'''Godoll?''' [http://www.godollotourinform.hu/public/index.html] is a city in Pest County, Hungary, about 30km east of Budapest. It is often visited as a daytrip from Budapest, or as a stop off while travelling to Eastern Hungary. It is among the most popular destinations for Austrians visiting Hungary, largely due to the royal palace, former home of Emperor Franz Josef and Queen Elizabeth.

Get in

By train

Godoll? is located on the Budapest-Hatvan line and 2 to 3 trains leave the Keleti train station hourly. Riding a szemely, or slow train, takes about 40 minutes. A gyors, or fast train won't stop before Godoll? and takes roughly 30 minutes. A full price ticket costs 600 ft.

Note that Godoll? has three train stations: ''Godoll?-Allami telepek, Godoll?,'' and ''Mariabesny?.'' The ''Allami telepek'' stop is near the Arboreteum and Beekeeping museum, 3.5 kilometers outside of town. ''Godoll?'s main train station'' is located right outside the Also park (lower palace park) and is about a 15 minute walk away from the palace and downtown area. As a side note, the station served as the royal waiting room for guests of the Habsburgs. The ''Mariabesny?'' stop is outside the pilgrimage temple. The szemely trains will stop in all three, the gyors only at the main Godoll? station. Make sure you get off at the right stop!

By HEV

Godoll? is also connected to Budapest by the HEV commuter rail. The station is located at Ors Vezer tere, just outside the last stop of the red metro line. HEV trains are less comfortable, cost slightly more, and take slightly longer to reach Godoll? than the normal train, but as a plus you'll be dropped off closer to the downtown. Tickets can be bought at Ors Vezer tere or from the inspector on the train. Note: Budapest public transport tickets are only valid within the boundaries of Budapest and you will need to buy an additional ticket if travelling all the way to Godoll?.

Godoll? has four HEV stops. The first is ''Erzsebet park'', right in between the Fels? Park (upper park) and the scenic Erzsebet park. The second is ''Szabadsag ter'', located in the heart of downtown and steps away from the royal palace and city museum. The third is ''Palotakert'', which drops you off near the Palotakert housing development, and the last stop is the ''Godoll?'' train station.

By bus

Buses leave from the Budapest Nepstadion station daily. Typically there are several buses an hour, but the trip takes anywhere in between 40 minutes and an hour, depending on how many stops the driver makes. Buses stop at the city bus station, a few blocks east of Szabadsag ter and the palace.

By car

Godoll? is accessible by the M3 motorway and road 3 out of Budapest.

Get around

Most of the main sights are within walking distance of Szabadsag ter. The HEV can be used within Godoll?, at a cost of 90 ft a ticket. If travelling to Mariabesny? trains leave every hour from the main station, or take either bus 1 or 2 which leave frequently from the main bus station, a few blocks east of Szabadsag ter. Tickets can be bought from the driver or at the main bus station. There is also a free bus that runs from the train station to downtown and then on to TESCO that runs roughly every hour. A complete local bus schedule can be found at Volanbusz's website [http://www.volanbusz.hu/content.php?page=helyi&menu=2&submenu=2].

See

Town Center

'''Grassalkovich Kastely''' (Grassalkovich Palace) [http://www.kiralyikastely.hu], located across the street from the Szabadsag ter HEV stop, the royal palace is Godoll?'s main attraction. Built in the 1740s, the baroque mansion was originally home to Count Anton Grassalkovich. With the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the palace was given to the Habsburgs as a gift and was often frequented by Queen Elizabeth, better known as Sisi. During communism the palace fell into ruin and has only recently been partially restored. Besides a tour of the royal apartments, there are also the Baroque theater and the royal chapel. Concerts are also frequently held here.

'''Godoll?i Varosi Muzeum''' (Town Museum of Godoll?) [http://www.museum.hu/search/museum_en.asp?ID=735], is located on Szabadsag ter, close to the HEV station. The exhibit focuses primarily on the Godoll? artists' colony from the early 1900s, and has several excellent examples of Hungarian Art Nouveau. There is also an ethnographic exhibit on Oceania, collected by Ferenc Ignacz, who worked at the university in Godoll?. Another small room houses the private collection of Zoltan Mihaly Csupor, a Catholic priest.

'''City Parks''' Godoll? is considered a city of parks. The three main parks are all located around the palace: Also park (lower palace park), Fels? park (upper palace park), and Erzsebet park, named after Queen Elizabeth.

  • ''Also Park'' is located directly in front of the palace and has a giant tree sculpture called the '''World Tree'''.
  • ''Fels? Park'' is located directly behind the palace and is mostly easily accessed from the Szabadsag ter or Erzsebet Park HEV stops. Of note is the wild chestnut path, a row of trees where Queen Sisi would often ride her horse.
  • ''Erzsebet Park'' was built in memory of Queen Elizabeth, nicknamed Sisi, after she was assisinated. The park entrance is a long trail of lindens leading to her statue. Turning right at the entrance you'll find the '''Kalvaria''' monument, which depicts the crucifixion and was commissioned by Grassalkovich and built in 1771.
  • Mariabesny?

