Salgótarján

48° 5' 14.87" N 19° 47' 17.58" E [48.0875, 19.7882] (KML)

The city is only accessible by train [S] from Hatvan [S]. Trains leave typically every other hour and take roughly an hour and fifteen minutes. Nearly all the trains are személy, or slow trains, and they will stop at every small town. Fortunately, the scenery and hills are quite lovely and the trip goes by quickly.

From Budapest [M] take the M3 to Hatvan [S]. From there Salgótarján [M] is most easily reached by route #21. From Szécsény [S] take route #22. From Slovakia take route #71 from Fil'akovo [S].

Counting the suburbs there are four train [S] stations: Zagyvapálfalva, Salgótarján [M] külső, Salgótarján (the main station), and Somoskőújfalu. For most tourist purposes the main station is the only one that stops downtown and the only one that matters. The Somoskőújfalu station can be used to reach the castle ruins, but even then it's simply easier to take a bus from downtown.

The intercity bus station [S] is also downtown, opposite the main train [S] station. Nográd Volán [1] provides local bus services throughout the town. Unless you have a whole day of hiking planned, this is the only way to get to the castle ruins. Bus #11A goes to the castle in Somoskő and bus #11B to the ruins to in Salgóbánya. Both of these buses only run once an hour. If you want to visit both castles it gets tricky as you'll have to visit one, then backtrack to Ifjúság u. where you can catch the other bus.

Taxis [S] are another option and you have to call in advance.

The downtown is incredibly compact and easy enough to get around by foot.

• Nógrádi Történeti Múzeum [S] Bányászati Kiállítóhelye [2] (Mining Museum) on Zemlinszky Rezső út 1. is the first underground mining museum in the country and the second in all of Europe. There is an exhibit showing the history of mining in the region, from old times to present. The main attraction, however, is where they let you into actual sections of the mine and show some of the different equipment once used there.

• Nógrádi Történeti Múzeum [S] [3] (Nógrád History Museum) downtown on Múzeum tér 2. is the town's principal museum. The exhibits contain several items about the history of the county. There is a special exhibit on János Balázs, the Romany poet and painter who lived in the city.

• Plébániatemplom [S] (Cathedral) located opposite the County History Museum is the main church in the town.

• Somoskő (Šomoška) Castle [S] (take bus #11A from downtown) in the suburb of Somoskő is the more restored of the two castles and has an awesome presence atop a 526 meter tall hill. One of the three original towers is restored. The castle lies on the slovak side, but it´s easily accesible from the hungarian village of Somoskő without need of passport control as both countries are part of EU-Schengen border system.

• Salgói Castle Ruins [S] (take bus #11B from downtown) is in the suburb of Salgóbánya. Though not as restored as the other castle, it provides excellent views of the region from its 625 meter perch.

From casual walks to more serious treks, from anywhere in the city you're never far from the hills.

• Pipis hegy [S] is the hill directly west of downtown. This quick and easy hike also features a Kálvária [S] (Calvary) monument.

• Study Trail [S] is a two kilometer long trail that leads to the Salgó castle ruins. Along the way signs explain the local flora, fauna, and geology.

• Salgó Hotel [S] [4] a two-star hotel at the foot of Salgó castle has several double rooms and a traditional Hungarian restaurant.
• Medves Hotel [S] [5] is also located in Salgóbánya near the Salgó castle at the end of Medvesi út.
• Strand Hotel [S] [6] located in Kemping-telep (Camping district) can be reached taking bus #5, 36, 46, 61, or 63. The Hotel caters mostly to youth and student groups and is reasonably priced (currently 7000ft for two people, including breakfast). Nearby is a swimming lake, sport stadium, and of course hiking.
• Galcsik Hotel [S] [7]
• Attila Guesthouse [S] [8]

• Fil'akovo [S] and the rest of Slovakia are just across the border.
• Hollókő [S] is directly accessible by bus. It is a museum village with a castle and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Szécsény [S] is a small town with a mansion, firetower, and a few museums.
• Balassagyarmat [S] is the former county seat and the Palóc capital of Hungary.

Text content was last edited at 19:21, on 3 June 2009 by Wikitravel user Tatatabot. Based on work by David Sallay, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.