 | Esztergom Things To Do | Tips 21 - 30 of 62 |  |
Popular Things To Do | Other Things To Do Tips | All Tips (62) It takes an hour and a half by train or bus from Budapest although I'm sure it would take a lot less by car. It makes a perfect day trip but it is not worth staying longer as there isn't that much to do.
If you come by train you arrive a little way out from the centre, but you can easily walk (there is a map by the bus stop outside) or you can catch a bus. It is an easy and quick walk: about 15-20 minutes. The walk takes you through quiet residential streets for the most part.
when you see the church in the photo you know you are near. The yellow dome shaped church is called Szt. Anna (St. Anna's). Leave a Comment
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This is the largest church in Hungary and the 3rd largest in Europe. It is also the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary dedicated to Saint Mary the Assumption and Saint Adalbert. The basilica is also known for Bakócz Chapel (named after Tamás Bakócz).
For people interested in acrostics it has a reverberation time of more than 9 seconds.
The architectural style is neoclassical and was completed in 1869 although it existed for a lot longer than that, in fact it was built on the site of other churches.
There is a museum inside although I did not enter.
The view of the Danube and the town of Esztergom below is stunning and it is well worth climbing up to the Basilica just to see it. Leave a Comment
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I really loved this square situated in the middle of the town. It is really pretty and certainly worth seeing and maybe stopping of to have a drink in one of it's cafe's. We sat by the fountain to cool of in the shade and take in the beauty of the old buildings.
The main style of the square is Baroque. Leave a Comment
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One of the best things about Esztergom is that fact that it is situated at the edge of the Danube on the right bank of the river. Directly across from it, on the left bank, you change countries and find yourself in Slovakia.
You can take a ferry across the river in the summer months, but even better, you can simply take a short walk across the Mária Valéria bridge, past the now disused border control.
At the other side you end up in Sturovo which is a small and not very interesting Slovakian town. But for me it was good enough just to be in a different country in the space of 10 minutes. We decided to eat lunch there as there wasn't much to look at. The best view in the town is looking back across the water at Esztergom and the imposing buildings perched on a small hilltop.
The Maria Valeria bridge was originally built in 1895 but was destroyed by the retreating Germans in the WWII and rebuilt only very recently in 2001 with the help of the European Union. Leave a Comment
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Another great but not very time consuming thing to do is walk around the old streets. They are really nice, however it is a small town. The part directly below the basilica is really nice, by the old church.
I believe this part of the town is called the Watertown, possibly because it is by the Danube and the mini Danube rivers. Leave a Comment
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Apart from being on the banks of the famous Danube (Duna in Hungarian) it is also on the banks of the Kis-Duna (little Danube too). It certainly isn't as impressive as the Duna itself but It makes for a really pleasant walk under the leafy trees, especially in autumn, as you can see from the photo.
On the Kis-Duna you will see a few boats and even some houseboats, although it is very shallow looking. Leave a Comment
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I was only in the town for a few hours but I left with the impression that the cathederal is what most people come for. If I recall correctly, it was rebuilt in the 18th century. Great views can be enjopyed from the roof (photo of view on main Esztergom page) Leave a Comment Directions: Overlooks the river, impossible to miss!
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The bridge, originally built in 1895, was destroyed in World War 2 by the retreating German troops.
The ruins had been standing there above the river Danube for many decades until October 2001, when the newly completed bridge was inaugurated. The bridge has thus reconnected Esztergom with the Slovakian town of Parkany, which was once also a part of Hungary. Leave a Comment
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Over looking the Danube is the city´s 19-century dome-topped cathedral. It is thought to be one of the most beautiful churches in Hungary.
The dome has an inner height of 235 feet and the interior is painted with all kinds of beautiful frescos. Leave a Comment
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The little climb on the stairs through the park on the left side of the basilika is much nicer than driving up just in front Leave a Comment
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