Godollo Palace: all you need to know to enjoy it

The experience of visiting the Gödöllo Palace is not an ordinary one. Located in Pest County, specifically in the village of Gödöllo, this site is famous for having been the favourite place of Empress Sissi of Austria.

The architecture of Gödöllo Palace makes it one of the most fascinating monuments in Hungary, and is the source of countless legends and myths. Tickets to Gödöllo Palace are easy to purchase, and I promise you won't regret considering this imposing attraction during your trip.

The best proposal

Budapest Princess Sissi Godollo Palace Guided Tour

Book a guided tour of Gödöllo Palace

Perfect if you want to learn the stories about Queen Elisabeth and Franz Joseph in the place where they were lived thanks to the work of a professional guide without having to worry about travelling.

From £40 at Hellotickets

The Gödöllo Palace guided tour is one of the best tours and excursions from Budapest, lasting one hour and fifteen minutes, and includes a professional guide, transfer to the palace in an air-conditioned vehicle and entrance to the palace.

Recommended if... you want to learn more about the history of Sissi and Emperor Franz Joseph and also get an inside look at the baroque palace that was the summer residence of the House of Habsburg.

There are guided tours of Gödöllo Palace, and they are definitely worth it, much more than a simple unguided tour, which will make you feel that there is some of the history you miss.

The most interesting thing about taking a guided tour is that you can immerse yourself in the dark stories that are woven between the floors of the great Royal Palace. It is a fascinating experience, for it is not only the unmistakable architectural style that ties the Gödöllo to the past of this European landscape.

On guided tours, you will learn about the secrets, the hidden passages, the private stories, the love. It is not a matter of visiting the palace alone and waiting for the walls to speak to you, because they won't. In this case, you have to rely on a guide. In this case, you must rely on someone to guide you, and then you will feel that history itself is dying to escape from oblivion.

Most visitors to Gödöllő Palace recommend visiting it with a guide. As I explained, it is not as spectacular a building as some other European palaces, and while it can be attractive to visit, without the guided tour component, you will feel like you are missing out on something fundamental.

While you're thinking about it and deciding that you definitely want to go to the palace on a comfortable guided tour, take the time to read up on everything you need to know about the Budapest Card.

Tickets to Gödöllo Palace cost around 8 Euros.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a guided tour or a specific excursion, prices may vary depending on the service offered.

Although it will be more expensive than simply taking the ticket, this is my recommended option, as the fun of this tourist attraction lies, more than anything else, in all the history behind it that the guide in charge of your experience will tell you.

Gödöllo Palace is located approximately 40 minutes from Budapest city centre. You have a few options to get there, from a train, bus or car journey or, my favourite, a guided tour to take you there.

Guided tour of Gödöllo Palace

My favourite option: you're driven in an air-conditioned car, you don't have to worry about the tour, and when you arrive, you're ready to see the grand baroque palace.

It has many advantages, starting with the fact that you don't have to take out a thousand tickets or go to and fro, but simply hire a package that takes care of most of your plans for the day.

Getting to Gödöllo Palace by train

If you want to get to Gödöllo Palace by train, you can do so by taking the train from Keleti station. You will arrive at Gödöllo station and from there you will have to walk through the Alsópark. It's a great option if you're looking to go on your own, as it's a cheap and fairly quick alternative.

The train departs every half hour or so, and it will take you between 26 and 38 minutes to reach your destination. The fare is 1 or 2 euros, and the company in charge is Hungarian Railways.

Getting to Gödöllo Palace by Bus

To get to Gödöllo Palace by bus, you should go to the Budapest bus terminal Kacsóh Pongrác út. There, you will find a bus leaving directly to Gödöllo. The trip takes about half an hour, but you have to walk to get there and the departure times are not as accurate as in the other cases. If your budget is starting to tighten, this is a good option because it is a cheap journey. However, it will take you the longest to get to your destination.

The ticket costs between 1 and 2 euros, and the company in charge is Volanbusz. The line you should take is 2199.

Getting to Gödöllo Palace by car

If you want to get to Gödöllo Palace by car, you can do so by taking the M3 road. Of course, you will have to take into account the costs of fuel and car rental. But it is always a nice option to move this way, since you can even stop along the way if you see something that catches your attention and that no tour guide has told you about, as it will be if you choose one of the best bike tours in Budapest.

If you're planning a trip to Budapest and you usually rent a car to get around at your own pace, you'll probably need to buy a Hungarian vignette, which you can use to get around on the motorways.

The Gödöllo Palace opens its doors to visitors at 10:00 and closes at 16:00. However, depending on the time of your trip to Budapest, you should pay particular attention to the opening hours, as they sometimes vary according to the season. Especially the closing time, which is usually a little later during peak tourist seasons.

A visit to Gödöllo Palace is not a visit that cannot be made with children. However, it is up to you to decide whether you think it will be comfortable or not. It can be an interesting occasion, especially if you are travelling with children who are curious and respectful of spaces like this.

In addition, Gödöllo Palace offers guided tours for mothers, under the name "Look, Mummy". These tours are specially designed for mothers with babies and last for an hour. They could be an excellent alternative if you feel uncomfortable doing this type of activity with your children and they get bored or make noise.

If you are travelling with children, I recommend this article with 10 tips to follow on your trip to Budapest, which may be useful for you to organise yourself as well as possible. If you're not travelling with children, I'd also recommend this article, but mothers should take extra precautions.

There are many things you can't miss at Gödöllo Palace, as it is a huge site, full of rooms and nods to history. I would also like to recommend some of the rooms that you should not miss:

• Sissi's bedroom: Who wouldn't want to know the place where the empress lived?
• The chapel: This is a beautiful rococo style building, ideal for believers and architecture fanatics.
• The gardens: The space surrounding the palace is as enormous as the building itself. Its gardens are very beautiful, and the walk is allowed for tourists.
• Paintings and photographs: You can enjoy numerous portraits of Sissi.

Gödöllo Palace hosts numerous events throughout the year. Some of them are of a private nature, as there are several rooms available for this purpose. Others, however, are open to the public and are great occasions to visit this imposing palace.

Some of these events include:

• Chamber Music Festival: An incredible occasion to enjoy the best composers of the European continent. Ideal if you are travelling in July.
• Baroque Days at the palace: Like travelling back in time, you can attend a period fair, with concerts and dance shows. Ideal for August travellers. In that case, find out what else you can do in August in Budapest.
• International Harp Festival: Want to hear the best harpists from all over the continent? They perform here at the Gödöllő. Ideal for October. In October in Budapest there are also other alternatives.
• Advent at the palace: The best folk crafts, just before the Christmas holidays. Ideal for those who want to make gifts and are looking for things to do in Budapest at Christmas.

If you are going to visit the Gödöllő Palace, there are a number of recommendations that I think you should bear in mind.

For starters, it is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes, as the indoor and outdoor tours are on foot, and can be strenuous. Also, take a pair of sunglasses with you, to protect you from the intense light when you are walking through the gardens.

Finally, it is forbidden to smoke in the palace.