Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Szeged
A sunny Tisza-river city in southern Hungary with a rebuilt Art Nouveau centre, the twin-towered Votive Church on Dóm tér and a famous summer open-air festival.
Best time to visit: Late spring to early autumn is the easiest time, with terraces on Klauzál tér, riverside walks along the Tisza, the Partfürdő beach (1 May to 30 September) and the zoo open until 20:00 in summer. In July and August the Szeged Open-Air Festival fills Dóm tér in front of the Votive Church with musicals, concerts and opera on warm evenings. In late November the Szeged Advent fair opens on Dóm tér (27 November to 24 December in 2026) with a 50 m Ferris wheel and lights, and mulled wine is also served on Klauzál tér and Dugonics tér. Winters are cold but the thermal baths and museums are comfortable, and the zoo and the botanical garden close at 16:00 from November. Remember the Hungarian public holidays (23 October, 1 November, 24-26 December, 31 December, 1 January, 15 March, Easter 28-29 March 2027, 1 May, Whit Monday 17 May 2027, 20 August) when some museums and shops may be closed.
Getting your bearings: Szeged sits on the Tisza in the south of Hungary and its compact centre (Belváros) lies inside a ring boulevard (the Körút) that follows the line of the old city walls and is easy to cover on foot. After the great flood of 1879 the whole city was rebuilt on a new street plan, which is why the centre is full of Eclectic and Art Nouveau palaces. The main points are Dóm tér with the Votive Church, Széchenyi tér with the City Hall, and Klauzál tér and Kárász utca for cafes and shopping, all within about 10 minutes on foot of each other. The Nagyállomás railway station is roughly 2 km from the centre, reached by tram or a walk of 25 minutes. Across the Tisza, Újszeged has the riverside beach, while the zoo, the botanical garden and Napfényfürdő Aquapolis are outside the old centre and need a tram or bus. Szeged is also known for its paprika and its salami, and many Hungarians know it as the sunniest city in the country.
Szeged Advent (Dóm tér)
Szeged Advent takes over Dóm tér in front of the Votive Church from 27 November (opening at 18:00) to 24 December 2026 (until 12:00). The programme includes a straw maze, a storybook corner and craft workshops for children, fire-juggling shows on Fridays, light projections over the last two weekends and a 50 m enclosed Ferris wheel that keeps running into early January. About 25,000 LED lights decorate the square, and on Sundays from 29 November a candle on the Advent wreath is lit. Mulled wine is also served on Klauzál tér and Dugonics tér. The square is a few minutes on foot from Széchenyi tér; wear warm clothes for the evenings.
All the sights in Szeged
History & Old Town
-
Votive Church & Tower (Fogadalmi templom) High priority
The twin-towered brick landmark of Szeged, built after the 1879 flood, with a tower you can climb for views over the city.
The Votive Church was vowed after the great flood of 1879 and consecrated in 1930; it is the fourth-largest church in Hungary and mixes Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine elements. Inside, look for the huge organ with more than 9,000 pipes and the Fadrusz crucifix, and below the church there is an exhibition space and a small shop. A climb of 302 steps with three rest levels leads to a viewing deck about 46 m up, with the four bells on the way. The church is on Dóm tér, a 10 minute walk from Széchenyi tér; tickets for the tower are sold at the Dóm Visitor Centre at Dóm tér 16.
-
Dóm tér & National Pantheon arcades (Dóm tér, Nemzeti Emlékcsarnok) High priority
The great brick-paved square in front of the Votive Church, ringed by arcades lined with busts of famous Hungarians.
Dóm tér is Szeged's open-air stage and living room: a vast square closed in by arcades that form the National Pantheon, a gallery of busts and reliefs of notable Hungarians. The square is dominated by the Votive Church on one side, with the Romanesque St Demetrius Tower beside it, and every summer it becomes the venue of the Szeged Open-Air Festival, while in winter it hosts the Advent fair. It is free and always open, and it is lovely in the early evening when the brick glows. From Széchenyi tér it is a short walk south.
