Szentendre
Eastern Europe and the Balkans · Hungary
Did you know?
- A confectionery museum recreates Parliament and the Royal Crown in marzipan.
- The Skanzen preserves authentic buildings brought here from across Hungary.
- Blagovestenška Church dates to 1752 and contains intricate icons.
See also
Visegrád
Hungary47.78°N 18.97°E · 110 m
Nagymaros
Hungary47.79°N 18.96°E
Verőce
Hungary47.83°N 19.03°E
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Budapest
Hungary47.49°N 19.08°E · 117 m
Vác
Hungary47.78°N 19.13°E · 146 m
Overview
Szentendre's houses and churches reflect the Serbian refugees who settled here. Its artist community fills the town with small galleries.
Languages: Hungarian
Why go?
Szentendre is a charming little town whose name means "Saint Andrew," located in the Danube Bend region on the western bank of the Danube, 19 km north of Budapest. The town is famous for its well-preserved houses and churches built in a distinctive Balkan style, as the area was settled by Serbian refugees. Today Szentendre is best known for its thriving artist community—small galleries can be found on virtually every street corner. The town offers a slower pace than Budapest with a warm, cozy atmosphere where right angles and straight lines are intentionally avoided, giving everything a slightly crooked, lived-in charm.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting there
Szentendre is easily reached by the H5 HÉV suburban railway from Batthyány tér (connected to the M2 red metro line) in Budapest, with trains departing every 10-30 minutes and taking 40 minutes. Buses leave daily from Budapest's Újpest-Városkapu metro station (blue line), taking 25-30 minutes. From May to September, riverboats operate daily from Budapest's Vigadó square or Batthyány square for Ft 2000. There are also direct bus connections from other Danube Bend towns including Esztergom (about 1.5 hours) and Visegrád (about 45 minutes).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get around
The HÉV station and bus terminal are located next to each other, about a ten-minute walk from Fő tér (the main square) in the center of town. Once at Fő tér, Szentendre is easily covered on foot. For visiting the Skanzen (Hungarian Open-Air Museum), buses leave roughly every hour from stop 7, with tickets costing Ft 230 when purchased in advance or Ft 300 from the driver.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When to go
Szentendre can be visited year-round, though in winter many non-tourist shops close as early as 15:00 on Saturdays. The summer season (April-October) brings the most activity, with extended museum hours and riverboat services. Hot wine is extremely cheap in winter, making it a cozy off-season destination for those interested in art and culture.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to stay
Szentendre offers several accommodation options along the Danube. Hotel Panzió 100 is a family-run hotel in a wonderful landscape along the river. The Kentaur Hotel is located in the heart of town also along the Danube. For a quieter stay, Szent Andrea Pension is in the most beautiful part of Dunakanyar near Pismány mountain. The Wild Grape Guesthouse is 9 km away in Pilisszentlászló village within Duna-Ipoly National Park, offering a hostel-style option. The Bükkös Hotel & Spa is the first 4-star spa hotel in Szentendre's center with various wellness facilities (adults only).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
No visit to Szentendre is complete without tasting the famed marzipan produced there, available at the Marzipan Museum and Confectionery (Dumtsa Jenő u. 14). Rab Ráby (Péter-Pál utca 1/a) is a well-known restaurant decorated like a Hungarian farmhouse, famous for gulyás soup served in a distinctive manner, open 12:00-22:00 daily. Új Művész (Dumtsa Jenő u. 7) near the Marzipan Museum offers moderate prices and good cuisine. For a quick bite, one of the best lángos in the country can be found at a small counter along the river path when cycling from Budapest. In winter, hot wine is extremely cheap throughout town.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Szentendre is a museum lover's paradise with over 25 galleries and museums. The Hungarian Open-Air Museum (Skanzen) northwest of town features authentic buildings moved from across Hungary, open summer Tu-Su 09:00-17:00 (Ft 800/900 for adults/students). The Blagovestenška Church on Fő tér (Ft 200, daily 10:00-17:00) dates to 1752 and contains intricate icons. The Marzipan Museum and Confectionery displays marzipan versions of Hungarian landmarks including the Parliament and Royal Crown. Art enthusiasts should visit the Czóbel Museum, Barcsay Collection, and Ferenczy Museum Centre. The National Wine Museum (Ft 200 admission, wine tastings from Ft 1500) offers tastings of Hungarian wine regions. Most galleries are free admission, though some charge 600-1400 Ft.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Connectivity
Szentendre's postal code is H-2000. The area phone code is 93 (from within Hungary dial +06 93, from abroad +36 93). The main post office (Kossuth Lajos utca 23-25) is open M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa 08:00-12:00, and offers mobile phone charging, cash withdrawals, stamps, and news.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
From Szentendre, explore other towns in the Danube Bend region. Visegrád (23 km northwest, about 45 minutes by bus) features 15th-century Royal Palace remains. Vác (17 km northeast) is another historic town. Pomáz (6 km southwest) is the entrance to the Pilis mountains. For a longer excursion, take the ferry to Szigetmonostor on Szentendre Island (31 km long, 56 km² area), where Trinity church (1752), Catholic parish (1740s), and Reformed church (1771) can be visited.
