Royal Palace of Gödöllő – A Perfect Day Trip from Budapest
- Gems of Budapest
- Aug 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 28
Just 30 km northeast of Budapest, Gödöllő blends imperial history with leafy parks and a small-town, artsy vibe. It’s best known for the Royal Palace of Gödöllő - the beloved country residence of Empress Elisabeth (fondly known by Hungarians as “Sisi”) - but wander a little and you’ll find an artist colony’s legacy, university gardens, horse culture, and rolling hills perfect for easy excursions.
The Royal Palace of Gödöllő, photo by Linda Gerbec on Unsplash
Where is the Royal Palace of Gödöllő and how to get there?
Location: Pest County, on the edge of the Gödöllő Hills (Gödöllői-dombság).
From Budapest: ~40 minutes by suburban HÉV train (H8) from Örs vezér tere, or by MÁV trains toward Hatvan. By car, take the M3 motorway.
Plan your visit to the Royal Palace of Gödöllő:
Practical tips for visitors
Timing: 2–3 hours for the palace & gardens; make it a full day with the arboretum or a nearby equestrian/nature stop
Tickets & tours: Guided tours deepen the royal stories and theatre access; check combo tickets for special exhibits
Getting around: Everything in town is walkable; HÉV and MÁV trains are frequent; parking is available near the palace
Best seasons: April-June (blossom), September-October (golden gardens, mild weather). Summer brings longer hours and more outdoor events
History of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő
The Royal Palace in Gödöllő, licensed photo from Shutterstock
Grassalkovich beginnings (18th century)
Count Antal Grassalkovich I built a grand late-baroque/rococo palace (1730s–1760s) with French gardens, orangeries, and riding facilities. It became a model for Hungarian aristocratic residences.
Royal era (1867–1916)
After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, Franz Joseph I and Queen Elisabeth (Sisi) received the palace as a coronation gift. Sisi adored Gödöllő: she rode daily, supported local crafts, and turned the estate into a relaxed, Hungarian-speaking retreat.
20th century (1920-1944)
Regent Miklós Horthy used parts of the palace as an official residence. Military use and neglect during WWII and the following decades were unkind - until a major, award-winning restoration returned the palace to its former glory from the 1990s onward.
Around 1901, the Gödöllő Artists’ Colony (inspired by Art Nouveau/Arts & Crafts) flourished here. Today, the town remains a cultural hub and a university center (home to Hungary’s major agriculture & life sciences campus).
The Royal Palace of Gödöllő in 1900, source: Fortepan, Budapest Metropolitan Archives / Photo by György Klösz
Royal links and heritage
Gödöllő’s story is inseparable from Sisi - rooms, portraits, and riding memorabilia recall her stays. The palace chapel and local churches reflect baroque Catholic traditions of the Hungarian nobility. Court liturgies, royal name-days, and harvest blessings once set the town’s calendar; today, concerts and feast-day events carry on the spirit.
Lithography depicting the Hungarian royal family at Gödöllő Palace. King Franz Joseph and Queen Elisabeth, with their children Rudolf, Marie Valerie and Gisela. Source: Vincenz Katzler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Walking in Sisi’s Footsteps at Gödöllő
Legends still whisper through the halls and gardens of Gödöllő Palace, where Empress Elisabeth of Austria sought refuge from the rigid Viennese court. To Hungarians, she was not only an empress but a kindred spirit who embraced their language, traditions, and countryside.
It is said that Sisi would rise before dawn, slipping quietly out of her lilac-toned rooms while the palace still slept. Locals told of a slender figure on horseback, racing through the morning mist across the rolling hills. Some swore she was so fast and ethereal that she seemed more like a phantom than a queen. Even today, certain riding paths in the Gödöllő Hills are remembered as “Sisi’s trails.”
