Budapest is an amazing place to visit and so are the other hidden gems around Hungary. Some are great for Budapest day trips, while others make for a fantastic weekend getaway but all in all, they’re all worth visiting. Once such place is Tata, a small town 70km from Budapest. It’s located in a valley between Gerecse and Vertes Mountains and is home to two beautiful lakes and amazing hiking trails. But that’s not all, Tata is a big foodie haven with Michelin star restaurants under its belt. So, if you’re planning a trip there, here are some of the best things to do in Tata, Hungary.
How to get to Tata, Hungary
By car
The quickest way to get to Tata is by car. It takes only 50 minutes to arrive from Budapest on the Motorway M1. If you don’t own a car, you look for affordable car rentals here.
By train
Alternatively, you can get to Tata from Budapest by train. Catch the train to Gyor from Budapest Keleti Station or Kelenfold Station and expect an hour long journey to Tata. The trains are convenient and frequent, making this an ideal way to get to Tata.
On average, a ticket costs between 1500 HUF – 2000 HUF.
NOTE: You don’t need to get your ticket in advance because prices don’t really change much. There are several ticket machines at the train stations and the MAV web and app offer an option to get tickets online.
Tata attractions | Amazing things to do in Tata
Here are some of the things you shouldn’t miss on your day trip to Tata.
Tatai Bright Nature trail (Fényes Tanösvény)
For only 2000 HUF (without any discounts) you can visit one of the most famous attractions in Tata.
The Tata Bright Nature Trail is a 1.5 km ecotourism route with several stations offering an interactive exploration of the spa area. You can walk independently or take a guided tour and admire the local wildlife.
This attraction is available to see all year round and offers a look into the less travelled paths of Hungary. Admire the springs and spot unique fauna including birds and much more.
Regardless of whether you’re trying to get those 10 000 steps of day or simply get closer to nature, this is one of the best things to do in Tata.
Esterházy Castle
Address: Tata, Hősök tere 9/A, 2890
Even though Tata Castle is the more popular of the two, Esterházy Castle is also worth visiting. The castle’s rooms were renovated a few years ago but still hold the original charm that’s decades old. Here, you can learn more about the Esterházy family and admire the architectural details and elements of their home through a tour that ends at the castle
chapel.
Tata Castle
Address: Tata, Váralja u. 3, 2890
If you’re drawn to even older castles of fortresses, you’re going to love Tata Castle, the romantic water castle on the northern shore of Lake Öreg (it’s technically a fortress but we can get away with calling it a castle).
The gothic water castle was built at the end of the 14th century and unlike many castles, it wasn’t built for defensive
purposes but instead, built as a summer house, hunting lodge and estate centre (that’s why we can get away with calling it a castle).
If you pay close attention to the castle you’ll notice Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic styles. The castle was rebuilt in 1815 and is the only castle in Hungary with its original moat defense system.
Today, the castle is home to Kuny Domokos Museum and can be visited throughout the year.
Kuny Domokos Museum
Address: Tata, Váralja u. 1-3, 2890
The Kuny Domokos Museum is another Tata attraction to put on your list of things to see in Tata. This museum has permanent exhibitions such as A city is born, Weekdays in Middle Ages, Medieval Stone Warehouse, Knight’s Hall, Roman Stone Warehouse and the Roman Room. Each tell a unique story of Tata’s past and shade more light on the region’s history.
Additionally, you can observe temporary exhibitions at the museum.
NOTE: All the descriptions are in Hungarian so take a local friend with you!
Esterházy Summer Residence
Circling back to the Esterházy family, their summer residence is also worth visiting. It’s located in the English Garden, another Tata attraction you shouldn’t miss, but more on that later.
Visiting the summer residence only costs 1500 HUF without any discounts but if you want to get the full experience, opt for the combined guided tour of the residence and English Garden for 19 500 HUF.
English Garden
Address: Tata, Sport u. 23, 2890
You can’t possibly visit the Esterházy Summer Residence without seeing the English Garden, also known as Angol Kert. It’s home to the romantic Cseke Lake and decorated with beautiful groves, promenades and monuments.
Tata’s English Garden was Hungary’s first English style garden and unlike French gardens which were popular at the time, these gardens followed irregular patterns creating flowing vistas and stunning views from all sides.
The English Garden is home to Chinese weeping willows among many other water loving plants encapsulating the beautiful field.
In the northern part of the park you can admire captivating ruins designed by Charles Moreau. These ruins, which can be reached via an arched stone bridge, were created from actual ruins found at Vértesszentkereszt. In fact, this structure also served as a bathhouse as once upon a time, a stream of the karst springs flowed nearby.
To all history and architecture fans reading this, don’t miss the romantic style Turkish Mosque in the park. It was designed by Moreau and its located in the southern shore of the park. There is also a renovated palm house building and an artificial cave called Avernus Cave.
And there’s more! The park is also home to a unique industrial monument called the Esterhazy Champagne Factory which was built in the 1770s and was a huge part of the Esterhazy Estate. The factory features a cellar, ballroom and grain storage space. Today, it’s a cool rustic wedding venue but even if you can’t see the interior, the exterior is still dreamy.
