Szentendre

The original plan for a day trip from Budapest was Eger, but thankfully D did her research and replaced that with Szentendre. The little town is a melting pot of several different cultures, almost like a mini version of Budapest itself, and that makes it quite perfect for almost every taste – churches, museums, cobblestone streets, varied cuisines, galleries, picturesque Danube river views and so on.

How to get to Szentendre

And all you need to do is take a < 1 hour train ride, on that cutesy HEV thing below from Batthyány tér, which happened to be a short walk from our hotel. No changing trains, but you essentially get two tickets for it – one for the city limits which you validate by punching it in the machine inside the train, and the other for the ticket checker (yes, this person exists) for the portion outside the city limits. The ticket machine at the road level makes all this a breeze.

Even the station screams cute small town. The ride, the station and the timeframe was almost like what an MG Road – Whitefield journey in Bangalore might have been at some point.

The town was only just waking up at 10. Not that the streets were empty, but shops were only just opening. It was winter, can’t blame them.

What to see/do in Szentendre

Churches everywhere, I told you. This is the Požarevac Serbian Orthodox Church in Szentendre. Many Serbian refugees settled here in the 17th century.

Walking on the cobblestones itself is therapeutic.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church Szentendre. Churches every 100 m!

And almost every street is a quaint postcard.

With entire shops you would want to buy!

This is  Szentendre’s Saint Peter and Paul Church 

And this is the Annunciation Church. Notice the festive lights.

You have to climb a hill for the St.John the Baptist church, and it does look straight out of a horror movie in winter.

And this is the Cathedral Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, also known as the Belgrade Church

Alright, enough churches. This is the hanging kitchen wares street. Fun.

We shopped a bit at this place, and the elderly lady there told us that there was a thriving batik tradition in Hungary, but now there are only a few households plying.

Climb up to Tanners’ Cross for lovely views of the Danube River & the roofs of the houses.

I was triggered by one of the sculptures because this looked like something straight out of a pilates class.

There is even a Japanese Gardens (Japánkert)

Beware of the Christmas Museum shop (Karácsony Múzeum) is pretty af and a wallet raider! Things so pretty you can’t help buy them!

Aww along the Danube river. Part of the month-long Christmas tradition.

Where to eat in Szentendre

We had a few options, including Serb ones, but finally went a different Balkan with Adria Café.

The place is like the town itself – supremely pretty and cosy.

D drank wine and I found this nice fizzy but non-sugary drink with a sour cherry flavour.

I had this Greek style deconstructed burger and loved it. That dip is fantastic.

D had a moussaka and that was good too, despite my lack of fondness for that key vegetable!

Centrum wasn’t our first choice for dessert, but it delivered.

Primarily in the form of this chocolate plus deliciousness.

And one for the road, or rail, for who can resist Strawberry Hot Wine!

Szentendre was a perfect end to our Euro trip, because it had the small town vibe we absolutely love. And it was Christmas time, which made it all the more magical.