The seven-hour Budapest – Visegrád – Esztergom – Budapest trip starts from Nyugati train station which can by reached by tram 4 or 6, or metro M2.
Train to Nagymaros departs every hour (the detailed schedule is on Elvira). While waiting for the train you can get the Budapest and Surroundings map from tourist information office which is on the left side of the entrance.
To see the historical sites of Visegrád you will need to take the ferryboat from Nagymaros to the right bank of Danube where the town lies. The ferryboat shuttles between the banks every 40-45 minutes, and it takes about ten minutes to cross the river.
Visegrád is a small town known not only for its historical ruins, but also for picturesque view of the Danube bend and surrounding hills. In the 14th century Visegrád became the seat of royal power and the capital of Hungary. Today the three main historical sites of the town evoke memories of former greatness of Visegrád: the Royal Palace, Solomon's Tower, and the citadel perching on top of the hill. Solomon's Tower is also known for its famous prisoner, Vlad the Impaler, aka Dracula, who was kept here under duress for almost thirteen years, between 1462 and 1475.
To reach the Citadel and to enjoy the gorgeous views you may choose to climb – the slope is not that steep, and it will take you about 40 minutes to get to the top. Or, if you know you are not good at climbing or the weather leaves much to be desired, you may take a taxi. We ordered a taxi in the café by the church, since it started raining rather heavily.
Rain and fog had its benefits though. We saw almost nothing of the Danube below, but were fascinated by the sinister allure of the tourist-less Citadel.
We went to see the display of dust-covered tools and arms of medieval Hungarians in the small museum and torture scenes in the waxwork museum, then wandered in the fog trying to remember how the hills and the river look like in the sunny day, and soon hurried down to catch the bus to Esztergom.
It took us about half and hour to get to Esztergom, and it was already dark when we reached the bus station. It was not very easy to find our bearings in the dark unfamiliar town, but the Basilica, the aim of our trip, looked gorgeous in the night illumination.
Esztergom, the former royal town founded in 973, the first capital of the country and centre of the new religion, is worth visiting because of the Esztergom Basilica, the largest church in Hungary. Today the Basilica is the main church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary.
Esztergom is also a border town – on the left bank of the river Danube there is Štúrovo, the Slovakian town, and to get there you need just to cross the Mária Valéria bridge. It would be cheaper for you to have your dinner in Slovakia.
Our journey ended at about 11 pm where it started, at Nyugati train station.
Expenses of the trip:
1. Train ticket to Nagymaros – 544 HUF
2. Ferryboat ticket – 280 HUF
3. Taxi to Visegrád Citadel – 2000 HUF (City Bus Visegrád. Tel: 06 26 397 372)
4. Citadel admission fee – 800 HUF, 350 HUF for students
5. Bus ticket from Visegrád to Esztergom – 318 HUF
6. Train ticket from Esztergom to Budapest – 544 HUF
7. Food and drinks – it only depends on your appetite and choice. The prices in touristy restaurants (the ones located close to attractions) are the same as in Budapest, and lower in the cafes visited by mostly locals.