Mária-út, M01-20 (Máriaremete – Makkosmária – Budapest, Szent Anna-rét)

The Mária-út M01-20 is a 13 km point-to-point trail in the Buda Hills of Hungary, climbing 430 m through oak and beech forest between the Marian pilgrimage sanctuary of Máriaremete and the peaceful meadow of Budapest's Szent Anna-rét via Makkosmária. Rated moderate, this waymarked International Walking Network (IWN) route links centuries-old Marian shrines and forested ridgelines on the wooded western edge of the Hungarian capital.

About the Mária-út, M01-20 (Máriaremete – Makkosmária – Budapest, Szent Anna-rét)

The Mária-út (Mary's Way) is Hungary's principal Catholic pilgrimage network and one of Central Europe's most significant long-distance walking routes. Established and maintained by the Mária Út Közhasznú Egyesület (Mária Út Association), the network connects dozens of Marian shrines across Hungary and neighbouring countries under the International Walking Network (IWN) designation.

The M01-20 stage links Máriaremete to Budapest's Szent Anna-rét meadow, with the forest sanctuary of Makkosmária as its central waypoint. At 13.01 km with 430 m of cumulative elevation gain and 240 m of descent, the route makes a rewarding full day out for walkers of moderate fitness. The trail runs entirely on forest tracks, waymarked footpaths and occasional residential street sections on the northwestern fringes of Budapest's protected green belt.

Máriaremete sits in the Buda Hills Protected Landscape Area at the head of the Remetevölgy (Hermit Valley), roughly 10 km from central Budapest. Its baroque Pálos Church of the Annunciation has drawn pilgrims since the 17th century. From the sanctuary, the trail climbs northwest through the Budai-hegység (Buda Hills), crossing the Hűvösvölgy greenway before ascending to the Normafa plateau and the Szépjuhászné ridge. A forested descent through Budakeszi is followed by a second climb to Makkosmária, before the route concludes on the open meadow of Szent Anna-rét. GPS tracks in GPX and KML format are available for download from the official association website.

Route Overview & Stages

The M01-20 covers 13.01 km from Máriaremete to Budapest, Szent Anna-rét, accumulating 430 m of elevation gain and losing 240 m — a net gain of 190 m that reflects the trail's overall upward trend toward the higher Buda Hills ridgeline. The four sections below follow the main named waypoints.

Fit walkers complete the full 13 km in 4–5 hours. The route is designed as a single-day stage with no overnight stop required. The steepest section is the climb between Hűvösvölgy and the Normafa plateau (+160 m over 3.8 km). Mountain biking is feasible with a short detour, but the trail is unsuitable for horseback riding or wheelchair access.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Máriaremete Pilgrimage Church: The baroque Pálos Church of the Annunciation anchors the trail's starting point in the Remetevölgy. Built in the 17th century and expanded in the 19th, the church has drawn pilgrims from across Hungary for over 300 years and remains an active place of Marian devotion accessible by bus from central Budapest.
• Remetevölgy (Hermit Valley): The narrow valley carved by the Barát-patak stream delivers cool shade and near-wilderness solitude just 10 km from the city centre. Oak and hornbeam woodland covers the slopes, home to roe deer, foxes and more than 60 woodland bird species typical of the Buda Hills.
• Hűvösvölgy (Cool Valley): One of the two endpoints of the historic Gyermekvasút (Children's Railway), Hűvösvölgy is a popular recreation hub with a café, tram connection and a small weekend market. At the 3.2 km mark, it makes a natural break and an alternative access point for shorter walks.
• Normafa Plateau (438 m): The highest easily road-accessible point in the Buda Hills, this grassy plateau is one of Budapest's most cherished weekend destinations. A famous 19th-century beech tree gave the site its name after an operatic aria from Bellini's Norma was performed beneath it in 1840.
• Szépjuhászné Ridge: The ridge inn at Szépjuhászné ('Pretty Shepherdess') has served hikers and riders since the 19th century. On clear days, the ridgeline delivers long views west over the Pilis Hills and north toward the great Danube bend at Esztergom, 45 km away.
• Makkosmária Forest Sanctuary: A Gothic-revival pilgrimage chapel set in an ancient oak clearing — makk means acorn, an apt description of the surrounding forest — forms the spiritual centrepiece of the route. Weekend Masses draw local pilgrims, and a natural spring at the site is the best water refill point on the trail at the 10.5 km mark.
• Budakeszi Vadaspark (nearby): Within 1 km of the route, this 300-hectare wildlife park houses red deer, European bison, mouflon and wild boar in semi-wild enclosures. A worthwhile 2-hour detour for families visiting the Buda Hills for the first time.
• Budapest, Szent Anna-rét: The trail concludes on a meadow named for Saint Anne within the Budapest administrative boundary. A small chapel, a natural spring and a bench mark the official end of stage M01-20 — quiet, forested and a world apart from the city that begins just a short walk downhill.

