Szeged is the third largest city in Hungary and is located in the very south of the country. While so many visitors to Hungary just focus on Budapest, there’s more to see in this country beyond the capital city.
As I traveled through Europe on a long backpacking trip, I found myself needing to go from Subotica, Serbia to Timisoara, Romania. Buses were difficult but I noticed I could go through Szeged, Hungary. I had loved my time in Budapest the year before, so why not take a few days to see what this Hungarian city had to offer. The answer was beautiful buildings, pedestrian only streets, and lovely parks.
So, given all of that, here’s my top recommendations for what to do in Szeged, Hungary.
What to See in Szeged, Hungary
As always, this is not an exhaustive list of every single thing you can do in Szeged. Rather, it’s curated for travelers who don’t have a lot of time and just want to see the highlights. If you have more time in Szeged, there are a few museums to visit or you could relax along the shores of the Tisa River.
However, if you’re planning your first trip to Szeged, focus on these sites first.
Szeged Cathedral
I’ve often said that no list of things to see in Europe is complete without a church and in the case of Szeged, Hungary, I’m recommending that you stop by the Szeged Cathedral. From the outside, I think it looks like any other cathedral throughout Europe. Maybe I’ve seen too many cathedrals at this point, but this one didn’t seem that special from the outside.
However, I did appreciate the interior, which is beautifully decorated. Rather than being covered in gold or mosaics, it’s covered with paintings and to me, it almost gives more of a feel of an Orthodox Church. But maybe I’m biased because most of the churches that I had visited recently have been orthodox churches.
The best part of the Szeged Cathedral is that it’s free to visit. Though note that when I visited, I had to use a side door, rather than the main door to enter. Also, there was a sign stating that shorts weren’t allowed, but I was traveling on an extremely hot day and no one said anything to anyone who entered in shorts. I’d dress more modestly if you can, but they seems to be a bit lenient, at least in the oppressive summer heat.
Szeged Synagogue
I’ve already talked about the Szeged Cathedral, so let’s pivot slightly and talk about the Jewish Synagogue, which was built in the very early 1900s. It’s another beautiful building and it’s the second largest synagogue in Hungary (behind the Great Synagogue in Budapest). The interior can also be visited if you’re interested.
If you want to go inside the Jewish Synagogue, you’ll need to buy an entrance ticket. At the time of writing, the entrance is 2,500 HUF. I’ll be honest and admit that I skipped the inside of this synagogue. After so many churches, synagogues, and religious buildings, I’m having a hard time justifying the entrance fees to every single place. Plus, the year before, I had visited the Great Synagogue in Budapest, which is Europe’s largest. So I saved my money and reflected back on that trip instead.
That all said, the photos of the interior look beautiful, so maybe if I wasn’t traveling on a budget, I would have splurged and went inside.
Bridge of Sighs
Named after a similar feature in Venice, Italy, the Bridge of Sighs connects two buildings within Szeged. Legend has it that it gets its name because it’s the bridge business owners would cross after paying their city taxes and would sigh at what they just paid.
This isn’t my favorite bit of architecture in Szeged, but I appreciate the story behind it. Plus, since you’re out walking and appreciating the other architecture nearby, I think it’s worth a quick stop.
Széchenyi Tér
There’s a handful of parks in Szeged, but I’d like to make a special shout out to Szechenyi Ter, which has not only greenery and benches, but also a musical fountain.
Unfortunately for me, there was construction nearby (on the street right next to the park), so it was as serene experience as I had hoped. Oh well. I wasn’t expecting silence, but I would have liked to enjoy a seat in the shade to read my book for a bit. Again, oh well. I hope to return to Szeged one day (when it’s not so hot) and hopefully then it will be a better experience.
Water Tower
Much of Szeged involves walking around the historic center of the city to see the various landmarks and architecture. While so many of the buildings are cool in their own right, a few get a special mention. The first of these is the Szeged Water Tower.
Unlike water towers where I’m from, this is actually worth stopping to see because it’s designed in a unique way. Where I grew up, every city’s water tower was the exact same boring shape, so for me this was so different. Looking at the structure, it doesn’t look like a water tower and just looks like some kind of observation deck. But nope. It’s the city water tower that was constructed in 1904.
While I couldn’t climb the water tower, it does supposedly open on occasion. If it is open, I’d take the opportunity to climb it for a view of the city of Szeged.
Reök Palace
This building holds rotating art exhibits and in my opinion, there’s no better building. The Reök Palace is a work of art itself and fits perfectly into this city. While you can absolutely visit the museum to get a peak at the inside of the building, I was content to just visit the exterior of the building.
You can find updated information about current exhibitions, as well as ticket information, on the official website: https://www.reok.hu/en/reok
Heroes’ Gate
Located under an archway, this next stop is easy to miss, but it’s still worth visiting. Here you can see some artwork that depicts a memorial of soldiers from World War 1. You’ll see the soldiers running into battle and the saints watching over them.
Again, this is located under an archway, so you have to know that it’s there or you’ll likely miss it. That said, I did see a tour group or two stopped nearby so hopefully that should help you not miss it.
Mora Ferenc Museum
While there’s a small park outside the main entrance of this museum, you can still visit the interior of the Mora Ferenc Museum if you’re interested in the history of Szeged. Like so many museums, there’s also some rotating exhibitions, so it’s worth checking the website before you visit, but the main attraction is learning about the history of Szeged.
How Long Do You Need in Szeged, Hungary
I’d suggest giving yourself at least one day in Szeged, Hungary. While there are some museums that you can visit, I think the best part of the city is just walking around to take in the architecture. It’s a lovely city to stroll and one that I wish I could have experienced more.
I had two and a half days in Szeged, but Hungary was going through a heatwave. Sightseeing by walking around the city was just unbearably hot and uncomfortable. I still managed to see everything on this list, but I wish I could have just walked more to experience more. But that was not happening in the 100 degree (40 degrees Celsius) heat.
How to Get to Szeged, Hungary
Szeged is of course connected with other cities within Hungary, but you can also reach some international destinations.
I arrived in Szeged on the train from Subotica, Serbia. Trains depart each city every three hours (five trains per day) and take about an hour and a half, which includes your time spent at border control (and all non EU citizens going through the EES process).
You can connect to Timisoara, Romania directly by bus, but the schedule isn’t super friendly. Instead, I caught a train to Békéscsaba and was then able to connect on to Timisoara. It wasn’t the nicest itinerary (I had to get up incredibly early), but it was one train connection instead of two.
And of course, you can connect on frequent trains to the capital city of Budapest.
How to Get Around Szeged, Hungary
There are buses and trams working their way around Szeged and you can easily use these to get around. Despite the heat, I chose to walk everywhere since this city is so beautiful. This beauty is especially evident if you stay in the center of the city.
I stayed across the bridge and while it was only a 15 minute walk into the city, I could have stayed closer and saved my feet. With the heat, I was definitely considering the buses and trams and wish I had stayed closer to the center.
Final Thoughts
Szeged is a beautiful city and it’s one that I wish I could have explored just a little bit more. But the weather didn’t cooperate and that’s just how it goes. Still, Szeged is on my list of places to return, just so I can take some walks down its beautiful streets and see what else I can discover.
