Some people swear nature is at its finest in spring, and while we can understand their point, we think that winter isn\u2019t given nearly enough credit when it comes to beauty. If you want to break free from the stifling grip of the city and see for yourself the white side of nature (hopefully we\u2019re looking forward to a snowy February), choose one – or more – from the following hikes found within a one-hour radius of Budapest!<\/p>\n
Normafa<\/strong><\/p>\n The city\u2019s favorite sled-spot is found several hundred meters above the bustling downtown streets in the Buda Hills. Known for its breath-taking panoramic views and fresh air, the place has been frequented by Hungarians ever since King Matthias rested under the eponymous Norma tree in the 15th century (which was cut down after several lightning strikes and transported to the artesian thermal spring of Margaret Island in the 1920s). Enjoy the pleasant uphill walk, marvel at the gorgeous valleys, slopes and hilltops, spend a meal in one of the area\u2019s numerous restaurants, climb the stairs of the Elizabeth lookout tower, and then take the cute cogwheel-train to its terminal in V\u00e1rosmajor park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dobog\u00f3k\u0151<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be the heart chakra of the Earth by Hungarian neo-paganists (followers of the T\u00e1ltos faith, the ancient religion of the Hungarian people), Dobog\u00f3k\u0151 is both an important pilgrimage site and a popular tourist area in the Visegr\u00e1d Hills, 700 meters above sea level, halfway between Esztergom and Budapest, situated close by to the Danube Bend. It can be reached either by car or via a bus ride from Pom\u00e1z (take the H5 suburban train to get there). Dobog\u00f3k\u0151 hosts the country\u2019s first ski slope, a mountain hut, and several hiking possibilities, including R\u00e1m Ravine, Preacher\u2019s Stool and Rogue Rock.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n B\u00f6rzs\u00f6ny<\/strong><\/p>\n Part of the beautiful Danube-Ipoly National Park, the B\u00f6rzs\u00f6ny mountain range is located an hour\u2019s train ride away from the Hungarian capital\u2019s Nyugati railway station (get off at Kismaros then take the forest train to Kir\u00e1lyr\u00e9t). Its tallest peak is the Cs\u00f3v\u00e1nyos with a height of 938 meters, providing one with the perfect vantage point to far-away Budapest and the Danube Bend. The B\u00f6rzs\u00f6ny is home to a number of picturesque castles, including Dr\u00e9gelyv\u00e1r, Hont and N\u00f3gr\u00e1d, as well as a13th century church, situated in the village of Nagyb\u00f6rzs\u00f6ny.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some people swear nature is at its finest in spring, and while we can understand their point, we<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":276744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1388],"tags":[8938,8937,1378],"post_places":[],"class_list":["post-276732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-goodapest-en-2","tag-goodapest","tag-hiking","tag-winter"],"acf":{"connected_places":null,"del_image":""},"yoast_head":"\n