kitchen items, toys, electronics, and lots of memorabilia from Eastern Europe during Communist times.
• The Micro Art Exhibition – incredible works of art that you can see only through a microscope.
• The Szanto Memorial House – a small museum and memorial about the Jewish history and residents of Szentendre.
• The Transportation Museum – have a look at the old and new trams that roam Budapest, as well as buses and engines. Some are indoors and some outdoors.
• The National Wine Museum at Labirintus Restaurant – excellent wine tastings, simple Hungarian snacks and knowledgeable staff, all in a mysterious underground cellar.
• The Japanese Garden – enjoy a beautiful summer day in this unique small park.

The Hungarian Open Air Museum “Skanzen” is another interesting attraction.

At Skanzen, life in the Hungarian countryside in the past centuries is recreated with old buildings, furniture, crafts, and activities from the old times. I haven’t been there, and I don’t think I will visit (at least in the near future), for the simple fact that it’s located in the outskirts of Szentendre.

The public bus that goes there seems to run every 2 hours, which turns a half-day in Szentendre into a full day. Unless you are passionate about this kind of place, or you have kids, I recommend enjoying in the old town instead, and then going back to Budapest.

A couple of tips about museums in Szentendre:

• As mentioned before, keep in mind that English-speaking staff may not be available, and explanations may be written only in Hungarian (the Google Translate app on your phone will solve that).
• Also, some attractions may be closed in low season, on weekdays, or follow an unusual schedule: make sure you check opening hours in advance.

4. Relax along the Danube promenade and go to the beach

The Danube promenade is lovely. The pathwalk is wide and spacious, enough for people, children and cyclists. Grab an ice cream and head there, sit on the grass or on the stairs – or have a coffee at the floating Costa Café! This place is perfect for people-watching and relaxing.

As you walk to the right, you’ll approach a cute area where the large stones between the pathwalk and the promenade are painted in lots of colours – some of them also have a love dedication. Much more special than a lock on a bridge!

At the end, to the south of the city centre, is the “beach”. Now, dipping your feet in the Danube could be an experience, a box to tick, so go for it! Just remember that the beach is quite muddy and the water quite smelly. Not a place to spend a lot of time at. The nearby kiosk “Kacsakő Bistro”, however, seems to provide quite tasty food. (map here)

To go back to the city centre, take the pathwalk next to the little creek for a very quaint look at Szentendre.

5. Shop handmade local crafts

Souvenirs and crafts everywhere! Literally. There are countless shops and stalls of Hungarian crafts like colourful embroidery, ceramics, paintings, leather and wood objects, jewellery. Ditch the fridge magnet and buy some authentic Hungarian products!

What and where to eat in Szentendre

The main streets of the old town offer numerous choices. Here are my recommendations:

• Have a fried “lángos” with sour cream and cheese at the legendary Álomlángos, a tiny stand with a few seats hidden in a narrow alley by the main square. The crepes “palacsinta” are also delicious – apricot jam and sweet “turo” cheese are the traditional fillings. (map here)
• If you’d rather sit at a restaurant, the ones around the main square Fő tér offer local food and sometimes have Hungarian Gipsy live music.
• Instead, head to the Danube promenade for some different cuisines – Italian, Serbian, Greek, even Indian. I really enjoyed the cevapcici at Corner Szerb Étterem.
• Want to escape the crowd? Head to the cute Dalmát Szamár bistro for some tasty bites.
• Did you know that Hungarians are obsessed with lemonade? Most restaurants make it themselves with delicious fresh ingredients: ask for a “hazilemonade“.
• Not a marzipan fan here, but if you are, definitely have some at the famous Szamos Marzipan Café.

Want video?

Check out the highlights on my Instagram for our latest trip to Szentendre!

Final thoughts on visiting Szentendre

You’re ready for your half-day trip to Szentendre! I hope you learned some useful information and are able to decide what to do in Szentendre. I’m sure you will enjoy this short day trip from Budapest and it will make your trip to Hungary even more unique.