Szentendre

About two hours by boat up the Danube River from Budapest, Szentendre is a charming look at a more rural side of life than what you experience in the city.  Although it is obvious that the main source of revenue for the village is tourism, with almost every doorway off the cobblestone streets leading to a shop or a cafe', it is far enough removed from the urban area to still seem relatively unspoiled.  The trip up the Danube is a pleasure in itself, with the transition from city to countryside even more appealing when observed from the river.  The passenger boats are comfortable if not plush... and there is a bar available to pass the time if you are so inclined (and on the return trip we were treated to a concert from a fun loving group of Germans who apparently WERE so inclined!).  And.. all this for the price of a round trip ticket:  around US$4.00.

In Szentendre, the main part of the town must be traversed by foot with narrow cobblestone streets and alleys ... In some places the pedestrian pathways are quite narrow and steep - more closely resembling steep staircases... But around each corner are a variety of shops and cafe's that make the effort worthwhile...