Sultans Trail in Hungary
Beautiful hiking trail in Hungary. The map below
shows the route of the Sultans Trail in Hungary.
The Sultans Trail in Hungary includes vibrant cities such as Budapest, Esztergom, and Győr. The view over the Danube is spectacular from Dobogókő. The countryside is sometimes breath taking. Near the Danube, the birdlife is abundant.
The trail mostly follows the Danube at the edge of the Pannonian Plain in Transdanubia, except for a detour to Székesfehérvár, the Royal city of the Hungarian kingdom and the site where most kings were crowned and buried.
From Székesfehérvár, the main route returns to the Danube, which was the border of the Roman empire in ancient times, here called the ‘Ripa Pannonica’, at Dunaföldvár and enters the Pannonian Plain. Where the Danube used to meander through the plain, the land is flat and marshy. Some of the former landscape has been preserved in the extensive nature reserve ‘Gemenc Forest’ at the confluence of the Sió River and the Danube.
The main route from Esztergom to the Serbian border includes 19 stages and covers a total distance of 395 km. The highest point is 713m in the Pilis mountains. The estimated hiking time through Hungary is 115 hours.
An alternative route from Székesfehérvár passes by Lake Balaton. This section includes nine stages of generally easy hiking, covering a total distance of 290 km, with an estimated hiking time of 88 hours.
HUNGARY
Stages
In Hungary the trail has three sections with the following stages:
Section 2 Bratislava – Budapest
ST-201 Bratislava – Čunovo
ST-202a Čunovo – Lipót
ST-203a Lipót – Győr
ST-204a Győr – Gönyű
ST-205a Gönyű – Komárno
In Slovakia
ST-206 Komárno – Dunaradvány
ST-207 Dunaradvány – Mužla
ST-208 Mužla – Esztergom
ST-209 Esztergom – Dobogókő
ST-210 Dobogókő – Csillaghegy
ST-211 Csillaghegy – Budapest
Connectin routes
ST-212 Gabčíkovo – Lipót (ferry)
ST-213 Medveďove E-575 bridge – Györ
Section 3 Budapest – Belgrade
ST-301 Budapest – Ófalu
ST-302 Ófalu – Tordas
ST-303 Tordas – Nadap
ST-304 Nadap – Székesfehérvár
ST-305 Székesfehérvár – Tác
ST-306 Tác – Nagylók
ST-307 Nagylók – Mezőfalva
ST-308 Mezőfalva – Dunaföldvár
ST-309 Dunaföldvár – Dunapataj
ST-310 Dunapataj – Kalocsa
ST-311 Kalocsa – Bóni-fok
ST-312 Bóni-fok – Pörböly
ST-313 Pörböly – Dunaszekcsö
ST-314 Dunaszekcsö – Mohács
ST-314a Alternative route Dunaszekcsö – Mohács
ST-315 Mohács – Hercegszántó (H)
Section 8 Balaton – Pécs – Osijek
ST-801 Szekesfehérvár – Várpalota
ST-802 Várpalota – Balatonalmádi
ST-803 Balatonalmádi – Clutihány
ST-804 Clutihány – Tab
ST-805 Tab – Törökkoppány
ST-806 Törökkoppány – Dombóvár
ST-807 Dombóvár – Pécs
ST-810 Pécs – Siklos
ST-820 Siklos – Osijek
General information
From Esztergom to Budapest the trail passes through the wooded hills of the Pilis mountains, a former crown dominion. Here this section of the trail reaches its highest point at Dobogókö (700m.).
From Dobogókö the trail continues to Óbuda, where Aquincum was founded, the Roman roots of Budapest. From Óbuda it is only a short distance to Castle hill of Buda and the Parliamentary building in Pest, across Danube.
From Budapest onwards, the landscape in Transdanubia is predominantly flat, river land, with large agricultural fields and small, spread-out villages.
Starting point
the Statue of King Stephen I, next to the Matthias church at the Fishermen’s Bastion on Castle Hill in Budapest.
How to get there
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD) is frequented by ca 50 airlines, including various low-cost carriers. The airport serves as a hub for Wizz Air and as a base for Ryanair.
The airport is located 16km southeast of the city. It is connected to the city by bus100E to Deák Ferenc tér and 200E to Köbánya-Kispest Metro Station, where you transfer to Metro line M3 and city bus line 61.
Budapest also has good bus- and train connections to many major (eastern) European cities, see for train options Deutsche Bahn and for buspossibilites for example Omio
GPX/KML files
We also provide the Sultans Trail App from Google Playstore.
The navigational tracks are free for our members, who also enjoy other benefits, like the Sultans Trail passport.
Formalities
Hungary is an EU members and part of the Schengen zone (no border formalities between them).
The currency in Hungary is Florint (HUF), with a relatively stable exchange rate to the Euro. Credit cards and bank cards are readily accepted, but “cash is king”.
The main language along the route is Hungarian, but English and German are occasionally also understood.
Route Updates
The hiking route leading up to Pasmand has recently been upgrade to cycle path bringing tarmac to the hiker.
Connecting countries
Landscape
From Esztergom to Budapest the trail passes through the wooded hills of the Pilis mountains, (Pilisszentkereszt), a former crown dominion. It is here that the trail reaches its highest point, in this section, at Dobogókö in the Visigrád hills (700m.).
From Dobogókö the trail continues to Óbuda, where Aquincum can be found, the Roman roots of Budapest. From Óbuda it is only a short distance to Castle hill of Buda and the Parliamentary building in Pest, on the other side of the Danube. The landscape is predominantly flat, river land, with large agricultural fields and small, spread-out villages. And between, Esztergom and Budapest, low hills
Nature
Food
Culture
Brief History
Monuments
In Rusovce the Roman fortress Gerulata is worth a visit. Unfortunately, Kaštieľ Rusovce is closed to the public, but the castle park is accessible and the trail runs through it.
The wetlands between Čunovo and Gabčíkovo are very much worthwhile.
Győr is a regional industrial center with Roman roots and a small Medieval center.
Komárnó has a charmingly refurbished center and interesting fortress. It’s twin city Komárom, on the Hungarian side of the Danube used to locate important fortifications dating from Roman times.
Stúrovo is situated near Esztergom at the Danube. Esztergom is a fortified town with a large episcopal cathedral.
Esztergom, seen from the Sultans Trail
The hills between Esztergom and Budapest reach up to 900m and used to be the crown dominions of the Hungarian monarchy.
Budapest is very much worth a visit. With its remains of ancient Roman Aquincum, Castle Hill, Fisherman’s wharf, House of Parliament, Art Nouveaux architecture, and numerous spa’s. Too much to mention.
Here we will quote a recommendation.
