Choose your stop

How to get to the Danube Bend from Budapest by train, boat or car

The quick version

To get to the Danube Bend from Budapest, take the H5 suburban train to Szentendre, a train toward Nagymaros or Esztergom, or a summer boat from Vigado ter.

Transport essentials

  • Szentendre: half an hour from Batthyany ter1
  • Esztergom: an hour by car or train2
  • Suburban tickets: HUF 400 to HUF 60015

Check out 39 stops

The Danube Bend, town by town and hill by hill

Start by picking a route; tap a pin or stop for its note and Google Maps.

Map from central Budapest to the Danube Bend with the suburban train terminus, the boat pier, the bus station and the Nagymaros-Visegrád station

  1. Start of the suburban train line to Szentendre.

    Google Maps

  2. Scheduled boats leave here for Visegrád between May and October.

    Google Maps

  3. Long-distance buses to Visegrád leave from Árpád Bridge.

    Google Maps

  4. Train station on the left bank facing Visegrád, linked by ferry.

    Google Maps

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

How to get to the Danube Bend from Budapest without a tour: which line reaches which town, what the tickets cost, how long it takes, and when a guided day is simply easier.

Editorial team, danubebendtour.com · Updated November 8, 2026 · Allow 8 min

Summary view

  • SzentendreHalf an hour by suburban train from Batthyany ter.1
  • EsztergomAbout an hour by car or train.2
  • NagymarosEasy to reach by train, across the river from Visegrad.3
  • By boatVisegrad is on the river timetable from May to October.4
  • No planningOur coach day starts from €112, pickup available.

The Danube Bend is close, and every mode reaches it

The towns of the Bend sit just north of the capital, and the tourism agency describes its sights as about an hour from the city.5 It also points out the simplest rule for getting there: follow the river, by train, by car, by bike or by boat.6 Each mode suits a different town, and the trick of a do-it-yourself day is matching them well.

So, how far is the Danube Bend from Budapest, in practice? Szentendre, the nearest of the classic towns, is some 22 to 25 km from the city.7,8 Esztergom, at the far end, is about an hour away by car or train.2 Visegrad sits in between, on the same right bank of the river as Szentendre and Esztergom, with Nagymaros facing it from the opposite shore.

The map further down this page shows the towns and how they line up along the river. Use it to plan the order of your day: the lines do not join up neatly. The suburban train reaches Szentendre, the mainline trains run up the left bank through Vac and Nagymaros, and the boats link the riverside towns in summer. Getting from one bank to the other is part of the plan.

Town by town

Which way reaches which town

TownBest public routeTimeFare
SzentendreH5 HÉV from Batthyany ter12,13About half an hour1City plus suburban ticket15
VisegradTrain to Nagymaros, then boat3Varies by season21Hop-on day ticket HUF 3,50022
EsztergomTrain, or the summer hydrofoil2About an hour by train2Hydrofoil HUF 13,00020
All threeThe coach tour9.5 hoursFrom €112

Boat fares are from the 2026 timetables; check the new season before you travel.22,20

Szentendre by the HÉV suburban train

Szentendre is the easy one. The local suburban train, the H5 HÉV, runs from Batthyany square in Budapest to Szentendre, and the ride takes about half an hour.12,1,13 Batthyany ter sits on the Buda bank of the river, an easy start from most central hotels. Szentendre is the end of the line, so there is no stop to miss, and the old town and the river are a short walk from the station.

Tickets are the part that confuses visitors. An ordinary city ticket, HUF 500 if bought ahead or HUF 700 on the spot, is valid only as far as the city limit.14 For the stretch beyond the city boundary you need a separate suburban ticket, priced by distance from HUF 400 for 10 km up to HUF 600 for 30 km.15,16 Buy both before you board, and keep them until you leave the station in Szentendre.

For groups and families there is a simpler option. The H5 tour ticket for the outer section, HUF 6,200, lets a party of up to 10 ride between Bekasmegyer and Szentendre as often as they like within its validity period.17,13 Add city tickets for the part inside Budapest, and the whole group is covered for the coming and going. It is the simplest answer for a family who want to visit Szentendre, return for a rest and go back for dinner by the river.

Fares compared

Getting to the Bend: adult fares in HUF

  • City ticket500
  • Suburban, 30 km600
  • Szentendre boat5,000
  • H5 tour ticket6,200
  • Visegrad boat7,500
  • Hydrofoil, Esztergom13,000

One-way adult fares as BKK and MAHART publish them; the H5 tour ticket covers up to 10 people.14,16,18,17,19,20

Visegrad and Nagymaros: train, boat and the far bank

Visegrad takes the most planning of the towns on your own. The trains serve the opposite bank, and the tourism agency notes that Veroce, Kismaros and Nagymaros are easy to reach by train.3 Nagymaros faces Visegrad across the water, with the Borzsony hills behind it.23 From the Nagymaros side you get a classic view of the citadel on its ridge, which is a reward in itself even before you cross.

