Northern Hungary

Forested hiking trails, superb wine regions, traditional folk culture and hilltop castle ruins beckon you to what are called the Northern Uplands. In a country as flat as a palacsinta (pancake), these foothills of the Carpathians soar above most of Hungary. After exploring Bükk National Park on foot, why not sample the spectacular red wines of Eger or the honey-sweet whites of Tokaj?

As reminders of far too many battles won and lost, ageing castles and evocative ruins punctuate the landscape. This is also a land where the Palóc people hold strong in traditional villages such as Hollókő. If you want to experience village life – steeped in folk culture, replete with horse-drawn carts, dirt roads and tiny wooden churches – the Bereg region in the northeast is the place to go.

Explore Northern Hungary

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northern Hungary.

  • Fortress

    Eger Castle

    Climb up cobbled Vár köz from Tinódi Sebestyén tér to reach the castle, erected in the 13th century after the Mongol invasion. Models, drawings and…

  • Church

    Minorite Church of St Anthony of Padua

    On the southern side of Eger's main square stands this church, built in 1771 by Bohemian architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer and one of the most glorious…

  • Cemetery

    Szatmárcseke Cemetery

    This famous cemetery in the village of Szatmárcseke has 1200 grave markers resembling up-ended prows that are unique in Hungary. Their notches and grooves…

  • Library

    Lyceum Library

    This 160,000-volume, all-wood library on the 1st floor of the Lyceum's south wing contains hundreds of priceless manuscripts, medical codices and…

  • Church

    Tákos Calvinist Church

    In the village of Tákos, this 18th-century wattle-and-daub Calvinist church has a spectacularly painted coffered ceiling of blue and red flowers, a partly…

  • Castle

    Hollókő Castle

    Hollókő Castle commands a striking view of the surrounding hills from 365m-high Stalk Hill (Szár-hegy). Climb to the top of the pentagonal keep to look…

  • Historic Building

    Eger Archbishop’s Palace

    This splendid 18th-century structure contains two very rich collections. On the ground floor is the Ecclesiastical Collection, with priceless vestments,…

  • Museum

    Palóc Museum

    If you’d like to learn more about the Palóc people, head for the town of Balassagyarmat and this purpose-built museum. The standing exhibit ‘From Cradle…

  • Notable Building

    County Hall

    Kossuth Lajos utca boasts dozens of baroque and Eclectic gems, including the delightful County Hall, with a wrought-iron grid above the main door…

  • Museum

    Magic Tower

    Attractions in the so-called Magic Tower above the Lyceum are spread over several floors and include an Astronomy Museum on the 6th floor of the east wing…

  • Street

    Kossuth Lajos Utca

    Kossuth Lajos utca is a fine and leafy street lined with such architectural gems as the former Orthodox synagogue, built in 1893, and the former…

  • Historic Building

    Lyceum

    Directly east of Eger Basilica is the Zopf-style Lyceum (1765), now headquarters of the Károly Eszterházy University of Applied Sciences. It contains a…

  • Square

    Dobó István tér

    Statues of István Dobó and his comrades-in-arms routing the Turks fill Eger’s main square, which has been totally revamped in recent years. To the south…

  • Museum

    Astronomy Museum

    The Astronomy Museum, on the 6th floor of the east wing of the Lyceum, contains 18th-century astronomical equipment, a planetarium with scheduled shows…

  • Church

    Eger Basilica

    A highlight of the town’s amazing architecture is Eger Basilica. This neoclassical monolith was designed in 1836 by József Hild, the same architect who…

  • Jewish Site

    Great Synagogue

    The 19th-century Eclectic Great Synagogue, which was used as a German barracks during WWII, is once again gleaming after a total reconstruction. It is now…

  • Museum

    World Heritage Wine Museum

    This ambitious museum has comprehensive coverage of Tokaj and the Hegyalja region and its wines. But it doesn’t stop there, with a high-tech look at the…

  • Historic Site

    Castle Casemates

    Beneath Eger Castle are these casemates hewn from solid rock. Part of them is open to the public, accessible via the Dark Gate in the eastern section of…

  • Museum

    Tokaj Museum

    The Tokaj Museum, in an 18th-century mansion built by Greek wine traders, leaves nothing unsaid about the history of Tokaj and the Hegyalja region. There…

  • Farm

    Lipizzaner Stud Farm

    The stallions bred at the Lipizzaner Stud Farm can be visited. Arrange ahead for horse rides up into the protected areas of the Bükk Plateau (4500Ft per…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Northern Hungary.

  • Activities