Best Time to Hike the Mária-út, M01-20 (Máriaremete – Makkosmária – Budapest, Szent Anna-rét)

The Buda Hills are walkable year-round, but comfort and trail conditions vary considerably across the seasons.

Spring (March–May) brings fresh greenery, wildflowers on the forest floor and mild temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. April rain can leave north-facing slopes muddy between Hűvösvölgy and the Normafa plateau. May is the single best month to hike M01-20: trails are dry, the beech and oak canopy is in full leaf, temperatures suit sustained uphill walking and pilgrim traffic is light outside the major Marian feast days on the 1st and 31st of the month.

Summer (June–August) is warm to hot, with July temperatures in the Buda Hills averaging 26°C and occasionally reaching 35°C in the valley sections. Start before 08:00 to beat the heat. Carry at least 2 litres of water; the only reliable refill points are at Hűvösvölgy and Makkosmária. Forest canopy provides meaningful shade on most of the route, making summer hiking feasible with an early start.

Autumn (September–October) delivers the trail at its most photogenic: beech and oak turn gold and bronze, light slants low through the canopy and temperatures cool to a comfortable 12–18°C for walking. September weekends draw families from Budapest; weekday visits offer the quietest conditions.

Winter (November–February): Snow above 300 m is common from December through February — as of 2026, the Buda Hills average 20–30 cm of snowpack per season. Microspikes or yaktrax are useful on icy sections near Normafa. A 08:30 start ensures the full 13 km is completed before dusk on the shortest winter days.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The M01-20 is a 13 km day hike that begins and ends within easy reach of Budapest's transport network, so most walkers complete it without overnight accommodation on the route. For those who prefer to base themselves in the hills, Budakeszi has several guesthouses charging approximately €40–€70 per night for a double room.

The Normafa area has historically offered hostel-style accommodation at around €20–€30 per bunk; confirm availability before your trip. Organised pilgrimage groups on the wider Mária-út network can arrange church-hosted parish accommodation at approximately €10–€15 per person per night by contacting the Mária Út Association directly. Camping is not permitted within the Buda Hills Protected Landscape Area.

Getting There & Back

From central Budapest (Széll Kálmán tér metro hub), take BKK (Budapest Transport Authority) bus line 65 directly to Máriaremete — a 20-minute ride with services every 20–30 minutes. Tram 56 serves Hűvösvölgy (an alternative 3.2 km start) from the same interchange. From the trail's finish at Budapest, Szent Anna-rét, a 15-minute walk or local bus connects to Széll Kálmán tér and Metro Line 2. Use the BKK Futár app for real-time timetables and connections.

Nearest international airport: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), 30 km from Máriaremete. Airport bus 100E reaches Deák Ferenc tér in 35 minutes (approximately €4); transfer to bus 65 for the trailhead. Total travel time from the airport: approximately 60–70 minutes. Free car parking is available at the Máriaremete church car park (limited spaces; do not leave valuables in unattended vehicles).

Permits & Fees

No permit or fee is required to hike the M01-20. The trail passes through the Budai Tájvédelmi Körzet (Buda Hills Protected Landscape Area), managed by the Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate. Standard protected-area regulations apply: stay on marked paths, carry out all waste and do not disturb wildlife. Campfires are not permitted. The pilgrimage sanctuaries at Máriaremete and Makkosmária welcome all visitors without charge; donations support ongoing maintenance of the wider Mária-út network.

Gear & Packing List

The M01-20 is a one-day forest trail with no technical terrain. A lightweight day-hiking setup focused on comfort and weather readiness is all that is needed.

Footwear: Trail running shoes suffice in dry conditions. Low-cut hiking boots with good grip are recommended after rain or in winter. Gaiters are useful in early spring when leaf litter conceals wet clay on descent sections.

Backpack: A 12–20 litre pack is ideal for the day. The Salomon ADV Skin 12 is excellent for a running-vest-style fit, keeping weight against your back on the rolling climbs. The Salomon ADV Skin 20 adds capacity for a full lunch, a mid-layer and a rain shell without sacrificing stability. Those planning to link M01-20 with additional Mária-út stages into a multi-day pilgrimage should consider the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10, which pairs a structured hip-belt suspension system with enough volume for 3–4 days on trail.

