Cycling tours in Hungary - Best selection of the Danube

BEST SELECTION OF THE DANUBE

We have selected the nicest regions, sights, and some of the best hotels at the River Danube in North-West Hungary, to make this holiday a really special experience. Taking this wonderful tour, you will cycle along the most beautiful landscapes with breath-taking panoramas of the Danube Bend, enchanting lakes of Tata, take a canoe tour in the idyllic water-world of Szigetköz, visit the picturesque Baroque town of Szentendre, medieval castles at Visegrád and Tata, Hungary’s biggest cathedral in Esztergom, and Benedictine Archabbey at Pannonhalma, and you will get spoiled and relaxed, enjoying superb comfort and luxury of fantastic hotels, all with unique atmosphere and surroundings, lovely swimming pools, saunas, massages, and masterpieces of the Hungarian cuisine. And last but not least you will see many beautiful faces and colours of the Danube, probably even blue...

TOUR ITINERARY:

„Thank you for the last 9 days. Everything was thoroughly thought out, and nothing seemed to be a problem for you. The bicycle paths were lovely and well chosen, the hotels good, the food very enjoyable and very Hungarian. This time in Hungary, and a week to spend on a bike with my son has meant a great deal to me, and your efforts, energy, knowledge and warmth are very much appreciated.”
Andrew – Australia 

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BUDAPEST

Your hotel is situated right at the woods on the top of the Buda Hills. Its wonderful and quiet environment, lovely swimming pool, sauna, fittness or massage possibilities well represent the character of this holiday, and will bring you quickly into holiday mood. In the evening you will meet us at the reception, have a welcome drink, information about the tour, and dinner in the cosy restaurant of the hotel. 

DAY 2: CYCLING FROM BUDAPEST TO SZENTENDRE

After getting ready to start, we roll down among the Buda Hills to the Danube, and enjoy very nice views of Budapest and the Houses of Parliament. Then we cycle through Margaret Island, one of the finest parks of Europe, passing by ancient plane-trees, beautiful rose and Japanese gardens with small lakes, a little zoo with exotic birds, interesting fountains that play music, and ruins of the 13th century convent where Princess Margaret lived as a nun. Getting through Old-Buda, we have a look at the ruins of a 3rd century Roman town: Aquincum, and stop for a lunch break at a tiny little river-side restaurant at the Danube. Nice cycle paths (and our tour guide) will lead us to Szentendre, the town of artists, with a picturesque Mediterranean atmosphere. It is worth taking a stroll in the narrow streets among the charming Baroque houses, Serbian Orthodox churches, lovely restaurants and cafés, plenty of souvenir shops, and visiting some of the interesting museums such as a unique exibition of a famous ceramist: Margaret Kovács, or another speciality: the Marzipan Museum. After all these you deserve a nice rest, so we take a lovely old ferry to the island of peacefullness, where we can get relaxed in a nice little hotel with a very friendly atmosphere, a small swimming pool, and gourmet food. (cycling appr. 36km/22m)

DAY 3: LET’S CYCLE INTO THE FORESTS OF BÖRZSÖNY

We ride through tiny little villages on the Island of Szentendre, and cross the Danube on another old ferry. We cycle along the river on a nice path with panoramic views, and we take a narrow-gauge railway up into the Börzsöny Hills. After having a lunch break, and cycling in very beautiful woods among the hills, we end up at a nice glade in the middle of the forest and surrounded by the mountains. It’s a real experience to stay at the hotel here, which has an individual character, and with its gorgeous outdoor swiming pool, tennis courts, saunas and cooling pools, massage, bowling alley, it is an ideal place of relaxation. Not to mention the lovely terraces and rooms of the restaurant, and their local specialities…  (cycling appr. 36km/22m)

DAY 4: VISEGRÁD - CYCLING IN THE DANUBE BEND

After a short bike tour among the hills in the forests of the biggest National Park of Hungary, we arrive at a miraculous pilgrimage-place, where we visit a monastery which was founded in 1352. It belongs to the only original Hungarian monastic order, the Paulaner, which was established in the 13th century. We ride further down the hills to the Danube, and cycle along the river, enjoying fascinating scenery of the hills, and a lovely view of the fortification at Visegrád, where King Matthias had his Renaissance Royal Palace which was famous throughout Europe in the 15th century. We take the ferry across the river, and our bus up to the top of the hills of Visegrád, where we walk around the ruins of the 13th century Citadel. The panorama of the Danube Bend, one of the most beautiful areas of Hungary, is really breath-taking from here. Just a few steps we take to our hotel, which has an exceptional location. Even from its swimmingpools and restaurants you can enjoy the unique view, and the Turkish bath, bar, sauna and various massages in their wellness center offer a perfect revitalisation. Sunsets with the contours of the Citadel are uniquely picturesque here, and the chef cooks superb meals. (cycling appr. 37km/23m)

