In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Hungary
Eger
Give Eger 1–2 nights: castle, thermal baths and the Valley of the Beautiful Women wine cellars are a full day; a day trip from Budapest is rushed.
Eger is a small baroque town in Heves County, between the Mátra and Bükk hills, about 2 hours by train or bus from Budapest. Its castle, Turkish minaret, thermal baths and red-wine cellars fit into one full day, but the wine valley and baths reward a second night. Most visitors come as a day trip; staying overnight is the better call.
- Country
- Hungary
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot), late Dec–Feb (many sights on shorter hours)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- HUF
- Money
- Currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF, Ft). Cards are widely accepted in Budapest.
- Daily spend
- Budget 12,000–18,000 Ft excl. bed · Mid 18,000–30,000 Ft excl. bed · High 30,000 Ft+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Yettel, Telekom and One (Vodafone) sell prepaid SIMs; passport needed.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Ambulance 104 · Police 107 · Fire 105
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant without service charge: 10–15%, said as you pay.; Restaurant with szervízdíj: Nothing extra.; Taxi: Round up.; Bath masseur: HUF 1,000–2,000.
- Water
- Tap water is safe. Restaurants sell bottled water; ask for 'csapvíz'.
- Toilets
- Public toilets often charge HUF 200–400; carry coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 600–1,200 Ft |
| Goulash soup or a main course | 2,000–4,500 Ft |
| Glass of Egri Bikavér at a cellar | 500–1,200 Ft |
| Thermal bath entry | 2,500–4,500 Ft |
| Castle entry, adult | 1,700 Ft |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | 2,000–3,000 Ft |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 2,000–4,000 Ft |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BUD · Budapest Ferenc Liszt International
- About 2.5–3 h to Eger by train or bus via Budapest; no direct rail link from the airport.
Typical fares
- Train Budapest Keleti → Eger
- about 2 h 20 min direct (odd hours) or IC via Füzesabony under 2 h; about 3,500 Ft (check)
- Bus Budapest Stadionok → Eger
- twice an hour, about 2 h; pay on board, cash in forint (check)
- Taxi station → centre
- about 2,000–3,000 Ft
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is small and walkable, but cobblestones make heels a bad idea. The train station is about a 10-minute walk from downtown; local buses 10, 11 and 12 cover it. A tourist tram runs to the wine valley in season (about 1,200 Ft each way, check). Taxis are useful for the station or outlying hotels.
See and do
Known for
- Eger Castle (Egri Vár)
- Valley of the Beautiful Women wine cellars
- Turkish minaret
- Thermal baths
- Egri Bikavér red wine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bükk mountains (Szilvásvárad, Lillafüred) | Bus or car from Eger; narrow-gauge railway at Szilvásvárad | 1–1.5 h each way |
| Miskolc | Train via Füzesabony, about 1 h by IC | About 1.5 h |
| Budapest | Direct train from Eger (odd hours) or IC via Füzesabony, about 2 h | About 2–2.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (Dobó tér and Basilica area)
- Walk to castle, baths and restaurants; best for a short stay with bags.
- Near the train station
- Cheaper rooms, 10-min walk to the centre; useful for early departures.
- Valley of the Beautiful Women (Szépasszony-völgy)
- Guesthouses among the wine cellars; quiet, 20–30 min walk or a short taxi from the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Jó napotyoh nah-pot |
| Thank you | Köszönömkur-sur-num |
| How much is it? | Mennyibe kerül?men-yee-beh keh-rool |
| The bill, please | A számlát, kéremah saam-laat keh-rem |
| Can I pay by card? | Tudok kártyával fizetni?too-dok kar-tyaa-val fee-zet-nee |
| Where is the toilet? | Hol van a WC?hol van ah vay-tsay |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Jó napot, handshake; avoid: First names with elders
- Names: Family name first when written; avoid: Assuming the second name is the surname
- Toasts: Eye contact; avoid: Clinking beer glasses with older people
- History: Listen; avoid: Joking about Trianon or 1956
- Home visit: Shoes off; flowers or wine; avoid: Refusing food repeatedly
Scams and watch-outs
- Wine-cellar tasting: agree the price and pour size before you start; some cellars are cash only.
- Castle underground passages and some exhibitions are Hungarian-language tours only.
- The castle gate and exhibition hours change by month — check the official site before you go.
- Cobblestone streets and steep paths to the castle; wear flat shoes.
Eger is a safe, small town; the real risks are cobblestones, summer heat and wine-cellar bills with no posted prices — agree the total before you drink.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Eger yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Eger Castle (Egri Vár)
- Valley of the Beautiful Women wine cellars
- Turkish minaret
- Thermal baths
- Egri Bikavér red wine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Eger official tourism site: visiteger.com/en
- Eger city website: eger.hu/
- Wikivoyage: Eger, revision 5286213 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5286213
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/eger). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.