-
St Demetrius Tower (Dömötör-torony) Nice to have
The medieval Romanesque tower beside the Votive Church, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Szeged, visited on a short guided tour.
St Demetrius Tower stands at Dóm tér 1 right next to the Votive Church and is a remnant of the medieval Romanesque church on the site. It can only be seen on a guided visit of about 30 minutes that starts from the Dóm Visitor Centre foyer at Dóm tér 16 at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, Tuesday to Sunday. The tower is closed on Mondays, and a combined ticket with the Votive Church tower is cheaper than buying separately. It fits well into a walk around Dóm tér.
-
Serbian Orthodox Church (Szerb ortodox templom) Bonus
A small church with a rich icon screen on the north side of Dóm tér, visited by prior arrangement.
The Serbian Orthodox church stands at Somogyi utca 3 on the northern side of Dóm tér, close to the Tisza, and reflects the long presence of Serbs in Szeged. The interior can only be visited after registration by phone on +36 30 528 3030, so it suits you if you like church art and have planned ahead. From outside you can see its tower and façade in a few minutes while passing along Somogyi utca. It is a short walk from Dóm tér and Széchenyi tér.
-
Klauzál Square (Klauzál tér) High priority
Szeged's leafy cafe square with fountains, terraces and the old city atmosphere.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Klauzál tér is the centre's best-loved square, an open space with trees, fountains, playful sculptures and a ring of terraces where locals meet for coffee and ice cream. It sits at the end of Kárász utca, only a few steps from Reök Palace, and is a good place to sit between sights. In winter mulled wine is served here as part of Szeged Advent. It is free and open at all times, and the square is flat with paved paths.
-
Kárász Street (Kárász utca) Nice to have
The pedestrian shopping and cafe street that links Széchenyi tér and Klauzál tér.
Kárász utca is the main pedestrian street of the centre, lined with Eclectic and Art Nouveau houses at street level occupied by shops, bakeries, ice-cream stands and cafes. It is the natural link between Széchenyi tér and Klauzál tér and a good route for browsing, people-watching and a pastry stop. Look up above the shop signs for the decorated façades. It is free to walk and busiest on Saturday afternoons and in the evening.
-
Széchenyi Square & City Hall (Széchenyi tér, Városháza) High priority
The central square of Szeged with its yellow neo-Baroque City Hall topped by a phoenix, plus a Bridge of Sighs inside.
Széchenyi tér is the city's biggest square, a large green space with statues and benches in the middle of the Belváros. On its side stands the City Hall, rebuilt in neo-Baroque style after the 1879 flood and opened by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1883, with a phoenix on the pediment as a symbol of the city's revival. The interior can be seen only on a guided tour of about an hour in Hungarian, which covers the ceremonial hall and the Bridge of Sighs. Tours start from the Tourinform office at Széchenyi tér 12 on Fridays at 15:00 (1 April to 31 October) and Saturdays at 10:00 all year; registration is required.
-
New Synagogue (Új Zsinagóga) High priority
One of Europe's most beautiful synagogues, built in 1903, with a blue starry dome and rich interior.
The New Synagogue was built in 1903 and is one of the finest in Europe, with a stained-glass and starry dome that dominates the hall. Over the entrance the commandment to love your neighbour is written in Hebrew and Hungarian. It is a working synagogue as well as a visitor attraction, so dress modestly and expect closures for Jewish holidays and on Saturdays. Guided tours in English or Hungarian can be booked at least three days ahead. The synagogue is at Jósika utca 10, about a 15 minute walk from Széchenyi tér.
-
Old Town Art Nouveau Walk (Szecessziós séta) High priority
A self-guided walk past Szeged's rebuilt palaces, town houses and Art Nouveau facades.
After the flood of 1879 the centre was rebuilt in the early 20th century, and the result is a rich collection of Eclectic and Art Nouveau buildings that you can see on foot for free. Start at Reök Palace, continue along Kárász utca and Klauzál tér, and look for palaces such as Gróf, Ungár-Mayer, Raichl and Deutsch, plus the Szeged National Theatre and the New Synagogue. The tourism office has themed walks and a small-train sightseeing option if you would rather not walk. Allow about 1.5 hours with stops.
