Hungary is a country of delicious goulash, world-famous thermal baths, and a magnificent capital city, Budapest, that is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe, the Danube dividing Buda’s castle-topped hills from Pest’s grand boulevards and ruin bars, the Hungarian Parliament building reflecting in the river at night, and the steaming waters of the Széchenyi Baths where locals play chess while soaking in mineral-rich thermal pools. Hungary punches well above its weight culturally, it has produced 13 Nobel laureates, the composers Liszt and Bartók, and a cuisine that, while meat-heavy and paprika-drenched, is among the most distinctive in Central Europe. Beyond Budapest, the country unfolds into the Great Hungarian Plain (the puszta), the wine regions of Tokaj and Eger, the Baroque town of Eger with its castle that repelled the Ottomans, the Benedictine abbey of Pannonhalma, and the largest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton, the “Hungarian Sea” where generations of Hungarians have spent their summers swimming, sailing, and sipping fröccs (wine spritzers) at lakeside tavernas.
Quick Facts: Hungary Travel Guide
- Best time to visit Hungary: April–June and September–October for the most pleasant temperatures and exploring weather; July–August is peak season on Lake Balaton (Hungarian holidaymakers fill the lake resorts, book accommodation well ahead) and in Budapest, though the city rarely feels truly overwhelmed; December for Budapest’s Christmas markets (Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen’s basilica); the spring Budapest Spring Festival (March–April) brings classical music, opera, and ballet to the city’s venues
- Top attractions in Hungary: Budapest, the Hungarian Parliament Building (book a guided tour), Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (the classic panorama of the Danube and Pest), the thermal baths (Széchenyi, Gellért, and Rudas), and the ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter (Szimpla Kert is the original and still the best); the Danube Bend, Szentendre (artist colony), Visegrád (castle and palace ruins), and Esztergom (Hungary’s largest cathedral); Lake Balaton, the abbey of Tihany, the wine region of Badacsony, and the beaches of Siófok; the Tokaj wine region, one of the oldest classified wine regions in the world (sweet Tokaji Aszú wine has been produced here since the 16th century); and the Hortobágy National Park, the Great Hungarian Plain, traditional csikós (cowboy) culture, and one of Europe’s largest grasslands
- How to get to Hungary: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) has flights from across Europe and beyond; excellent rail connections from Vienna (~2.5h), Prague (~7h), and Bratislava (~2.5h); Budapest’s three main railway stations (Keleti, Nyugati, Déli) are architectural landmarks in themselves
- Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF), Hungary is not in the Eurozone and prices are significantly lower than in Western Europe (a good three-course meal with wine in Budapest: ~€15–25 per person)
- Language: Hungarian (Magyar), one of the most difficult languages in Europe (unrelated to any neighbouring language, its closest relatives are Finnish and Estonian, and even those are very distant); English is widely spoken in Budapest tourist areas; learning a few Hungarian words (jó napot, köszönöm, egészségedre) is genuinely appreciated
- Best for: Thermal bath enthusiasts, foodies, history lovers, wine tourists, and anyone who appreciates one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities at prices that remain surprisingly affordable
Hungary offers all kinds of the recreation opportunities. However it is not suitable for sea and salt water lovers, or for climbers and lovers of hiking and skiing, because the country is mostly flat and the higher hills are just at the border with Slovakia, where is also located the highest peak of Hungary – Kékes (1015 meters) situated in the Mátra mountain range. Snow occurs rarely, and only for a few days.
But everything else you can even imagine you can experience in Hungary – the cultural and social events, concerts and discos, folklore festivals, good food and drink, especially a great wine, sports (fishing, bathing and swimming, excellent opportunities biking, ballooning, parachuting and hang-gliding, windsurfing, sailing and water skiing on Lake Balaton, beautiful horses with the opportunity to ride on them, craft workshops, nostalgic carriage or old trains rides, boat cruises, live gypsy music, visits to zoos and nature reserves, and last but not least, many wellness activities in famous Hungarian spa.
Hungarian cuisine
Like any other cuisine even Hungarian one is influenced by the cuisine of neighbouring countries – mostly Bulgarian and Slovak. This cuisine is characterized by a variety of tastes and looks. Its main ingredient is the pepper, which grown all around the country. Another important ingredient is sour cream. The most commonly used meat is from oxen, calves, pigs or rams. They can also prepare the turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese as well as different game. The local rivers are excellent providers of freshwater fish such as perch, Danube catfish, sturgeon, pike or carp.
The most famous Hungarian dish is definitely Hungarian goulash or Segedin goulash. Then it is gnocchi with sheep cheese, which is the apparent influence of Slovak cuisine. The most popular spice is the pepper, served in six kinds and gives the meal its right Hungarian flavour. Popular soup is halászlé (fish soup) and bean soup. Another traditional dish is Perkelt prepared from various types of meat in a pot on the fire. Furthermore, it is worth tasting Borsos Tokány – braised beef in red wine sauce with tomatoes or Tordai lacipecsenye – crisp roasted young pork wrapped in flour with hot peppers. Traditional dishes include chicken with mushrooms and pepper, fried liver, Transylvanian layered cabbage or noodles with cabbage. The meals are served with all kinds of vegetable and fruit salads, e.g. such as cucumber salad with sour cream. Very popular deserts are strudels or poppy tubes.
View Hungary – delicious goulash in a larger map
Have you soaked in Budapest’s thermal baths, sailed Lake Balaton, or explored the puszta of the Great Hungarian Plain? Share your Hungarian adventures in the comments! 🇭🇺
Explore all our Hungary travel guides, from Budapest’s ruin bars to the Tokaj wine country.
Explore More
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:
