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On two wheels through the most beautiful Hungarian landscapes

Heroe's SquareBudapestGreater Budapest

What’s better than following in the slipstreams of cyclists and exploring the country's most beautiful landscapes? Visit the key sights and tourist attractions of the Hungarian locations of the Giro d’Italia.

The Giro d’Italia is one of the most prestigious multi-stage bike races in the world, with a history of more than 100 years. The route usually winds its way through the Italian countryside. The most special feature of the race is that neighbouring countries also have the opportunity to host stages.    It was in 1965 that the Giro first started from a foreign country - San Marino. But it is not only countries bordering Italy that have hosted the start of the race: In 1998, the starting point was Nice, in 2012, Herning in Denmark, and in 2018, Jerusalem. In 2022, the competitors will start from Heroes' Square in Budapest and will complete the Hungarian part of the race through Visegrád, Balatonfüred and Kaposvár. To mark the race starting in Hungary, we'll be touring the sights and attractions of the various locations. 

Relaxing in a legendary spa

After the exciting time in the capital, visitors can relax in the famous spas of Budapest. The sulphur-fluoride medicinal water of the Széchenyi Baths, established in 1913, provides a cure for musculoskeletal disorders, but it can also relieve certain digestive complaints and inflammations in the form of a drinking cure. In addition to the 15 indoor and three outdoor pools of the legendary spa complex, visitors can also enjoy a sauna and steam bath, medical treatments such as weight baths and jet massage, or even wellness treatments such as Thai massage. Once cyclists are      in City Park, they can take a stroll to Vajdahunyad Castle, which road racing cyclist Ádám Karl often visits when he's looking for relaxation. 

ÁDÁM KARL ON THE VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLEVajdahunyad Castle is one of my favourite places because although it is in the middle of the city, it’s in a quiet, green area. In addition to the castle, Heroes' Square, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the City Park are also great places to visit in the area.
Ádám Karl on the Vajdahunyad Castle
Zsófia Szabó on Gellért Hill
Bence Demeter on Margit-sziget
WOW Hungary - Greater Budapest

A unique panorama

For a unique panorama of Budapest, it's worth taking a walk on Gellért Hill. On the side of the hill opposite Erzsébet Bridge, there is a monumental statue of Bishop Gellért, whose semi-circular terrace can be reached by the stairs next to the waterfall. As you continue up the stairs, you’ll reach the Citadella, where you can not only admire the city skyline, but also see the Statue of Liberty, considered one of the symbols of Budapest. A special attraction of Gellért Hill is the Church of Our Lady of Hungary, built in the hollow of the hill's wall in 1931 for the only Hungarian monastic order, the Pauline Fathers.  

 

Gellért Hill is one of the favourite spots for road cyclist Zsófia Szabó, who often cycles up there, but she also likes walking along the paths winding to the top.  

ZSÓFIA SZABÓ ON GELLÉRT HILLIn 2022, the Giro d’Italia, one of cycling’s most famous grand tours, started in Hungary. The race started on 6 May, with competitors proving their skills in three Hungarian stages and with some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes providing the backdrop.
Zsófia Szabó on Gellért Hill
Ádám Karl on the Vajdahunyad Castle
Bence Demeter on Margit-sziget
WOW Hungary - Greater Budapest

But it's not only in Budapest that you can enjoy the magnificent panorama. The Visegrád Castle offers a breathtaking view of the Danube Bend, and the region offers a choice of scenic cycle routes including the recently extended EuroVelo 6. This is a favourite cycling route not only for Hungarians but also for tourists. Visegrád is definitely worth a stop, with exhibitions in the citadel, the Royal Palace and the Solomon Tower, where visitors can get a taste of medieval Hungarian history. Children can enjoy plenty of activities at the historical playground opposite the Royal Palace, while older children and adults can get their adrenaline pumping at the bobsleigh track, which is open all year round, as well as the Go-kart and Adventure Park.  

Healing on the shores of Lake Balaton

The stage of the race near Lake Balaton offers several days of recreation for lovers of cycling and beautiful landscapes. In fact, it's worth getting into the saddle as the Lake Balaton cycling route has enough to explore for several days. Badacsony offers excellent Hungarian cuisine and wines, while in Tihany you shouldn’t miss the Benedictine Abbey and the panoramic view of the Lake. But you may also want to visit the Inner Lake area and the Lavender House Visitor Centre. 

 

Balatonfüred is one of the centres of traditional holiday life at Lake Balaton. Its picturesque lakeside promenade bears the name of Rabindranath Tagore, the legendary polymath, writer and poet, who came here for medical treatment in 1926. The town is a famous spa resort, renowned, among other things, for the carbonic springs that rise here. Their waters are used mainly to treat cardiovascular diseases and general fatigue, while as a drinking cure, the medicinal waters of Füred are used to relieve gastritis, biliary and intestinal complaints and blood sugar disorders. A stroll through the villas of the reform-era town centre recalls one of the most exciting and vibrant periods in Hungarian history, from the 1820s to the 1848 revolution. Several famous novels by the popular Hungarian writer Mór Jókai, such as The Golden Man, were written in the artist's villa in Balatonfüred. 

Adventure Forest by the lake

The former villa of the famous Hungarian painter, József Rippl-Rónai, which now serves as a memorial museum, offers a journey through time, as does the town centre of Balatonfüred. The rooms of the building, once known as Villa Róma, situated on Róma Hill, have been furnished with the artist's own furniture and 80 of his paintings, preserving the original features of the building.  

 

Those who want to get outdoors should visit the Deseda Arboretum, north of Kaposvár, on the border of Zselic and Outer-Somogy. On the peninsula, stretching out into an eight-kilometre-long artificial lake, virtual discovery activities complement the wonders of nature in addition to wooden adventure games. The Adventure Forest is a great place for children and adults alike to play, develop their skills and learn about the plants and animals that live in the region. The area around the lake offers a network of hiking and cycling trails, but visitors can also go fishing by the water.  

MOVE AROUND LIKE A HUNGARIAN