Visegrád Castle - A Fun Day Trip From Budapest

The Visegrád castle is famous because of its history and because of the epic views you can get of the Danube river bend from here.

We had almost five days in Budapest and if you’ve been following my trips you probably know that I love to get off the beaten path. I was checking out all the cool day trips from Budapest when I stumbled across two very promising ones: Visegrád Castle and Eger.

Luckily for us, we managed to visit both. Before you ask, these were two separate trips. Visegrád castle is one of those dreamy locations in Hungary and the photographs itself speak volumes. You don’t need a whole day to explore this place but I would suggest setting aside at least two hours so that you can cover the entire castle at your own pace.

You will find that Visegrád is one of the most magical Hungarian towns that you can visit. The fact that it is so close makes it something that should feature on your bucket list.

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History Of Visegrád Castle

As you head up towards the iconic monument you will realize that while everyone calls it the Visegrad castle, it is also a citadel. The fortress has huge walls that surround it and protect it from invasion.

Visegrád may have been mentioned way back in 1009 as a county town. It really became an important part of Hungarian history when King Charles I of Hungary decided to make it the royal seat of Hungary. This was way back in 1325. This palace hosted the famous meeting of the Hungarian, Polish and Czech rulers in 1335.

You can actually see what life was back then when you walk through the Visegrád castle. This is because they have an amazing exhibit which allows you to walk through it and you will feel as if you are walking back in time. I’ll talk about this as I walk you through the whole Visegrád Citadel.

Budapest To Visegrád: How To Get There

The distance between Budapest to Visegrád is just 41 kilometers. Since it is so close to the bustling city, it makes a great perfect place for a quick and quiet getaway. There are three ways in which you can get from Budapest to Visegrád.

By Train + Ferry

Yes! I know I said ferry. It is actually a pretty cool journey. You board the train from Budapest Nyugati Station and get off at Nagymaros-Visegrád Station. This journey will take you a little less than an hour and will cost around 1120 HUF.

Once you reach Nagymaros-Visegrád Station walk towards the ferry dock. You can buy your tickets here. They accept both cash and cards which is great for travelers like us who tend to use our cards instead of exchanging cash.

By Car

By far the easiest way to get from Budapest to Visegrád castle is to drive. It takes less than an hour, is convenient and easy to get there. You do need to have your own mode of transport or will need to rent one. There is plenty of parking available next to the castle. Just be aware that it is a paid parking.

By Tour

Alternatively you could book a tour to take you from Budapest to Visegrád. This way you would have transportation and you would have a guide to explore the monument with. The interesting things about this tour is that it combines the visit to Visegrád with a trip to the gorgeous village of Szentendre. This is a great way to explore the area especially if you don’t have your own car and if you have young kids or older people with you.

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Parking Near Visegrád Citadel

One of the things that everyone worries about is parking. The parking is situated right at the foot of the Visegrád castle. It is huge and we stayed for a long time and yet I did not find the parking full. It is a paid parking though so that is something that you should keep in mind.

The parking lot also has a toilet (paid) and a small restaurant along with a souvenir shop that you can stop at. Pretty convenient especially if you have young kids.

Things To Know Before Visiting Visegrád Castle

There are a couple of things that you should know when you visit the castle complex.

There Are A Lot Of Steps

The steps up to the Visegrad castle. Don't worry there is a path too so it is wheelchair accessible.

You are going to have to climb up through the Visegrad citadel. It isn’t hard mind you but anyone who has difficulties climbing will have to stop in between for a breather. The good news is that there are a lot of cool places to catch a view along the way so it isn’t a big issue.

It Can Get Cold

Depending on the season, you will find that it can get cold. This is because the castle is situated on the top of a hill. Many of the viewing areas are exposed to the wind so hold on to your hats and dress up warm if the weather warrants it.

Carry Some Water

Make sure to carry some water and snacks. There isn’t anything to eat once you head up to the castle. Now if you want a quick in and out of the castle, this should not be a problem but with a view so nice, I find an impromptu picnic is a great idea.

It Is Wheelchair Accessible

Despite the number of steps and the incline, it is still wheelchair accessible. You may not however be able to get to all parts of the citadel though. We chose not to take the stroller though so that we could get into all the exhibits.

Things To See And Do In Castle Visegrád

Souvenirs at the entrance of the Visegrad castle.

The nice thing about the castle is that you just walk the whole path and you will get to see the whole place in detail. I usually find castles really confusing and many at times they don’t have a well marked path. Visegrád on the contrary is easy to explore.

The Hungarian Crown

One of the most interesting things to see in the Visegrád is the Hungarian crown. This crown has a very interesting tale. Luis I, also known as Luis the Great, brought the crown of the Polish kingdom here after he occupied the Polish throne.

On the 8th September 1403, Sigismund, the Hungarian King and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was crowned here. This was the second time that he was crowned. This was to prove that only a coronation with the Holy Crown was legal. So what you see in front of you is actually a very important part of Hungarian history.

The Royal Court

The Royal court operated out of the castle. This happened alongside the daily life of the King, his escorts and the members of his court. You can walk through the rooms and see how they ate and drank because there are loads of mannequins which are used to recreate their life in 3D.

Some of the rooms highlight the armor, the clothes, the music and other parts of their daily life. It is an interesting way to learn about history.

The View Points

The biggest attractions in Visegrád castle are all the viewpoints. There are a lot of them. These viewpoints give you an unobstructed view of the bend of the Danube.

Trust me. This view is something that you will not forget so try to plan your trip on a day when the weather is good. Clear skies mean that you will see much further.

Plus if the weather isn’t great, you will find that it gets pretty cold here.

Bonus Stop: Visegrád Bobsled

If you really want to have a fun end to your tip, head to Visegrád bobsled. It is very close to the citadel and it is so much fun. You can cruise down the hill at your own pace. Plus you don’t have to stand on the sidelines if you have toddlers because they can join you too!

So there you have it! Visiting Visegrád castle definitely ranks as one of my top attractions in Hungary. While Budapest is cool and has so much to offer, this is where you should head to if you want a nice quiet day sprinkled with a good dose of history.