Győr will surprise you: a beautiful city that you can get to know in one day
Do you fancy a short trip abroad, but don’t feel like planning a big holiday, packing your bags or looking for accommodation? Győr is the ideal answer. This beautiful historic city in Hungary is located just a short distance from the Slovak border and is approximately 80 kilometres from Bratislava. That is why it is perfect for a day trip, a weekend getaway or a comfortable trip to see sights, spas and good food.
You can go to Győr without a car, without worrying about parking and without finding your way in a foreign city. Just get on our bus and let yourself be comfortably taken directly to one of the most beautiful historic cities in Hungary. Győr welcomes you with baroque architecture, a pleasant atmosphere, a pedestrian zone, the embankment of three rivers and thermal baths, where you can relax perfectly after a day of exploring.
After Budapest and Sopron, Győr is one of the Hungarian cities with the largest number of historical monuments. The advantage is that most of them can be found in a compact center that you can comfortably walk through in one afternoon.
A historic center that you can explore on foot
As soon as you get off the bus, you find yourself in another century. Narrow streets, pastel facades in yellow and ochre tones, cafes on every corner and almost no cars. Baroque and classicist houses from the 17th and 18th centuries stand side by side and the entire center is a pedestrian zone, as if created for Sunday walks. You don’t have to plan anything. Just let yourself be guided through the streets and discover hidden courtyards, craft workshops and cozy wine bars.
The Ark of the Covenant statue and baroque nooks
Just below the basilica you will find one of the most beautiful Baroque monuments of the city, the statue of the Ark of the Covenant from 1731. The angels carrying the ark are associated with the legend of the Hungarian king and it is a popular photo spot. Art lovers should not miss Zichy Palace or the city museums hidden in old patrician houses with decorative balconies, which are among the best that Baroque bourgeois architecture in Slovakia and Hungary has to offer.
Széchenyi Square, the heart of the city
All roads in Győr lead to Széchenyi Square. It is the liveliest place in the city, surrounded by baroque palaces, hotels and café terraces. It is dominated by the white Benedictine Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and in the middle stands a Marian column from 1686. Don’t forget to look for the house with the “iron trunk” – a nail was hammered into the old tree stump by every craftsman who passed by. You will find many such details at every step in Győr.
Basilica and Bishop's Castle on Kaptal Hill
Above the city rises Kaptal Hill, with two of Győr’s most striking buildings on it. The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary houses a rare bust of Saint Ladislaus and a painting of the Weeping Madonna, who, according to legend, shed tears in 1697. If you manage to climb the tower, you will be rewarded with a view of the entire city and its rivers. Right next to it stands the Bishop’s Castle with a residential tower from the 13th century, today an observation and exhibition space. It was built on the foundations of an even older Roman fortress.
The confluence of three rivers and a waterfront full of life
Győr grew up where the Danube, Rába and Rábac rivers meet, and water still defines its character. Head to the renovated Dunakapu tér square, a popular meeting place for locals. From there, cross the Kossuth Bridge, decorated with love locks, and take a quiet moment on Radó Island, a small green oasis in the middle of the Rába River.
Rába-Quelle spa at the end of the day
After a day of walking, you deserve a break, and Győr is the perfect place for it. The Rába-Quelle Thermal and Adventure Bath is located right by the river and offers thermal pools, saunas and wellness. Hungary is a country of spa culture, and Győr is no exception. The warm mineral water will reliably warm up even the most tired feet before the journey home.
For families with children
If you are traveling with children, entertainment will be taken care of. The Xantus János zoo will delight the little ones, and the Mobilis interactive science and technology center will turn a rainy afternoon into hours of play and experimentation. Győr is a small, uncluttered city, so you are always just a few steps from one attraction to another, with or without a stroller.
Food, wine and shopping
A day in Győr is not complete without good Hungarian food. Restaurants around the square serve goulash and sweet specialties, cozy wine bars invite you to a glass of local wine, and the pedestrian street Baross út is made for a walk combined with shopping. Those who like modern shopping centers should go to the Árkád department store right next to the station.
Bonus: Trip out of town to Pannonhalma
If one day isn’t enough, just 20 kilometers south lies Pannonhalma Archabbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 996 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its Baroque library with over 300,000 volumes, its own vineyards, and beautiful views of the region.
Head to Győr this weekend
Baroque beauty, spas and good food, all without driving or worrying about parking. Leave your car at home. We’ll take you there in comfort. Before you know it, you’ll be standing in the middle of the square of this historic gem.