Overview
Gödöllő's Grassalkovich Palace was a summer residence of Franz Josef and Queen Elizabeth, known as Sisi. The Baroque estate gives the city a strong focus on royal history.
History · Architecture · Day Trips
Did you know?
- Sisi and Franz Josef used the Grassalkovich Palace as a summer residence.
- A U-shaped Baroque stable castle was built for Count Grassalkovich's daughter.
- Máriabesnyő combines a pilgrimage church with the Grassalkovich crypt.
Why Go?
Gödöllő is a compact city of 32,000 people in Pest County, Hungary, roughly 30 km east of Budapest. Its primary draw is the Grassalkovich Palace, a magnificent baroque estate that served as the summer residence of Emperor Franz Josef and Queen Elizabeth (affectionately known as Sisi). The palace ranks among Hungary's most visited royal monuments. The city is ideal for travelers seeking a cultural day trip without the crowds of Budapest, offering imperial history, baroque architecture, and a peaceful small-town atmosphere.
Getting In
Gödöllő is easiest reached by the HÉV suburban railway (H8 line) from Budapest's Örs vezér tere station, with direct trains taking about 45-50 minutes. The main station is connected to the HÉV terminus, a 7-minute walk to the palace and 9 minutes to downtown. Bus connections include services from Vácrátót, Eger (via Hatvan and Gyöngyös), Szolnok (via Jászberény), and Tura (via Aszód). Bus Station (Gödöllő autóbusz-állomás) is at Szabadság u. 8, east of the Palace, with ticket offices open M-F 06:00-18:00, Sa 06:00-14:00, Su 06:30-14:30.
Getting Around
Most main sights cluster within walking distance of Szabadság tér. HÉV suburban trains cost Ft155 per ticket for travel within Gödöllő. The free municipal bus runs hourly between the train station, downtown, and Tesco. A complete local bus schedule is available at Volánbusz's website.
When to Go
The palace is open April-October daily 10:00-18:00, with extended hours until 17:00 for ticket sales. Winter hours (late October-December) are reduced to M-F 10:00-16:00, Sa-Su 10:00-17:00. The falconry and archery show runs only from May 15-September on Sundays at 15:00. Spring and early autumn offer pleasant weather for exploring the palace gardens and parks. Christmas (December 27-January 4) brings special holiday openings.
Where to Stay
Gödöllő is close enough to Budapest that most visitors return to the capital the same day. If staying overnight, Sissi Pension (Dózsa György út 36) offers free WiFi and is located north of downtown. Galéria Restaurant and Pension (Szabadság tér 8) provides reasonable prices and a central location with traditional Hungarian dining on-site.
Food and Drink
Dining options in Gödöllő are modest but functional. Szélkakas Étterem (Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 27) serves good Hungarian fare in a pleasant atmosphere, though reservations are recommended on weekends. Yellow Pub és Étterem (Dózsa György út 64) offers traditional Hungarian dishes and beer with half-price dinners after 21:00. For quick bites, Pizza Max Caffe (Dózsa György út 36) provides thin or thick crust pizzas with soups and sandwiches. Pizza Fortuna delivers throughout the city but lacks seating. Palace Cafe, on the ground floor of the castle, offers coffee specialties, cookies, cakes, and teas.
Day Activities
The City Sports Arena (SZIA Sportcsarnok) on the university campus offers volleyball and other sports (Ft300). The City Movie Theatre next to the Town Museum shows 2-5 films daily with cheaper prices than Budapest and Tuesday-Wednesday discounts. Trafó Club next to Palotakert HÉV stop is the city's only club, featuring local DJs and tribute bands on weekends. The Gödöllő Land Protected Area within Duna-Ipoly National Park offers biking, walking, horse riding, and hunting opportunities.
Safety
Gödöllő is a generally safe suburban city with low violent crime. Standard urban precautions apply: guard valuables in crowded areas and near tourist sites. The HÉV and bus stations are well-lit during operating hours but can feel quiet late at night. Police presence is visible in the downtown Szabadság tér area.