Water: Carry 1.5–2 litres from the start. Refill options exist at Hűvösvölgy (café, km 3.2) and the natural spring at Makkosmária (km 10.5; treat before drinking if uncertain).

Nutrition: The 4–5 hour, 13 km outing burns roughly 1,500–2,000 kcal depending on body weight and pace. Pack high-density snacks and one full meal. For a detailed breakdown of calorie planning on a full hiking day, see How Many Calories Do You Need Hiking a Full Day?

Navigation: Download the GPX track from mariaut.hu before departure. Mobile signal is generally reliable throughout the route, but save offline maps as a fallback. The Cartographia Budai-hegység 1:40,000 topographic sheet covers the entire trail.

Layering: Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms over the Buda Hills; a lightweight rain jacket weighing 200 g or less is worthwhile insurance. In autumn, add a fleece mid-layer for the exposed Normafa plateau. For a full benchmark of current ultralight packs across all weight classes, see Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2026: 7 Packs Tested and Ranked.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the M01-20 has sparked interest in Central European pilgrimage routes and waymarked forest walking, the following Hungarian trails share a similar character — historically layered, largely off the international hiking radar and rewarding for their cultural as much as their physical dimension.

• Camino Benedictus (Tihany – Pannonhalma – Rajka) — Hungary's premier Benedictine pilgrimage route connecting historic abbeys across the Transdanubian hills, with the same blend of religious heritage and pastoral Hungarian scenery as the Mária-út.
• ST202a Čunovo – Lipót — A Danube-bank route threading through wetland reserves and floodplain woodland on the Slovak–Hungarian border, expert-rated for its remote, riverine character.
• ST203a Lipót – Győr — Continues the Danube right-bank corridor south to the historic city of Győr, passing market towns and river-bend landscapes typical of the Kisalföld plain.
• ST307 Nagylók – Mezőfalva — An expert-rated route across Hungary's Great Plain offering flat, exposed walking through farmland and floodplain — a stark contrast to the forested Buda Hills.
• ST311 Kalocsa – Bóni-fok — Explores the Danube floodplain south of Budapest, passing the paprika capital of Kalocsa and the atmospheric wetlands of the Gemenc forest reserve.

For mountain walkers seeking a dramatic Balkan alternative, the iconic Theth to Valbona hike in Albania offers a single high-mountain pass, canyon scenery and a point-to-point format similar in spirit to the Mária-út stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Mária-út M01-20?

May is the best month. Temperatures in the Buda Hills sit between 14°C and 22°C, forest trails are dry after spring rain, the beech and oak canopy is in full leaf and wildflowers cover the meadow sections near Makkosmária and Szent Anna-rét. Autumn (September–October) is an excellent alternative for golden foliage. Avoid peak summer midday heat (July–August) by starting before 08:00.

How difficult is the M01-20?

The route is rated moderate. The 13.01 km distance accumulates 430 m of elevation gain distributed across several rolling climbs rather than one sustained ascent. Most sections follow well-maintained forest tracks with gentle gradients. The steepest section is the 160 m climb between Hűvösvölgy and the Normafa plateau. Fit beginners with appropriate footwear and a good supply of water will manage the route comfortably.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?

The M01-20 is designed as a single-day stage of 13.01 km, typically completed in 4–5 hours of walking time. If you are linking multiple Mária-út stages into a longer pilgrimage walk, daily distances on the wider network range from 12 km to 22 km. For a first outing on the route, planning for the standard 13 km with no extensions is the sensible choice to allow time for the sanctuaries at Máriaremete and Makkosmária.

What accommodation is available along the route?

Most hikers do not need overnight accommodation, as the route starts and finishes within easy reach of Budapest's public transport network. Those who want to stay in the hills will find guesthouses in Budakeszi for approximately €40–€70 per night. Organised pilgrimage groups can arrange parish-hosted accommodation at €10–€15 per person per night by contacting the Mária Út Association directly via mariaut.hu.

Do I need a permit to hike the Mária-út M01-20?

No permit or fee is required. The trail passes through the Buda Hills Protected Landscape Area, where standard protected-area rules apply: stay on marked paths, carry out all waste and do not disturb wildlife. Campfires are not permitted anywhere on the route. The pilgrimage sanctuaries at Máriaremete and Makkosmária are open to all visitors free of charge; donations support ongoing maintenance of the Mária-út network.