Budapest - side trips?
 

I will be in Budapest for 8 days, and was wondering if anyone could recommend an interesting trip outside of the city (By train). I am hoping to see more of Hungary.
LP

Go to Szekesfehervar, Gyor, Sopron, Fertod, Szombathely, Tata, and Fertorkakos. They are all within a reasonable day-trip distance from Budapest, and they are all charming. I'm sorry, but I don't know the train connections. I am sure they can all be reached by train, however. Good luck.

It is almost required that a visit to Budapest include the 30 minute train ride to Szentendre. Last month I spent a week based in Budapest and visited Szentendre and Eger. Budapest has so much to offer that in a week it was difficult to leave town for the day.

Larry J

Eger, Szentendre and several other cities are worthwhile visiting and can be reached by train, if not always on the most flexible schedules. However, I'd suggest the "Danube Bend" sightseeing tour as offered by several tour operators, such as CityRama. Just use one with live, multi-lingual guides rather than recorded tapes.

The "Danube Bend" tour is via bus, not train, but would include a drive past Aqvincum, then stops/tours at Visegrad, Estergom (including lunch), and Szentendre, with return from Szentendge usually (late spring thru early fall) by boat.

frankwhite: Take the Danube Bend bus tour (more scenic than the train). You'll see Szentendre, Visegrad and Estergom (at least the highlights).
Do a day trip to Eger. Easy to walk. See the Castle, Eger Var, the town and the square, Dobo ter. Tast some wine. Have dinner. Wonderful town.
Take a train or bus to the Lake Balaton Area. An entirely different Hungarian experience. Go to Tihany; quaint with great views of the Lake from the hills above the village. Or, go to Kesthely. More of a resort city, but very interesting markets, flea markets, beaches and the wonderful palace Festetics Kastley.
Still leaves you four days for Budapest. There is never enough time, but this will give you a glimpse of different parts of Hungary
Gyor, Sopron and Fertod are a bit far for a day trip. Have a great trip.

We took the local bus up to Visigrad (sp??) and then took the boat trip back down to Budapest. It was cheap, interesting, and not at all yout typical day tour group trip.