Sopron for Explorers - 5 days

Sopron region

How long it takes?

5 days

Best vehicle choice for this plan:

public transport

bicycle

bus

This region is famous for:

Day 1

A single stroll is enough to see everything in the old town of Sopron, starting from Fő tér.

Sopron and the Fire Tower

The tower is the symbol of the town, and had great practical use in the past: the guards who once served in the Fire Tower warned the citizens of the town if there was a fire, if enemy was approaching or if someone wanted to enter the town with foreign wine. Visit the Roman city walls found within the Fire Tower, then climb up to the top of the 58-metre high tower. The staircase that takes you up to the top consists of 200 steps, which are easily climbed. It is definitely worth the effort, since the full circle around the tower gives you a wonderful view of Sopron, Lake Fertő and neighbouring Austria.

Visit the Harrer Chocolate Workshop

Austrian confectioner dynasty Harrer has been delighting visitors for four generations now, and in 2009 they also added chocolate to their repertoire. They purchase cocoa beans from the best locations, then roast them themselves. All their products are handmade and they only use natural raw ingredients, adding only seeds, dried fruit and herbs to season their products. As a result of constant experimentation, the range of chocolates on offer is unique, and their products continue to win awards at prestigious competitions held around the world. Try the dark and milk chocolates, the bonbons, the truffles, the hot chocolate, and, of course, the ice-cream on hot summer days. Book an appointment for the chocolate tasting in advance.

Every street in the town centre starts from and leads to Fő tér

Almost every building is a protected monument, and as you walk by, you can read the story of each house on the sign installed on the facade. In the Middle Ages, Sopron was one of Hungary’s seven most important free royal cities. It was not only a coronation city but also a border town, which, given its geographical position, always played an important role in facilitating intercultural dialogue throughout history. The old Roman trading roads ran through here, including the famous Amber Road. The buildings here are home to many museums: the Fabricius House, the Pharmacy Museum, the Scarbantia Forum, the Old and New Synagogues, the Eggenberg House, the Lábas House and the Cézár House are all within a short walk of each other. The story of the Storno House and the Kecske Church on Fő tér is of particular importance. The Storno House is a palatial corner house built in the Baroque style, a monument to the history of Sopron between the 17th and 20th centuries. Ferenc Storno, after whom the building was named, came to Sopron as a result of being given wrong directions given to him. He started working here as a chimney sweep and soon discovered real treasures in the attics of certain houses in and around Sopron. The Goat Church looks back on an ancient past: manuscripts first make mention of it in 1280. Above its entrance, you can see the coat-of-arms with the goat, alluding to the benefactor of the church. It has been the venue of many historical events, including coronations, and the National Assembly held its meetings here several times.

Day 2

Castles and wine regions surrounding Sopron

‘The Hungarian Versailles’ - Fertőd, Esterházy Castle

The building of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd we see today was designed and created in the 18th century and the castle – with its 126 rooms – is a worthy match for Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna or Versailles in Paris. ‘The Hungarian Versailles’ was a place of music and splendour. It was regularly home to parties, and even Maria Theresa took part in one such magnificent ball. By the end of the 18th century, the castle became one of the cultural centres of the country, so it’s no wonder that even Joseph Haydn lived and worked here for two decades. After a walk through the contemporary history exhibition in the rooms of the castle, take a walk in the beautiful castle park.

Széchenyi Castle, Nagycenk

Nagycenk has become synonymous with the Széchenyi family. Ferenc Széchenyi moved into the palace in 1783, making Nagycenk the centre of the family estates. This is also where he kept his extensive collections, numbering in the tens of thousands of items (including manuscripts, books, coins, engravings, maps, etc.) Having inherited the castle, István Széchenyi, “the Greatest Hungarian” proceeded to apply all of the technical achievements and innovations learned during his travels abroad, including the installation of a bathroom and gas lighting.

The wines of the Sopron wine region

When you say Sopron, we say wine region and kékfrankos. Farmers in Sopron sold their wine to Napoleon’s soldiers for blue francs (kékfrank), which is how the wine came to be called kékfrankos. The wine cellar of the Erhardt Restaurant has a traditional vaulted ‘poncichter’ room, where you can taste the many wine varieties produced in the Sopron wine region, accompanied by expert recommendations and an excellent kitchen. If you visit the Bruckner Winery, you can take a peek into the life of a real ‘Buschenschank’, i.e. a place where the winemaker sells their wine from their own home, as permitted by Emperor Joseph II in 1784. The family winery offers cold food and dishes served on wooden plates to accompany their wine. Everyone in the region has heard about the Pfneiszl girls: Katrin and Birgit, daughters of an Austrian winemaker, took over the estate in Sopron from their parents. Today, they run an organic farm on 13 hectares and work in the vineyard 365 days a year. They produce wine with kindness, full of youth and feminine sensitivity, the way they like their life to be.

Day 3

Memorial Site of the Pan-European Picnic, Fertő-Hanság National Park, Fertőrákos Stone Quarry and Cave Theatre

Memorial Site of the Pan-European Picnic

19 August 1989 was a momentous day in history, with an event that took place here in Sopron, more precisely in Sopronpuszta, a place near the border between Austria and Hungary. The borders were opened and hundreds of East German tourists entered Austria through here. Today, this breakthrough is remembered as the ‘Pan-European Picnic’.

