Would you like to go on an adventure in a place where you can experience first-hand the moments that shaped history, visit the lavish homes of rulers from centuries ago, and see the lives they once led? Then add the following destinations to your bucket list, where our country’s magnificent castles and picturesque palaces will take you back in time! And when we have seen it all, let’s return under the cover of night, as these magnificent buildings are draped in a palette of light, glittering in the darkness. Take a long walk in the park and look out for the seasonal night-time activities at the venues! Here are the most popular ones!
Budapest environs
Only 30 kilometres from the capital is the Royal Castle of Gödöllő, which was one of Queen Elisabeth’s favourite resting places. The permanent exhibition of the Gödöllő castle comprises 31 rooms, and in the beautifully restored rooms visitors can learn about the entire history of the castle, from the Grassalkovich family who built it, through the royal summer residence, to the present day. In addition to the picturesque Baroque setting, the castle offers a wide range of evening activities in all seasons, so it is not just a great place for an evening stroll.
Don't miss the breathtaking panorama of the Danube Bend from the Visegrád Citadel! This castle, more than 300 metres high, has long played a decisive role in Hungarian history and is now one of the most visited sites in Northern Hungary.
It is perhaps the most striking building in Visegrád, and is often referred to colloquially as the Visegrád Castle, highlighting the cultural significance of the awe-inspiring complex perched atop Castle Hill. Every year, tens of thousands of visitors flock to the Citadel, the highest point in the city, where the terrace offers an extraordinary panorama of the Danube bend and is home to several exciting exhibitions, mainly on the Middle Ages. In the Royal Palace, you can also walk where Beatrix of Aragon and Matthias Hunyadi once held hands. In addition to the walk, this site offers a really special way to enjoy the evening panorama: a boat trip. Anyone who has been lucky enough to sail to the Danube Bend even once will probably never forget the experience: you can admire the enticing summer sunset twice in a few minutes, as the mountain ranges of the Börzsöny and the meandering riverbed even block out the sun. The way the boat glides along the Danube, and slowly the landscape seems to pass us by, as if the mountains and the trees and the small houses are passing by, while the old river is rocking us – a fascinating experience!
Lake Balaton and Western Hungary
The Festetics Castle in Keszthely, now known as the Helikon Castle Museum, was the home of one of Hungary’s most important count and later princely families, the Festetics, for 200 years from the mid-18th century. If aristocratic grandeur is close to your heart, make sure you visit for an evening! Built in the 1880’s, the Palm House, with its exotic plants, has been reminiscent of the orangeries and tropical greenhouses that were part of the aristocratic lifestyle since 2012. The palm house is surrounded by a rock garden, aquarium, garden pond and bird park. The castle park, a nature reserve, was designed by the English garden designer Henry Ernest Milner in the 1880’s and features a restored pond, the Lion Well and fountains, and the Chamber Garden of Princesses.
Not far from Lake Balaton is one of the country’s most beautiful, relatively intact medieval fortresses, the Sümeg Castle, built on a hilltop that stands out high above its surroundings. The evening walk is also worth a visit to the Castle Inn.
Finally, to visit the castle known as the “Hungarian Versailles”, head to Fertőd! The beautiful Baroque-Rococo building of the Esterházy Castle is enchanting in itself, but it’s also worth an evening stroll in the huge French Park, with its fountains, waterfalls and well-kept promenades, and don’t miss the Ornamental Garden, the English Garden, the Rose Garden and the Linden Tree Terrace either!
