The history of the city dates back to the Romans, when over 1,000 years ago Constantine the Great established a stronghold in what is now Visegrád. King Bela IV and King Matthias Corvinus spent time here, and by the 16th century much of the city was destroyed during the Turkish invasion.
Though Visegrád is a worthy destination in its own right, it's really one of three cities worth exploring from Budapest, along with Esztergom and Szentendre. See all three in a day with a sightseeing tour. Private tours typically offer convenient hotel pickup, while Danube Bend group outings offer the best value. If you're only checking out Visegrád, you can hop a train from Budapest, and explore the palace and citadel independently.
Because of its convenient location just about 25-miles (40-kilometers) from Budapest, you can take a train or ferry. Trains run several times daily from the Budapest-Nyugati station to Nagymaros-Visegrad, which is a short ferry ride from Visegrád. For the more scenic option, take a Mahart Passnave boat. The route snakes up the Danube River, and operates from May through August.
Spring, summer, and early fall are the best times to see Visegrád if you're hoping for pleasant weather. If you're visiting in summer, don't miss the annual International Palace Games of Visegrád, a yearly medieval festival with performers, falconry displays, and bustling markets held the second week of July.
The town’s castle offers visitors a chance to embrace medieval culture. Visitors can tour the castle grounds, check out Salamon Tower’s roof terrace, and even catch a glimpse of the house royal falconer. Once or twice a week depending on the time of year, the Knightly Order of Saint George performs an interactive, medieval combat tournament—a spectacle unlike anything else found in the city.