DAY 5: STOP IN ESZTERGOM, AND CYCLING THROUGH UNTOUCHED WOODS TO TATA

We go with our bus to Esztergom. The small town used to be our capital, and even now here is the centre of the Catholic Church of Hungary. This is why we can visit here the biggest cathedral of Hungary, have a look at the nice view of the Danube, and some great statues that show how and where our first King St Stephen was crowned in 1000. Yet another short bus ride, and we will cycle across some hills in beautiful forests, have a lunchbreak at a small lake, and then bike further off the beaten track, towards Tata. The hotel where we stay is surrounded by a nice wood. Number of recreational possibilities such as a beautiful swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, fittness room (and the delicious food) make your stay here as pleasant as possible. (cycling appr. 34km/21m)

DAY 6: CYCLING IN THE TOWN OF WATERS - TATA

We will have a leisure bike ride in the beautiful parks around picturesque lakes of Tata, stop at a Calvary Hill, a palace of the Esterházys, see a Geological Museum, visit the medieval Castle with interesting exhibitions of remains of a 2nd century Roman room and a 12th century Benedictine abbey, history of town, the local guilds and famous pottery. We pass by an English park, old watermills, nice Baroque houses and many little interesting sights. After a delicious lunch, we cycle back to our hotel, and move to another enchanting area at the Danube, the Szigetköz. There we can swim in one of the nicest thermal baths of Hungary, and then we get to a 400 years old Renaissance castle, which is one of Hungary’s most beautiful castle hotels, renovated with great care in a wonderful, authentic style. Antique furnitures in all the rooms, bronze chandeliers, Zsolnay stoves, the Baroque „Sala Terrena” and chapel, and the wonderful park with century old trees around the castle make the atmosphere here exceptionally unique. We thought, it is worth staying here for 2 nights. (cycling appr. 18km/11m)

DAY 7: CYCLING AND A CANOE TOUR IN THE IDYLLIC WATER-WORLD OF SZIGETKÖZ

This is the largest island of Hungary, embraced by the Danube and Moson Danube Rivers, a paradise for cyclists, bird watchers, fishermen, and with its rich flora and fauna, for lovers of nature or water tours too. We will ride along nice cycle paths, dams and country lanes among oxbow-lakes and small arms of the river, through really charming little villages, and along picturesque landscapes. The highlight of the day will be a canoe tour on the nice and peaceful branches of the Danube, enjoying idyllic scenery, and watching some of the lovely birds like herons, egrets, buzzards, cormorants, kingfishers, mallards, swans, or tits. Also we can see a lot of small fish in the rather clear water, and beautiful water-lilies floating on the surface. After this great experience, we have a lunch break at a very nice spot at the river, (an opportunity to swim for the water fans) and we cycle back to enjoy the luxury of the „Pearl of  Szigetköz” for another night. (cycling appr. 36km/22m)

DAY 8: PANNONHALMA - THE SAINT HILL OF PANNONIA

Just a short bike ride in the morning to say good-bye to the beautiful Szigetköz, and we get to Pannonhalma. Already from a long distance it is easy to see the dignified complex of the Benedictine Archabbey, crowning the top of the hill. With its classical facade and fine medeival parts it is one of the most outstanding works of the Hungarian architecture. This great symbol of our 1000 years traditions was founded in 996, and became part of the UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. We will have a guided tour to see the most valuable parts: the Late Romanesque-Early Gothic basilica, the 15th century cloister, and the Neoclassical library. All these jewels are still used in accordance with their original purpose, and here is one of the best schools of Hungary. They also make very good wine here, so why shouldn’t we taste some, and have a delicious lunch in a nice local inn. From here we take our bus to Budapest, where you can have a nice rest using the lovely facilities of the hotel, and we will have our farewell dinner. (cycling appr. 19km/12m)

DAY 9: NO MORE CYCLING (UNFORTUNATELY)

You can still enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the hotel in the morning, and we hope that you will return home safe and sound, with nice memories for a lifetime.