Among domestic performance hikes, Gerecse 50 is one of the oldest and most popular challenges. Held every year since 1982 on the third Saturday of April, its second longest distance is 30 kilometers, which showcases not only the sport experience but primarily the beauty and uniqueness of the Gerecse landscape.
The main attraction of the Gerecse performance hikes lies primarily in the community experience. Many regard the event starting from Tatabánya as a friendly or family program where every age group, from children to seniors, is present. The routes are characterized by picturesque forests, flower meadows, splendid panoramas, and comfortable terrain, combined with excellent organization and good logistics, providing favorable conditions for those seeking a relatively easy sense of achievement or beginner-level performance hikers.
Gerecse 30
The 30-kilometer distance touches on spectacular and notable Gerecse locations such as the János Spring at the border of Tatabánya, the ruins of Saint Peter's circular church on the side of Öreg-Kovács Hill, the rocky slope of Kopasz-Bükk, the fantastic setting of Vértessolna, the colorful fields of Malom-dűlő, and the panoramic Turul statue towering above Tatabánya, to name just a few. The latter location is touched by all four routes of the hike, making it not only a symbol of Tatabánya but now also of the Gerecse performance hikes.
The route can naturally be walked anytime outside of the performance hike day.
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Start and finish location: Tatabánya, Megyeháza Square, hike center. Free toilets are available in the parking garage beneath the square for hikers. The square's area is spacious, making its catchment area ideal for waiting or incoming hikers.
Start time: 06:00-08:00
Time limit: 8 hours
Registration: Mandatory online registration. On-site registration is not possible.
Participant limit: 1500 people
Checkpoints (5):
Due to the extraordinary situation in 2021, the reduced number of checkpoints is retained this year as well since the system worked well in previous years. At the following checkpoints, passage is checked contactlessly with code readers:
- Saint Peter ruin church, Baji hunting lodge
- Vértessolna, Culture House
- Kis-rét
- Motorway bridge
- Turul statue
The other Gerecse performance hikes are available on Természetjáró.
The detailed route description can be read under the Route Description menu.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
- On the day of the Gerecse 30 performance hike, cycling and hiking with dogs is strictly prohibited due to accident risk and animal cruelty, as large crowds require animals to be led on a leash and with a muzzle for extended hours.
- If you feel you cannot complete the distance or need to quit due to injury, there is an option at Vértessolna (bus stops near the culture house and the fire station).
Tips and suggestions
Roadbook
Itinerary
According to the IVV (International Federation of Popular Sports) route marking recommendation, a uniform yellow dot marking assists hikers along the entire Gerecse 30 route.
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From the start, we head north on Komáromi Street following the P+ marking.
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About 1 km later, we turn right onto Kós Károly Street, but instead of following the street’s line, we continue straight through the houses.
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We cross Highway 1 and the M1 motorway through an underpass.
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We continue left on Szőlőhegy Street until Sanatorium Road. Meanwhile, we leave the P+ marking.
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On the other side of the road, we turn right and continue through the trees towards János Spring.
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From here, follow the P● marking again.
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Soon we travel together for a short stretch with the P+ marking; from there on, follow this marking.
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The P marking joins, follow the left branch towards Vaskapu.
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After Szende Cave, turn left onto the S marking, heading north.
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At the Saint Peter circular church, return to the P marking towards the Baji hunting lodge.
- We follow the 50 km route together up to the Vértessolna paved road, where we split.
- The P marking leads us to Vértessolna to the Culture House.
- On Kert Street, we turn onto the K● marking, which becomes S● after the Bundschu well resting place.
- When we reach the S marking, continue for a bit along the right branch.
- After Kis-rét, we join the S◼ marking.
- At the motorway bridge, we turn onto the S+ marking.
- From the Turul statue, the P marking leads back to Komáromi Street, where turning left soon brings us to the finish in Tatabánya.
The detailed description of the route
Our hike starts from Megyeháza Square in Tatabánya. Heading north along Komáromi Street from the square, we reach the P+ marking at the county library, which we follow straight through Tatabánya’s central parts. After residential areas, passing under the motorway, we first reach weekend garden areas, then forested terrain from where we soon arrive at the developed resting place of János Spring.
We continue to ascend, first following the P● marking, then turning left onto the P+ marking, and finally switching to the P marking reaching the top of Hajagos, where several routes branch off. The 30-kilometer route here turns left onto the S marking, guiding us through pleasant woods near the Baji hunting lodge, which we find by the resting benches of the Pusztatemplom (Peter’s Church) (Checkpoint 1).
We continue right here following the P marking, passing the Baji hunting lodge and aiming for the winding Tardos main road in the Bocsátó Valley. Before reaching the main road (where the 50 km route branches off left), we stay on the P marking running parallel to the asphalt road, walking along the edge of the forest before soon entering Vértessolna (Checkpoint 2).
Leaving the village to the south on the K● marking, we cross vast fields on wide roads. Later, from the Bundschu well spring, we continue along the S● marking until our path merges into the S marking. Turning right here, we soon reach the ruins of the Kis-rét hunting lodge (Checkpoint 3).
Passing the hunting lodge ruins, we turn sharply left and continue along the S◼ marking. Hearing the increasing noise of the motorway, we soon arrive at the concrete road leading to the Turul (Checkpoint 4). Turning right here, now on the S+ marked route, we reach the emblematic Turul statue (Checkpoint 5).
After enjoying the panorama, we descend to Tatabánya along a serpentine stairway following the P marking, where we soon merge with the familiar P● marking. Turning left here, we walk on the already known path toward the endpoint at nearby Megyeháza Square.
Vértestolna elágazás ellenőrzőpont - Gerecse teljesítménytúra
Kisrét ellenőrzőpont - Gerecse teljesítménytúra
Turul ellenőrzőpont - Gerecse teljesítménytúra
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- It is advisable to travel to the starting point by train, as Tatabánya railway station is just a few hundred meters away. Tatabánya bus station is also available nearby.
If you come for the performance hike and did not book accommodation in the city the night before, arrive well ahead of the start to avoid missing the departure due to possible train delays!
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
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To reach the starting point from the railway station, head along Mozdony Street. Go down into the underpass at the Győri Road intersection, then climb up at the park area diagonally opposite the plaza corner. Crossing through the park, you will soon reach Megyeháza Square (220 m).
Parking
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The parking garage below Megyeháza Square has space for several hundred cars and is free on weekends. Parking is also available along the roads, in nearby residential areas, next to the railway station, and on large parking areas of nearby shopping centers, but only in limited numbers.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
- Tourist guide of Gerecse, Vértes, and Velence Hills
Author’s map recommendations
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
- Well broken-in hiking boots. (Never start a long distance in newly purchased hiking shoes!)
- Effective protection against mosquitoes and ticks.
- Raincoat and warmer clothes for cold weather.
- If you sweat a lot, bring an extra top to change during the hike!
- Spare fluids and food to recharge between checkpoints. Bring food in moderation, and drink only water! A few apples might also be useful. It is not recommended to eat or carry more than four sandwiches during the hike.
- In case of strong sun, a hat and sunscreen are advised.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions