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Budapest is slowly rising as one of Europe’s bike-friendly capitals, with dedicated cycling paths, riverside rides, and massive parks that make exploring on two wheels a joy.
Whether you join a guided bike tour or go it alone, cycling here offers a completely different way to see the city — and the ride to Szentendre is a local favorite.
Even though I’m not exactly fearless when it comes to riding on the road, I’m always done for a bit of adventuring so my last trip to Budapest, we decided to tackle the route to Szentendre on bikes.
Read on for what to expect and how to prepare.
Why Bike to Szentendre
In addition to being a highlight for small towns to visit, it gives you a chance to get out of the city and see a different side of the area.
It’s close enough for a day trip but far enough to feel like a mini adventure — and the ride takes you past some of Budapest’s most scenic riverside stretches. Best of all, you can return by train or boat if you don’t feel like cycling back.
Where to Start and How to Rent Your Bike
Budapest has plenty of bike rental shops, and many companies also offer guided bike tours if you want a local leading the way. Tours often include stops at major attractions, food tastings, and useful insider tips.
If you’re starting near the city center, I recommend Best Bike Tours Budapest — I’ve rented from them four times now. They have new, well-maintained bikes, good prices (about €10 per day), and you can keep them overnight. Helmets and locks are included. Their shop is conveniently located just behind the Budapest Eye, making it an ideal starting point.
Pro tip: There’s a great bagel shop on the same street — perfect for grabbing coffee and snacks before you head out.
You can find Best Bike Tours in my ultimate list of things to do in Budapest here.
The Route: Step-by-Step
Budapest to Margaret Island
The first stretch is a breeze, depending on your comfort level with city cycling. You’ll head north along the river towards the Parliament and then head to the coast and follow the path to Margaret Island. There is a bike lanes with a few road crossings. It’s a gorgeous ride, but I’d suggest saving your island exploring for the return trip so you can focus on reaching Szentendre.
Cycle all the way to the end of the island, then take the underground pass to cross the northern bridge. Make sure you exit on the side that turns left, or you’ll have a hassle switching lanes later.
Margaret Island to Római-part
This section is trickier. Google Maps can be misleading here, and EuroVelo 6 signs aren’t always frequent. It’s best to keep north towards Római-part rather than relying solely on your phone. The route takes you through quiet neighborhoods and side streets, with the occasional busy crossing. It’s not hard to navigate, but it’s easy to second-guess yourself.
I wanted to double check the route with my Google Timeline but it picks up the route on the way back as well which we changed up a bit.
The easiest way it to go straight towards Aquicum (with the Microsoft building) and here Google Maps will show two route options: one semi coastal and one through the main road. Take the semi-coastal road along Nánási út for the nicest views which is how the signs point as well.
Római-part to Szentendre
Once you’re on Nánási út, the rest is straightforward. The only tricky crossing is on Batthyány Street (near the McDonald’s). After that, it’s smooth riding with a well-marked, scenic path all the way into Szentendre.
How Long Does It Take?
Many guides say 1.5–2 hours, but unless you’re keeping a steady, sporty pace with no stops, expect longer, or that was our experience anyway.
We stopped for coffee once and got lost a bit, and arrived about 4 hours after leaving the city center. Part of the fun is stopping for photos, coffee, and snacks along the way though so I wouldn’t stress about it.
What to do in Szentendre
We rolled into Szentendre just as the rain started and ducked into The Balkan Bistro — a warm, welcoming spot run by a local who even put on Greek music for us. Between the hearty Balkan dishes, good wine, and dessert, it ended up being one of the best meals of our trip. Highly recommend stopping here for food.
By the time we finished, the rain had cleared and we even got a short tour of the church from our new friends. We had just enough time for a slow stroll before having to had back.
Getting Back to Budapest
You’ve got three options for the return journey:
- Cycle Back – If your legs aren’t too sore, you can follow the same route in reverse. We skipped Margaret Island on the way back and took the more direct crossing from Slachta Margit bridge towards the city center.
- Boat – From spring to autumn, boats run between Szentendre and Budapest. The ride takes about an hour and offers a completely different view of the Danube. Tickets can be bought on-site or in advance, but schedules vary by season, so check ahead.
- Train (HÉV) – The green suburban train connects Szentendre to Batthyány tér in central Budapest in about 40 minutes. You can take your bike onboard (you’ll need an extra bike ticket) if you’re too tired to ride back.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this as a day trip activity with friends or family.
