Autumn in Hungary

Autumn is the best choice if you are planning sightseeing. If you haven’t been to Budapest before, put the Buda Castle, the building of the Parliament, St. Stephen's Basilica and the Heroes’ Square on your bucket list.

The main sights of Budapest can be comfortably visited on foot or by public transport, and autumn is an excellent time to enjoy the pleasant weather, the smaller crowds and the still sufficiently long daylight hours.

If you are planning traditional sightseeing, travel to Debrecen, walk in the Dobó square in Eger, enjoy the unique ambiance of Szeged or wander between the bourgeois houses of Pécs. You will be surprised at the endless abundance of history, stories and legends that is offered by the buildings of Hungary. It is a European place to the core, with the standards of the Western world with the spontaneity of the East.

A really inspiring combination! If you visit the main attractions, you will get an insight into the thrilling history and the rich cultural traditions of Hungary. You can book special tours as well, which accompany you through contemporary galleries, show you the emerging quarters of the city and the most spectacular street art spots.

Sometimes interrupt your sightseeing adventure and enjoy the warm breezes of early autumn in an urban park. The Károlyi garden, located in the centre of Budapest, is an excellent place to experience a few minutes of flow.

As you turn into this small green oasis – known to few – from the busy and buzzing street, you will sense the special ambiance from the first moment. The national parks and arboretums of the Hungarian countryside reveal a lot of themselves at this time of the year. Őrség, Mátra, the lake Balaton area and lake Fertő are also magical at this time of the year.

These couple of months are not only rich and spectacular in terms of the colours, but also very abundant in programmes. The summer tourist season has ended, but the good news is that Budapest and the countryside towns are full of festivals and programmes which are organised primarily for the pleasure of the locals.

There is nothing better than finding yourself in the middle of these events, where you know that every smile is real. The wine terraces are also filled with new energy, and wherever you go there will be wine festivals and grape harvest events everywhere. If there isn’t any wine event going on in the city, the doors of the wine bars are open, where competent sommeliers will familiarise you with the diverse drinks of the Hungarian wine regions. In addition to the well-known names, look for the organic wines of the new generation!

Wine tasting usually goes with home-made ham, cheese, snacks and finger food. You would think that this is a summer genre, but autumn is abundant in street festivals. These can be thematic events or the local celebrations of a specific district. It’s a good opportunity to participate in something that is local and authentic.

Besides the large and spectacular museums, it’s worth paying attention to the programmes of the temporary exhibitions. Are you interested in photography?

There are several permanent places in Hungary where you can see classical or contemporary exhibitions, or view the works of international and Hungarian artists. One of the most exciting ones is a lavishly ornamented building which used to be the most elegant photo studio in Budapest 120 years ago.

The whole building, including every detail, was built in a way that even its tiniest elements remind the visitor of the world of photography. Neo-Renaissance angels are standing over the entrance, each holding a camera in their hands (Mai Manó Ház) In the countryside fortresses, castles and mansions are inviting you. The fortresses of Zemplén – which stands on high cliffs – also provide an opportunity to hike.

The recommendation may sound bizarre at first, but walking in the Fiume Road Graveyard in Budapest as part of a guided walking tour is a really interesting experience. The Jewish Cemetery in Salgótarjáni utca is one of the most special graveyards in Hungary. The final resting place of the elite of the Jewry of Pest at the end of the 19th century is reminiscent of the era of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Hungary is abundant in sweet street statues. At the beginning of Falk Miksa street in Budapest, lieutenant Columbo – i.e. Peter Falk – is scratching his head. The legend considers the American actor to be the descendent of Miksa Falk, famous Hungarian journalist, but that is not a proved fact. Maybe this is the most photographed public statue in Budapest – or perhaps rather the Little Princess Statue sitting on the fence of the Danube promenade?

A sad story is connected with the shoes left on shore of the Danube in front of Kossuth tér. They remind us of the victims who were shot into the Danube during World War II. On Corvin-sétány you will find the statue of Bud Spender, the star of another popular television series: the Piedone films.

There is a new phenomenon, which became popular straight away: the mini-statues of Mihály Kolodko in the capital city make the passers-by smile – if they can find them. A map has been made of the localities of the tiny bronze statues, which bring the figures of iconic Hungarian cartoons and childhood memories to life. In Falk Miksa street, there are galleries and antique shops everywhere – a good spot for some actual or window shopping.

If it’s autumn, it’s time to harvest grape! Tokaj, Eger and Villány and the other Hungarian wine regions – as there is a total of 22 – promise excellent programmes for the harvest period. The best of all, of course, is the tasting of excellent local wines.

Among all Hungarian wines Tokaji Aszú is the best-known: this dessert wine has long tradition, it is special and this is the only place where it is produced. In the towns of Tokaj-Hegyalja and Zemplén Mountains you can expect to have delicious meals besides the wines, a hilly landscape, forts standing on high cliffs and the elements of the countryside life, peace and harmony.

The favourite place of Empress Sisi of Austria. The castle which adapts to the calendar: it has 4 entrances, 12 towers, 52 rooms and 365 windows. The property of the Devil’s Horseman, who rides a horse even on the stairs. The ‘Pouting Castle’, whose Lady was hiding here when she had a quarrel with her husband. Freemason secrets, 3D murals from the 19th century.

The country’s oldest Methuselah trees in the castle garden. The list of the legend could go on, as the list of Hungarian castles, masons and fortresses is also endless. If you don’t want to travel very far from Budapest, visit the sumptuous Grassalkovich Castle in Gödöllő, which is the largest Baroque-style castle in Hungary.

It’s enough to take a day tour to the Buda mountains for a variety of colours, but it’s even better if you combine this with some strudel tasting. By taking bus 21 at Széll Kálmán tér you can get to Normafa terminal station, where a walking path begins with a breathtaking view of the city. By an easy walk on the atmospheric path, which is signposted all the way, you will reach several viewpoints, then the place called Hűvösvölgy, where you can take a bus to get back to the city. If you choose the Children’s Railway, you can admire the autumn landscape from the carriages on your way back to the city.

In Eastern Hungary Bükk and in the Western region Őrség will dazzle you with its autumn colours. The sights, the unique cave bath and the local hiking paths of the area of Miskolc are the most beautiful at this time of the year. In Őrség, you can expect animals grazing among the charming, renovated farm houses, excellent organic food and yellow pumpkin fields.

In Hungary, autumn ignores the fact that the summer has ended. For this reason, September and early October tends to surprise us with surprisingly pleasant, warm, summery days. However, November is often foggy and rainy, so it is worth wearing layers and preparing for possible rains.

The cinema season starts in autumn. We recommend—especially on the shortening or rainy days—that you look at the offer of the indie cinemas. Some of them screen old films and one of them is the smallest cinema in Europe. Certain films are dubbed, so check the language before purchasing a ticket. Old-school atmosphere is guaranteed in the indie cinemas.