In summer the boats knit the two banks together. A hop-on boat from Visegrad calls at Nagymaros, Zebegeny and Domos, and a day ticket lets you get on and off at any port that day.9 On the way back you can step off at Nagymaros and take the train home.11 That makes a good loop: train out to Nagymaros, boat across and around, and train back.

From Szentendre, regional buses run on into the surrounding area.24 Check the national timetable for buses along the river road on your date, as services change by season and day. Taken together, a day using train, boat and bus is very doable in summer, but it needs a printed plan and some slack for missed connections.

Choose your route

Which way should you travel

Match the town you want to the way that reaches it best.

  • If I only want Szentendre

    The H5 HÉV

    The suburban train takes about half an hour from Batthyany ter.1,13

  • If I want Esztergom and the Basilica

    The train

    Esztergom is about an hour from Budapest by train.2

  • If I want Visegrad without a car

    Train and summer boat

    Trains reach Nagymaros and a hop-on boat crosses to Visegrad.3,9

  • If I would rather arrive by river

    A MAHART boat

    Scheduled boats run between May and October.4

  • If I want every town with no planning

    The coach tour

    It covers every town in 9.5 hours, with pickup available.

Your options

Rail, river or road

Rail

The HÉV

For Szentendre

  • FromBatthyany ter
  • TimeAbout half an hour
  • TicketCity plus suburban
See the coach day

River

The boat

For the river towns

  • FromVigado ter
  • SeasonMay to October
  • NoteLimited seats
See the coach day

Road

The coach tour

For all three towns

  • Length9.5 hours
  • LunchIncluded
  • PickupAvailable
See the coach day

Esztergom by train or hydrofoil

Esztergom is about an hour from Budapest by train or by car, according to the town itself.2 The town sits opposite Sturovo in Slovakia, and the Maria Valeria Bridge links the towns.73 On the Budapest to Danube Bend distance, Esztergom marks the far end. If the Basilica is your main goal, the train is a direct public option and leaves you most of the day in town. From the station, allow time for the walk up the castle hill to the church, and come back down by the river for the view of the bridge.

In summer there is a faster and more scenic option. A 54-seat MAHART hydrofoil does the run at 65-70 km/h.74 In 2026 it took an hour and a half, 09:30 out of Budapest and 11:00 into Esztergom with calls at Vac and Visegrad, and it turned back at 16:30 for an 18:00 arrival.75 It ran only on selected long weekends, and seats had to be booked in advance.76,77

Speed has a price: HUF 13,000 single or HUF 17,000 return per adult to Esztergom in 2026.20 That is more than the train, but it turns the journey into part of the day, and it reaches the far end of the Bend by late morning. Our page on boats and coaches compares every sailing in detail. If the dates do not fit your stay, the train is the fallback and loses you nothing but the view from the water.

A self-planned loop

Train, boat and train in summer

  1. Morning

    Train to Nagymaros

    Nagymaros is easy to reach by train.3

  2. Late morning

    Hop-on boat

    A day ticket lets you hop off at any port.9

  3. Midday

    Visegrad

    Look up at the citadel from the river first.10

  4. Afternoon

    Back to Nagymaros

    Step off the boat for the train.11

  5. Evening

    Budapest

    Ride the train home along the river.3

Boats from the city, and ferries across the river

The slow boats leave from the Pest embankment at Vigado ter, right in the city center, which is a handy start if you are staying on the Pest side. On midweek summer days in 2026 the Szentendre boat pulled out at 10:30 and arrived at 12:00, for HUF 5,000 one way per adult.78,18 Visegrad has its own sailings in a May to October season.4 Outside that season the river towns are reached by land only, so a winter trip is a train or coach affair.

Small river ferries are the local secret. Ferries cross from Szentendre to the island at Szigetmonostor, and from Tahitotfalu over to Vac.79 They are how residents move between the banks, and they make it possible to combine Szentendre and Vac in a single day without going back to Budapest. Check the ferry timetable before you rely on it, and treat the crossing itself as a small treat: a few minutes on open water with the hills on both sides.

A boat journey is never fully predictable. Places on board are capped, and the boat company notes that the height of the river and the number of passengers can change the sailing time.21 Use a boat for the leg where time matters least, usually the return, and keep the outbound leg on a train you can rely on. That way a slow sailing costs you an hour of evening rather than an hour in the town you came to see.

Video

Budapest to Szentendre by train, with tickets explained

Emre is Walking on YouTube · The video waits until you tap play to load.

