Central Europe is home to some of the world's most outstanding architecture. In 2024, more than eight million tourists visited the Czech capital, drawn by its remarkable landmarks such as the majestic Prague Castle. While not everyone has the chance to explore the region's standout capitals, like Belgrade, Bratislava, or Vienna, on a scenic Danube River cruise, the area's excellent rail connections make it easy to go beyond a single destination. Limiting a trip to just one city would be a missed
opportunity to uncover the lesser-known corners of Central Europe. Budapest may be the region's crown jewel, but the rest of Hungary has amazing and affordable places to venture beyond the capital in search of a more authentic experience of the real country. The city of Győr offers exactly that.
Trains from Budapest and Vienna reach Győr in under 90 minutes, while buses from Bratislava pull in around the hour mark. Known for its vibrant summer festival calendar, including DumDum Fest for ravers and Győrkőc Festival for children, the city itself marvels visitors all year round with its stunning church interiors. The painted church ceilings like the ones found at Győr Basilica, the St. Ignatius Benedictine Church, as well as its Carmelite Church are truly breathtaking. Impressive frescoes can also be enjoyed at its museums such as the Jesuit-built Széchényi Pharmacy Museum.
Read more: The Most 'Overtouristed' Places In Europe
Baroque Beauty Everpresent In Győr's Old Town
Sitting neatly between the Austrian, Hungarian, and Slovakian capitals, Győr makes a natural stop to break up travel between some of Central Europe's most iconic cities. Though important to Hungarians in the modern era due to its industrial status -- it's home to the nation's Audi factory, Hungary's seventh-largest city also carries deep historical significance that remains felt today. Following the Ottoman withdrawal from the region, Győr underwent major reconstruction in the 17th and 18th centuries, leaving behind a legacy of grand Baroque architecture that continues to shape the city's visual identity.
Atop Chapter Hill stands the Győr Basilica, an important religious and architectural landmark. Renovated in 2017, its ceiling frescos are a true highlight, offering a vivid glimpse into the opulence of a previous era. Győr's artistic and religious heritage extends throughout the city, reflected in a remarkable collection of preserved churches representing various denominations, from a Carmelite sanctuary to the Jesuit offering of St. Ann. Previously a chapel hospital, the St. Ann Church's interior is also designed in a Baroque style. Just a six-minute walk from the city's Basilica lies another haven for art historians, the Benedictine Church of St. Ignatius. While its striking exterior draws the eye, it's inside where the real treasures lie. The church plays host to some of the oldest Baroque artifacts in Hungary.Above the organ, a delightful fresco of an angel concert stuns its visitors.
Festival Spirit And Riverside Charm To Be Enjoyed In Győr
When you're finished taking in stunning ceiling frescos, festivals in Győr are another draw for locals and tourists alike. Cinephiles can look forward to the Mediawave International Film and Music Festival, which kicks off Győr's festival season each May with a program of movies and tunes from across the globe. In June, techno lovers can enjoy raving late into the night at DumDum Fest, the city's open-air electronic music festival. For a more family-friendly affair, early July brings Hungary's largest outdoor children's festival -- the Győrkőc Festival -- a three-day celebration filled with concerts, educational activities, and lots of fun. Held across various venues including Radó Island, the program includes everything from ball parties, puppetry, to even a spot of "cloud hunting, offering a huge amount to entertain the little ones.
Győr not only sits in between the three aforementioned European capitals, but also at the confluence of three important rivers: the Danube, the Rába, and the Rábca. Its waterways gift Győr the nickname "the city of rivers", and thus enables visitors to enjoy picturesque walks alongside all three of them.
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