Eger ligger en och en halv timme med tåg från Budapest och Eger tågstation ligger cirka en mil utanför stadens centrum. Bussar går också var 30: e minut till och från Budapest och resan tar cirka två timmar. Busstationen i Eger ligger nära basilikan.
Eger is about 85 miles (135 kilometers) northeast of Budapest, about a 1.5-hour train ride or a 2-hour bus ride away. The train station is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) outside of central Eger, while the bus station is near the basilica. It’s easy to walk around the city center of Eger; you can also take a taxi to get around.
Eger can be visited year-round and rarely gets too crowded. Expect the most visitors in the summer, which offers the warmest and most pleasant weather for exploring, followed by late spring and early fall. The Bull’s Blood Festival and other wine festivals are celebrated over the summer.
In 1552, several thousand defenders, led by Istvan Dobo, were able to repel a significantly larger invading force from the Ottoman Empire. Legend has it that the troops from Eger stained their beards with Egri Bikaver wine, which the enemies mistook for the blood of bulls. Although Eger eventually fell in 1599, its unexpected initial defense remains a source of pride for Hungarians. Museum exhibitions at the castle offer deeper insights.
