Gödöllő is a small town about 30 kilometres northeast of Budapest, easily reached by suburban railway (HÉV) in around 40 minutes. Its main attraction is the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, the largest Baroque palace in Hungary and the favourite country residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife, Empress Elisabeth — the beloved "Sisi" whose portrait is known across Central Europe. The palace dominates the town and draws the majority of its visitors.
Beyond the palace, Gödöllő is a pleasant small town with a distinct character. The 19th century brought it close connections with Hungary's cultural elite — writers, artists, and intellectuals settled here, and at the turn of the 20th century it hosted the Gödöllő Artists' Colony, a Hungarian Arts and Crafts movement that drew on the ideals of William Morris and produced some distinctive textile and graphic work. The town also has a significant agricultural university and a somewhat academic atmosphere that sets it apart from a typical tourist town.
The Queen Elisabeth Park adjacent to the palace is well maintained and makes for a pleasant walk. A short distance out of town, the pilgrimage church at Máriabesnyő is an interesting detour for those with more time — a Baroque pilgrimage church surrounded by monastic buildings in a wooded setting, still actively used by pilgrims and with a long local tradition.