Itinerary for Northeastern Hungary

Day 1 Gödöllõ- Verseg Fenyõharaszt-Szirák

Budapest- Gödöllõ: The Grassalkovich palace was given as a summer residence to Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef I and Empress Elizabeth, affectionately called Sissi by the Hungarians. While the complex will eventually include hotel accommodations, the palace primarily functions as a museum showing the royal family's reconstructed living quarters.

Gödöllö-Verseg Fenyõharaszt : Surrounded by a 30 acre park, the former home of the aristocratic Podmaniczky family is now a castle hotel offering horseback riding, tennis courts and a lovely restaurant where you can stop for lunch.

Verseg Fenyõharaszt-Szirák: Stay overnight at the Roth-Teleki Castle with its baroque and Renaissance architectural elements, trompe d'oiel wall paintings, 4 suites furnished in period style, 21 other rooms, tennis courts, horseback riding, swimming pool and other amenities.

Day 2 Eger-Noszvaj-Lillafüred

Szirák-Eger : The last Hungarian stronghold to battle the invading Turks in the 16th century, the city of Eger has 1,000 years of history, a medieval castle with dungeon, labyrinths and ruins of a Romanesque/Gothic cathedral to explore, as well as fiery Bull's Blood wine to savor. Worth spending a day.

Eger- Noszvaj : The baroque-style De La Motte manor house hotel, built in the 18th century and named after the French husband of a Hungarian noblewoman, today functions as a museum with elaborate ceiling and wall paintings and an English garden. There is also an adjoining hotel.

Noszvaj-Lillafüred: Built in the early 20th century, but patterned after a Renaissance manor, the recently completely refurbished Palotaszálló castle hotel features a 16th century fireplace, four huge stained glass windows and a magnificent natural setting on a lake in the mountains, close to Hungary's largest natural waterfall. Perfect for a relaxing overnight stay.

Day 3 Szerencs-Sárospatak-Parádsasvár-Budapest

Lillafüred- Szerencs : Szerencs is the gateway to the Tokaj wine-growing region. The Rákóczi castle with Renaissance chateaux and fortress was built in the 16th century and today houses a cultural center and interesting historical museum. The Huszárvár Castle Hotel offers accommodations in this historic setting.

Szerencs-Sárospatak : The Rákóczi Museum showcasing aristocratic life between 1500 and 1800 is housed in the 16th century Red Tower of Sárospatak's castle, decorated with Renaissance stone carvings. Sárospatak's heyday was during the 100 years when Rákóczi ruled Transylvania.

Sárospatak-Parádsasvár: Stay overnight at the newly opened Renaissance-style Sasvár Castle Hotel, Hungary's first five-star hotel outside Budapest.