Hungary is one of Europe’s most underrated travel destinations. Budapest — straddling the Danube between the hills of Buda and the flat plains of Pest — is arguably the continent’s most dramatically beautiful capital city.
Top Destinations
1. Budapest
Buda Castle and the Fishermen’s Bastion on the hilltop above the Danube, the neo-Gothic Parliament Building, the Central Market Hall, the State Opera House, and the Great Synagogue form the city’s UNESCO-listed panorama. The thermal bath culture — Szechenyi, Gellert, Rudas — is a uniquely Budapest experience.
2. The Danube Bend
The dramatic horseshoe bend of the Danube north of Budapest — with the baroque town of Esztergom, the art town of Szentendre, and the hilltop fortress of Visegrad — is one of Central Europe’s most scenic landscapes.
3. Lake Balaton and Eger
Lake Balaton — Central Europe’s largest lake — is Hungary’s summer playground. Eger is famous for its baroque castle and the famous red wine Bull’s Blood, produced in cave cellars carved into volcanic rock.
Food and Drink
Goulash (a hearty beef and paprika soup), Chicken Paprikash with sour cream, Langos (deep-fried flatbread with toppings), and Dobos Torte (layered chocolate cake). Tokaji dessert wine was called the wine of kings by Louis XIV.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (Apr-May): Budapest at its most beautiful
- Autumn (Sep-Oct): Wine harvest, gorgeous light, fewer crowds
- Christmas (Nov-Dec): Stunning Christmas markets
Travel Tips
Hungary is excellent value — roughly half of Western European prices. The Hungarian forint (HUF) is the currency. Thermal baths are best visited on weekday mornings.
