Dobogókő winter resort
With a peak elevation of 699 metres, the hilltop village of Pilisszentkereszt will never host a Winter Olympics, but this Danube Bend high point is located just 40 kilometres north of Budapest and can be reached by public transport in an intrepid one-day excursion. The charmingly humble Dobogókő winter resort features two slopes with an altitude of 168 metres; one stretches 860 metres, the other 1,260. Experienced skiers can have a little fun on the steep upper portion of slope 1, but overall this is a perfect place for beginners of all ages – ski rental and lessons are available.
Unfortunately, Dobogókő offers only one platter-style surface lift which is difficult for snowboarders to use, so skiing is pretty much the only option here. However, the nearby Zsindelyes Lodge is a welcoming, cabin-like bar and eatery built with Hungarian folk-art architecture, its panoramic windows overlooking the scenic landscape. Given this convivial hangout, even non-skiers can have a good time if joining a group day trip to Dobogókő – and for overnight wintry adventures, check out the resort’s heated yurts that can each accommodate eight hardy guests.
Slope map here
Prices: Lift tickets – from 400 forints per single ride to 4,000 forints for an adult day pass on weekends. Rental equipment – complete sets of skis, boots, and poles are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (usually) for 2,500 forints for two hours to 4,000 forints for a full day; other ski equipment (helmets, goggles) is available for rental, but no snowboards are offered.
Online info: The English-language option for the Dobogókő website is currently unavailable but the resort maintains a Facebook page.
How to get there from Budapest: From the HÉVcommuter train station at Batthyány tér, take the frequent H5 for Szentendre, alighting at Pomáz 30 minutes away, two stops from the terminus. Some trains only run to Békásmegyer halfway along – simply change there for one going the whole distance. See timetable here. From Pomáz HÉV station, walk across the street to the local bus station and catch the hourly service to PilisszentkeresztDobogókőhegytető (journey time 35 minutes) – the ski slopes are 500 metres away, along Eötvös Loránd utca. Check timetable here (simple schedule search, Hungarian-only).
By car, take road 11 north of Buda towards Szentendre, turning left onto Dobogókői út through Pomáz and continue on this road to Dobogókő.
Nagyvillám ski resort
A little (but not much) further north of Budapest, on a hillside just outside Visegrád, the four pistes of Nagyvillám present basic-but-complete winter-sports facilities welcoming skiers, snowboarders and even sledgers for all kinds of amusing downhill action. Here the slopes include a fairly challenging run from the highest point, a winding forest trail, some fun short stretches with floodlights for night skiing, and a dedicated ski-school descent – and almost anyone can enjoy the separated 150-metre sledging area or the snow-tubing section.
All skiing and snowboarding equipment, sledges and snow tubes can be rented on-site, while a heated hütte welcomes visitors for filling food and hot or cold (or hard) beverages. There is no chairlift at Nagyvillám – although the main J-bar surface lift is a little easier for snowboarders than Dobogókő’s platter lift, skiers still have the advantage when ascending here. Regardless, anyone who reaches the upper summits can admire panoramic views of centuries-old Visegrád Castle and the curving Danube, providing truly picturesque peak experiences. Read more about Nagyvillám in this article.
Slope map here.
Prices: Lift tickets – weekdays from 4,200 forints for two hours to 5,200 forints for eight hours for adults; weekends from 4,700 forints for two hours to 5,900 forints for eight hours. Rental equipment: complete sets of skis, boots, and poles are available for 5,000 forints for four hours to 6,500 forints for the full day. A deposit of 5,000 forints and photo ID are required. More details about lift tickets and rentals (Hungarian-only).
Online info: The Nagyvillám website offers basic English-language information about the resort, including frequently updated ski conditions. Check the Facebook page for more details.
How to get there from Budapest:By car, take road 11 north of Buda through Szentendre and continue until taking a left turn just past the riverside village of Szentgyörgypuszta (if you go into Visegrád, you’ve missed the turn). Look for the Sípálya sign on the left-hand side, and there take a left uphill. You’ll need snow tyres for the slippery road up to the base station, but not a motorway pass for the trip.
Intersport ski arena
Tucked atop the forested mini-mountains of Eplény, north of Lake Balaton and west of Budapest, Intersport is Hungary’s premier winter-sports wonderland – and since it only takes about 90 minutes to drive there from Budapest, this is a reasonable destination for a day trip. Even expert athletes must test their skills to get down the most difficult slopes here – including one that starts off as an easy run before suddenly dropping dramatically – but beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders will find plenty of delightful downhill options among the 16 pistes spanning almost eight kilometres.
Along with five surface lifts, this is the country’s only ski resort with a chairlift, making it especially popular among snowboarders, and for mountain-bike descents in summer. The two-storey wooden lodge offers complete ski and snowboard rentals, an equipment shop and a large dining hall that turns into something of a party scene during night-skiing sessions. While Intersport can be thoroughly experienced within a one-day excursion from Budapest, several nearby hotels and guesthouses make this a lovely destination for a weekend getaway.
Slope map here
Prices: Lift tickets – weekdays from 5,100 forints for two hours to 8,800 forints for the full day, weekends from 6,000 forints for two hours to 9,900 forints for the full day. Rental equipment – complete ski and snowboard rentals are available; prices vary depending on equipment levels. More details about lift tickets and rentals (Hungarian-only).
Online info: Unfortunately, the Intersport website does not contain any English information, although it is thoroughly updated with current snow conditions. The Facebook page can be useful.
How to get there from Budapest:By car, take the M7 motorway south-east of Budapest towards Lake Balaton (make sure to purchase a motorway pass) before exiting onto road 8 around Székesfehérvár. Continue until turning right towards Hajmáskér, then onto Kossuth Lajos utca until reaching road 82, where a right turn leads directly to Eplény. The ski resort is just past the centre of town.
