Szentendre, Hungary- 10 things that will enchant you

10.07.2023.

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If you decide to visit only one place outside of Budapest, Szentendre would be an awesome choice. Lying on the shores of the Danube river, such an artistic town is a feast to the eyes. Full of lovely bars and restaurants, Szentendre is a delightful retreat of cultural experience.

Szentendre bursts with fascinating places to visit that will inspire you to return. Being a popular destination, Szentendre will unveil to you the artistic charm in pure wonder. Szentendre offers a Mediterranean vibe that blends with Serbian history and Baroque architecture.

Awaking the fairy-tale atmosphere Szentendre is an unforgettable town. The picturesque shine of Szentendre belongs to the creative spirit that comes in abundance.

Discover other fantastic day trips from Budapest here.

1. Marzipan Museum

This cute little museum is the highlight of Szentendre delighting the visitors with the unique exhibition. Szamos Marzipan Museum was founded in the 1930s thanks to Matyas Szamos, the exquisite pastry master. Such unique museum reminds me of Prague and its unusual things to visit.

Fascinating items in the Museum of Marzipan, Szentendre

Parliament in Budapest from marzipan, Marzipan Museum in Szentendre

Blending with caffe and Marzipan shop it’s easily recognizable. Incredible sculptures from marzipan sparkle the creative charm in the faces of royalties and famous buildings.

Take the challenge to visit the breathtaking version of Hungarian parliament building, Disney characters and sweet shine of Princess Diana.

2. Abundance of artistic shine

The flow of art in Szentendre doesn’t cease easily and every corner purely amazes. The street decorations will spell their magical shine on you even in the hidden corners. From the cute pastry shops and bars to textile ones the creative individuals have a fantastic community here.

Cute street decorations, Szentendre near Budapest

Colourful murals of the restaurants, Szentendre

Szentendre is full of the cute shops like this

You can even find the Mexican restaurant in cheerful colours among the Hungarian specialties.

Kovacz Margit Ceramic Museum

Holding an exclusive collection of ceramical art this is one of the most popular attractions in Szentendre. It honours the life of Margit Kovacz (1902-1977), the prominent Hungarian ceramic artist.

More than 300 artworks include plates, pots, statues and tiled murals. The stunning Baroque building that hosts the museum was once a post station. The remake of Kovács’s home inside this stunning museum.

Szentendre Art Mill

Belonging to the Ferenczy Museum Centre, it’s an excellent place to admire the art. An old mill stretched to three floors with fantastic paintings, sculptures and graphics. The modernized form of art is the fruit of Dezső Korniss and Pál Deim, two famous Hungarian painters.

Even if Hungarian culture perfectly unveils at this museum, it hosts many local and international artists.

Ferenczy Museum

Ferenczy Museum is dedicated to the works of the famous Hungarian painter, Károli Ferenczy. Blending inside the Ferenczy Museum Centre you can visit 17 institutions of Szentendre. Impressionism awakens in Hungary with Károli Ferenczy and you will get a comprehensive panorama of cultural shine inside.

3. Cute bars and restaurants

What amazes the visitors to one pretty town if not the cute bars? Szentendre is the perfect place to enjoy the Hungarian delicacies such as the popular langos in all varieties.

Umbrella street in Szentendre & Hungarian chimney cake

Mexican restaurant in Szentendre

Lovely ice-cream shop in Szentendre

The cobblestone streets will pop up the magic and cozy atmosphere. The traditional houses graciously blend with the cuteness of Szentendre. It becomes specially vibrant during the night.

4. The blend of cultures

What makes Szentendre so unique inside the Hungarian panorama is the Mediterranean spirit. It intertwines with the Serbian, Dalmatian and Greek roots.

A bit of history

The Celts and Romans originally take the shape of Szentendre. Ulcisia Castle or Wolf’s Castle was the border they made. In the 9th century, Magyars arrived and created a colony and in the 14th century Szentendre became a Serbian wave of influence. It happened thanks to the Turkish occupation of Hungary.

In the future, Serbians blend with the arrival of Greeks, Dalmatians and others. Soon afterward, Szentendre attracted artists all over Hungary.

The traces of Serbian history can be seen in the Cyrillic letters, Serbian Orthodox churches or names of the streets.

