Three Days, Two Wheels and a Different Side of Hungary

Bicycles, beautiful autumn scenery and three days away from everyday routines, and you have the ingredients for a memorable journey for sure.

Our university study trip to southern Hungary brought together current and former students from different academic backgrounds, all connected by an interest in tourism, nature and sustainability.

I expected interesting destinations and a few enjoyable cycling routes. What I hadn't quite anticipated was how much I would appreciate the people, the conversations and the unexpected discoveries along the way.

A Different Pace, A Different Perspective

Our cycling routes took us through the Baja and Gemenc area and around Hajós, covering approximately 15–20 kilometres at a time. Nothing particularly demanding. No serious climbs, no heroic distances. Just a pleasant combination of asphalt roads, embankments and countryside tracks. I brought my gravel bike and a 25-litre bag filled with enough layers to prepare for autumn's unpredictable moods. As it turned out, the extra luggage space was useful for something entirely different: locally made preserves I couldn't resist bringing home.

The routes were manageable, the cycling rest stops well equipped and the signs generally easy to follow. But what I enjoyed most was the freedom to experience the surroundings without rushing from one attraction to another. Cycling offers an interesting middle ground between walking and driving. You can cover enough distance to explore a region, yet remain close enough to notice the small things.

And sometimes those small things become the most memorable parts of a journey.

A Floating Mill and Stories by the Water

One of my biggest surprises was the Baja ship mill. As someone who enjoys sailing, almost anything floating on water immediately catches my attention. But I knew remarkably little about the history of these mills. At the Fishing Miniskanzen and the ship mill, we were welcomed by Mónika and Dragan with incredible warmth and hospitality. They shared fascinating stories about the river, traditional fishing and the lives of people whose livelihoods had been closely connected to the Danube for generations. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and their stories were the kind we would remember long after the journey ended.

Discovering how people once used the river's current to power machinery was fascinating. The ingenuity of the construction, the relationship between water and everyday life, and the history behind it all made this an unexpected highlight.

The nearby Fishing Miniskanzen offered another perspective on the region's relationship with the Danube. Traditional fishing equipment, simple riverside structures and stories of generations who depended on the water brought local heritage to life.

And then there was the Baja-style fish soup.

Some traditions are best understood through stories. Others are best appreciated with a spoon.

Beyond the Wine Cellars

Hajós and its surroundings introduced us to a different side of southern Hungary.

The historic wine cellar village, the restored Baroque castle and the nearby buffalo reserve provided a surprisingly varied programme.

At the reserve, the buffalo initially seemed rather uninterested in our arrival. Eventually, more appeared on the other side of the grounds, quietly observing our group as we listened to an explanation of the local loess landscape.

I couldn't help wondering what they made of so many visitors arriving on two wheels.

The wine experiences were equally enjoyable, despite the fact that I have never been particularly passionate about wine.

We tasted different varieties, sampled local food, explored cellars and even climbed inside an enormous barrel.

At the castle, beautifully restored interiors and an imaginative hunting exhibition offered yet another perspective on the region's cultural heritage.

What connected these experiences was the enthusiasm of the people introducing them to us.

Their knowledge made the difference between simply visiting somewhere and beginning to understand it.

Where Local Pride Becomes a Visitor Experience

One of the most interesting discoveries from a tourism perspective was the Sváb-sarok initiative. The area brings together communities including Hajós, Császártöltés, Nemesnádudvar and Érsekhalma, connecting wine culture, Swabian heritage, local products and opportunities for active tourism.

At the Bor Bagoly Press House, traditional wine culture meets visitor information, multimedia experiences and family-friendly activities.

Elsewhere, local producers showed us how much dedication goes into growing food, protecting crops and continuing to experiment when the weather or pests refuse to cooperate.

We spent our second night at Bálint Borlak, a charming, dog-friendly accommodation that beautifully combines the atmosphere of a traditional wine press house with modern comforts. It's the kind of place that preserves its character without compromising on convenience, and one I would happily recommend to anyone exploring the area.

What struck me was the sense of local pride.

Tourism here is not simply about individual attractions. It can also be about communities finding ways to share their identity, traditions and everyday work with visitors.

That doesn't happen automatically. It requires cooperation, commitment and people who believe their region has something worth sharing.

And after three days, I certainly agreed with them.

What I Really Brought Home

Looking back, the most valuable part of this trip wasn't any single attraction. It was the combination of places and people. Our guides weren't simply leading us from one destination to the next. They were part of the group, sharing stories, answering questions and joining conversations.

Students, graduates and professionals exchanged ideas, made connections and discovered shared interests that might one day develop into collaborations. It reminded me how valuable these experiences can be in education. Learning doesn't always happen in a lecture hall, and professional relationships don't necessarily begin at formal networking events. Sometimes they begin during a bicycle ride, over a bowl of fish soup or somewhere deep inside a wine cellar.

I returned home with local preserves, new knowledge and a renewed appreciation for the Hungarian countryside.

But above all, I brought home a reminder that the quality of a journey is shaped just as much by the people we share it with as by the places we visit.

And perhaps that is one of the nicest things about travelling closer to home.

There is always another side of a familiar place waiting to be discovered.