Eger

Winding medieval streets, beautifully preserved baroque architecture and a castle on the hill hovering over a picturesque square highlight the city of Eger. Less than a two hour drive from Budapest through a charming countryside covered in vineyards Eger makes for an ideal one or two night side trip. Lovers of wine say Eger with its 10,000 acres of vineyards bears a resemblance to Burgundy. Also well known for its thermal baths built in the 1600s Eger provides an great spot to relax during your travels with a spa, some gourmet Hungarian food and a sampling of hearty red wines.

Not to be missed on any trip to Eger is a visit to the "Valley of the Beautiful Women". A 20 minute walk from the center you will find several small wine tasting cellars which are carved into a hillside serving reasonably priced wines in a festive atmosphere often complete with gypsy music. The center of Eger life is the historical main square, Dobo Ter, which is lined cafes and the site throughout the year of various wine and music festivals. The pride of the city is the Eger castle, famous for being the site in 1522 where the locals fought off a Turkish invasion despite being outnumbered 80 to 1.