Accessible tour on the most beautiful section of the Danube Bend

Itinerary:

• From Nagymaros-Visegrád railway station, we reach the bike path along the Danube via the Main Square.
• Following the Danube's bends, we arrive at Zebegény.
• From there, staying on the bike path, we arrive at Szob.
• At the ferry crossing, turn right, then reach Szob railway station via Rév Street and later Ipolyság Street.

Detailed description of the tour:

Panoramic route along the Danube

We start from Nagymaros, where the platform at the railway station ends in a cobblestone street about 30 meters long, so slow and careful descent is recommended here. In Nagymaros and generally in the central parts of the Danube Bend's riverside settlements, cobblestone paving is often encountered, but this is almost not characteristic along the route.

We reach the now more modern paved local road and then the Danube bike path. The substantive part of the tour starts at the ferry harbor, offering a broad perspective from left to right, with great views toward the tip of Kisoroszi Island, Visegrád Castle, and the Visegrád Mountains surrounding the Danube. The route has a limping “S” shape, making it exciting to observe as the sun's direction and angle continuously change during the tour. On the waterfront near the boat station, there are catering places and buffets where one can restock before the tour, then turning right and leaving these behind, the path leads along the statue park of King Béla's promenade.

Leaving Nagymaros, the bike path continues with a steep 10-15 meter descent, then a few hundred meters later, we must cross a semicircular wooden bridge nicknamed the “Holland bridge”: it is advisable to proceed very carefully and slowly at both places and request escort assistance.

Later, to the left of the road, there is a small detour to a sluice, then we continue on a wooded bike path near the river, on a shaded or partly shaded road. Slightly moving away from the river, we travel on a flat open road surrounded by gardens and natural fields on the right; on the left, a wooded strip of the Danube's floodplain accompanies us.

After covering 3-4 km, we reach the narrowest curve section of our route, with a terrace-style catering unit inviting at the end. Continuing, after a stepped, gentle ascent, the bike path runs parallel to the highway for a few kilometers: we are on an open, unshaded area but are rewarded with a magnificent panorama over the river. On the Danube's opposite side, on the left, we see the intertwined ridges of Kis-Pap Mountain, Disznós Mountain, Poszogó Mountain, Prepost Mountain, and Vörös Mountain, with the ferry dock of Dömös in the foreground. On the right, above us towers St. Michael's Mountain, and although dense vegetation and steep cliffs prevent a view, we roll beneath the Remete Cave, also famous for its spectacular panorama.

Upon entering Zebegény, leaving a cluster of residential houses and atmospheric small streets, we arrive at the center, where turning left, we can safely descend to the waterfront on the concrete ramp used for kayak-canoe launching, but with assistance. Here, at the upper arm of the Danube Bend's U shape, the panorama is limited but again stunning: opposite, the houses of Pilis Marót hide among the trees, backed perfectly by the Pilis ridges. Directly right in front of us stretches the small Zebegény Danube island, further away rises the Burda in Slovakia. In summer, the adjacent pebble beach hosts extensive swimming and rowing activity; along the bike path, you can find langos stands or other food trucks.

However, if you want a longer break here, turn right at the central intersection, then pass under the railway track through a tunnel to arrive in Zebegény's charming, human-scale small center with a school, church, and pub. On the long square, there are small, nice service points, a confectionery, and cobblestones. The square is decorated by the Art Nouveau church designed by Károly Kós and built in the early 20th century.

From Zebegény to Szob

The last section of our tour continues on the bike path toward Szob, typically bordered by tree-lined tunnel-like, sloping, breezy asphalt. Starting now higher than the Danube level, we glide on a sheltered (not uniform slope) shady road over 3-4 km, with glimpses of the Danube flickering below through the tree leaves on the left, behind which the peaks near the Danube in Pilis can be seen in the distance.

This refreshing road section flows into Szob's park-like holiday paradise, a kind of park promenade. The space broadens as we arrive at the Szob ferry, which transports passengers to Pilismarót opposite. Tourist boats also depart from here, even to Slovakia. At the end of our tour, it is worth taking advantage of the nearby restaurant and small shop around the pier.

Turning right from the Szob ferry terminal, after roughly a 500-meter ascent, we arrive at Szob railway station, from where we can take direct trains back to Budapest.