A Day in Székesfehérvár (Full-Day)

Székesfehérvár was once at the heart of the Hungarian kingdom, where generations of monarchs were crowned and laid to rest.

Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour– In English or Hungarian

Family-Friendly Tour 😊

Today, its quiet squares, Baroque buildings and old streets make it a lovely place to spend a day away from the bustle of Budapest. There's plenty of history here, but it's also a city where you can take your time, stop for a coffee and enjoy a walk without the crowds of the capital.

Beyond the old town, we'll visit Bory Castle, a rather unusual 20th-century castle built over several decades by a Hungarian artist. Its towers, courtyards and galleries are filled with paintings and sculptures, many of them connected to his family and his life.

This is a private tour for you, your family or friends (up to six people). Your English- and Hungarian-speaking driver-host will pick you up from your accommodation in Budapest, accompany you throughout the day and take you back afterwards. There'll be time for photographs and lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

Prices – Departing from Budapest
€350 total / 1–2 people
€400 total / 3–4 people
€450 total / 5–6 people

All entrance tickets are included in the price.

Székesfehérvár – Hungary's Coronation City

The Historic Old Town

Our day begins in the old town, where the streets open onto small squares surrounded by centuries-old buildings. It's an easy place to wander, with plenty to see within a short walk. At Városház Square stands the Országalma, a stone monument representing the royal orb, one of the traditional symbols of Hungarian kingship.

Nearby is the Bishop's Palace, a late Baroque building constructed partly from stones taken from the ruined medieval royal basilica. We'll also see the Town Hall and the Hiemer House, a beautifully restored historic building with medieval origins.

There's time to visit the smaller streets and admire the buildings before we continue to the city's most important historic site.

The Coronation Basilica Ruins – Where Hungarian Kings Were Crowned

In the heart of the city lies the National Memorial Site, usually called the Ruin Garden.

Here, in the 11th century, Hungary's first king, Stephen I, had a great royal basilica built. For centuries, Hungarian kings were crowned here, and the church became the burial place of St Stephen and numerous later rulers. It's hard to imagine today, looking at the surviving foundations, that this was once the setting for some of the most important ceremonies in Hungarian history.

The basilica suffered severe damage during the Ottoman period and was largely destroyed by a gunpowder explosion in 1601. Much of its remaining stonework was later reused in other buildings. We'll see the surviving foundations and visit the St Stephen Mausoleum, where a beautifully carved medieval stone sarcophagus traditionally associated with Hungary's first king is displayed.

St Stephen's Cathedral

A short walk brings us to St Stephen's Cathedral, a Baroque church built on the site of an earlier medieval church. Its richly decorated interior belongs to a very different period of the city's history. If the cathedral is open to visitors, we'll go inside for a look.

Lunch in Székesfehérvár

We'll stop at a local restaurant for lunch. You can try traditional Hungarian dishes or choose something lighter.

Bory Castle – A Castle Built for Love

After lunch, it's a short drive to Bory Castle.

It looks like something from the Middle Ages, but the castle is actually the work of Jenő Bory, a Hungarian sculptor and architect who spent much of his life building it during the 20th century. Over the years, he added towers, staircases, courtyards and galleries, filling the building with sculptures and paintings. What began as a small building on a hillside gradually grew into the castle we see today. His wife, Ilona Komócsin, was a painter too. Her paintings are displayed here alongside sculptures and portraits of her created by Bory. There's even a small chapel dedicated to their love.

We'll walk through the courtyards, visit the exhibition rooms and, where accessible, climb the towers for views over the castle and the surrounding area.

A Day at Your Own Pace

It's your day, so we can spend more time at the places that interest you most. There's no large group to keep up with, and we can adjust the pace to suit you. The whole trip takes approximately eight hours, including the journey from Budapest and back.

Opening Hours & Availability

The full tour is available from April to October, when the Ruin Garden is normally open to visitors. Monday visits require advance confirmation. Bory Castle is open throughout the year, including Mondays, although opening hours are shorter in winter.