Hungary awaits: Blue ribbon, green crowns – the pearls of the Danube Bend

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Prédikálószéki-kilátó Boldog Özséb-kilátó Visegrádi Fellegvár

Down below, an adventure on the water; from above, a breathtaking view from the peaks: this is how the river winds its way through the mountains in the Danube Bend. The view from the northern tip of Szentendre Island is unique: the Visegrád Citadel and the Börzsöny Mountains rise above the slowly meandering river. In such magnificent surroundings, we can paddle from the Danube Bend all the way to the outskirts of Budapest.

What exactly will we be talking about?

Kayaking on the Szentendre Danube branch
Exploring the Kisoroszi island tip
Three spectacular viewpoints in the Danube Bend

The view from the northern tip of Szentendre Island is unique: the Visegrád citadel and the Börzsöny mountains rise above the slowly winding river. In such magnificent surroundings, we can row from the Danube Bend to the outskirts of Budapest.

Unlike the main branch of the Danube, the section of the tributary between Esztergom and Szentendre does not conceal any dangerous or technically challenging sections, so it is easy to paddle even with minimal experience.

You can explore the area by canoe, kayak, or even SUP. If you want to cool off, you can take a dip at the designated public beaches in Pilismarót, Zebegény, Nagymaros, Dunabogdány, and Szentendre.(Photo: Active Hungary).

The winding Szentendre branch of the Danube

From Visegrád, we can “roll down” to Dunabogdány in just under two hours. The six-and-a-half-kilometer hike can be easily completed in 1.5-2 hours along the route Visegrád Boat and Small Boat Harbor – Visegrád Boat Station – Szigetcsúcs (‘Island tip’) in Kisoroszi – Dunabogdány Public Beach. This peaceful branch of the Danube, which is essentially free of larger boat traffic, offers a unique experience: in several places, you can take detours among the trees, into smaller side branches, where you can often observe herons, egrets, and gray herons. At the end of the tour, you can moor in the grassy, wooded area below the public beach in Dunabogdány.

The tip of Kisoroszi Island at the northern end of Szentendre Island is an excellent destination for family outings, romantic walks, and active cycling or rowing experiences. Its pebbly, shallow-water public beach offers picturesque views of the Danube and the citadel.

A bird's-eye view of Visegrád Castle (Photo: Active Hungary).

3 viewpoints overlooking nature

Prédikálószék (“Preacher’s pulpit”)

From the lookout tower built at an altitude of 639 meters on one of the most famous peaks of the Visegrád Mountains, you can admire St. Michael’s Hill and Visegrád Castle against the backdrop of the winding Danube. In clear weather, you can see as far as Nagy-Hideg Hill and Csóványos.

Boldog Özséb-kilátó (Blessed Eusebius Lookout Tower)

The lookout tower standing on the 756-meter-high peak of Pilis offers a perfect panoramic view from its top, covered level. The Visegrád Mountains, the Buda Hills, the Pilisvörösvár Basin, and even the Gerecse Mountains are clearly visible from there.

Visegrád Castle

At the top of Visegrád’s Castle Hill, the castle shines in all its glory, just as the Holy Crown once shone on the heads of our kings. You can still see a lifelike replica of the crown in the castle. The exceptionally magnificent panorama of the Danube Bend is breathtaking in every season.