Szeged region for Explorers - 5 days

Hagymatikum MakóSzeged region

How long it takes?

5 days

Best vehicle choice for this plan:

bus

public transport

car

This region is famous for:

Day 1

Szeged Cathedral Visitor Centre

If you only have a single day to explore Szeged, head to the Szeged Votive Church Visitor Centre. The construction of the church – built to commemorate the people who fled from the 1879 flood – was completed in 1930. The colourful stained glass windows were designed by the renowned Hungarian stained glass artist Miksa Róth. The lavish interior includes a real rarity: a mosaic of the Virgin Mary wearing “Szeged” style slippers and a szűr: the traditional fur overcoat worn by Hungarian shepherds. The western steeple of the church doubles as a lookout point.

Dömötör Tower

Standing just outside the church, the Dömötör Tower is the steeple section of the medieval St Demetrius church, which used to occupy the land where the Votive Church now stands. The tower is the oldest surviving building in Szeged. Converted into a baptising chapel in 1931, the tower has a Baptism of Christ, a beautiful secco painted by renowned Hungarian artist Vilmos Aba‑Novák.

A walk in the town centre

Include a walk in the central area of Szeged on your itinerary. Near the church, the Heroes’ Gate has another Aba‑Novák gem: the World War II-themed mural. Nearby Dugonics tér boasts a musical fountain, filling the air with pleasant tunes every summer. Studded with statues, Kárász utca takes you to Széchenyi tér, flanked by the beautiful town hall with the local version of the Bridge of Sighs. On the corner of the square, you can get a taste of mineral water at the famous Anna fountain. Then head on down Tisza Lajos boulevard to a true masterpiece of Hungarian Art Nouveau, the fantastic Reök Palace.

day 2

Franciscan Visitor centre, Alsóváros, Szeged

If you plan to spend more than one day in Szeged, you should also include a visit here. Built in the 15th century and remodelled several times, the church will amaze you with its Gothic ceiling work and Baroque altar. Notice the replica of King Matthias’ monument above the side entrance. Try your hand at pottery, felting and even candle making at the workshops in the courtyard of the adjacent monastery.

New Synagogue

The New Synagogue is one of Europe’s finest Jewish temples, the second largest in Hungary. It was designed by Lipót Baumhorn, and built between 1900 and 1902. The stained-glass windows are the works of Manó Róth. The inner decoration of the dome represents the world: the 24 support columns symbolise the 24 hours that make up a day, and the painted motifs depict our faith in God, the Earth and Heaven.

Anna Thermal Bath and Spa

Enjoy an entire morning of tranquillity at the Anna Thermal Baths, built in the style of traditional Turkish baths. The Austrian designers created a lavishly decorated complex with elegant façades. Originally a bath house and opened in 1896, the facility was converted into a spa when thermal hot springs were found nearby in the early 20th century. The baths were most recently renovated in 2004, when the spa and wellness sections were placed in separate wings.

Day 3

Ópusztaszer National Heritage Park

A memorial site dedicated to the conquest of the Hungarians. It is one of the most popular tourist sights on the Southern Great Plain. Visit the Rotunda with the Feszty panorama, the yurts and the nomad park, which evokes the times of the Hungarian conquest.

Holocaust Museum

The purpose of the exhibition is to commemorate the tragedy of the Jews and the Jewish victims carried off in 1944-1945. It helps posterity to forgive, but never forget. Take a look at the clock on the Synagogue and what you will see is the exact time when 737 Jews from the town were deported.

Emlékpont (Remembrance Point)

The museum in Hódmezővásárhely presents the years between 1945 and 1990 as a historical era, and its motto is that history must be talked about. Its main message is that a lack of freedom can cause significant harm.

Day 4

Mezőhegyes State Stud Farm

The farm is soon expected to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was established in 1784 and today is home to more than 300 horses. Three famous horse breeds originated here: Nonius, Gidran and the Mezőhegyes half-breed. A little horse-riding and a drive in a carriage should brighten up your day. The local history collection tells you tales about the past of Mezőhegyes.

Hagymatikum

The Thermal Bath and Spa in Makó was built based on the designs by Imre Makovecz. Its organic shapes were inspired by the onion, the most famous product of Makó. The wellness unit is especially decorative and harmony-inducing. The complex therapeutics unit uses thermal water, as well as the medicinal mud from the River Maros, to treat guests.

day 5

Makovecz Tour

The guided tour through the city centre of Makó will give you a chance to see the works of the Kossuth Prize-winning architect and his students through the eye of an expert. Apart from the Hagymatikum, there are 12 other buildings that were built based on designs by Imre Makovecz.

Treetop Boardwalk

This educational trail in Makó takes you to a truly special world. You can get close to and get to know the world of birds or squirrels, while walking in the canopy of huge trees, 10 metres above the ground. The higher you go, the more interesting and lesser-known face of the giant trees you will see.

Maros Adventure Park

Have you ever ridden a bike on a rope high above the River Maros? Test your skills on the installations of the Maros Adventure Park in Makó. You can balance on obstacle courses and slide down on the network of ziplines through the foliage of the trees.

During your Visit

Wine

The Néró is a rare, dark-coloured, rich and juicy dessert grape variety. The colour of the rosé wine made from it is quite different from anything else, with its bright special colour that is almost cyclamen. The taste of the wine is intense, spicy and fruity, setting it apart from other rosé wines. A stylish wine with a slightly sweet fragrance.

Gastronomy

Chicken stew is the queen of Sunday lunches that is just as enjoyable on a weekday! It will taste even better made from free-range chicken and with paprika from Szeged. A classic that you’ll never get tired of, perfect served with sour cream and homemade dumplings.

Take a look around

Szeged and surroundings

Explore on map

Move Around like Hungarian

Places to go

Walk around Central Europe’s largest steppe, the mythical land of Hortobágy

Places to go

Pannon wine region

Travel Information

Gyula and the surrounding area

Places to go

Amazing tours around the Fertő–Hanság National Park with fascinating fauna

Places to go

Walk around Central Europe’s largest steppe, the mythical land of Hortobágy

Places to go

Pannon wine region

Travel Information

Gyula and the surrounding area

Places to go

Amazing tours around the Fertő–Hanság National Park with fascinating fauna