Szeged, also known as the city of the sun, is one of the most recommended tourist destinations in Hungary. In this lively university city you can spend a couple of days discovering the sights without getting bored for a second, as there is plenty to see in Szeged. Characterised by its neoclassical, eclectic and art nouveau architecture, this city will leave you speechless. If you’re thinking of travelling to Hungary, read on as we tell you all about Szeged.
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What are the best places to visit in Szeged?
Szeged, located at the mouth of the Maros River, is the third-largest city in the country, and receives the most hours of daylight. Hence, the city’s recognition as a city of sunshine. The best things to see in Szeged are the old town, through which the Tisza River flows. There are also beaches in the surrounding area and a wide range of cultural attractions.
1. Szeged Synagogue
The synagogue is one of the most spectacular buildings to see in Szeged, both inside and out. It was built in 1907 and its architecture combines Romanesque, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Moorish elements. Through its marvellous dome, it is filled with colour and is worth entering just to see it. The synagogue is the fourth largest in the world, can be visited daily from 9:00h to 17:00h and the entrance fee is 500 HUF.
2. Móra Ferenc Museum
The Móra Ferenc Museum is the most important museum to see in Szeged. It was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and contains more than 20,000 pieces of art that refer to the history of the city. There are exhibitions of archaeology, coins, utensils and tools, and painting. There are also temporary exhibitions of famous artists such as Mihály Munkácsy. The building, on the banks of the Tisza, is spectacular and worth seeing even if you don’t go inside. The museum is open from 10:00h to 18:00h and admission costs 1490HUF.
3. Dömötör Tower
This is another example of the mix of styles in the city’s architecture. The Dömötör Tower, built in the 11th century, is the oldest building, although later extensions were made to make it even taller. The tower belonged to the former church of St Demetrius, which was moved to another square. It can be visited every day from 8:00h to 17:00h and the entrance fee is 650 HUF.
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4. Places to see in Szeged
The entire old town of the City of the Sun is beautiful, but there are a couple of squares that stand out above all else. One is Széchenyi Square, which was originally used as a market square and parade ground until the flood of 1879. It then became the administrative centre of the city, and today we can find there the town hall and the Tisza Hotel, one of the most luxurious in the city.
On the other side is Klauzál Square, which was recently renovated at the beginning of the 21st century. The monumental buildings that surround it make it a place to see in Szeged, and where you can sit and have a coffee on one of its terraces.
5. University Botanical Garden
This garden was built in the early 19th century, when the university moved from Kolozsvár to Szeged. Inside there are many interesting nooks and crannies and species, such as the imposing sequoia or a coniferous tree native to southern China. There is also a large Indian lotus flower garden, which becomes beautiful in June.
One area of the garden has collections of industrial plants used for food, dyes and the manufacture of everyday objects. You can also see the Water Tower and an interesting exhibition on physics. The garden is open from 9am to 5pm in summer, and until 4pm the rest of the year. The entrance fee is €2.5.
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 around Szeged
Despite the fact that there are no mountains nearby, Szeged is surrounded by nature. Between the two rivers that surround the city there are several excursions to be made as well as several charming villages. We already told you that there is a lot to see in Szeged. Here are some suggestions if you’re planning to stay in the area for a while.
1. Tiszasziget
Less than a kilometre from the Serbian-Hungarian border is this charming little town, a 20-minute drive from Szeged and 40 minutes by bus. Tiszasziget has barely 2000 inhabitants, so it’s the perfect place to take a walk and unwind. You are sure to enjoy the nature and the local architecture. Don’t miss the church, the town hall and the central square.
2. River Tisza
Along the Tisza River that flows through the city, you can do various water activities, as well as walk along the surrounding paths. The most accessible stretches and where there is the most choice are between the villages of Csongrád and Csanád, a 40-minute drive from Szeged. It is not so easy to get there by public transport. On this stretch you can go canoeing, swimming or visit the White Lake, where there are some really nice excursions.
3. Szeged Wildlife Park
Szeged Zoo is located just outside the city, and is a great place to visit with the whole family. There you can see animals from all over the world, but especially endangered or protected animals, as the zoo is involved in numerous wildlife conservation and protection projects. The zoo is open from 9:00h to 18:00h in summer and until 16:00h in winter, and admission costs 3,100HUF for adults.
What to see in Szeged in 2 days
If you’re looking to unwind, Szeged is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Although there is a lot to see in Szeged, a couple of days are more than enough. Here’s an itinerary you can follow.
Day 1: can be spent walking around the city centre and discovering the main buildings of the city: the cathedral, the Dömötör Tower and the Szeged Synagogue. On your tour you will find the most beautiful squares to see in Szeged and don’t forget the botanical garden.
Day 2: On the second day you can visit those attractions not so centrally located such as the zoo or take a trip around the river. There are numerous charming villages surrounded by nature that can be seen in a short time and will make for a great day out.
How to get to Szeged
The nearest airport to Szeged is 175km away, in Budapest. Fortunately, it is very well connected. From Liszt Ferenc Airport there are three options: take a direct train, a bus for 350-450 HUF or hire a car.
If you have decided to spend a few days getting to know the capital, you can also reach Szeged from the centre of Budapest. The train is the best option. It’s a direct journey that costs 4000HUF and takes 2 hours. Buses are also available at more affordable prices but take longer. Still, if you’re planning to travel around the country, the best option is to hire a car at the airport so you can move around freely without being tied to timetables.
Where and what to eat in Szeged
Sightseeing in Szeged and already hungry? Then you’re in the perfect place, because you can’t eat anywhere like in Szeged. Because of its location between two rivers, it is not surprising that its speciality is fish soup, among other dishes with this top-quality product. And of course, you can also try other typical Russian meat and vegetable dishes in the following restaurants.
- HBH bajor étterem: is one of the most famous restaurants in the city where you can try Szeged and Hungarian specialities. It is located in the city centre and is not particularly expensive.
- Fasor vendégl: is another reasonably priced Hungarian speciality restaurant with a cosy terrace, perfect for summer.
- PipiPont: is a small restaurant frequented by university students as it’s very affordable and serves delicious chicken and beef sandwiches.
- Zoldlevelecske Salatamuhely: a cheap and healthy alternative. It offers a large selection of salads to our taste.
Where to stay in Szeged
Szeged is a large city where you will have no problem finding accommodation. Moreover, hotels in Hungary are not particularly expensive as we show you below.
- OKSZI Vendégház; this is one of the cheapest options. It’s a very clean and simple guesthouse where you can stay for around 17€ a night.
- Art Hotel Szeged: a modern 4-star hotel in a central location. It has its own restaurant and pets are allowed. The price per night is around 70€.
- Tisza Hotel: a beautiful 3-star hotel with 24-hour reception. It has parking, pets are allowed and breakfast is available. The price per night is around €50/night.
Travel tips for Szeged
- The official currency of Hungary is the Hungarian Forint
- We recommend that you exchange money before you set off on your trip, as it will be cheaper.
- 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 Szeged 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.
Plan your trip to Szeged
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its 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).
- Organise 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 Szeged, 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 on a trip to Szeged
The best time in terms of weather is from May to October, with the summer months being the most pleasant as temperatures are milder.
There are exchange offices in Szeged where you can get Hungarian forints without any problems, just like at the airport. Many shops accept euros, but the exchange rate is not always the best. The best thing to do is to bring money from your home country with you, or withdraw money from an ATM with an international card.
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