From the elegant capital Budapest to the peaceable shores of Lake Balaton to a few of Europe’s best-kept secrets and techniques like Tokaj, the most effective locations to go to in Hungary are ready to pleasantly shock you.
Many guests decide to spend a couple of days in Budapest with out seeing some other elements of Hungary, however the remainder of the nation has a lot to supply. Apart from the grand capital metropolis, Hungary is stuffed with smaller, underrated cities, scenic lakes, and rolling hills dotted with vineyards.
When visiting Hungary, you may improve your expertise by exploring at the very least one different vacation spot exterior Budapest. Our skilled journey advisors may help you select the most effective locations to go to in Hungary for the right journey tailor-made to you.
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Hungary is a fascinating nation that provides a mix of big-city vitality and relaxed locations plentiful in pure magnificence. It has a vibrant previous and a singular, wealthy tradition. This landlocked nation in Central Europe is understood for its meals, artwork, structure, folklore, and custom.
You can too simply mix a visit to Hungary with visits to different international locations, like neighboring Austria. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland are different close by international locations which you can add to your journey to Hungary.
However for now, let’s check out the most effective locations to go to in Hungary.
5 Greatest Locations To Go to in Hungary
1. Budapest
Budapest is the jewel of Hungary and one among Europe’s most stunning cities. Nicknamed the Paris of The East due to its elegant structure, the biggest metropolis in Hungary is among the most gorgeous European capitals. Divided by the Danube River, Buda and Pest are the 2 halves that make up the entire of this metropolis.
The town’s gorgeous structure is a mix of Gothic, Baroque, Artwork Nouveau, and extra. Budapest has at all times been a cultural hotspot, particularly in artwork and music, and the Hungarian Nationwide Gallery in Buda Fort chronicles the nation’s inventive historical past.
Like Vienna, Budapest additionally has a powerful café tradition relationship to the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Among the greatest historic cafés within the metropolis the place you may take pleasure in espresso and a slice of cake embrace Central Café and Café Gerbeaud.
With regards to Hungarian meals, yow will discover all of the staples of native delicacies in Budapest. Hearty goulash is the nationwide dish of Hungary, and yow will discover this meaty stew in eating places throughout Budapest.
Another meals to strive are langos, a deep-fried flatbread that’s standard road meals, and kurtoskalacs, or chimney desserts, a scrumptious candy dessert.
Budapest is a good metropolis to go to year-round. Spring and fall are good if you happen to’re in search of milder climate and decrease crowds, whereas summer season is a heat, full of life, and busy time to go to.
Winters in Budapest might be fairly harsh, particularly with winds coming off the Danube River. Nevertheless, December is a magical time to go to as a result of town goes all out for the vacations, with Christmas markets and delightful decorations.
High Sights in Budapest
On the left aspect of the river, Buda is the oldest part of town. That is the place you’ll discover Buda Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Website that now homes a museum complicated.
Buda is stuffed with winding cobblestone streets and unimaginable views of the Danube River. Fisherman’s Bastion on Fort Hill affords among the finest viewpoints within the metropolis.
On the suitable aspect of the river, Pest is the place you’ll discover the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Constructing, which is open for excursions. This aspect of town can be house to the grand St. Stephen’s Basilica, an icon of town. Pest is the livelier a part of town, with plenty of eating places, bars, and procuring streets.
There are a number of bridges throughout the Danube River linking Buda and Pest. Probably the most well-known is the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, which opened in 1849.
Budapest is understood for its many thermal springs, which have been part of town’s tradition for hundreds of years. With mineral-rich water sourced from underground caves, the thermal baths are stated to have therapeutic properties.
After a full day of strolling round and sightseeing in Budapest, there’s no higher solution to calm down than by soaking in a thermal tub.
Three of the most effective thermal baths within the metropolis are Szechenyi Thermal Bathtub, Gellert Thermal Bathtub, and Rudas Thermal Bathtub. When you have time to go to solely one of many thermal baths in Budapest, Szechenyi Thermal Bathtub is the biggest and most visited.
With regards to nightlife in Budapest, town’s so-called break bars are standard. These previously deserted warehouses have been was eclectic bars. In case you’re in search of a extra trendy night out in Budapest, you may catch a efficiency on the Hungarian State Opera Home.
2. Lake Balaton
Simply over an hour from Budapest, Lake Balaton is among the hottest getaways within the nation for locals and vacationers alike. On weekends in the summertime, residents of Budapest flock to this tranquil lake, which has been nicknamed the Hungarian Sea.
Since landlocked Hungary doesn’t have an actual sea, Lake Balaton is the closest substitute. As the biggest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton spans nearly 2,000 sq. miles. Its hanging milky inexperienced colour comes from the shallow water of this freshwater lake.
Summer season is unquestionably the most effective time to go to Lake Balaton. This standard vacation spot actually comes alive within the hotter months, with full of life waterfront eating places and bars, water sports activities and actions, music festivals, and extra.
High Sights in Lake Balaton
Siofok and Balatonfured are two of the preferred resort cities on Lake Balaton. Each cities provide lakefront promenades, retailers, eating places, and seashore areas the place you may calm down on the shore or go for a dip within the lake’s heat waters.
Getting out on the water is by far among the finest methods to expertise Lake Balaton. You possibly can lease a ship to discover by yourself or strive an exercise like kayaking, paddle boarding, or windsurfing.
Another enjoyable out of doors actions round Lake Balaton are mountaineering and biking. There are quite a few strolling and mountaineering paths across the lake, together with within the Balaton Uplands Nationwide Park, a close-by nature reserve. There’s a 125-mile biking route that goes round a lot of the lake.
