On the border between Hungary and Austria lies tiny Sopron, one of Hungary’s most charming cities. Its old town is full of places steeped in history. They have stood the test of time and the events that have marked the city. Discover the city from the heights of its Firewatch Tower; get engrossed in the mysteries surrounding the Goat Church, and delight in the heritage of the Storno House. Read on for all the things to see and do in Sopron.
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Things to see and do in Sopron
Major square of Sopron
There is no better way to start your tour of the charming streets of Sopron’s Old Town than in its main square.
This is the city’s nerve centre. Here you’ll find many of Sopron’s must-see sights, such as the Firewatch Tower, Storno House and the Goat Church. It is also home to the Holy Trinity Column and the city’s town hall.
It’s a great place to enjoy Sopron’s leisure activities and to relax after a long walk through the streets of Sopron. Events are organized here and during the Christmas season, there is a flea market with lots to see.
The Loyalty Gate, just a few metres from the main square and at the foot of the Firewatch Tower
House Storno
We begin our tour of one of the most iconic buildings to see in Sopron: the Storno House.
Built more than four centuries ago, this monument served as home to the eponymous family, as well as members of the nobility and renowned artists who also stayed within its walls.
Nowadays, you’ll find a museum which houses a collection of different pieces of great value, collected over the years by the Storno family.
The Firewatch Tower
If you want to enjoy the best views of the city, there’s no better way to do it than by climbing the renowned Firewatch Tower.
With a spiral staircase of over 100 steps leading up the circular tower, you’ll soar up to 60 metres, where you can enjoy the best views of the city.
It once served as a fire lookout point, hence its name “fire tower”. Today, apart from the views it offers, you’ll also find a museum telling the history of Sopron, with lots of documents and different exhibits, which is well worth seeing.
To gain access, you’ll only have to pay the equivalent of around €4 at the exchange rate, so we recommend you add this to your list of things to see in Sopron.
The Old Synagogue
Of all the historical heritage you can see in Sopron, the Old Synagogue is one of the most emblematic and has accompanied the city since the 14th century.
Its façade gives you a hint that this is a place with a lot of history, and when you enter you’ll be able to witness it first-hand.
It’s divided into two rooms, designed for each sex, and also has a main room in which medieval elements are the protagonists, as well as the beautiful stained-glass windows.
Not only that, but it also has many inscriptions commemorating the city’s most important historical events, such as what happened during the Nazi invasion.
Church of Cabra
The name is peculiar, and its beautiful gothic façade adds even more interest in visiting this small church from the end of the 13th century.
It is situated on the main square of Sopron and has a lot of charm. The story of its name is due to a legend about a treasure unearthed by a shepherd, although in reality it is most likely due to the symbol of the Gaissel family.
But also striking are the sculptures of animals with human heads, representing the deadly sins of mankind. In addition, the baroque style of the interior decoration makes the experience a must-see in Sopron.
The New Synagogue
In addition to the old synagogue, in Sopron you will also find this monument which was also built in the 14th century and where you can also feel the history of the city.
It is one of the largest monuments of Gothic influence with Jewish origins in Europe. In addition to its beauty as a piece of architecture, it houses an exhibition that tells the story of the Jewish families who died during the German invasion in the 20th century.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in Sopron and its surroundings
Gyor
An hour’s train ride from Sopron, you’ll find one of Hungary’s largest cities with a lot of history to offer.
Built on the banks of the Danube, Gyor has a lot of charm and spectacular monuments such as the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or the Carmelite Church.
And for the best views of the city, head to Püspökvár, the castle that overlooks the city from Káptalan Hill. It’s remarkably Gothic in style and can be visited all day long, but the views of Gyor are also worth a visit on their own.
We’ll tell you more about Gyor in this article
What to See in Sopron in 1 Day
So that you don’t miss out on any of the must-see things to see in the city, we have prepared some recommendations for you, although of course, these are recommendations, and you can change what you want to see from the list:
- The main square
- The Firewatch Tower
- The Old Synagogue
- The Church of the Goat
- The Storno House
Sites where to eat in Sopron
One of Sopron’s greatest attractions is not the sheer number of breathtaking sights, but what the local cuisine has to offer. That’s why we’ve put together this list of places and restaurants where you can enjoy the Sopron experience:
- Erhardt: An excellent mix of Hungarian and Mediterranean food, in a beautiful restaurant with stone walls reminiscent of the city’s older days. Prices range from around €30 a night.
- Gyogygodor Borozo: Another perfect choice for Hungarian food is Gyogygodor. It’s a beautiful wine cellar and prices are around €15 per person.
- Puskas Varkerulet: One of the most exclusive restaurants, with an excellent European-style menu and prices around €20.
Accommodation in Sopron
So that it’s not a headache to choose between all the accommodation options that the city of Sopron has to offer, we’ve put together a short list of places to sleep:
- Villa Cecile: A beautiful villa with lovely decorations and gardens. The facilities are superb, and the price is around €54 per night for a room for two people.
- Wabi Hotel: If you feel like relaxing and enjoying all the pampering of a spa, choose Wabi Hotel. It has an excellent location and costs around €119 for a room for two people.
- Sopron Monastery Hotel: This is spectacular accommodation, as you’ll be staying within the walls of an authentic monastery. The price is around €140 per night for two people.
How to get to Sopron
From Spain there are many flights to Hungary, although to get to Sopron you will have to make a stopover in Budapest
Flights to Budapest are around €140-200 from cities such as Madrid and on dates such as May.
The train from Budapest to Sopron takes a couple of hours, though you can also take advantage of one of the day trips that depart from Budapest.
Tips for a trip to Sopron
- The official currency of Hungary is the Hungarian Forint (HUF).
- We recommend that you exchange money before you set off on your trip, as it will be cheaper for you.
- As European citizens, we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just your ID card or passport is enough.
- The best time to travel to Sopron is in spring and autumn, when there are fewer tourists and temperatures are mild.
- Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
How to organize what to see in Sopron
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Sopron Hungary.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Sopron
Our recommendation is that you travel in months with less extreme temperatures, prioritizing seasons such as spring and autumn.
You can fly to Budapest and from there take a train, a bus or travel by car. The journey from Budapest to Sopron usually takes about two hours on average for the different options.
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