    '''Mariabesny? Pilgrimage Temple''' [http://www.mariabesnyo.hu/] Mariabesny? is mostly easily accessed by taking the train to the Mariabesny? station. You'll be greated by a large '''Szekely-style Transylvanian gate''' from 1942 as you walk toward the temple. The temple was commissioned by Grassalkovich when workers found a statue of the Virgin Mary on the site in 1759. It is the only two-storied baroque temple in the country, and you can also see the smallest Virgin Mary statue in the country, a museum about the Virgin, the '''Grassalkovich crypt''', and do wine-tasting in the monastery.

    Szent Istvan Egyetem

    '''Szent Istvan Egyetem''' [http://www.szie.hu/] is the largest agricultural university in Hungary. The university is located directly east of the main train station.

  • The area around the '''main building''' is well decorated, with a variety of flowers.
  • Inside the assembly hall, the building just north of the main building, is the monumental mural '''Apotheosis of the core''' by sculptor Imre Tot. The assembly hall is open typically on school days till six.
  • The university is also the home of the '''Museum of Agricultural Tools and Machine Development''' [http://www.gepmuzeum.szie.hu], a small exhibit displaying reconstructed agricultural tools, the history of agriculture in the region, and current products made in Hungary. The building itself is worth a look for the fantastic woodwork inside and out. Admission is free.
  • The '''City Sports Arena''' is also located on the campus, opposite the assembly hall, and the local volleyball [http://www.freeweb.hu/grcvolley/index.php] and futsal [http://www.gbulls.hu/] teams play here. Tickets typically cost 300 ft.
  • Allami telepek

    '''Meheszeti Muzeum''' (Beekeeping Museum) is located on Isaszegi u. a few kilometers south of the downtown and is most easily reached from the Allami telepek train stop. The museum can only be visited by prior arrangement.

    '''Arboretum''' is located on Isaszegi u., near the Beekeeping Museum and Allami telepek train stop. There are many old trees and buildings in the area, as this used to be part of the palace complex.

    Do

    '''Godoll?i Repul?ter''' (Godoll? Airport) [http://www.godolloairport.hu/index_en.htm] is located southwest of the city on Repul?teri u. They offer sightseeing, hang gliding, and parachuting opportunities.

    '''Pet?fi Sandor M?vel?desi Kozpont''' (Sandor Pet?fi Cultural Center) [http://www.muvelodesikozpont.hu] is located in a large space-ship looking building near Szabadsag ter. Local performances including theater, dance, puppets, and concerts are often held here.

    '''Trafo Club''' [http://www.trafoclub.hu/] is the city's only true club or disco and it is located directly next to the Palotakert HEV stop. Local DJs and tribute bands often perform here on the weekends.

    '''Varosi Filmszinhaz''' (City Movie Theater) [http://www.godolloimozi.hu] Located next to the Town Museum. It is a small movie theater that shows 2-5 different movies a day on one screen. There is never a line and the theater is never crowded. Prices are typically cheaper than in Budapest with discounts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

    Eat

    Hungarian

  • '''Szelkakas Etterem''' (Weathervane Restaurant) [http://www.szelkakasetterem.hu/] Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 27. Good atmosphere with typical Hungarian fare. It can get fairly busy on weekends, so reservations may be needed.
  • '''Yellow Pub es Etterem''' on Dozsa Gyorgy ut 64. Traditional Hungarian dishes and beer. Located a short walk out of the city center. After 21:00, dinner is half-priced.
  • Pizza

  • '''Pizza Max Caffe''' [http://invitel.hu/pizzamax2000/] Dozsa Gyorgy ut 36. Quality pizziera gives you the choice between thin and thick crusts and also offers soups and sandwiches. On top of that they'll give you a bowl of peanuts to munch on while you wait.
  • '''Pizza Fortuna''' K?rosf?i u. 14 Tel 28/545-565. Good, cheap pizza in a residential neighborhood. The only drawback is they don't have anywhere to sit and eat. They deliver everywhere in the city.
  • '''Pizza Palazzo''' on Szabadsag ter 2. is a bar/pizzeria. They put little tomato sauce on the pizza itself and expect you to make up the diference with ketchup. Not the best in town.
  • Gyros

    In an around Szabadsag ter are a few places to get gyros or hamburgers.

  • '''Special Gyros''' at Allomas ter, on the Godoll? HEV stop and near the train station serves up the best gyros in town. They're definitely worth grabbing while waiting for the train or HEV.
  • Cukraszda

  • '''Sulyan Cukraszda''' on Szabadsag ter 8. offers Hungarian cakes, Somloi galuska, and gellato. During the spring and summer they set up tables outside so you can people watch on the square.
  • Drink

    Sleep

    Godoll? is close enough to Budapest that you probably won't need to look for accommodation here. If you plan on staying, however, here are some options.

    '''Panzio Sissi''' Dozsa Gyorgy ut 36, [http://www.panziosissi.hu]. Free wifi internet access. A little bit north of downtown. The Pizza Max Cafe is on the first floor.

    '''Galeria Restaurant and Pension''' Szabadsag ter 8. Reasonable prices and a central location. Also has a traditional Hungarian restaurant.