Ajka 2026: Városliget, Templomdomb and parking for visitors arriving by car

Ajka lies in Veszprém County, in the Bakony region. Alongside its mining heritage, museums and public artworks, the boating lake in Városliget is another reason to spend some time in the city.

If you’re interested in local history, the work of Fekete István, or visiting a church or two and seeing some statues, you can choose from several sights. If you’re arriving by car, it’s worth checking the parking conditions in advance to make it easier to plan your visit once you’re there.

Városliget: boating lake and characters from Fekete István’s works

Ajka’s Városliget features an artificial boating lake. A bronze bust of Fekete István, made by Miklós Borsos, stands on the island in the centre of the lake. Beside it are statues by Katalin Samu depicting characters from the writer’s animal novels, including Vuk the fox, Bogáncs and Kele. If Fekete István’s works are important to you, the statues make Városliget a particularly worthwhile addition to your Ajka itinerary.

Városliget is also a good choice if you’re looking for an outdoor stop alongside the museums. The lake and the statues on the island provide a focus for a more leisurely stroll that you can enjoy without driving. Later, visitors interested in the collections can also find Fekete István’s name on Templomdomb.

The museum and Lutheran church on Templomdomb

On Templomdomb stands the City Museum and Photo Gallery, which houses a permanent local history exhibition, a Miklós Borsos memorial exhibition, a Fekete István collection and a Gábor Molnár memorial room. If you’d like to learn about Ajka’s history beyond its streets, this place offers several themes to explore in a single visit. The collections were established through the work of János Gáspár, while Frigyes Giay played a key role in creating the local history exhibition.

The Lutheran church, built in the late eighteenth century, is also on Templomdomb. It’s therefore worth including the museum and church in a single visit to the hill. You can continue exploring the hill on foot, without having to get back in the car for every stop.

Mining Museum, Park Forest and the city’s industrial past

Mining played an important role in Ajka’s development. Coal deposits in nearby Csingervölgy were discovered in the nineteenth century, and extraction began later. Today, the city’s sights include the Mining Museum, the Fossil and Rock Collection, and Park Forest. If you’d like to understand this aspect of the city’s past, the museum is a good starting point for planning your visit.

Mining heritage is also represented among the public artworks: in Padragkút, there is a Miners’ Memorial with a statue of Saint Barbara, and Marton László’s works include a piece titled Miners. These aren’t best treated as part of a single walk through the city centre, since Padragkút is a separate district. If you’d like to visit several locations, it may be easier to plan your route by car.

Public artworks and Ajka Crystal

Several works of art can be seen in Ajka city centre. These include Miklós Borsos’s Flora and The Universe, as well as the statue of Saint Barbara. If you enjoy looking at public art on city walks, these can provide a few specific stops in the centre. It’s best to view the works listed here on foot after parking.

Glassmaking is also part of Ajka’s industrial history: Bernát Neumann founded a glassworks in the city, built around coal and the railway. Ajka Crystal is also among the local attractions, and Marton László’s work Glassblowers is mentioned among the public artworks. So, alongside the mining heritage, the glass industry offers another perspective on Ajka.

The Roman Catholic church in Tósokberénd

If you’d also like to explore sights beyond the city centre, consider adding the Roman Catholic church in Tósokberénd to your plans. The church features an altarpiece by Vinzenz Fischer, depicting Saint Stephen offering the crown to Mary. This detail alone is a specific reason to give the church special attention if you’re interested in religious artworks.

The Lutheran church on Templomdomb and the Catholic church in Tósokberénd are in two different locations, so don’t plan them as stops on a single short walk through the city centre. If you’re arriving by car, you can include the journey between the districts in your day. That way, you’ll have time for Ajka’s churches as well as its museum collections and outdoor sights.

Parking in Ajka

Ajka has several paid parking zones, with different hourly rates in each zone. Payment is required only on weekdays; parking is free on weekends and public holidays. Before leaving your car, check which zone you’re in: the zone finder can help with this.

The advantage of mobile parking is that you can pay on the spot using your phone. You can also find an overview of parking information for Ajka on the city’s parking page.

• 8401 – Ajka Red zone: HUF 400/hour (weekdays 07:00–17:00), maximum 240 minutes
• 8402 – Ajka Green zone: HUF 300/hour (weekdays 07:00–17:00), maximum 240 minutes
• 8403 – Ajka Blue zone: HUF 400/hour (weekdays 07:00–17:00), maximum 240 minutes
• 8404 – Ajka Yellow zone: HUF 200/hour (weekdays 07:00–17:00), maximum 240 minutes

The rates are based on data from Nemzeti Mobilfizetési Zrt. and were in effect when this article was published.

Tip: If you’d like to see the public artworks in the city centre, explore them on foot after parking. Plan Templomdomb and the church in Tósokberénd as separate stops, and always check the rate for the relevant zone when parking on a weekday.

If you park in a paid space, you can start your parking session online on the spot with a few taps on your phone, without a machine, cash or installing an app.