This walking holiday is leading through the Bükk National Park, one of the most beautiful areas of Hungarian countryside.
Starting from the lovely baroque town of Eger, you’ll walk among vineyards and shady forests, presenting rich fauna and flora, characteristic of the Hungarian highlands. Creeks, caves, lakes and waterfalls – so much to explore!
It is a moderate walking holiday from spring with its wildflowers through the warm summer to colourful autumn.
Accommodation in the valleys and villages of Hungary
Along your walking holiday you will stay in comfortable hotels or panzios with ensuite bathroom at each place.
Buffet breakfast, picnic lunches and dinners at the accommodation are included on walking days (Day 3 to 7). For details see the itinerary. All the meals are local specialities, using regional products.
Walking in the Hungarian highlands
Some highlights: Budapest, ‘Pearl of the Danube’ – Eger: castle, turkish bath and wine cellars – Szilvásvárad: trout farm and waterfall – Lillafüred: lake, castle hotel and caves – Miskolctapolca: cave bath. Don’t miss the fiery Eger wines, either!
Hungarian Paradise walking holiday itinerary
You will get a walking map (1:40 000) and detail maps (1:25 000), marked with different colour for each day, plus a detailed tour description, referring to the colour marking.
Day 1 – Budapest
Welcome to Budapest! Depending on flight time you may have time to explore the city in the afternooon. Budapest is the ‘Pearl of the Danube’ with grand buildings and sweeping bridges. It is a particularly busy city, full of history. If you have time, let yourself be tempted by the thermal baths, including the famous Gellért, which will not fail to impress you. The Fishermen’s stronghold on Buda’s hill will offer you a splendid sight of the Danube, the impressive Chain Bridge and magnificient architecture of the Parliament. Enjoy the many coffee bars and be entertained by the wonderful Hungarian folk musicians.
Accommodation in Budapest
Day 2 – Eger
Today you take the train to Eger (appr. 2hrs), where you will spend the night. Eger is one of the oldest Magyar settlements in Hungary and flourished as Renaissance centre. The centre of town is overlooked by a fortified castle worth a visit. You will also see the splendid central basilica and, by walking the pedestrianised streets, you can discover the baroque charm of the city. Once in Eger, you must taste the fiery Eger wines and visit the Turkish bath.
Accommodation in Eger (Meals: B, D)
Day 3 – Felsőtárkány
The walking tour starts today, by leaving Eger on a path eastward. It takes you into the Hungarian countryside and the Bükk National Park. You will walk in the middle of the vineyards and other local cultures. The area is famous for having the best watermelons of Europe! You will cross several rivers and will shortly arrive at the village of Noszvaj, known for its many wine cellars. The place is charming and encourages a break by the waterside. You will then set out again north-west in an increasingly wooded zone in order to reach Felsőtárkány, a lovely village full of vine-laden gardens and parks, which will be your stop for the night. You will find a superb small lake, Szikla, in the middle of luxuriant vegetation. Approximately 17 kms of walking.
Accommodation in Felsőtárkány (B, L, D)
Day 4 – Szilvásvárad
After a copious Hungarian breakfast, you start your second walking day. This area is particularly rich in game, where the largest specimens of stags and wild boars in Europe live free. The luckiest will even be able to see moufflons. Leave Felsötárkány and walk along the river under the cover of beeches and oaks as you enter the woods. A few kilometres further, after having passed the watershed, you will reach a small lake. From here, a path leads to a prehistoric cave (Istállóskő) where the remains of a cave bear were found. On the way, an open-air museum of nature is accessible for free. The highlight of today, in the valley of Szalajka creek, which has several lakes and cascades, is the ‘Veil cascade’ running out as a staircase, thus offering a unique spectacle to hikers. Szilvásvárad is a real paradise for nature-lovers, with Lippizan stud barn, trout pond, forest train and many more sights. Approximately 18 kms of walking today.
Accommodation in Szilvásvárad (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Jávorkút
Szilvásvárad is best known for its breeding of Lippizan horses which are of splendid white colour at adulthood. Today you’ll pass the winter home of the stud at Csipkéskút. Your route will take you through bicentennial forests of beeches, near soldiers’ tombs, which are sad memories of the past wars. You will also see limestone furnaces, for a long time left in a state of neglect. Some views will offer you splendid panoramas and you might see the eagles and falcons which populate the area. Jávorkút, your place for overnight, offers the only karst source of the Bükk Plateau. Approx.15 kms, mostly uphill walk today.
Accommodation in Jávorkút (B, L, D)
Day 6 – Lillafüred
You will cross an astonishing specific karstic area and will have a panoramic sight of the calcareous outcrop. Lillafüred (12kms west of Miskolc) is in the heart of a small wooded valley where two torrents meet before flowing into a lake. The sight of the castle overhanging the lake is like a fairy tale. Here you can rent a small boat and relax on the lake. Lillafüred also has several beautiful cascades under the castle (now a grand hotel) as well as three caves of several hundred metres long, containing impressive stalactites that you can explore in optional guided tours. Approximately 12 kms of walking today and spectacular local walks in and around Lillafüred.
Accommodation in Lillafüred (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Miskolctapolca
This last part of the excursion will bring you closer to civilisation. You will follow the peaks southward, while passing close to Bükkszentkereszt where you turn eastward and descend progressively until Miskolctapolca, a charming residential village, centred around the thermal baths. Discover the Cave Bath, this thermal complex installed in natural caves. After a week of excursions, you can rest here in an agreeably hot and slightly ‘radioactive’ water with all its beneficial effects. Approximately 18 kms of walking today.
Accomodation in Miskolctapolca (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Back to Budapest & departure
Today a transfer is organized to Miskolc station to take your train back to Budapest. Do not arrange your flight for too early!
(B)
Dates and Availability
Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for more information.
Remarks:
- 8 days/7 nights
- 5 walking days – 80 kms to walk in total
- For even more walk and sights: add Day4+ and 6+
- Extra nights on request
- Flexible meal plan
Tour price for 2023:
- € 990.- per person (twin share)
- € 190.- single room supplement
- € 1,200.- solo walker rate
