Hungary
Hungary came without a clear line—just a flow from one place into the next.
We ended up at a wine festival by chance. The atmosphere was light.
Then came the rain. The mud. The first real low of the journey.
We lost the way and found ourselves in heat, chaos, and too many mosquitoes.
But that same day, someone opened their door to us.
It felt surreal.
Hungary made us tired—and showed us what this journey could really hold.
Hungary caught us by surprise. We had planned the route carefully, but it was here that we learned one of the biggest lessons of the journey:
Planning doesn’t mean certainty. Anything can happen.
And most of the time – you won’t see it coming.
We arrived in Győr, a lovely little town – and accidentally stumbled into a local wine festival that only happens once a year. We had no idea. Just a lucky moment that reminded us: the road gives more than we could ever plan for.
We spent about a week in Hungary.
The Balaton was rainy and grey when we got there, so we ended up cooking in the tent – pasta with sauce, the standard.
Simple, soaked, and still grateful.
And then came the moment we’ll never forget.
We followed a path that already looked difficult with our bikes – but we kept going.
Thick mud, summer heat, and a swarm of mosquitoes.
Our wheels stopped turning. With 60 kg of luggage, we had no choice but to push.
Sweaty, covered in dirt, we fought our way forward for two hours...
Only to arrive back at the exact same spot where we had started.
We had lost the whole day.
Exhausted, frustrated, and unsure of what to do.
We had to cancel our stay with our Warmshowers host that night.
But instead of disappointment, we received something completely different.
Peter – the man we were supposed to meet – understood immediately.
He came and picked us up in his car, brought us to his huge villa, and invited us for dinner.
We couldn’t believe it.
From one of the hardest points on the bike to a moment of pure generosity – with a man who listened, understood, and shared stories of his own travels through Africa and Asia.
That contrast stayed with us.
Hungary taught us a lesson we didn’t expect:
Beauty isn’t always where you think it will be.
Sometimes it shows up in the middle of a muddy road, disguised as chaos –
or in the form of a stranger named Peter.
🚲 Travel Mode
Bicycle
📅 Date From: August 2023
📅 Date To: Septembre 2023
📍 Points of Interest
🌊 Lake Balaton – we hit it during bad weather,
but its size and popularity as a summer escape were unmistakable.
🍷 Győr – a charming small city.
We stumbled upon a once-a-year wine festival, with warm lights and a beautiful old town.
🏡 Zalaegerszeg – met Péter, a well-traveled man with a huge villa and incredible stories.
He shared a recipe I still cook to this day – unforgettable in every way.
✍️ Experience Snippet
Balaton rain.
We stood under a pier, soaked and silent.
Next to us, a fisherman on a bucket,
casting into the lake as lightning cracked the sky.
It wasn’t cold.
Just endlessly wet.
And strangely still.
👉 Want to see the full route?
Check out the route below.
🗺️ Route Legend
🔴 Red – Bicycle
🔵 Blue – Ferry
🟣 Purple – Hitchhiking
🟡 Yellow – Bus / Taxi
🟢 Green – Train
⚫ Black – Airplane
⚪ White – Planned Route