In the palace, her apartments were decorated in her favorite shades of violet and lilac, colors she chose not only for their elegance but as a mark of independence - a sanctuary away from the political demands of Vienna. Here she spoke Hungarian freely with her staff, read poetry, and welcomed local artisans, nurturing the idea that Gödöllő was more her true home than any royal residence across the empire.
Hungarian folklore holds that Sisi’s spirit still lingers in Gödöllő, in the rustle of the chestnut trees and the hush of the palace corridors. For visitors, walking through her rooms or wandering the park feels like stepping into a world where a restless queen found fleeting peace, freedom, and perhaps even happiness.
Photograph of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, on the day of her coronation as Queen of Hungary, 1867, Source: Emil Rabending, public domain, via Wikipedia
Main attractions in Gödöllő
Royal Palace of Gödöllő (Grassalkovich Palace)
What to see inside:
State Apartments: Sisi’s lilac-toned rooms, Franz Joseph’s more austere suite, and ceremonial halls.
Baroque Theatre: a rare, jewel-box stage with superb acoustics.
Exhibitions: Habsburg family stories, Grassalkovich lineage, court life, and changing displays on fashion, photography, and imperial travel.
Gardens & Orangeries: formal gardens, chestnut alleys, rose borders; spring blossom and autumn color are gorgeous for photos.
Palace Park & Promenades
Free-to-stroll lawns, clipped parterres, and woodsy paths. Look for Sisi memorials and classic photo spots.
Royal Waiting Pavilion (Railway)
A small historic gem next to the main railway station, originally built for the royal couple’s arrivals.
The Royal Waiting Pavilion in Gödöllő, licensed photo from Shutterstock
Gödöllő Town Museum (in Hungarian: Gödöllői Városi Múzeum)
Exhibits on the Artists’ Colony - textiles, ceramics, furniture, and graphics that gave Hungarian Art Nouveau its distinct, folk-inflected look.
Address: 2100 Gödöllő, Szabadság tér 5. The museum is open between Wednesdays - Sundays, from 10.00 a.m. until 16.00 p.m.
University Arboretum (in Hungarian: MATE Gödöllői Botanikus Kert)
Peaceful arboretum with labeled trees, birdlife, and seasonal bloom - perfect for a quiet hour between sights. It is close to the Gödöllő railway station, cca. 15 mins away on foot.
Address: 2100 Gödöllő, Páter Károly u. 1. The botanical garde is open between Mondays-Thursdays, from 800 a.m. until Hétfő-csütörtök: 8-16.00 p.m., on Fridays until 14:00 p.m.
Saint Stephen Church & local chapels
Baroque interiors, carved pulpits, and votive art reflecting the town’s Catholic roots.
Nearby excursions
Gödöllő Hills (Gödöllői-dombság): low, walkable hills with oak woods, sandy meadows, and spring wildflowers; watch for deer and woodpeckers.
Domonyvölgy & Lázár Equestrian Park (cca. 15–20 min): Horse shows, carriage rides, and hearty Hungarian fare. For further information, please check: https://lazarlovaspark.hu/en/
Mogyoród – Hungaroring & Aquaréna (cca. 15–20 min): F1 thrills and a big seasonal waterpark
For further information about Hungaroring, please check: https://hungaroring.hu/site/en
For further information about the Aquaréne, please check: https://www.aquarena.hu/en/
Veresegyház Bear Sanctuary (cca. 25 min): a popular, ethical wildlife refuge for bears and wolves. For further information, please check: https://medveotthon.hu/en/
Isaszeg (cca. 15 min): trails and monuments tied to the 1849 War of Independence; springtime battlefield commemorations
Why the Royal Palace of Gödöllő belongs on your Hungary itinerary
It’s the easiest way to step straight into the Habsburg era without leaving Budapest’s orbit. You get a top-tier European palace, romantic gardens, approachable museums, and green escapes - all in one relaxed day. Come for Sisi, stay for the Art Nouveau stories, and return for the parks and horses.
