The Best Staycations in Hungary

With worldwide border closures, it’s no wonder that loads of people have turned to domestic travel–if they feel comfortable with travel at all. Over the summer, we were able to explore more of Hungary outside of Budapest, and came away with some pretty special memories! From lazy days at the lake to long weekends touring wineries, there are plenty of options for travelling within Hungary to less crowded and busy areas. Whether you’re an expat in Budapest, or just someone who needs a city break, here are three options for a staycation in Hungary.

Badacsony

When you take the 2 1/2 hour drive from Budapest to Badascony, you’ll be greeted with the sight of rolling hills dotted with family-owned wineries and independent wine bars. Known as the “Tuscany of Hungary”, it’s no surprise that most Badascony vacations revolve around wine.

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I never thought I’d enjoy exercising on a vacation, but it was fun to spend a lazy day walking up and down Romai Út (which literally means Roman Street, but it might as well be called “wine avenue” because of all of the wineries/wine bars it runs past). Cycling is also very popular in the area, if you’d like to bring your own or rent one from one of the surrounding hotels.

For dinner, you can travel uphill (like, alllll the way up) for a gorgeous meal at Rószakő Borpince Vendéglő (the Pink Stone Winery + Restaurant. How cute is that?). The hike up was a little killer, but the view was splendid, the food filling, and the way back down was packed with little wine bars.

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We stayed at Hotel Neptun, and were really pleased with the hospitality, service, and their restaurant (breakfast was included). The room was trendy but a little worn, the wellness area was small and quaint. And my favorite part (besides the food) was that the hotel included a voucher for a 3-course tasting for two at Fata Winery. After dinner at the hotel we were only a few minutes’ walk from the tiny downtown (which is basically just one street), where you can get a latecnite lángos washed down with house made pálinka or local wine.

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Of course, Badacsony is on the lake, but if you visit during a cooler time of year, you’re only a 20 minute drive away from the famous spa town, Héviz. You can keep warm in the giant thermal lake/bath complex, or walk around the cute town.

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Tihany

If you’re looking for a different lakeside location, Tihany can be found on the peninsula of Lake Balaton. This quaint little town is full of thatched-roof houses and lavender everything: Lavender ice cream, lotion, gin…it’s lovely!

As for accomodation, you can choose to stay up near town or down the hill by the lake. As far as accommodation goes, the Houses of History are rich with texture. Staying there is like taking a step back in time (but still with wifi and hot water and things). It’s the best of both worlds with a generous included breakfast.

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If you take the train down (the train ends at Balatonfüred, where you then catch a bus to Tihany), be prepared to walk a bit. If you stay on the hill, it’s about a 25-30 minute walk through forest trails down to the water. Tihany has one main public beach which is very well maintained. It has bars and cafes, but we found it cheaper to buy fröccs supplies (sparkling water and wine) at the one general store in town and make our own instead. I definitely bought the lángos there, though!

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So you’ve had a long, satisfying day at the beach, you’ve taken a nap in your comfy hotel bed, but now the question remains: where to eat? Tihany has a couple of restaurants in town, from the fancy Echo to the forward-thinking Malackrumpli, to a cukraszda with a view. And of course, there are vendéglős where you can feast on traditional Hungarian countryside food.

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Tihany is a perfect place for a peaceful lake staycation in Hungary. Definitely come if you’re more partial to quiet than to wild parties. Up on the peninsula, you’re in a world set apart.

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Eger

Head two hours east of Budapest and you’ll find the famous wine region of Eger. For a more all-inclusive staycation in Hungary, you can check in to the Hotel Villa-Völgy. This cluster of buildings in a lush valley is a small sanctuary, and it’s only a 10 minute drive from Eger’s city center!

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We really felt like we got our money’s worth at the Villa! An all you can eat breakfast and dinner are included, and each night the dinner is themed differently (BBQ, Mediterranean, or Transylvanian, to name a few). In the evening we could enjoy wine on the patio or play board games in the lobby.

Wellness

The wellness area turns the valley into a lush oasis. Suit up with the provided robe and towel and then head down to the pool! You can splash over to the swim-up bar or head to the indoor pool or saunas on cloudier days. I took advantage of the massage discount voucher included with the room.

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Wine Tasting

Downtown Eger is only a 10 minute drive away, but the Villa is only a 10 minute walk from Eger’s #1 wine attraction: Szépasszony-völgy, The Valley of the Beautiful Woman.

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The small valley is filled to the brim with wine cellars, each with its own personality. You can get top notch wine for a cheap price, since this is where it originates. Each pincészet (wine cellar) has its own personality, from trendy, to medieval, to old-school Hungarian. We opted for a classic cellar and settled in on the benches. There was no official wine tasting, but the owner let us try as many as we wanted before we settled on our glasses. Don’t forget to buy a bottle! You’re unlikely to get a better deal anywhere else!

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Just because the borders are closed doesn’t mean the adventures have to stop! There are plenty of opportunities for domestic travel, as you can see. If you’re feeling comfortable and able, I hope you will pick at least one and have a wonderful staycation in Hungary!