Itinerary

1. Day 1: Budapest to Keszthely to Hévíz (200 km)

   • Keszthely is the largest town by Lake Balaton. Its main highlight is the Festetics Castle, one of the most beautiful baroque palaces of Hungary. The castle astonishingly avoided damages during the Second World War, and it has been serving as Helikon Castle Museum since 1974. Its library of 100 000 volumes is the only complete aristocratic collection in Hungary to have been left intact.

   • In the Helikon Castle Museum, we visit the beautifully restored and furnished rooms, the Library, a Hunting, a Carriage and a Historical Railway Model exhibition, the House of the Balaton Wines and take a walk in the huge, romantic park.

   • Have a walk then in the charming, baroque downtown of Keszthely, and in the early afternoon, you can enjoy a real Hungarian fish soup or a fish- specially made from Balaton fishes, before taking the waters in the bath of the famous Lake Hévíz.

   Overnight in Héviz.

2. Day 2: Hévíz to Pankasz to Őriszentpéter to Szalafő to Körmend to Sümeg (190 km)

   • After breakfast, we drive to Pankasz and look at the bell tower, a typical structure of Őrség and the working smithy. From there we go to Őriszentpéter, the “capital” of  Őrség. It is part of the Őrség National Park. The characteristic layout of scattered settlement in "small districts" (szeres) can be studied in the town. The collection of local history, which can be found in the Community Centre, comprises remarkable items of folklore and folk art in this region.

   • The Catholic Church was built around 1230 in Romanesque style. The remains of medieval brick-works can be seen near the church. Its old avenue of lime trees near the centre of the town is protected. (Every year, the Őrség Folklore Fair is traditionally held on the last weekend of June.)

   • Continue to Szalafő, the most archaic settlement in Őrség. Visit the Reformed Church, the Szalafő Country House and the Outdoor Museum.

   • At lunchtime, you can taste the famous Szalafő Pálinka and pumpkin seed oil.

   • After resting, we go through Felsőmarác to Körmend. The town is especially well known for its castle, which used to belong to the Batthyány family, one of the most important aristocratic families of Hungary. Blessed Ladislaus Batthyány-Strattmann (1870–1931), a famous ophthalmologist who was beatified by the Catholic Church, lived in the castle with his family for nearly 10 years. He turned one of the wings of the castle into an ophthalmology clinic where he treated poor patients free.

   • Drive to Sümeg. Go for a walk, sightseeing, enjoy some free time and then have dinner.

   Overnight.

3. Day 3: Sümeg to Veszprém to Székesfehérvár to Budapest (180 km)

   • Have breakfast, then visit the Sümeg Castle built in the mid or late 13th century by Béla IV of Hungary. The Castle is situated atop a mountain called "Castle Hill". During its existence, it has been expanded several times. In the 15th century, it was fortified, and the second of two towers was built. It has been under siege several times. Later we got to Veszprém, the town of queens.

   • The formal Royal Fortress stood on the 40m high and 500m long dolomite rock backbone in the 11-13th century. Today we can find the Baroque Castle District there.

   • Take a walk, visit the Archbishop's Palace and the Cathedral, have a beautiful view over the Valley of the Stream Séd, walk down to the Old Town Square.

   • Free time in the beautiful downtown. 

   • continue to Székesfehérvár, which is closely linked with the beginnings of the Hungarian monarchy as hardly any other town. It is the oldest seat of the monarchy and possesses the former coronation church of the Hungarian kings.

   • Székesfehérvát situated between the foothills of the Bakony Forest and the Velencei Mountains has a well-preserved inner town, which is almost provincial Baroque in appearance with numerous places of interest.

     • Dinner (optional).

   • Back to Budapest.