Train to Eger - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Currency: Hungarian forint (HUF). Payment cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants. Cash comes in handy at the market and smaller wine cellars.

• Local transport: you get around the centre of Eger on foot, while the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens and Egerszalók can be reached by bus or taxi.

• How much to go: a weekend (2-3 days) is enough for a city break: you will see the castle, the minaret, the thermal pools and the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens. On the third day you can go to Egerszalók.

• Best time to go: it is best to choose spring (April-May) or early autumn (September). It is pleasant during the day then and there are fewer tourists than in summer.

• Practical tip: Valley of the Beautiful Maidens - wine cellars open mainly in the afternoons and evenings. It is best to plan your visit for the second day of your stay.

The best choice is May or September, when daytime temperatures are 20-24°C and it is easier to visit without the summer heat.

Spring (March-May)

• In March, the daytime temperature is from around 10°C and in May the temperature reaches 22°C.

• The thermal pools are less crowded than in summer.

• April and May are a good time to visit the castle and walk around the centre without the heat.

Summer (June-August)

• The daytime temperature is 28-33°C, and it can be particularly hot in July and August.

• This is the peak of the wine and festival season, and the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens attracts the most visitors in the evenings.

• It is best to come to the thermal pools in the morning, before it gets crowded.

Autumn (September-November)

• September is the time of the grape harvest in the Eger area.

• It is 8-20°C during the day, so it is easier to plan long walks in and around the town.

• After mid-September, tourist traffic decreases significantly and accommodation prices are lower than in summer.

Winter (December-February)

• It is 0-5°C during the day and there are occasional frosts below zero.

• The thermal pools operate all year round, so you can enjoy the hot water outdoors in winter.

• Tourist traffic is low and accommodation prices are among the lowest of the year.

You get to Eger with one change in Budapest - at Budapest-Keleti pályaudvar station or at Budapest-Kelenföld station you take a train to Eger. You change trains only once and the journey from major cities in Poland takes about 7.5 to 10 hours.

From Katowice to Eger

• You travel approximately 5-5.5 hoursto Budapest on a PKP Intercity train.

• In Budapest you change trains to Eger, and this section takes about 2 hours.

• The whole journey takes about 7-7.5 hours.

From Krakow to Eger

• From Krakow Główny train station to Budapest, you travel approximately 5.5-6 hours on a PKP Intercity train.

• After a change in Budapest, you will reach Eger in about 2 hours.

• The whole journey takes about 8 hours.

From Warsaw to Eger

• You will travel approximately 7-8 hours from Warsaw Central Station or Warsaw East Station to Budapest.

• After changing trains in Budapest, you have another 2 hours drive to Eger.

• The whole journey takes about 9-10 hours.

• A variant with an overnight train to Budapest and further travel after a morning change is also possible.

From Wrocław to Eger

• You travel via Budapest with one change.

• You will get to Budapest via Katowice or Krakow and then change trains to Eger.

• The entire journey takes about 9-10 hours.

Seat reservations are compulsory on the foreign section. On the Hungarian section, local rules apply, so check the conditions when purchasing your ticket. You can buy a ticket from Poland to Budapest on Europodróże without creating an account - you will receive it by email and SMS, and 30 minutes before departure you will receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy, the greater the choice of seats. For PKP Intercity tickets, refunds are possible up to 20 minutes before departure and exchanges up to 30 minutes before departure. Please see the refund and exchange policy page for details.

From Eger vasútállomás station you will reach the castle and the Market Square in a few minutes on foot. The centre of Eger is so small that you mainly get around the main attractions on foot.

The exception is the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens (Szépasszony-völgy), which lies outside the centre. You can get there by bus or taxi. In the evening, after a wine tasting, returning by taxi will be most convenient.

The thermal pools in the city centre (Eger Thermal Bath) are within walking distance. If you want to visit the pools in Egerszalók with the natural salt deposits forming white terraces, you need a bus or a taxi. Check the local bus schedule before you go.