The park is free to visit and can be reached via Ady Endre Street. If you decide to visit the park during summer, I highly recommend packing a picnic basket with you and lounging on the green lawn while people watching and enjoying the scenery. This is easily one of the best things to do in Tata.
Calvary Hill and Chapel (Kálvária Hill)
Address: Tata, Fazekas u. 52/a, 2890
Nothing beats a good panoramic view, right? That’s exactly why you shouldn’t miss Calvary Hill on your day trip from Budapest to Tata. This hill is one of the city’s most popular spots and famed for its striking views of Tata and the beautiful white walled chapel. At the foot of the hill is the Open-Air Geological Museum, another Tata attraction worth seeing. However, it can only be visited with a guide.
One thing you don’t need a guide for is seeing the beautiful town of Tata atop the hill. Climb the observation tower, admire the surrounding Baroque and Rococo styles and enjoy the city views. Another cool fact about this area is that the Water Tower which was built to supply the town’s water is now used a concert venue due to its acoustic properties. So if you’re lucky, you might just enjoy a concert while you’re here.
Another cool Tata attraction atop this hill is the Fellner Jakab lookout tower that’s named after the city’s most famous architect, Jakab Fellner. The 175 steps leading up to the top of the tower are totally worth it because from here you can see as far as Tatabanya, the Gerecse Mountains and Dunaalmás. How’s that for something amazing to see in Tata?
Holy Cross Parish Church / Great Church
What’s a trip to a European town without seeing a beautifully constructed church? Enter the Holy Cross Parish Church. The 18th century church is also the gravesite of Jakab Fellner, Tata’s most celebrated architect.
Tata Fényes Bath and Camping
Address: Tata, Fényes Fasor, 2890
Surprisingly, Tata Fényes baths are still a hidden gem in Hungary. In the past, each part of the lake had a specific purpose in the past and was separated by its features. For instance, the upper spring was used by the countess for bathing and the inner part was for sunbathing. Today, you can visit the baths and also spend a night or more, in the nearby campsite.
Tata Lakes
Address: Tata, Sport u. 23, 2890 English Garden
Tata is known for its beautiful lakes and for good reason! They each add to the towns charm and picturesque nature. While there, you can visit Lake Cseke, a pretty lake with two small islands. This lake is a popular fishing site and its surrounded by huge trees and weeping willows. It’s not the biggest lake (the circuit is only 3km) and its perfect for walks or cycling around. Along the way you’ll see the English Park, Esterhazy Castle and several ruins.
If you decide to visit Tata Castle (which you should) you won’t miss the Old Lake. It’s the city’s most popular lake and in summer you can attend several festivals, lounge at waterfront restaurants and paddle or ride a electric boat. If you’re feeling more active, you can enjoy a 7km run around the lake.
In late autumn, you can also watch wild geese arrive and spot different species—-from summer geese to great white geese and even the highly protected, red-necked goose. The best part is the geese stay until February so there’s a huge chance of seeing them!
In recent years the city has organized the Tata Wild Geese Festival in honour of the arrival of the geese. The event takes place on the last Saturday of November and continues to attract more visitors each year.
Michelin Dining
Remember when we talked about Michelin dining in Tata? Tata might be small, but its definitely mighty! I highly recommend enjoying a meal at one of the towns Michelin star restaurants. Prices might be farer than Budapest but you won’t be cutting back on the quality!
Platan Gourmet and Platan Bisztro are wonderful options when visiting Tata.
Michelin-star dining aside, there are several cool places to eat in Tata. Anywhere around the Old Lake would be a great choice and if you visit during summer, you’ll have lots to choose from.
Tata accommodation
If you decide to make your day trip to Tata, a weekend trip instead, you can spend the night at a lovely guest house in Szomod, about 9km from Tata. Fear not, it’s very easy to get to. About a 15 minutes bus ride for only 400 HUF.
I knew one day in Tata wouldn’t be enough for me to see all the cool things in the town so I decided to spend two nights in Szomod. The guest house was picturesque and also very comfortable. It had a jacuzzi which was a perfect way to start and end my days. On top of that, my host provided fresh breakfast each morning and everything was locally sourced.
In the summertime, I hear you can also have BBQs and other outdoor activities in this beautiful spot. You can find out all the details on their official website here: A MI KISHÁZUNK vendégház.
Story time: My first time in Tata, Hungary
I discovered Tata in 2021 when I was in Budapest for Erasmus. It was a spontaneous trip I took with a friend after randomly pinpointing a spot on the map. We saw the lake and we were instantly sold.
Not long after, we had arrived. It was summer and the city was beautiful with so many things to do. We saw the happy train ride along the lake, couples taking insta worthy pictures and kids licking their ice cream.
It was picturesque.
We walked along the Old Lake and saw Tata attractions like the Tata Castle and our exploration went as far as the English Garden. Somehow, we lost track of time and missed our train back to Budapest. We ended up spending the night in an empty campsite, desperately hoping to make it through the night.
I always love going back to Tata and I’ve seen it in all seasons, except the dead of winter. The lake is my favourite and the area is always dressed in different colours from the changing seasons.
So, do I think Tata is worth visiting? Absolutely. Check out my other Budapest articles.
