Bükk mountains & The National Park of Aggtelek.
Are you looking for a new home or a holiday house in an affordable but stunning location that is full of interesting things to explore? The area of the Bükk mountains and the National Park of Aggtelek is a perfect place to relocate or enjoy your holidays. While houses in cities with good economy (like Eger & Miskolc) and very close to them are expensive, in villages that are about 20 km at least from these locations housing prices are affordable.
This area is great at keep on surprising you. Most of the villages have a panoramic view as the region is a hilly area. If you are a lover of sports, both the Bükk and Aggtelek have plenty of official hiking trails to explore. If you are fond of chilling in thermal water, the area has more than 5 thermals baths that you can explore. Are you wine person? Hungary has some exceptional wine to offer. The city of Eger is well-known for its wine, old town and famous thermal baths. If you had enough of walking in forest you can explore the largest cave system of Europe in Aggtelek. If you are into winter sports, you can go skiing or snowboarding in Bánkút. If you are looking for larger mountains for winter fun, the Slovakian ski resorts are not far away from this location.
Some tips about what to do around the Bükk mountains:
- Visit Eger, the city of heroes and wine, located on the southwestern slopes of Bükk Mountains. You can admire its historic castle, cathedral, minaret, and other monuments, and taste some of the best wines in Hungary at the Valley of the Beautiful Women (Szépasszonyvölgy).
- Hike to the Bükk Plateau, a highland area covered with wildflowers every spring. You can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and valleys, and visit some of the highest peaks, such as Istállós-kő (959 m), Bálvány (956 m), or Tar-kő (949 m).
- Walk along the Szalajka Valley, one of the most popular and picturesque valleys. You can see its famous Veil Waterfall, its crystal-clear springs and streams, its trout ponds and forest playgrounds, and its rich wildlife.
- Try some of the best hikes and walks in Bükk National Park. There are countless well-marked, lovely forest trails for all levels of difficulty and length. You can find some suggestions here: https://www.komoot.com/guide/504053/hiking-in-buekki-national-park
- Visit the Castle of Diósgyőr, a medieval fortress that was once the residence of Hungarian queens. You can see exhibitions about its history, watch knight tournaments and medieval shows, or take part in workshops and games.
- Take a boat ride on Lake Hámori in Lillafüred, a scenic lake surrounded by forests and mountains. You can also walk the loop trail around the lake or enjoy Hungary's longest forest light rail line.
- Visit the tallest waterfall in Hungary in Miskolc-Lillafüred, a 20 metres high artificial waterfall on Szinva Stream that's located near the palace hotel.
- Explore the two fabulous caves near Lillafüred: Anna Cave, a dripstone cave with unique formations, and „Szeleta Cave”, a prehistoric cave with archaeological findings.
Thermal baths to visit in the area:
- Visit the Miskolctapolca Cave bath, a thermal bath inside of a real cave.
- Zsóry Thermal Bath and Spa, a popular spa with 21 pools, including thermal, medicinal, swimming and adventure pools. You can also relax in the sauna park, the salt cabin or the massage rooms. The spa is located in Mezőkövesd-Zsóryfürdő, about 20 km from the eastern edge of Bükk.
- Egerszalók Thermal Spring, a natural thermal spring that creates a unique sight: a white limestone hill with cascading pools of water. You can bathe in the outdoor pools or in the nearby Saliris Resort Spa and Thermal Hotel. The spring is located in Egerszalók, about 15 km from the southwestern edge of Bükk.
- Eger Thermal Bath, a historic bath complex with 17 pools, including thermal, medicinal, swimming and adventure pools. You can also enjoy the Turkish bath, the sauna world or the wellness services. The bath is located in Eger.
Some tips about what to do around the National Park of Aggtelek:
- Explore the Baradla Cave, the largest stalactite cave in Europe with a length of 25 kilometres. You can visit it from three different entrances: Aggtelek, Jósvafő and Vörös-tó. Each entrance offers a different guided walking tour with different lengths and difficulty levels. You can see amazing dripstone formations, giant halls, underground lakes and rivers, and even prehistoric paintings.
- Visit the Domica Cave, the Slovak section of the Baradla-Domica Cave complex. You can see more spectacular dripstones, as well as bats and cave crickets. You can also take a boat ride on the underground Styx River.
- Try some adventure caving in one of the smaller caves that are not open for regular tours. You can choose from Rákóczi Cave, Imre Vass Cave, Béke Cave or Meteor Cave. You will need to crawl, climb and squeeze through narrow passages, and get wet and muddy. But you will also see unique and untouched karst formations and have an unforgettable experience.
- Hike or bike through the most interesting and unique landscape in Hungary. The National Park of Aggtelek has a network of well-marked trails that lead you through forests, meadows, hills and valleys. You can enjoy panoramic views of the karst formations, see rare plants and animals, and visit historic villages and castles along the way.