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Eger
Eastern Europe and the Balkans · Hungary
Did you know?
- A local museum is devoted to the Beatles.
- Wine cellars offer tastings in the Valley of the Beautiful Women.
- The surviving Ottoman minaret rises 42 metres.
See also
Miskolc
Hungary48.10°N 20.79°E · 131 m
Overview
Eger combines a castle, historic buildings and thermal baths. Wine tasting in the Valley of the Beautiful Women adds a distinctive focus to a stay in Northern Hungary.
Languages: Hungarian
Why go?
Eger is a historic town in Northern Hungary, known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings including the northernmost Turkish minaret, and the best Hungarian red wines from the Valley of the Beautiful Women.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting in
Eger is accessible by train and bus. The train station is about a 10-minute walk from downtown. The bus station is located downtown directly behind the basilica.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting around
The city center is compact and best explored on foot, but cobblestone pavement makes high-heeled shoes inadvisable. Taxi services are available (phones: 555-555; 333-333). A touristy tram runs occasionally from the city center to the Valley of Beautiful Women (1200 Ft each way, June 2023).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to stay
Several camp sites are available along with plenty of small and larger hotels and private rooms all over the town. Notable hotels include Hotel Senator Ház at Dobó tér, Romantik, and Villa Völgy in the Valley of Beautiful Women.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
Eger is famous for its wines, especially in Szépasszony Valley (Valley of the Beautiful Women), where about 200 cellars offer tastings (1 dl from Ft 450–1200, a liter Ft 1200–5000, June 2023). Local specialties include pancake balls and game dishes at Fehér Szarvas Vadásztanya. Budget options include Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant (set menus Ft 1050–1200) and gyros at Széchenyi utca.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Key attractions include the Castle of Eger (adult Ft 1700), the 42-m Minaret (Ft 300), the Basilica of Eger (donation), and the Egri Road Beatles Museum (Ft 2500). The Eger Thermal Bath offers relaxation (adult Ft 2200). Wine tasting in Szépasszony Valley is a must. Horseback riding is available near town (guided route Ft 4000 per hour per person).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day trips
Nearby destinations include castles in Sirok and Kisnána, thermal bath in Egerszalók, open-air museum in Mezőkövesd, hiking in the Bükk Mountains, and the romanesque abbey in Bélapátfalva. Szilvásvárad, 28 km north by train, offers the Szalajka Valley with waterfalls and a Lipizzaner stud farm.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
From Eger, onward travel options include castles in Sirok and Kisnána, Egerszalók for bathing and wine, the open-air museum in Mezőkövesd, hiking in Bükk, and the romanesque abbey in Bélapátfalva.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- eat
Egri Érseki Kollégium Étterrem
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Express Önkiszolgáló Étterem
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Fehér Szarvas Vadásztanya
Offers excellent game dishes. Not the cheapest in town, but the meals are excellent and the atmosphere is unique--although locals are rare here, compared to tourists. Interior is full of mounted animals--which not everyone may like. Menu in English, Finnish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian (translations may vary in minor aspects). Saddle of venison (Ft 3150, cooked with truffles) is very tender, absolutely recommended. The hunter's favourite (Ft 2680) is amazing in matching four sauces to four kinds of meat. Goose Ragout Soup (Ft 680) is quite interesting, and served in a bread.
Recorded price: Mains Ft 1500-3500
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant
Recorded price: Set menus Ft 1050-1200
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Gyros
They serve a mix of Hungarian and Greek cuisine. It's not very expensive, rather oily, but the portions are quite big.
Recorded price: Mains Ft 800-1800
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Il Padrino Pizza Club
They advertise themselves as having premium Italian pizzas with the cheese and ham coming from Italy.
Recorded price: Pizzas Ft 1000-2000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Macok Bisztró
Previously known as Imola Udvarház, it was selected as one of the top 12 restaurants in Hungary in 2009. A good selection of wines from Eger and Tokaj wine regions.
Recorded price: Mains Ft 1900-5000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Marján Cukrászda
Much more modern compared to Dobos, still quite luxurious interior with striped chairs and marble tables. Be careful with the cocoa--really large cups.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Accommodation
Wide range from campsites to hotels; no shortage of options.
Food
Csárda in Valley of Beautiful Women offer local wines and dishes. Pancake balls are a specialty.
Language
Hungarian is official; English spoken in tourist areas but not always.
Money
Currency is Hungarian Forint (HUF). Credit cards accepted in most hotels and restaurants, but cash is needed for smaller vendors and wine cellars.
Transport
Train station is a 10-minute walk from center. Tourist tram to wine valley costs 1200 Ft each way.