“That industrial city with a funny name” is how Gyor is often referred to. Although none of these statements can be denied (in terms of the number of enterprises, Gyor ranks third among cities in Hungary), its main feature, which is especially pleasing to the heart of a tourist, is a large number of historical buildings of the 17th-18th centuries. In terms of the number of intricate mansions of the Hungarian nobility, elegant churches and solid fortifications, Gyor is perhaps second only to Budapest.and Sopron. Among the city’s other treasures is the gold-plated shrine of St. King Ladislaus, one of the most outstanding examples of the work of medieval goldsmiths. 20 km from the city there is a magnificent Benedictine abbey, whose history goes back almost a thousand years, and the library contains 250,000 of the most valuable books. In a word, there really is something to see in the city and its environs!
Some hotels in Gyor literally “stand” on a mineral spring: in their spa centers you can go through a set of procedures to get rid of the ubiquitous stress. The Konferencia Hotel even offers acoustic therapy for wellness.
How to get to Gyor
According to a2zgov, Győr is located halfway between Budapest and Vienna and is connected to both capitals by excellent rail links. Trains from the Hungarian capital to Gyor depart every half hour. They cover a distance of 131 km in a little over an hour. The fare will cost approximately 1400 HUF. Between Vienna and Győr runs 6-8 trains a day. Travel time – 1.5 hours (119 km), fare – about 4900 HUF. You can also get to Gyor by rail from Bratislava.
Alternatively, travelers can arrive in Győr by intercity bus. The most stable connection is, of course, with Budapest: buses leave every hour.
It is easy to get to Lake Balaton from Gyor – trains to Veszprem leave 4-5 times a day. You have to spend about 2 hours on the road, the fare is around 800 HUF.
Lovers of fresh wind and invigorating splashes can recommend a water trip to Győr – along the beautiful blue Danube from Budapest or Vienna.
Transport in the city
The historic center of Győr is very compact and can be easily explored on foot. In addition, many of the streets are pedestrianized. For travel over longer distances, tourists have an extensive network of city buses and constant taxis.
Arriving in Gyor in a rented car, it is better to park it on the outskirts of the city – there are many one-way streets in the center, and finding parking is sometimes very difficult. Among other things, the cost of parking significantly hits the wallet.
In addition, in the vicinity of the city there are many hiking trails ranging from 2 to 12 km long; the most popular ones are along the Ravazd forest to the Pannonalm abbey, along the banks of the Raba and the Danube.
Gyor Hotels
There are about 40 hotels in Gyor and its immediate surroundings. Most of the hotels are “three-star” or not officially “star” category family guesthouses and motels. There are fewer “fours”, but, nevertheless, they are available and offer a very high quality service, thanks to the large number of businessmen who regularly come to this largest industrial city in Hungary. Some hotels in Gyor literally “stand” on a mineral spring: in their spa, you can undergo a set of procedures to get rid of the ubiquitous stress. The Konferencia Hotel even offers acoustic therapy for wellness.
Cuisine and restaurants
It will not be difficult to find a snack bar or cafe in Gyor – catering establishments are literally located here at every turn and offer not only Hungarian, but also pan-European, Balkan and Italian cuisine. Many restaurants offer a 3-course tourist menu.
In search of authentic taste sensations, you should look into Varkapa, which is opposite the Carmelite Church – there is a very “accurate” selection of the most beloved Hungarian dishes, and you can dine on the outdoor terrace. For a meaningful dinner, head to Komédias, next door to the Béla Bartók Cultural Centre, for an excellent wine list, gourmet food, and tasty tourist lunches. For Hungarian sweets, you should head to Zita Sutemenbolt – strudel, pancakes and sweet dumplings. And in the democratic “Surkebarat Borozo” they serve delicious breakfasts, excellent lunches on the menu of the day (for 600 HUF) and delicious ice cream (100 HUF ball). You can have another glass at the John Bull Pub.
4 things to do in Gyor
- See the golden bust of Saint King Ladislaus in the Edervár Chapel.
- Admire the graceful dolls of the 19th century at the Museum of Dolls in the Zich Palace.
- Fill up on strudel, pancakes and sweet dumplings in one of the pastry shops in the historic center of the city.
- Take pictures in the breathtaking beauty of the interiors of the Pannonalm Abbey.
