There is so much more to Pest county than just the big city. The Danube Bend is a loop of pure beauty. Mountains rise steeply from the riverbanks. It is the most famous scenic drive in the country. You can follow the water as it snakes through the dark green hills. Every bend in the road reveals a new view of the majestic river valley.
Szentendre is a town of painters and colorful shops. The streets are narrow and full of surprises. Further north, the castle of Visegrád sits high on a hill. You can see the whole river valley from the ramparts. The light on the water changes from silver to gold as the day ends. You can find tiny galleries and marzipan shops hidden in the side streets.
Head to Gödöllő to see the royal palace. It was the favorite summer home of Queen Sissi. The gardens are perfect for a long walk. This county is the perfect mix of nature and class. You can find a quiet forest or a grand villa within a short drive. The suburban trains add a charming local touch to the landscape.
Pest highlights
- Visegrád Bob Sleigh Race down a metal track on a high hill to see the river bend while you fly through the trees. It is a fun and fast way to see the most famous view in the central region.
- Gödöllő Royal Palace Tour a massive pink and white palace that was the favorite summer home of a famous queen. The rooms are full of gold and the park has many rare flowers and trees.
- Szentendre Art Town Park your car and wander through narrow stone streets full of galleries and shops selling local sweets. The town sits on the river and has a very bright and happy feel.
- Vác Mummy Crypt Go under a white church to see a secret room where people were found perfectly kept after hundreds of years. The museum tells the story of the town and its old secrets.
- Dobogókő High Point Drive to a spot in the woods that many people say is the heart of the earth. The view of the river and the mountains from the rocky edge is truly grand.
- Fót Immaculate Church See a massive church with two high towers that looks like a romantic castle from a book. The inside is full of art and the park around it is very quiet.
- Veresegyház Bear Farm Visit a large park where you can see brown bears and wolves living in the green woods. You can feed the bears with honey using long wooden spoons.
- Pilisszentkereszt Gorge Walk through a deep limestone canyon where the rocks are covered in green moss and a cold stream flows. It is a cool and wild spot for a hike near the road.
- Ráckeve Serbian Church Find a hidden stone church with walls covered in colorful paintings of saints and kings from the old times. The town sits on a branch of the river and is very calm.
- Zebegény Blue Hill Stop in a pretty village on the river to see a small white church and a hill with a view of the water. It has always been a place for artists and dreamers.
The local Four
History of Pest
Pest county is the Royal Ring, a diverse landscape that served as the pantry and the playground for the capital city. In the 14th century, the castle of Visegrád became the favorite home of the kings, who built a palace of such luxury that travelers called it Paradise on Earth. They held grand knight tournaments and royal meetings that decided the fate of all of Central Europe. This high status history makes the Central Hungary castle drive a route through the peak of royal elegance.
The region was a cultural melting pot in the 1600s and 1700s, as Serbian and Greek merchants fleeing the south settled on the banks of the Danube. They built the colorful narrow streets of Szentendre, filling them with baroque churches and secret gardens. This gave the region a unique Mediterranean feel that stands in contrast to the deep dark forests of the nearby Pilis mountains. The county history is a story of trade, art, and the meeting of different worlds on the riverbank.
The 20th century added a layer of modern mystery, with the secret bunker of the Cold War hidden deep under the hills and the creation of one of the world famous racing tracks in the dusty plains. Today, you can visit a royal hunting lodge in the morning and hike to a heart chakra stone in the mountains by sunset.