The charming little town of the Danube Bend can be reached in half an hour from downtown Budapest (Batthyány tér) even by public transportation.
Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com)1

Before you set off

Tickets and timing checklist

Tickets3

  • A city ticket, HUF 500 ahead or HUF 700 on the spot, for the Budapest part14
  • A suburban ticket for beyond the city boundary15
  • The H5 tour ticket for groups of up to 1013

Timing3

  • Check the boat season: May to October4
  • Allow slack: river journey times vary21
  • Look up the regional bus timetable for your date24

Driving3

  • Parking in Szentendre is paid 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM72
  • Park once and walk the old town
  • Leave the car if anyone wants wine at lunch

Driving and parking

A car gives you freedom on the Bend. The tourism agency names driving as a natural way to follow the river from Budapest.6 On the map, Szentendre, Visegrad and Esztergom line up along the same bank, so a single drive can string them together. With a car you can add a hilltop lookout or a quiet village on a whim, which no timetable allows.

Parking is the catch in the popular towns. In Szentendre, street parking is paid every day of the week, weekends and holidays included, between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM.72 Read the boards on the parking machines, and plan to park once and walk, as the old town lanes are narrow and best explored on foot. Arriving early on a summer weekend makes finding a space much easier, and it also gets you into the lanes before the day-trip crowds.

Think also about who drives. A Danube Bend lunch with a glass of local wine or a pálinka tasting is part of the appeal of the day, and the driver misses out. If anyone in the group wants to drink, leave the car and take the train, or book a private car with a driver, so that nobody has to give up the toast for the road home.

A do-it-yourself day against the tour

For a single town, going alone is cheap and easy. A Szentendre outing by suburban train needs only a pair of cheap tickets, and the railway brings the Basilica within an hour.16,2 If you only want one place, the guided coach day is more than you need. Go early, take your time over lunch, and come back when you are ready, which is a freedom a tour cannot offer.

For the full Bend, the sums change. Reaching Esztergom, Visegrad and Szentendre in a single day by public transport means a train, a boat or bus, and a careful timetable, with the risk that one late connection costs a town. The coach day we book covers all of them in 9.5 hours, adds a guide and a 3-course lunch, and starts from €112.

A sensible middle path is to do the far end with a tour and the near end on your own. Take the guided day for Esztergom and Visegrad, then come back another day to Szentendre by HÉV, with time for its museums. That gives you the whole Bend without a single stressful connection, and a second day in the area is rarely a day wasted.

FAQ

Straight answers to common questions.

How far away is the Danube Bend?
About an hour away.

The nearest town, Szentendre, lies some 22 to 25 km out, and Esztergom at the far end takes about an hour by road or rail.7,8,2

How do I get to Szentendre from Budapest?
Take the H5 HÉV.

It runs from Batthyany ter in Buda and takes about half an hour to Szentendre.12,1,13

Is a Budapest ticket valid to Szentendre?
Only inside the city.

Beyond the city boundary you need a suburban ticket, from HUF 400 for 10 km.15,16

How do I get to Visegrad without a car?
Train to Nagymaros, then a boat.

Trains reach Nagymaros, and in summer a hop-on boat links it with Visegrad.3,9

Can I get to Esztergom by boat?
Yes, by summer hydrofoil.

On a few long weekends in 2026 it ran Budapest 09:30 to Esztergom 11:00.75,76

Is parking free in Szentendre?
No, not in the daytime.

Street parking is paid every day between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM, holidays included.72

Is a tour easier than going alone?
For all three towns, yes.

Without any connections to juggle, our coach day takes in Esztergom, Visegrad and Szentendre in 9.5 hours, from €112.