Where to stay overnight:

• Thecentre of Eger - the most convenient base, all the main attractions within walking distance.

• The area around the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens - a good choice if you are planning evening wine tastings without returning by taxi.

Eger Castle (Egri vár)

Eger Castle stands on a hill above the town and is one of the most important monuments of the region. Inside, there is a picture gallery and a historical museum dedicated to the defence of the fortress against the Turks in 1552. From the ramparts you will see the rooftops of Eger and the surrounding hills. The tour takes about 1.5-2 hours. There is an entrance fee.

Minaret

The minaret is over 40 metres high and is the remains of a mosque from the Ottoman period. It is one of the northernmost minarets in Europe. A narrow and steep staircase leads to the top. The tour takes about 20-30 minutes. There is an entrance fee.

Baroque Minorite Church

The Minorite Church is considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque monuments in Hungary. The façade and the richly decorated interior are noteworthy. The tour takes about 20-30 minutes. Check on site if entry is free.

Eger Basilica

The basilica in Eger is one of the largest churches in Hungary and represents the classicist style. Inside you will see monumental columns and a large dome. The tour takes about 30-45 minutes. Entrance is free of charge.

Thermal pools (Eger Thermal Bath)

The thermal pools in the city centre combine indoor and outdoor parts and relaxation zones. The water has therapeutic properties and the complex operates all year round. It is worth spending about 2-3 hours for a visit. There is an entrance fee.

Valley of the Beautiful Maidens (Szépasszony-völgy)

The Valley of the Beautiful Maidens has dozens of wine cellars hollowed out of natural caves. Here you will taste Egri Bikavér, the region's best-known red wine, as well as lighter white wines. Admission to the cellars is free, and you pay for the tasting. The visit is best planned at the end of the day.

Plan for day 1

Morning - Eger castle and minaret. Start at the castle before it gets hot and organised groups arrive.

Midday - Minorite church and basilica. You can plan to have lunch at a restaurant on the Market Square along the way.

Afternoon - thermal pools. This is a good time to relax after sightseeing.

Evening - Valley of the Beautiful Maidens. Wine tasting and dinner in one of the taverns.

Plan for the weekend (2 nights)

Day 1: Arrange the same as the 1-day plan.

Day 2: In the morning drive to Egerszalók, where you will see the thermal pools with natural salt deposits forming white terraces. In the afternoon return to Eger, walk the side streets of the centre and have dinner outside the touristy Market Square.

What to eat

Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood) - the most famous red wine from the region. You can try it in the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens or in restaurants in the centre. As a starter, you can also order Muscat Ottonel - a light white wine with a floral aroma.

Goulash (gulyás) - a thick beef soup with peppers, potatoes and vegetables.

Fish soup (halászlé) - spicy soup with lots of paprika and chunks of fish.

Lángos - fried dough with cheese and cream, sometimes also with garlic. You can buy them at markets and stalls for a few zlotys.

Restaurants near the castle and Market Square have higher prices. A few streets away the bill will be lower and the menu is still based on local cuisine.

Souvenirs

• Egri Bikavér - bottles of the region's best-known red wine, available in the Market Square and along the main streets.

• Hungarian ceramics - wares with traditional motifs, a popular souvenir from the region.

• Paprika products - ground, smoked and in pastes, some of the most popular souvenirs from the area.

Eger is cheaper than Budapest. Amounts are for a weekend (2 nights) and are indicative - converted to PLN with the fluctuating forint exchange rate.

Budget - hostel or guesthouse, food in bars and at the market, thermal pools and 1-2 paid attractions. In the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens entry to the cellars is free, and you pay for the wine.

Medium - three-star hotel or apartment, lunch and dinner in restaurants near the centre, castle, thermal pools and wine tasting in the Valley of the Beautiful Maidens.

Comfortable - four-star hotel with its own thermal pool, dinners in restaurants overlooking the castle, private wine tasting and taxis to further attractions.