Summers in Europe are hot, busy, and let’s be real, quite expensive when it comes to traveling. But the travel bug is there so when we want to escape the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, day trips are excellent choices.

Located close to Timisoara, Arad, and Oradea (all three in Romania) and Budapest (Hungary’s capital), Szeged is an excellent choice for a day trip. It’s the third biggest city in Hungary, but small enough to explore for one day.

We’ve been to Szeged plenty of times and throughout almost all seasons. While it’s familiar, there’s always something new happening. So, in this article, I’m sharing about our summer day trip to Szeged.

>>Also read about A winter day trip to Szeged

How to get to Szeged

From Budapest, Hungary, there are quite a few options to get to Szeged. The train takes about 2.5h hours and it costs about US $31 one way. Buses are also available but take longer (3.5h).

From Arad, Romania, there are buses available and take about an hour. However, it’s quite complicated to book them online. Whereas from Timisoara or Oradea, you’ll have to first get to Arad by train and then take the bus to Szeged.

The easiest way to get to Szeged from Arad, Timisoara, Oradea, or Budapest is by car. Not considering the custom’s crossing, the drive from Arad is about an hour.

When we visited, on a bank holiday (in Romania) and regular work day in Hungary, we decided to use the Turnu / Battonya crossing because the official website for the Romanian border crossings showed long waiting times via Nadlac (both on the national road and on the highway). We have not waited too long but there were still quite a few cars before us. Also, we are European Union citizens crossing into the Schengen Area and we do not need visas.

The drive time via Turny / Battonya border crossing is just under 2 hours, avoiding the highway (because you can only pay the highway tax for 5 days and it wasn’t worth it for a day trip).

What to do in Szeged

First thing first, find parking! On the bank of the Tisza River, there’s a huge parking lot. We weren’t surprised to realize we must pay for parking, although we haven’t had to during previous trips. But from 8 am to 6 pm on a working day, there’s a fee.

Soon enough we realized we can’t pay by card (we tried 2 from 2 banks…) and we can’t pay by text either (because you need a Hungarian number). So, cash it was. Yes, we got some with us, just not change. With the help of locals, we managed to pay for the parking. And yes, hubby is fluent in Hungarian and so was our driver.

After parking, the next stop was the Móra Ferenc Múzeum building, also known as the Palace of Culture. Right on the Tisza riverbank and near Belváros Bridge, the Neoclassical Palace dominates a square with a playful fountain in front. The building functions as a museum and various exhibits can be seen here. The permanent one is about the natural history and regional culture and crafts.

Further down, the Votive Church dominates another square. The cathedral was built between 1913 and 1930. It is the fourth largest building in Hungary and its tower stands 91 m above the square. While until now we couldn’t visit the inside of the church, we were delighted to find it open (for free). It’s gorgeous and it also offered a lovely respite from the heat.

The huge square in front was now filled with a huge stage and seats. That’s what happens every summer when locals and tourists alike can partake in concerts and other events.

We continued to linger in the area, following some winding streets and eventually ending up at the City Hall. Right opposite it, there’s a huge park. We decided to dance a bit and just relax.

Of course, hunger set it. And while I found 3 vegan restaurants using Google Maps, the one with the best reviews was closed (for about 3 weeks). I checked their website and it only mentioned one date. Sigh. We ended up at a close-by fast food – Feta Gyros . And I was able to order a vegan plate of falafel, pita, fries, olives, and tomatoes. My Hungarian-speaking husband did the talking, though.

With our bellies full, we lingered some more, making our way to find a spot for coffee. Close to Klauzál Square, A Cappella Cukrászda és Kávéház was another lovely surprise. We’ve been here before but at that time I ordered a lemonade. Now I went for a decaf with coconut milk. And the server spoke perfect English!

From here, we made our way back to the parking lot.

Want to stay longer in Szeged?

While the city is a great city to visit on a day trip, you might also want to linger longer. Especially if you want to visit Szeged Zoo, the waterpark, or Ópusztaszer Heritage Park .

Accommodation is plentiful and affordable. If you book two months in advance outside of the high season, expect to pay from US $30 per night in an apartment (for 2 persons).

Booking.com

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