Magyar Magyar

Győr-Szigetköz-Pannonhalma for Explorers - 5 days

Győr and Pannonhalma
How long it takes?
5 Days
Best vehicle choice for this plan:
car
bicycle
bus
This region is famous for:
World Heritage Sites
Museums and exhibitions
Culture and monuments
Religious sites
Natural values
Zoos
Water sports
Győr and Pannonhalma
Explorers
Day 1
It’s worth taking your time to explore the Baroque city centre of Győr – a real jewellery box. Afterwards, head to the Mobilis Interactive Exhibition Centre.

The Baroque city centre of Győr

The Old Town, the historical town centre is situated at the junction of the Danube and Rába rivers. The town centre has managed to protect its historical character, and you’ll find most of the monuments and tourist attractions here.

Bécsi kapu tér is one of the most beautiful Baroque squares in Hungary and also one of the oldest squares in Győr. All of its buildings qualify as listed buildings of national heritage. The town square of Győr is Széchenyi tér, which has been functioning as a market square since the 14th century. In the past, it served as home to an Ancient Roman civil town. The square is also where the Saint Ignatius of Loyola Benedictine Church and Monastery and the Széchenyi Pharmacy Museum are located.

The streets, squares and the old company signs on the houses take us back in time: the Zichy Palace, the Esterházy Palace, the museums and churches are full of ancient treasures.Let yourself be guided back in time in this awe-inspiring city centre.

Bishop’s Castle and Bishop’s Palace

Káptalandomb has been Győr’s town centre for centuries, and home to the Bishop’s Castle and the Bishop’s Palace. The palace is the most perfectly preserved bishop’s residence from the Middle Ages in all of Hungary.

The building has always served as a bishop’s residence – with the exception of the first two centuries of the modern era – and continues as such to this day. One of Hungary’s most sacred relics, the Holy Crown, had numerous stays here.


One of the unique features of the Bishop’s Castle is the tower house originating from the 13th century. The top awaits those who are willing to climb some steps for a wonderful view, while in the cellars you can view the exhibition on the life and work of Vilmos Apor.

The Bishop’s Palace, which is connected to the tower house, has some valuable details to offer. The marvellous Baroque staircase was built in the second half of the 18th century, while the palace’s chapel was built by Bishop Orbán of Nagylucse in 1487. The neo-Gothic features were added later, however, the building survived in its original form. Its three tracery windows and the fine star-shaped ceiling is an aesthetic creation of Gothic architecture.

Cathedral – St Ladislaus' herm

Győr Cathedral was founded during the reign of Saint Stephen. It holds our most important ecclesiastical relic – other than the Holy Crown – the herm of St Ladislaus.

Győr Cathedral was established under the reign of Saint Stephen. It is the oldest church in Győr, with foundations that originate from the time of his reign. The church has been refurbished and renovated on various occasions.

The herm, our most important national and ecclesiastical relic other than the Holy Crown, stands in the Gothic-styled Héderváry Chapel situated on the south-west side of the church. The herm itself is a detailed portrait sculpture of King Saint Ladislaus. It is a masterpiece by Transylvanian Hungarian goldsmiths and one of the first Hungarian examples of the filigree technique.

Day 2

Mobilis Interactive Exhibition Centre

After you have discovered the historical monuments, we invite you to an interactive exhibition centre.

The Mobilis Interactive Exhibition Centre is a hub for creative design, discovery and playful learning. The facility has 70 different devices to experiment with, from a wind tunnel and a mirror maze to an aerodynamic chassis. The exhibition area is dedicated to 3D printing, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, smart home tools, creating animations, and various humanoids.

The digital science centre also hosts experimental exhibits designed for all ages, to help people fall in love with engineering and science. The joy of play is not only for children!

Synagogue

Győr Synagogue dates back to the 19th century. The town’s Jewish community decided to build it in 1861. The building was raised based on the plans of Károly Benkó in Art Nouveau style, with a touch of historicism on a plot of approximately 2 square kilometres.

Győr Synagogue is a fundamental building of the reformed school. For a long time, it served as the template for synagogues to be constructed in other cities, largely due to its excellent integration into the metropolitan environment.

Today, it serves as a museum building and hosts cultural events.