Museums
-
Reök Palace (Reök-palota) High priority
A turquoise Art Nouveau palace from 1907, now an arts centre with exhibitions and a famous Art Nouveau staircase.
Reök Palace was designed by Ede Magyar in 1907 as a residence and is one of the best Hungarian Secession buildings, with wavy ornament and a sea-green façade. Today it houses the Regional Arts Centre (REÖK) with temporary exhibitions, concerts and small theatre shows. Even if you skip the exhibitions you can pay a small fee to see the Art Nouveau staircase or join a palace tour for adults or families. The palace is at Magyar Ede tér 2, a 5 minute walk from Klauzál tér; it is closed on Mondays.
-
Móra Ferenc Museum (Móra Ferenc Múzeum) High priority
The county museum in a neoclassical palace, with archaeology, history and a viewpoint over the Tisza.
The Móra Ferenc Museum is Szeged's main museum, in the Palace of Public Education from 1896 on Roosevelt tér near the Tisza. Its permanent displays cover the region's history and archaeology and include a memorial room for the writer Ferenc Móra, and a viewpoint is available for a supplement. It is open every day, with a late Saturday close at 20:00. The Castle Museum and the Black House are part of the same museum, and a combined ticket for all three costs less than buying them separately.
-
Black House (Fekete Ház) Nice to have
A small branch of the Móra Museum in a historic townhouse on Somogyi utca.
The Black House at Somogyi utca 13 is one of the Móra Ferenc Museum's branches and sits near Dóm tér, so it is easy to fit into a walk between the cathedral square and the centre. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. A family ticket and a combined ticket with the main museum and the Castle Museum are on offer. Plan about 45 minutes.
-
Szeged Castle Museum (Vármúzeum) Nice to have
A museum at the Tisza end of the centre about the remains of Szeged's old castle, with a stone collection.
The Castle Museum (Fortress Museum and Stone Collection) at Stefánia utca 2 shows the history of Szeged's fortress and a collection of carved stones. It is a short walk from the Tisza embankment and the Belvárosi bridge. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, and tickets can be bought online. A combined ticket with the Móra Ferenc Museum and the Black House is cheaper than three separate tickets.
-
Dóm Visitor Centre: exhibition & dome viewing platform (Dóm Látogatóközpont) Nice to have
The ticket office and exhibition space of the Votive Church, with a dome viewing platform and attic access.
The Dóm Visitor Centre at Dóm tér 16 sells the tickets for the church tower and runs the permanent exhibition about the construction of the cathedral, the diocese's liturgical treasures and the earlier church on the site. A dome viewing platform at about 34 m, with a look into the attic space, is open on set times (Tuesday to Friday at 15:00, Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 and 15:00). The centre is closed on Mondays. Combined tickets for the tower, the exhibition, the St Demetrius Tower and the dome are available.
Family & Play
-
Szeged Zoo (Szegedi Vadaspark és Szórakoztató Park) High priority
A 45-hectare wooded zoo with animals arranged by continent, open every day of the year.
Szeged Zoo covers 45 hectares in a wooded setting about 2.5 km from the centre, with animals grouped by continent and enough to fill a full day with children. It is open every day including public holidays, closing at 20:00 in summer (June to August) and 16:00 from November to March; the ticket office closes about an hour before the animal houses. It closes at 14:00 on 24 and 31 December. The address is Szél utca 90, reachable by city bus or tram from the centre, and buying tickets online saves queueing in summer.
-
Napfényfürdő Aquapolis (Napfényfürdő Aquapolis Szeged) High priority
A year-round water complex with slides, wellness and medicinal pools, and outdoor pools.
