Szeged - A True Hungarian City

The charming city of Szeged has much to offer visitors. Located just two hours from the Hungarian capital of Budapest, Szeged is perfect for tourists who wish to step off the regular tourism trails while simultaneously enjoying the benefits of being near a major international hub. Major Szeged Attractions Visitors to Szeged are sure to be charmed by its rich dramatic and music traditions. The city contains a number of theatres, opera houses and concert halls that are open throughout the year including the National Theatre of Szeged. Visitors looking to let their hair down will be more than satisfied with the city’s vibrant nightlife and well-attended summer festivals. Daytime activities include visits to the city’s traditional Hungarian markets and charming outdoor concerts. The famous Open Air Plays of Szeged (first held in 1931) are one of the main tourism attractions in the city. The yearly summer festival sees the Dóm Square (the city centre) transformed into a giant outdoor theatre complete with a large stage. The event includes classical music, operatic performances, folk dancing and ballet and usually runs for around a week from July into the first week of August. Architecture buffs will love the Dóm tér or "Cathedral Square” with its Votive Church whose distinctive twin towers are a defining feature of the Szeged's skyline. Located just a stone's throw away from the Heroes' Gate, the square contains a majority of the city’s landmarks including the National Pantheon, the Demetrius Tower and the Dömötörtorony (the oldest city landmark, once part of a 12th-century church). Another major city attraction consists of the church organ in the Votive Church that has over 11,000 pipes and is located in a vast nave filled with elaborate decorations. Other attractions include the thermal Soda Salt Lake located 6 miles to the west of central Szeged. The site includes a waterfront promenade, a swimming pool and even a nudist beach. The city also contains a number of thermal baths including the recently renovated Anna Fürd. Situated within the city centre, the bath features spas, thermal pools and saunas where visitors can indulge themselves in a rejuvenating steam bath. What And Where To Eat Hungarian food is generally tasty though simple and consists largely of bread, soups and meat. Local specialties include the popular 'Szegedi halászlé', a delicious fish stew as well as pörkölt (meat stew) and locally produced sausages and salamis. Fast-food pizza restaurants offer inexpensive yet tasty fare. There are a number of good bakeries spread all around central Szeged while the restaurants around the Roosevelt Tér, the Oskolta Utca, and the Széchenyi Tér offer more substantial fare. Food enthusiasts should check out the area around the Felso Tisza, which contains a number of high-end restaurants. Getting Around International visitors to Szeged usually fly into the Budapest Ferihegy Airport before motoring to the city via the M5 motorway. The city is also connected to Budapest through a major railway line for visitors who prefer to take the train. Once in the city, visitors will be able to get around very easily using the well-developed public transport system, which includes a number of inexpensive options including trams, trolleybuses and ordinary buses. Be sure to purchase individual tickets for each of these since there are no common public transport cards in Szeged unlike many of the other European cities. Weekly travel passes are available at all city newsstands and kiosks.