A perfect day in Gyula – gastronomy, culture and adventure in one place

Anyone visiting Gyula for the first time will surely notice when walking through the winding streets of the city centre that there is a new sight of unexpected beauty around every corner. A fountain, an old church with golden yellow walls, a charming square planted with trees and flowers or a magnificent building. A perfect day in Gyula is all about getting lost in the small pleasures of existence. Those looking for a bazaar atmosphere, a bustling festival or a huge, glittering spectacle have to look further. Gyula is all about active relaxation in the best sense.

Start your perfect morning with a delicious coffee at the “Bodoky Kávéműhely”(Bodoky Coffee Shop) in the former customs house of the over 200-year-old Kapus híd (Gate Bridge), originally served as a postal road. The smell of coffee is enough to wake you up in this tiny but cosy place, especially when you ask for your favourite speciality. After having finished your coffee, it is worth eating something tasty to give you energy for the rest of the day. Fortunately, you only have to walk a few steps to the “Százéves cukrászda” (Hundred-year-old Confectionery). If you do not particularly fancy a slice of cake in the morning, there is a plethora of opportunities for snacking. You can choose from a selection of homemade strudels or scones and teacakes, and whilst you are sitting on the terrace or in the authentic interior with its painted walls, you can think about where to go next.

Once you have sufficiently replenished your energy stores, the next thing to do is to get some exercise: leaving the charming Erkel tér (Erkel Square), you have to go all the way to Kossuth utca (Kossuth Street) to rent bikes. At the Tourinform Iroda (Tourinform Office) it is also possible. You can take your city bikes for a half-day or a whole day, and even get tips on what to see and do with them. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities: Gyula – and the whole area around – is the perfect place for cycling. Riding a bike is a pleasant experience in itself, but it is even better if you can get as far as Göndöcs kert (Göndöcs Garden) on two wheels, where you can get off the bike and walk among the trees of the old Népkert (People's Garden). The marshy area was filled in the late 1800s to create a recreational park for the town. The neo-baroque Pavilion in the park (now called “Vigadó”) is still one of the pride of the town, hosting concerts, balls and other events. The adjacent “Kohán Képtár” (Kohán Gallery), built a few years later as a museum, is also partly a cultural space, but there is also a collection of paintings by György Kohán.

The morning flows by quickly, so it is high time to find a place for lunch. Gyula's legendary restaurant, the “Komló étterem” (Komló Restaurant) opened in 1913, so it is no surprise that following its more than a century-old tradition, you will find a classic Hungarian menu here, but of course adapted to the needs of the 21st century. As Komló is not far from the Tourinform office, it is a good idea to return your bikes before you sit down at the table.

The afternoon is for relaxing anyway: in the “Gyulai Várfürdő” (Gyula Castle Bath) you can recharge your batteries for the rest of the day in the outdoor or indoor pools, sauna and loungers. You need to walk back to your starting point in the morning to continue exploring the town without any effort: buy a ticket for the Gyula sightseeing train and you will have a good half hour to gather new impressions and knowledge about the city. The perfect day is coming to an end, and to make it even better, we recommend you a good dinner and a glass or two of something delicious.

From the city centre you can walk to the “Viharsarki Sernevelde” (Beer Corner) where you can enjoy a delicious dinner in a good atmosphere drinking award-winning beers. With a friendly atmosphere, the cool yet high quality restaurant has plenty to choose from – and not just in terms of craft beers on the taps. While you are choosing between soups, burgers or even traditional main courses, you can say with confidence: this day was memorable indeed.