Budget Planning
A day trip to Gödöllő from Budapest costs approximately Ft2,000-3,000 for transport (round-trip HÉV), Ft2,200 for palace admission, Ft1,000-2,000 for meals, and Ft500-1,000 for additional attractions. Budget travelers can explore the palace exteriors, gardens, and free sights like the Peace Gong, Saint Mary Column, and town churches at minimal cost. The free municipal bus reduces local transport expenses.
Day Trips
Máriabesnyő Pilgrimage Temple, 3 km from center and reachable by train to Máriabesnyő station, is the only two-story baroque temple in Hungary. The Basilica Minor houses the only Virgin Mary Museum in the country, plus the Grassalkovich crypt and monastery wine-tasting. The nearby Stable Castle (Babatpuszta) is a unique U-shaped baroque building built for Count Grassalkovich's daughter; visitors can also explore 11 fishing lakes and an organic farm. Aszód, accessible by suburban train toward Hatvan, offers the Podmaniczky Palace and Petőfi Museum.
Go Next
From Gödöllő, travelers can continue east on the M3 motorway toward Debrecen, the 'capital city of the Great Hungarian Plain.' Eger offers historical castle exploration. Hatvan provides another Grassalkovich Palace to visit. Salgótarján features castle ruins and forested hiking in the Cered hills. The H8 HÉV line connects back to Budapest, while buses serve Vácrátót, Eger, Szolnok, and surrounding towns.
Guide text adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to start
Eat
Palace Cafe
Coffee specialties (six types), cookies and cakes specialties (ten types), Ticolino teas.
Eat
Pizza Fortuna
Good, cheap pizza in a residential neighbourhood. The only drawback is they don't have anywhere to sit and eat. They deliver everywhere in the city.
Eat
Pizza Max Caffe
Quality pizziera gives you the choice between thin and thick crusts and also offers soups and sandwiches. On top of that they'll give you a bowl of peanuts to munch on while you wait.
Eat
Pizza Palazzo
A bar/pizzeria. They put little tomato sauce on the pizza and expect you to make up the difference with ketchup. Not the best in town.
Eat
Szélkakas Étterem
Good atmosphere with typical Hungarian fare. It can get fairly busy on weekends, so reservations may be needed.
Eat
Yellow Pub és Étterem
Traditional Hungarian dishes and beer. After 21:00, dinner is half-priced.
See
Arboretum
There are many old trees and buildings in the area, as this used to be part of the palace complex. The Arboretum, used to be the most important arboretum in Hungary. Today the arboretum lies on a territory of 350 ha, the park part of which is covered by easily accessible walking paths. The visitor will find more than seven hundred varieties of tree species, 110 of which are Pinaceae and the rest are decidious tree species. The arboretum also hosts a number of scientific researches in forestry. Near the arboretum there is a unique museum for the Apiarian Collection. Visitors please check in before visiting.
See
Aszód
Evangelistic Church in Aszód (Csengery utca 1., Phone: +36 30 9521963), Podmaniczky palace - Széchenyi mansion (Szabadság tér 8.,Phone: +36 28 500666), Petőfi Museum (Szontágh lépcső 2.,Phone: +36 28 500650, fax: +36 28 500651, apm@invitel.hu)
Before you go
Accommodation
Limited accommodation options exist; most visitors stay in Budapest and day-trip. Sissi Pension and Galéria Restaurant and Pension are the main options.
Connectivity
Hungarian mobile providers (Telekom, Vodafone, Telenor) offer prepaid SIMs with data packages. Free WiFi available at Sissi Pension and some cafes.
Food
Restaurants cluster around Szabadság tér and Dózsa György út. Hungarian fare is standard; pizza places offer budget alternatives. Palace Cafe is convenient for refreshments during sightseeing.
Money
Hungarian Forint (Ft) is the local currency. OTP Bank ATM at Szabadság tér 12-13 operates 24 hours. Major credit cards accepted at hotels and larger restaurants.
Safety
Gödöllő is generally safe. Standard precautions against pickpocketing near tourist sites and train stations apply.
Transport
HÉV suburban train (H8) from Budapest Örs vezér tere takes 45-50 min and costs Ft155 within Gödöllő. Free municipal bus runs hourly between train station and downtown.
