Riding the narrow gauge railways in Hungary

One of the most enjoyable ways to see beautiful parts of Hungary is by riding on one of the country's small railways (kisvasút), which is a fun experience for children and adults alike. Tourism portal Vendégváró has collected eight of the most popular small railways that meander through forests, plains and towns.

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Small railways offer a pleasant way to reach some of Hungary's most popular tourist destinations. Many of them meander through beautiful forests, while others are an attraction in themselves, being run by steam engines.

Budapest and Pest County

MÁV Széchenyi Hill Children's Railway

Budapest's small railway is called the Children's Railway, because it is operated by children. It was called Pioneers' Railway (Úttörővasút) until the political changes in 1990, and a museum located at the Hűvösvölgy terminus displays documents and objects from those times. The length of the tracks to the other terminus, Széchenyi Hill, is 11 kilometers, and the route takes passengers through the Buda forests.

The trains run every day between March 15 and October 23 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and every day but Monday between October 24 and March 14 from 9 a.m until 5 p.m.

On summer weekends and holidays, steam engines run as well, which can be ridden by purchasing an extra ticket.

Királyrét Forest Railway

This railway connects the small Pest County towns of Kismaros and Szokolya, located near the Duna-Ipoly National Park and the Slovak border. The trains run every day between April and October and on weekends between November and March. The ride takes 35 minutes.

Steam engines also operate on the route.

Nagybörzsöny Small Railway

A small railway on a recently-renovated 8-kilometer track between Nagybörzsöny and Nagyirtás runs four times daily on weekends until October. Groups can request an extra train.

Scheduled trains are in operation between March 27 and November 6 on weekends and holidays. The ride takes 42 minutes, and bicycles are allowed in the cars.

An 18-kilometer railway between Szob and Nagybörzsöny was originally built for transporting wood and stone. It was later abandoned, and during the previous decades, some of the tracks were stolen. Renovation is currently underway, and the section between Szob and Márianosztra will be opened next month.

Northeastern Hungary

Lillafüred State Forest Railway

The Lillafüred small railway runs on two routes, a main route between Miskolc and Garadna, which is 14 kilometers long, and a subsidiary route to Parasznya, which is 16 kilometers long. It operates all year round.

Tourist attractions along the route include the Central Museum of Metallurgy, the Ottó Herman Memorial House, the István Stalactite Cave, the Anna Limestone Tuff Cave, the Hámori Lake, the Palotaszálló (Palace Hotel), the Old Foundry, the Massa Museum, the Paper Industry Collection, the Trout Farm and the Garadna Forestry and Railway History Collection.

Szilvásvárad State Forest Railway

This railway runs between the Heves County town of Szilvásvárad, the Szalajka Valley Horse Riding Track (Szalajka-völgyi lovaspálya and the Fátyol Waterfall (Fátyol-vízesés). It operates on weekdays between April and October, however this year, it will start running earlier, on Easter Weekend. The railway is exactly 100 years old in 2008, which will be marked by a celebration probably in the fall.

The trains meander through a beautiful forest to a popular hiking destination. Tourist attractions in the vicinity include the Forestry Museum and Open-Air Forest Museum. Extra trains or a steam engine can be requested at 06-36-355-197 or 06-36-564-004. The ride takes 20 minutes.

Pálháza Small Railway

This small railway, which starts from the BAZ County town of Pálháza, is the country's oldest narrow gauge railway. It has been running since 1888.

The railway is in operation between April 20 and October 24 and transports passengers between Pálháza, Kőkapu and Rostalló. The ride takes 1 hour.

Eastern Hungary

Debrecen Small Railway

Debrecen's small railway is also called the Zsuzsi Forest Railway. It runs between Debrecen fatelep (timber yard) and Hármashegyalja stations on workdays all year round. The ride takes 45 minutes.

Hortobágy Small Railway

This small railway takes visitors to the Hortobágy National Park and to the Hortobágy fishing lakes, which are mainly places for viewing birds, so the railway's operation schedule was decided accordingly. It runs in April and May, then in September and October.

The railway was originally built for transporting fish. The route is 4.2 kilometers long and provides a 2.5 to 3-hour program including a walk.

Western Hungary

Balatonfenyves Small Railway

This railway starts from the center of the lakeside town of Balatonfenyves and takes passengers to the most beautiful parts of the natural area known as Nagy-berek, which used to be a bay of Lake Balaton and today lies one meter below the level of the lake. The Balatonfenyves station is located 200 meters from the main MÁV station.

The trains run on weekdays, but extra trains can be requested at 06-85-361-831. It is in operation between July 1 and August 31. The ride takes 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Csömödér-Kistolmács Small Railway

This railway connects two Zala County settlements near the Austrian and Croatian borders, Csömödér and Kistolmács. It runs on weekdays, but extra trains can be requested at 06-92-579-033 or 06-30-474-2079. The route takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Northwestern Hungary

Széchenyi Museum Railway

This railway is called the "museum railway," because it operates steam engines. The tracks are only 3.6 kilometers long.

The trains leave from the Fertőboz station of the Győr-Sopron railway route and are run by children.

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