Day 3

Interested in technology? Head to Audi

The Audi Visitor Centre provides a glimpse into a vehicle assembly plant, including chassis construction, pressing and assembly, engine manufacturing, and even information on just how many components there are in a V6 TDI engine.

It’s a flawless interplay of precision and technology – a chassis turns into a complete, functioning car before your very eyes, with over 600 robots working together to weld the individual components together into one cohesive whole. During the visit, you can get a glimpse into all of the above, and can also buy some nice souvenirs at the Audi shop

János Xantus Zoo

Visiting a zoo is always exciting and one of the best family activities ever, especially if it is committed to contributing to saving endangered animals, plants and habitats.

You can visit the more than 500 animals of 100 species in the main exhibits, where they live in similar conditions to their natural habitat. Walking along shady trees in a well-groomed environment, the zoo offers a rich array of sights, ranging from carnivores to herbivores, birds and reptiles. Afterwards, you can discuss which one is each family member’s favourite!

Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma

Pannonhalma is half an hour from Győr. Once you arrive, head straight to the Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monastery’s buildings guard messages passed down from bygone ages. The monastic community currently living here continues to use the surviving buildings in line with their original purpose.


The parts of the monastery open to visitors include the church, the undercroft, the cloister, and the library, where the earliest Hungarian language artefact, the founding charter of the Abbey of Tihany, is kept. The building houses the Benedictine High School of Pannonhalma.

On the abbey’s premises, you’ll find an arboretum, an unparalleled herb garden, a high-class winery and restaurant as well.

Day 4

Mosonmagyaróvár Castle

The early Mosonmagyaróvár Castle was founded by Saint Stephen himself, on the low hill now known as Királydomb. The castle is built on the remains of an Ancient Roman settlement, and was rebuilt multiple times during its existence, as you can tell from its irregular rectangular layout.

During the Middle Ages, the owners of the castle – which played a strategic military role – changed frequently. Later, the emphasis was put on protection against the Ottoman Empire. The castle then lost its military strategic importance and became a prison for a few years, before finally becoming a significant educational building.

FUTURA Interactive Natural Science Centre

The Futura Interactive Natural Science Centre of Mosonmagyaróvár is the perfect leisure activity for the whole family, irrespective of age or gender. The centre is located in a beautifully renovated, historic 300-year-old granary. The results speak for themselves: The facility is the biggest scientific playhouse in Hungary, where visitors can discover the secrets of the four fundamental elements – water, earth, air and fire – in addition to enjoying planetarium lectures and demonstrations of experiments. It is worth spending a whole day here, to make sure that you get to try everything.

Lébény Apostle Parish Church of St Jacob

The Apostle Parish Church of St Jacob in Lébény is built in a Romanesque style and used to be a Benedictine abbey and a medieval monastery, as well as one of the most significant medieval architectural monuments in Hungary. The church, standing on the main square in Lébény called Church Square, is an astonishing building both inside and out, thanks to the generous donations of the upper-class aristocratic family and the expertise of the master architect.

Day 5

Bike tour/water tour in Szigetköz

We are now right in the middle of the Little Hungarian Plain. Szigetköz is an island bordered by the Danube and the Mosoni-Duna River – and is, in fact, the largest island in Hungary, with an area of 375 square kilometres.

Nature-lovers, enthusiastic cyclists and those fond of active leisure activities will feel as though they’re in seventh heaven.

The area, also known as the “Gift of the Danube” is characterised by rich flora and fauna, which you can easily explore by kayak, canoe or boat.

The Mosoni-Duna River spreads here in Szigetköz and breaks down into a thousand smaller branches, forming islands and narrow channels. The meandering river branches are home to thick reed beds, where you may also spot rare birds, otters and beavers. You can also bathe in the water. The river bank is forest-covered with a gravelly, sometimes sandy or muddy bed. The romantic landscape, the trees half-immersed in water, the boats seemingly forgotten on the banks and the stillness are all in perfect harmony. Off to the beach then, to relax and enjoy yourselves!

Szigetköz Adventure Park

Be sure to visit the Szigetköz Adventure Park in Mosonmagyaróvár, where all ages can find a suitable challenge among the cableways, with 60 obstacles of different altitudes and varying levels of difficulty. The all-time favourites include a zipline stretching above the Mosoni-Duna River, a trampoline and a climbing wall.

Move Around Like a Hungarian