Napfényfürdő Aquapolis at Torontál tér 6 is a four-season bath with a 4,400 m² water surface, tube slides of 223 m and 272 m from a 30 m tower, adventure pools, medicinal pools and outdoor pools. Hours depend on the area: the adventure pools open 14:00-19:00 Monday to Thursday and 14:00-20:00 on Friday, and 09:00-20:00 at weekends, while the outdoor swimming pools are open daily 07:00-21:00. Weekday all-day tickets are much cheaper than Friday-to-Sunday ones. Bring swimwear and a towel, and check what is open in your time slot.
Green & Nature
-
Tisza Embankment & Belvárosi Bridge (Tisza-part, Belvárosi híd) High priority
A riverside promenade along the Tisza with views of the bridge, cafes and boats.
The Tisza embankment is Szeged's natural boundary on the east side of the centre and a pleasant place for an unhurried walk. The Belvárosi bridge crosses to Újszeged on the other bank and gives a good view back to the skyline with the Votive Church towers. It is easy to combine with the Castle Museum and the Móra Ferenc Museum nearby. Evenings are popular with locals, and there is no fee at any time.
-
Partfürdő Tisza Beach (Szegedi Partfürdő) Nice to have
A river beach on the Tisza in Újszeged with a flat sandy shore, buffets and sports fields, open in summer.
Partfürdő is the riverside beach and campground on the Tisza in Újszeged, about a 10 minute walk from the centre across the bridge. It has a flat beach for sunbathing and bathing, a football field, a beach volleyball court, buffets and fire places for cooking outdoors. It is open from 1 May to 30 September: in high season (16 June to 31 August) daily 09:00-20:00, and in the shoulder months on weekdays 10:00-18:00 and weekends 09:00-19:00. After 15:00 a cheaper ticket applies. It suits families with children who like shallow river water.
-
Szeged Botanical Garden (Füvészkert) Nice to have
A university botanical garden founded in 1922 with greenhouses, a butterfly house and a scent garden.
The Szeged Botanical Garden at Lövölde utca 42 was founded in 1922 when the University of Kolozsvár moved to Szeged and the city donated land. Besides the outdoor collections it has a tropical butterfly house, an orchid house and a fern house open daily from 1 May to 30 September (09:00-17:45, with a break from 12:00 to 13:00). The Empire of Scents garden is open Fridays and Saturdays. The garden closes at 18:00 from April to September, 17:00 in March and October and 16:00 from November to February, and is closed at Christmas and New Year.
Other
-
Anna Thermal Bath (Anna fürdő) Nice to have
A white 1896 city bath on the ring boulevard with thermal and wellness pools, popular with locals.
Anna Bath on Tisza Lajos körút was built in 1896 as the city's public bath and takes its name from an artesian well drilled in 1927. It offers thermal and wellness pools, saunas and massages, and on Wednesday and Friday evenings there is night bathing from 20:30 to midnight. Weekday mornings have a cheaper thermal-only ticket. It is a good rainy-day or winter option close to the centre, and family tickets are available. Bring swimwear and a towel.
-
Mars Square Market (Mars téri piac) Nice to have
The city's main daily market with paprika, vegetables and local products.
Mars tér is Szeged's main food market, open every day, where locals buy fruit, vegetables, meat and Szeged paprika; it is a good place to taste something local or buy edible souvenirs. The market grounds open at 04:00 and close at 18:00 on weekdays and 15:00 at weekends. Go in the morning for the best choice and the liveliest atmosphere. It is a short tram or bus ride or a walk from the centre.
-
Szeged Open-Air Festival (Szegedi Szabadtéri Játékok) Bonus
A summer festival of musicals, concerts and opera staged on Dóm tér in front of the Votive Church.
The Szeged Open-Air Festival fills Dóm tér on summer evenings with large musicals, concerts and opera under the sky, with the Votive Church as the backdrop. The programme includes a film-music concert on 24 July 2026 and the musical Petőfi on 9 July 2027, each starting at 21:00. Performances are ticketed per show, so book online through the festival's ticket office. Check the programme for your dates; there are no shows outside the summer season.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll build a full day-by-day itinerary around what you want to see.
Plan my trip