Sources

  1. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Summer in Hungary ↩
  2. City of Esztergom (esztergom.hu) · The city ↩
  3. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Spring activities by the water from Budapest to the Danube Bend ↩
  4. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Visegrád Citadel ↩
  5. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Ten bucket list places around Visegrád ↩
  6. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Greater Budapest and the Danube Bend ↩
  7. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Summer in Hungary ↩
  8. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · The Open-Air Ethnographic Museum in Szentendre ↩
  9. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Visegrád Hop-On ↩
  10. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Come like kings by boat ↩
  11. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Visegrád Hop-On ↩
  12. Szentendre tourism office (iranyszentendre.hu) · Getting to Szentendre ↩
  13. BKK Centre for Budapest Transport (bkk.hu) · Suburban railway tour ticket (H5) (H8, H9) ↩
  14. BKK Centre for Budapest Transport (bkk.hu) · Prices ↩
  15. BKK Centre for Budapest Transport (bkk.hu) · Suburban railway ticket (10 km) ↩
  16. BKK Centre for Budapest Transport (bkk.hu) · Prices ↩
  17. BKK Centre for Budapest Transport (bkk.hu) · Prices ↩
  18. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Budapest-Szentendre-Budapest boat trip ↩
  19. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Budapest-Szentendre-Leányfalu-Visegrád boat trip ↩
  20. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Hydrofoil line Budapest-Vác-Visegrád-Esztergom ↩
  21. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Budapest-Szentendre-Leányfalu-Visegrád boat trip ↩
  22. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Visegrád Hop-On ↩
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  24. Szentendre tourism office (iranyszentendre.hu) · Getting to Szentendre ↩
  25. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Plague Cross
  26. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Plague Cross
  27. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Belgrade Cathedral
  28. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Belgrade Cathedral
  29. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Saint John the Baptist Catholic Parish Church (Church Hill)
  30. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Kovács Margit Ceramic Museum
  31. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Kovács Margit Ceramic Museum
  32. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · ArtMill
  33. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Ferenczy Museum
  34. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · The Open-Air Ethnographic Museum in Szentendre
  35. Hungarian Open Air Museum (Skanzen) · End of the Season 2026
  36. Szentendre and Region Destination Management (Tourinform Szentendre) · Getting to Szentendre
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  38. Pilis Park Forest Co. (Pilisi Parkerdő, state forestry) · Visegrádi Fellegvár (Visegrád Citadel)
  39. Pilis Park Forest Co. (Pilisi Parkerdő, state forestry) · Visegrádi Fellegvár (Visegrád Citadel)
  40. Visegrád Town Council (visegrad.hu) · Királyi palota (Royal Palace)
  41. King Matthias Museum, Visegrád (Hungarian National Museum) · Nyitvatartás változása, Királyi Palota (opening hours change, Royal Palace)
  42. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · Castles in and around Budapest
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  44. Visegrád Town Council (visegrad.hu) · Sibrik-domb (Sibrik Hill)
  45. Visegrád Town Council (visegrad.hu) · Zsitvay-kilátó (Zsitvay lookout)
  46. Pilis Park Forest Co. (Pilisi Parkerdő, state forestry) · Zsitvay-kilátó (Zsitvay lookout)
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  51. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · Esztergom Basilica, one of Europe's largest basilicas
  52. Esztergom Tourism Nonprofit Ltd. (Visit Esztergom) · Library of Esztergom Main Church, Bibliotheca
  53. Esztergom Tourism Nonprofit Ltd. (Visit Esztergom) · Hungarian Museum of Environmental Protection and Water Affairs
  54. Esztergom Tourism Nonprofit Ltd. (Visit Esztergom) · Little Danube promenade
  55. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · 19 panoramic viewpoints in Hungary
  56. Pilis Park Forest Co. (Pilisi Parkerdő, state forestry) · Vadálló-kövek (Vadálló Rocks)
  57. Pilis Park Forest Co. (Pilisi Parkerdő, state forestry) · Rám-szakadék (Rám Gorge)
  58. Pilis Park Forest Co. (Pilisi Parkerdő, state forestry) · Rám-szakadék (Rám Gorge)
  59. Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate · A Visegrádi-hegység (the Visegrád Hills)
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  61. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · Put your boots on: have you been to these new lookouts yet?
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  63. Leányfalu Village Council · Leányfalu története (history of Leányfalu)
  64. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · Greater Budapest and the Danube Bend
  65. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · 19 panoramic viewpoints in Hungary
  66. Budapest Capital Government Office (public health, natural bathing sites) · Természetes fürdőhelyek Budapesten és Pest vármegyében (natural bathing sites, 2026)
  67. Zebegény Village Council · Látnivalók Zebegényben és a környéken (sights in Zebegény)
  68. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · Spring activities by the water from Budapest to the Danube Bend
  69. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · Ten bucket list places around Visegrád you simply cannot miss
  70. Hungarian Tourism Agency (VisitHungary) · The Visegrád Citadel
  71. Visegrád Town Council (visegrad.hu) · Zsitvay-kilátó (Zsitvay lookout)
  72. Szentendre tourism office (iranyszentendre.hu) · Parking ↩
  73. Hungarian Tourism Agency (visithungary.com) · Esztergom Basilica ↩
  74. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Hydrofoil line Budapest-Vác-Visegrád-Esztergom ↩
  75. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Hydrofoil line Budapest-Vác-Visegrád-Esztergom ↩
  76. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Hydrofoil line Budapest-Vác-Visegrád-Esztergom ↩
  77. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Hydrofoil line Budapest-Vác-Visegrád-Esztergom ↩
  78. MAHART PassNave (mahartpassnave.hu) · Budapest-Szentendre-Budapest boat trip ↩
  79. Szentendre tourism office (iranyszentendre.hu) · Getting to Szentendre ↩

Read next

More to read before the Bend

GuideDanube Bend tour prices and what is includedGuidePrivate or group Danube Bend tourGuideDanube Bend by boat or by coachGuideDanube Bend day trip itinerary, hour by hour

Before you go

Hold a day, pay later.

Keep a seat on the river day with nothing paid today, and back out at no cost until 24 hours before you go. The booking box shows open dates and fares.

See dates and prices