Overlanding in Hungary, Ferenc Elekes

Overlanding in Hungary

Hungary is probably not the first country that springs into mind when it comes to planning an overlanding trip.

There are lots of great destinations around Hungary, such as the coast of Croatia, the Austrian Alps or the hidden villages and adventurous trails of Transylvania. The landlocked, relatively flat and densely populated Hungary, however, is not on the Top 10 lists of overlanders.

If you happen to drive through Hungary as part of your London to Singapore adventure though, what are the routes and places to visit that can’t be missed in this country?

Perhaps it takes a bit more research, but in Hungary you can still find amazing places that make overlanding as a travel and lifestyle so appealing.

Due to Hungary’s turbulent, 1000-year long history, there are numerous places in the country that are not only beautiful but also provide some interesting historical facts and anecdotes.

When choosing a destination in this country, for a full experience it’s always good to pay attention to these historical places and plan accordingly, even if you don’t spend too much time here.

Budapest

If you travel to Hungary, Budapest simply cannot be missed, regardless of your travel style. Whether you’re an overlander or a regular traveler, Budapest is a must-see destination.

The city has a huge significance in the country from many perspectives. It’s the center of the economy, the culture, and the history. It attracts more tourists than any other part of the country.

Overlanders can choose the Niche Camping of Zugliget on the western edge, or the Camping Arena on the opposite side of the city. Both are excellent campsites and great starting points to discover what Budapest has to offer.

Budapest became a major tourist destination during the last decade, thus travelers can choose among various organized city tours. However, the center of the city can also be discovered independently just by walking around, or perhaps by renting a bicycle.

Get yourself a great guidebook and get lost in the Castle District on your own. It’s the best way to see Budapest.

From the Bridges of the Danube, through the thermal baths, the Parliament and the Castle District there are countless tourist attractions that are considered as “mustsee”.

This is only just scratching the surface, though. Literally. Immerse yourself in the history of the city further by visiting the Hospital in the Rock. It’s a fascinating museum that will capture your imagination. It functioned as a hospital that was built right into the rocks below the Castle District and later was turned into a nuclear bunker.

Furthermore, the city has a great nightlife with bars and restaurants offering their services at very reasonable prices.

It’s no surprise that Budapest was chosen as the number one European destination by many travel blogs and tourism boards all around the world.

Starting from Budapest, you will find great overlanding destinations within a 1-2 hours reach in every direction. Due to the size and structure of the country and its road system, Budapest can serve as a starting point to discover different destinations in every direction within Hungary.

Bend of the Danube

The Bend of the Danube is literally a 90-degree bend of the river, about an hour north of Budapest. The surrounding hills and villages offer a beautiful view anywhere you go in this area.

Besides the brilliant wild camping options on the river

As you can’t escape history in Hungary, you can continue to learn more in these two towns about battles fought and kings crowned. The area in between provides countless opportunities for other adventures, such as kayaking on the Danube, fishing, hiking or mountain biking.

At the end of the day, you can relax in one of the restaurants in the old town of Visegrad with a cold beer and a grilled trout.

Lake Balaton

If there is any single area or region other than Budapest that can’t be missed in Hungary, it must be Lake Balaton.

Being the largest lake in Central Europe, it offers great activities for all travelers if you decide to spend a few days here. The hills located north of the lake provide breathtaking views while you can enjoy the local cuisine and wine in one of the “csarda”-s, an old, traditional tavern that you can find everywhere in the countryside.

You can visit the monastery on the peninsula of Tihany that was founded in 1055 A.D.

The small town of Tihany is a great place to spend the afternoon and pick up some souvenirs.

Since the lake is completely surrounded by built out areas, towns and villages, it’s hard to find any wild camping opportunities, so your best bet is to find one of the traditional campsites. However, as the lake is immensely popular among local and international tourists, you may need to book a few days in advance.

The Old Steppe-Tower “Pusztatorony”

Driving around the Lake Balaton is a great route on its own, however, once you get to the southwestern corner of the lake, it’s good to take a small detour and visit the Pusztatorony

Once you’re standing in front of the tower, it’s hard to comprehend that it was built in the 12th century. It’s still standing strong and it’s a perfect place to camp for the night.

It’s assumed that it was surrounded by a village in the past, however, today it towers over grain and corn fields. Sunset makes the site a uniquely beautiful place.

From here you can take the country roads either back north towards Budapest or carry on further south to the Mecsek Hills.

Mecsek Hills

Among the Mecsek Hills the area around Orfu, Kovacsszenaja and Magyarhertelend is perfect to find off-road trails and campsites, but if you’re a keen hiker or mountain-biker as well, you will love this region even more.

Hungary is a wine making nation, and arguably the best wines in the country are made on the southern slopes of Mecsek. You shouldn’t miss a wine tasting tour in Villany, if you decided to visit this part of the country.

Mountains on the Northeast

If you drive towards east from Budapest, you can explore the small mountain range in the northeastern part of the country.

Medium sized hills and mountains occupy this region, where the Matra, Bukk and Zemplen provide great terrain for some overland adventures.

Before you get all the way to Zemplen though, make sure to stop in Eger.

In this picturesque town, you can take part in yet another wine tasting tour, but you can also learn about another piece of medieval history.

The fort that dominates the skyline of the little town played an important part in protecting Europe from the Ottoman Empire. In 1552, during the Siege of Eger the defenders successfully repelled the attack of the much larger Ottoman army and thus denied the Empire of further expansion.

You can take an exciting guided tour in the fort, and after a short wander around the Old Town, you can continue further to the Valley of Beautiful Women.

A great windy road through the Bukk going east from Eger will get you closer to another beautiful medieval fort, the Fort of Boldogko.

You will be able to find a great spot for camping right below the fort where the small plateau is overlooking the surrounding area.

Carrying on from here the next day, overlanders can take small country roads driving south, to eventually arrive in the Hortobagy National Park. Wildlife in the park is well protected, as the park managers pay attention to light pollution as well. This has a second benefit as the Park became a dark sky reserve.

It’s the best spot in the country to marvel at the night sky. Once you’ve counted the constellations of the Milky Way, in the morning you can visit the Nine Arch Bridge, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continuing Your Overland Trip

In this eastern part of the country, you’d be in a very good position to carry on further east towards Transylvania. When it comes to overlanding, there are few other places in Central Europe that are similarly perfect as Transylvania. Beautiful mountain ranges with almost untouched areas are easy to find.

However, since Hungary is relatively small, any other surrounding country is easily reachable. Towards south you can plan your adventures on the Balkans, but if you decide to drive north, the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia will take your breath away.

Hungary may not be the best place to find challenging off-road trails, but you will have a chance to get to know a unique culture and long history of a European nation in the heart of the continent. And that’s definitely part of overlanding.

Ferenc Elekes

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