The visitor centre at the Memorial Site of the Pan-European Picnic has a ‘time corridor’ displaying memories and relics of the former Iron Curtain and the moment of the breakthrough, while you will find stepping stones in the paths all around the park to remind you of the main historical events.

Fertő-Hanság National Park

Start your tour from Kócsagvár with a name that literally means ‘Egret Castle’ in Hungarian, which is most fitting, as the great egret is one of the characteristic birds you’ll find here. You can also go to Öntésmajor, just 7 km from Kapuvár, to visit the exhibit on the fauna of the Hanság region, as well as on the preservation of the remains of the former swamp and marshland. Sarród and Lászlómajor used to be one of the nerve centres of the great Esterházy estates, and you can visit to catch a glimpse of contemporary village life.

If you love active recreation, the canoe tour will be the perfect activity for you. The 6 km tour will take you through the channels cut into the contiguous thick layer of reeds on Lake Fertő to an almost untouched world that will definitely be an unforgettable experience.

If you don’t feel like paddling, board one of the specially designed solar boats to discover the fauna living in the reeds and the open water on Lake Fertő. The almost non-existent sound of the engine will not disturb the water birds and mammals that hide away in the vegetation or which are less tolerant of human presence.

The tours organised by the Fertő-Hanság National Park, to bring bird life in the region closer to tourists, affords you the chance to see several spectacular migrating and resident birds living in the Hanság region. Almost 300 migrating and resident bird species have been identified that use this place as a major resting, feeding and nesting location. The National Park is primarily known for the egret, which is also the symbol of the park. This bird has become extinct in the Carpathian Basin and in most of Europe.

Fertőrákos Stone Quarry and Cave Theatre

The rocks of the Fertőrákos Stone Quarry were used for various purposes back in Roman times: many of the buildings, residences, churches and palaces of Sopron and Vienna were built out of these stones. A prehistoric animal exhibit awaits you inside the quarry caves, with life-size prehistoric whales, sharks and dolphins. It also teaches visitors about the various types of limestone.

This is also where you’ll find the Cave Theatre, a stage with its own unique ambience. Thousand-year-old limestone formations serve as the backdrop for the various shows and concerts.

Finally, you should take a little walk to find a beautiful view of Lake Fertő and the memorial site of the Pan-European Picnic.

Day 4

Kőszeg and Sárvár

The quiet old town of Kőszeg holds many beautiful secrets. A typical street would be the Várkör (literally Castle Circle), which is where a system of trenches once protected the city. Jurisics Castle was the primary defence against Turkish sieges; it was even named after its most famous defender.

When you arrive in Sárvár, you should visit Nádasdy Castle, a Renaissance castle and palace, which is the most intact in the country. The ceiling frescoes of the palace depicting various battles are the grandest series of historic Baroque-style frescoes in all of Hungary. It is home to the exhibitions of the Nádasdy Ferenc Museum.

Day 5

Relax and healing

Bükfürdő Thermal & Spa

The medicinal waters in Bükfürdő bubble up through four wells from a depth of 1,282 m, and treat or prevent various musculoskeletal complaints. But the medicinal waters are not the only reason to visit. Those looking to enjoy some sports or other active means of relaxation will be delighted to find both indoor and outdoor adventure and diving pools, water slides, a Kneipp pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna world, and various types of massages, all over 1,400 m2 of floorspace.

The outdoor slide complex consists of four slides and offers an unforgettable experience for both the little ones and grown-ups. You can even slide down together with your kids on the family slides. The Acapulco family pool has a bay for both waves and diving, and if you’d rather relax by the pool, just lie down in one of the hammocks.

You can enjoy the pools, slides and sports facilities on the huge grounds of the bath, under the large canopy of the old trees.

During your visit

Wine

If you ever find yourself in the Sopron wine region, you should certainly try the Sopron Kékfrankos (Bläufrankisch) or the Sopron Zenit. The town of Sopron has a long tradition of viticulture and winemaking, and is famous for its Kékfrankos wine. At one time, it comprised a single wine region with the city of Rust in Austria, as well as the surrounding areas.

Gastronomy

Babsterc (also known as Bohnensterz) is a dish native to Sopron. It got its name from the Ponzichters, local producers who would grow beans between the rows of grapevines. Beans were a thrifty choice, as they did not cast shade on the vines, did not disrupt the harvest, and were also not taxed. Babsterc is prepared the same way today as it always has been: made with flour, fat or oil, and salt. It is best enjoyed with pörkölt (a Hungarian beef and onion stew), but is also excellent with sour cream, cucumber salad, or even as a sweet dish with any kind of jam.

Take a look around

Discover the north-western corner of Hungary!

Explore on map

Move around like a hungarian

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The Hungarian Mediterranean on the shores of Lake Balaton: jewels of the Káli Basin

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Hévíz, Harmony for Body and Soul

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Balaton’s gastronomic revolution

Places to go

Whole-day activities in Győr: Zoo and the Raba Quelle

Places to go

The Hungarian Mediterranean on the shores of Lake Balaton: jewels of the Káli Basin

Places to go

Hévíz, Harmony for Body and Soul

Things to do

Balaton’s gastronomic revolution