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
Langós
one of the best langós in the country (so the locals say). This is just a small counter on your left after the first few pubs when you get to the small path going along the river.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Rab Ráby
This well-known restaurant is popular with tourists, but for a reason: the attractive interior is decorated like a Hungarian farmhouse and the food is quite good. Gulyas soup is what the restaurant is most famous for, and it's served in a funky manner (see photo). Open 12:00-22:00 daily.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Új Művész
Located on one of the main street; moderate prices and good cuisine--although nothing really special found so far.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
'Y' Gallery
Temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists. Apartment Gallery with Hungarian and foreign contemporary and classic paintings and graphics.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
Ars Amandi Panoptikum and Museum of Oldtimer bikes
Recorded price: Ft 600/300
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
Art - Decor Gallery
Temporary exhibitions.
Recorded price: Free
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
ArtMill
The 19th-century building of the former sawmill is one of the most interesting and special exhibition venues in Hungary. Based on an idea of painters Dezső Korniss and Pál Deim, the gallery was opened to the general public on the initiative of For Szentendre’s Art Foundation in cooperation with the Szentendre Architects’ Club in June 1999. The aim of the founders was to establish a modern artists’ center. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions. It is the atmosphere, the diverse, special spaces, and the over one and a half decades of professional history of the ArtMill that makes it a definitive center for contemporary art not only on a local, but also on an international scale. It is the third most important exhibition space in Hungary thanks to its features and its temporary exhibitions visited by a large number of people.
Recorded price: Full-price 1200 Ft 1400 Ft*, reduced 600 Ft 700 Ft* (*Combined ticket: all FMC exhibitions can be visited with the combined ticket.)
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- see
Barcsay Collection
Jenő Barcsay is a decisive artist of 20th-century Hungarian painting and graphic art. A representative of figurative constructivism, creator of mosaics and tapestries, and author of Anatomy for the Artist, Barcsay lived and worked in Szentendre throughout his long life. The museum gives home to temporary exhibitions of Hungarian contemporary art.
Recorded price: Full-price: 1200 Ft, 1400 Ft* Reduced: 600 Ft, 700 Ft*, English, French, German guided tours Ft 20 000 per group max 35 persons
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
Postal code H-2000, phone code 93. Main post office offers cash withdrawals, phone charging, and stamps.
Food
Marzipan is the signature treat—must-try at the Marzipan Museum. Goulash soup at Rab Ráby restaurant. Lángos (deep-fried dough) available along the river. Budget around Ft 2000-4000 per meal.
Money
Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint (Ft). ATMs are available, and cash can be withdrawn at the main post office. Major credit cards accepted at hotels and larger establishments.
Museums
Szentendre has over 25 museums and galleries. Many offer combined tickets (Ft 1200-1400 full, Ft 600-700 reduced). Several galleries are free admission. The Skanzen Open-Air Museum is Ft 800/900.
Shopping
Marzipan products make perfect souvenirs. Many art galleries and folk art shops along the main streets. In winter, shops may close early (15:00 on Saturdays).
Transport
The HÉV from Budapest (Batthyány tér, M2 line) takes 40 minutes and runs every 10-30 minutes. Buses from Újpest-Városkapu take 25-30 minutes. Riverboats operate May-September from Budapest for Ft 2000.