In the 18th century, Szentendre flourished with Serbian influence having six orthodox churches and several Serbian schools. It also shined with the rise of trade using the nearby Danube for transport.

5. Castle Hill

Who would say that such an artistic town holds even a castle? Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to visit it, but loads of charm float with every castle.

The Castle of Szentendre nowadays consists only of the Gothic church of St. John the Baptist. Though the fortress doesn’t exist anymore, the church holds many beautiful frescoes.

The slightly steep hike leads to breathtaking views over Danube river. The marvelous view substitutes the lack of a castle.

6. Christmas spirit even in the spring

Something fabulous about this cute town is finding the cute shops. The incredible feeling of Christmas exists here even in spring.

Christmas Museum & shop in Szentendre

Afterward, I found a Christmas shop even in Salzburg and Split. The rich collection of Christmas items will inspire you to buy something, even if you don’t elebrate Christmas. When speaking of Christmas, discovering Alsace and its fairy-tale shine is a must at your travel bucket list.

7. The relaxing atmosphere of Danube

When you arrive to Szentendre, you’ll be welcomed with the cute shine of cobblestone streets (10 minutes from the train station). Let’s add to these chilling vibes the charm of the Danube that hides behind.

Danube river, Szentendre

Would you like better enjoying your ice cream, langos or chimney cake with the river view or the town’s charm?

Hiring your own kayak is an excellent idea of you want to extend your stay in Szentendre for more than a day. You’ll have a chance to explore more deeply the magic of Szentendre.

Besides the train, it’s also possible to arrive to Szentendre by boat.

8. Szentendre island

Szentendre Island (Szentendrei-Sziget) stretches at the large area between Budapest and Danube bend. Covering 31 km, there’s no shortage of places to visit. It hosts several traditional villages, such as Kisoroszi and Horány. The Lippizan Horse Show is a popular attraction at the island, which takes part of the famous Lippizan farm. It’s your chance to enjoy the typical Goulash soup and other Hungarian delicacies.

The best way to reach the island from Szentendre is through the Tildy bridge. Several ferries also operate either from Szentendre or other places.

Another option is to take a day trip from Budapest.

9. Transporting into the 70s

Szentendre offers a hidden treasure to take you back in time. Retro Design Centre holds a stunning collection of items that will catch your attention. The Soviet era comes alive with cars, toys, television set and kitchen equipment.

10. Easily reachable from Budapest

It takes only 40 minutes to reach Szentendre from central Budapest with the HÉV suburban rail line. Batthyany Square near Fisherman’s Bastion or Margit Hrid are two starting points.

The train station takes place next to the metro M2 red line. Once when you arrive in Szentendre, you might be confused. Take the underpass and in 10 minutes you’ll be in the centre.

The adventurous way to reach Budapest is by boat, which would be possible from April till September. Vigado Square is usually the place of departure at 10,00 am and it goes back at 17,00 from Szentendre. The boat ride takes 1,5h to Szentendre and 50 minutes on the way back.

Wouldn’t be perfect to visit both- Szentendre and Danube Bend together? To make it the most cozy, consider this tour.

Where to stay

If you would like to prolonge the magic of Szentendre with more than a day trip from Budapest, you should choose some of these hotels:

Bükkös Hotel & Spa is a luxurious hotel in the centre of Szentendre, along the Danube promenade. What makes it an awesome stay is a tranquil atmosphere and panoramic view of its terrace. Definitely, the spa enriches the offer.

Matthias Rex bursts with the incredible romantic ambience, luxury of its ornaments and cozy rooms. This historical house shines with th fantastic quality.

Bungalow Park at the Papsizget Island lies nearby the centre, offering wonderful huts and lots of tranquility. With the view of Danube you’ll have your own piece of paradise with plenty of outdoor activities.

Final thoughts

More than a Hungarian pearl, Szentendre is a discovery that bursts with enchantment. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen all the treasure this lovely town offers and that’s what makes me return. Particularly the view from Castle Hill shines with an invite. Who doesn’t dream of a place where art rules?

In the relaxing atmosphere of cobblestone streets, it’s such a coziness to try an ice cream or a chimney cake. It’s kind of place that can match the fairy tale vibes of German towns.

Szentendre is a delightful feast to all senses and probably the prettiest Hungarian town.

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