Shopping and stores
In the city center there are a lot of shops for every taste. The focus of tourist shops is the Baroš Gabor pedestrian street, which is also the main historical promenade of the city. In the mornings, a small but very colorful market unfolds on the main square of Gyor, and on Christmas almost all the squares of the city turn into noisy and cheerful open-air shops. Every morning you can buy the freshest flowers from the Carmelite Church. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a market on Beshikapu Square – here you can look for souvenirs and interesting little things for the interior.
Modern stores are located in the Arcada Gyora shopping center – they sell clothes, shoes, accessories – in general, the standard assortment of malls. Popular supermarkets are Interspar and Kaiser.
Treatment in Gyor
The main thermal complex of Gyor is called Raba-Quelle and is located at the confluence of the Raba and Danube rivers. The healing properties of the mineral waters of Győr have been known since the Middle Ages, and the first modern public bath was opened here in 1931. Thermal water with a temperature of 67 ° C comes from three springs 2000 m deep and, due to its healing qualities, is ideal for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, arthritis, chronic gynecological and pulmonary diseases. The renovated complex Raba-Quelle opened in 2003, and today it offers not only medical, but also entertainment facilities. The recreational area includes 5 “pleasure” pools (plain water) with two toboggans and an extensive hydrotherapy area, a mini-pool for children. The therapeutic division includes 3 pools with thermal water at 28°C, 32°C and 38°C, 5 Finnish saunas and 2 steam baths. Here you can also relax in the jacuzzi and swim in the indoor pool with a “float” to the street. Massage services (including Indonesian and Ayurvedic) and beauty spa treatments are available.
You can also improve your health at the Bene Sani wellness center and the Feher Hajo aqua fitness club, which operates at the hotel of the same name. The Konferencia Hotel offers relaxing acoustic therapy treatments.
Entertainment and attractions in Gyor
The historical center of Gyor has moved from the 18th century to the present like a time machine: here you can see a lot of elegant churches, rich palaces and noble mansions in the Austrian Baroque style. One of the highlights of the style is a closed balcony, we would say, “glazed”, an innovative architectural detail for its time. That is why Győr is often referred to as the “city of balconies”.
The Gothic Edervár Chapel is extraordinarily beautiful in itself, but is famous primarily for the fact that it houses the shrine of the holy king Ladislaus (Laszlo), who ruled the country in the 11th century and became the first canonized sovereign of Hungary. Of remarkable beauty, the priceless golden bust of the monarch is one of the most striking examples of the work of medieval Hungarian jewelers. Note the king’s shoulders, made in the enamel technique – this is the first use of this technique in Europe. In the northern nave of the chapel, you can see the icon of the Weeping Virgin Mary – at 17, bloody tears suddenly flowed from the eyes of the Virgin. The icon is still very revered by believers. Also pay attention to the churches of Győr – the magnificent Carmelite Church – an example of the 16th century Viennese baroque and the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Other sights of Gyor: the City Hall, built in the neoclassical style (beautifully illuminated at night), the Archbishop’s Palace of the 11-13th centuries, the magnificent Basilica of the 11th century with wonderful altar frescoes and the archbishop’s throne, made of valuable oak, the Arch of Concord of the 18th century, erected King Karol I as a sign of reconciliation with the inhabitants of the city, after one of his soldiers during a church service accidentally knocked out the Holy Scriptures from the hands of the archbishop, the Baroque Palace Zich 18 in the bowels of which is located the magnificent Puppet Museum. The Esterhazy Palace is interesting in itself, in addition, it regularly hosts interesting international exhibitions.
Museums of Győr: Imre Patko Collection (a collection of paintings from the 20th century and artifacts brought by the owner from expeditions to West Africa, India, Tibet and Vietnam), the Peter Vasya Museum (objects of applied and decorative art), the Széchenyi Medical Museum, the Margita Kovacs Ceramics Collection. You can learn more about the history of the city and its surroundings at the Janos Xanthus Museum, and the Diocesan Treasury presents the art of Western Hungary from the Gothic period to the New Age: gold and silver items, textiles, church utensils, old books.
The majestic Pannonalm Abbey, whose age is more than a thousand years, deserves the closest attention. This is a real treasury of architecture, painting and typography: in its appearance you can see the features of Turkish, Romanesque and Gothic styles, the gallery was painted by Danish, Italian and Austrian artists, and an extensive library, in addition to 250 thousand old books, contains the first written sample of Hungarian writing.
