The ideal taste of small-town Hungary: visit Eger

Drive to Eger (1.5 hours). The visit begins with a climb uphill to the massive medieval Fortress of Eger, hovering above the Old Town. We enjoy breathtaking vistas from the ramparts and the waxworks help us to get to know more about the heroes and villains of the siege of Eger by the Ottoman Turks in 1552 (1.5 hours). The wandering continues in the Old Town: cobblestoned streets, colorful Baroque houses, the minaret, the world champion marzipan bakery and the stunning 16th-century thermal bath (with a dome covered in 24-carat gold). Then we head to the elegant 18th-century Eger College and visit its glorious library under a frescoed ceiling. We also pop into Eger’s Cathedral, the second largest Catholic church in Hungary (2 hours). After a light lunch (1 hour) on the atmospheric Main Square we drive to the hills just outside Eger (0.5 hour). We visit a local winemaker and taste 4 excellent wines of Eger (and some cheese and scones) in the vinyard (1 hour). Drive back to Budapest (1.5 hours).