Esztergom Transportation

There are regular connections between Budapest and Esztergom. You can discover that lovely town with a cheap and convenient way. Train is a bit slow but that is good for seeing rural Hungary. After getting off train, you can walk 20 or 30 minutes to downtown or get on a bus nearby.

The train to Esztergom currently doesn't leave from the main train station due to construction work. Instead you have to go to The HEV station at the Buda side of Margit bridge. Take the 4 or 6 tram and when you get off follow the river along to the train station. You will see it easily. It is very close (2 mins) from the 4 and 6 tram stop. Don't go down to the HEV station but wait at the platform for the red bullet train that comes every hour at 27 mins past the hour (eg. 11:27).

You can buy tickets on the train, from the main train stations or from the HEV station which is underground at the Margit Hid train stop.

A return tickets costs 1,500 ft that's about 5 euros.

To come back the trains leave at 9 past the hour and the last train is at 22:09.

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Searching for tourist maps in preparation for visiting Esztergom didn’t turn up much for me on the internet. Fortunately, the town has prominently displayed tourist maps around the downtown area showing all the sites to see. It turns out that the one map that I found on the internet was a picture of one of these Esztergom tourist maps. Don’t use the lack of a map be an excuse not to see this charming town.

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Esztergom’s train station is west of downtown and is about a 20-25 minute walk to the central square (with another 10-15 minutes beyond to reach the Basilica). Trains are not frequent so learn the departure times before venturing into town. The small commuter trains to Budapest are ultramodern Siemens equipment.

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The town can easily be reached by train on a day trip from Budapest. It takes about one and a half hours from the Nyugati station to the north of central Pest. It cost in 2006 was less than 5 euros for a return ticket, and the trains were brand new EU models that you find all over central Europe.

Despite the new trains, it is still a long journey for the distance. The trains average an incredibly slow 35 kmh, slower than trains I travelled in Indonesia, although much nicer and more reliable.

From the station it is a long walk to the Basilica, roughly 30 minutes for a fast walker. There are buses, for those brave enough to try out their Hungarian on the drivers, and there is also a tourist "train" that meets the Budapest train at the station. This motorised train will take you all the way to the Basilika for a couple of Euros, if you don't mind looking like a dumb tourist.

Walking is straight forward enough, just take a left out of the station and keep heading in that general direction until you can see the Basilica. You can even see the Basilica from the tracks.

Eventhough I went with a tour and by car.....There are other ways to get here ....

Several daily trains connect Esztergom with Budapest Nyugati pu..

By train, it takes 1½ hrs, the fare is around 400 Ft.

By buses, some of them run via Visegrád and Szentendre. The fare is 450 Ft.

Several ferries a day cross the Danube and stop at Stúrovo inSlovakia.
It takes less than 5 minutes. In summer, it's also possible to go to Budapest by boat.

From Bratislava it is best to travel to Sturovo (which is across the river from Esztergom) and cross the bridge by foot. It takes no more than 20 minutes by taxi from the train station. Make sure you have your passport though!!

You can take this nice train from Budapest Nyugati (Western) Railway Station to Esztergom. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes, and trains depart every hour. The trains are really comfortable, but the railway station of Esztergom is a 15-20 minute walk from the center.

You can also take the bus to Esztergom from Arpad-hid bus terminal in Budapest. The bus ride takes approximately 75 minutes, buses depart every 30 minutes, and they take you right to the center of Esztergom.