Eger, Hungary: travel guide
A baroque town with a castle, a minaret and a famous red wine
Baroque town in northern Hungary famed for its hilltop castle, Ottoman minaret, thermal baths and the Bull's Blood (Egri Bikavér) red wine of the Valley of the Beautiful Women.
About Eger
Eger is a small baroque town in northern Hungary, set beneath hills and best known for its castle, which held out against an Ottoman siege in the sixteenth century. A slender Ottoman minaret still stands in the town, one of the northernmost in Europe.
Things to do in Eger include walking the castle walls, strolling the cobbled centre and visiting the thermal baths. The town is also a wine centre, and the Valley of the Beautiful Women on its edge is lined with cellars where you can taste the local Bull's Blood red.
Eger suits slow weekend trips and wine lovers, and combines well with a stay in Budapest. Late spring and autumn, during the wine harvest, are especially pleasant.
- Country
- Hungary
- Currency
- HUF
- Time zone
- Europe/Budapest
Last updated
Top places to visit in Eger
Eger Castle (Egri vár)
castle · about 2 h · entry Ft3,600 (≈ ₹1,050)
Hilltop fortress that famously repelled the 1552 Ottoman siege; houses the István Dobó Castle Museum, casemates and heroes' hall.
Eger Minaret
ottoman · about 0.5 h · entry Ft700 (≈ ₹200)
40-metre Ottoman minaret, the northernmost surviving in Europe; a narrow 97-step spiral climb rewards with rooftop views.
Eger Basilica (Cathedral)
cathedral · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate
Monumental neoclassical cathedral, the second-largest church in Hungary, with a grand organ heard at summer recitals.
Dobó István Square
square · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Baroque main square framed by the Minorite church and the statue of the castle's defenders, the social heart of Eger.
Lyceum & Magic Tower
historic-building · about 1 h · entry Ft2,500 (≈ ₹730)
Grand 18th-century Lyceum with a frescoed library, historic observatory and a working camera obscura in the Magic Tower.
Archbishop's Garden (Érsekkert)
park · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Landscaped public park behind the Lyceum, a leafy retreat with promenades and a summer open-air pool.
Valley of the Beautiful Women
wine · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Horseshoe of cellars carved into the hillside where Egri Bikavér and other regional wines are poured straight from the barrel.
Things to do
- Valley of the Beautiful Women wine tasting Wine · 2.5 h · from HUF 9,000 per person
- Eger thermal bath day Spa · 3 h · from HUF 4,200 per person
- Eger Castle guided tour & casemates Tour · 1.5 h · from HUF 4,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Eger castle, minaret & wine day 6 h · from HUF 14,000
Where to stay in Eger
- Belváros (Old Town) about HUF 35,000 per night
Baroque core around Dobó Square, walkable to the castle, minaret and cellars.
- Castle District about HUF 30,000 per night
Quiet lanes right below the fortress with panoramic guesthouses.
Hotels
- Hotel Senator-Ház 3-star · HUF 28,000 to HUF 45,000 per night
- Retúr Wine & Bed Hostel 2-star · HUF 7,000 to HUF 22,000 per night
- Hotel Eger & Park 4-star · HUF 35,000 to HUF 70,000 per night
Where to eat
- Macok Bistro & Wine Bar Hungarian, European · about HUF 9,000 per person
- Bikavér Borház Hungarian · about HUF 7,000 per person
- Palacsintavár Hungarian · about HUF 4,500 per person
- Depresso Café Cafe · about HUF 2,500 per person
Getting to Eger
Nearest airport: Budapest (BUD), about 99 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
How visitors arrive in Eger
- Budapest to Eger on MÁV line 1052 By train from Budapest · common · unconfirmed
MÁV's timetabled line 1052 runs Budapest, Gödöllő, Hatvan, Gyöngyös and Eger; check whether your service is train or coach in the EMMA planner. Source: mavcsoport.hu
Getting around
- Bus
Local buses link the train station with the town centre, and timetables for outlying areas are posted at the main bus station behind the basilica.
- Taxi useful for some trips
Taxis are available in Eger, which is handy from the train station or for a hotel outside the compact, walkable town centre.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Overpriced cellar pours
Valley of the Beautiful Women
Some cellars quote higher per-glass prices to tourists than the posted local rate.
How to avoid it: Ask the price per deci before ordering and compare a couple of cellars.
Best time to visit Eger
- Jan 2°C
- Feb 5°C
- Mar 11°C
- Apr 17°C
- May 22°C
- Jun 25°C
- Jul 28°C
- Aug 28°C
- Sep 22°C
- Oct 16°C
- Nov 9°C
- Dec 3°C
More in Hungary
Frequently asked questions about Eger
- What are the main places to visit in Eger?
- Places covered in our Eger guide include Eger Castle (Egri vár), Eger Minaret, Eger Basilica (Cathedral), Dobó István Square, Lyceum & Magic Tower.
- Where should I stay in Eger?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Eger: Belváros (Old Town), Castle District.
- How do I get around Eger?
- Ways to get around Eger covered in our guide: City bus, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Eger?
- Scams reported to us for Eger include Overpriced cellar pours. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Eger?
- Average daytime highs in Eger run from 2°C in Jan to 28°C in Aug.