Tihany is a small city on Lake Balaton that’s well-known for its lavender fields. In case you’re visiting in mid-to-late June or early July, it’s price seeing the colourful purple blooms right here. Whilst you’re in Tihany, be sure you go to Tihany Abbey, a historic, picturesque Benedictine monastery overlooking the lake.
For wine lovers, Lake Balaton can be a fantastic vacation spot. The Balaton wine area is among the greatest in Hungary, and there are quite a few vineyards and wineries across the lake.
3. Eger
Top-of-the-line locations to go to in Hungary, Eger is a smaller Hungarian metropolis that flies beneath the radar for a lot of guests. Nevertheless, this historic metropolis is price a cease in your journey to Hungary.
With stunning Baroque structure, thermal baths, vineyards, and a formidable medieval fort, there’s loads to like about Eger.
Situated an hour and a half by automotive or two hours and quarter-hour by practice from Budapest, Eger is nestled in northeastern Hungary, near Slovakia. It’s a comparatively small metropolis, with a inhabitants of round 80,000 folks, so it affords a quieter, extra laid-back lifestyle than buzzing Budapest.
In case you’re interested by studying extra in regards to the wealthy historical past of Hungary and discovering the appeal of this small metropolis, you need to add a day or two in Eger to your itinerary.
High Sights in Eger
The primary attraction on this stunning metropolis is Eger Fort, an imposing medieval fortress that has protected Eger for hundreds of years. In 1552, Eger Fort defended itself throughout an assault by the Turks, efficiently repelling the a lot higher Ottoman forces. Right now, you may tour the sprawling fort complicated the place historical past involves life.
Though Eger was finally conquered by the Ottoman Empire, like most of Hungary within the sixteenth century, it remained free for an additional forty-four years after the Siege of Eger. This makes Eger a supply of patriotic satisfaction for Hungarians.
Remnants of the Ottoman occupation can nonetheless be seen within the metropolis, together with the 130-foot Eger Minaret, one among simply three Ottoman-era minarets left within the nation.
Like Budapest, you can too discover thermal baths in Eger. That is one other relic from the Turkish period, though immediately Eger Thermal Bathtub has grown into a big and trendy compound with greater than a dozen indoor and out of doors swimming pools, together with a youngsters’s space with water slides.
One other essential purpose to go to Eger is its wine tradition. The wine-producing area across the metropolis is very recognized for its purple blends, together with the well-known Egri Bikaver, or Bull’s Blood.
4. Pecs
One other underrated metropolis in Hungary that’s price spending a while in is Pecs. This beautiful metropolis in southern Hungary, near the border with Croatia, was named a European Capital of Tradition again in 2010. Much like Eger, it’s a smaller metropolis that may be very walkable and straightforward to discover in a day or two.
From Budapest, Pecs is 2 hours and quarter-hour by automotive, or two and a half hours by practice. The town is a testomony to historical past, with reminders of the previous round each nook. This is among the greatest locations to go to in Hungary if you happen to’re interested by historical past and tradition.
High Sights in Pecs
Pecs was based by the Romans, and among the finest historical Roman websites you may go to is the Early Christian Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Website. This 4th-century burial website comprises remarkably well-preserved embellished tombs and mausoleums.
Pecs Cathedral is one other nice historic website to go to. Though the foundations of the church additionally date again to the 4th century, the present iteration of the construction is significantly newer.
The Romanesque cathedral dates again to the eleventh century, though it needed to be restored and partially rebuilt after harm through the Ottoman occupation.
Talking of the Ottoman occupation, a remnant from this period is the Mosque of Pasha Qasim, which was later transformed right into a Catholic church. You can too see stays of the medieval metropolis partitions, which as soon as encircled town.
One other of town’s must-visit locations is the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter. This space was the house of the Zsolnay porcelain manufacturing facility within the nineteenth century and has now been restored and was a museum and cultural middle.
Zsolnay porcelain is a particular, colourful kind of ceramics, and you’ll see it displayed throughout the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter.
As a cultural hotspot, Pecs has some fantastic venues just like the Nationwide Theatre of Pecs, which hosts live shows, operas, performs, and extra.
5. Tokaj
Final however not least, among the finest locations to go to in Hungary is Tokaj. Located within the northeastern a part of the nation, Tokaj is understood for being one of many high wine-producing areas in Hungary. It’s notably well-known for its candy white wines, like Tokaji Aszu.
Tokaj is 2 and a half hours by automotive from Budapest. Visiting this area combines nicely with a cease in Eger because it’s in regards to the halfway level if you happen to’re coming from Budapest. The small city of Tokaj is situated on the coronary heart of this hilly area dotted with vineyards and wineries.
High Sights in Tokaj
The primary attraction right here is, in fact, the wine. Tokaj itself is a really charming riverfront city, with cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a laid-back environment. There are a lot of wineries proper within the city the place you may take pleasure in an intimate tasting in a wine cellar.
Different wineries are only a quick drive away within the countryside across the picturesque city, and lots of provide excursions the place you may study in regards to the manufacturing means of Tokaji Aszu and different wines.
Tokaji Aszu might be paired with savory or candy dishes, however one of the crucial standard pairings is foie gras, of which Hungary is a high producer, following France.
Wine manufacturing in Tokaj dates again to the seventeenth century. The wealthy volcanic clay soil and the method of rotting and drying the grapes contribute to the distinctive, complicated, and candy taste of the wine. Though Hungary is house to a number of notable wine areas, Tokaj is probably the most well-known.
Apart from wine tasting and vineyard excursions, you can too study extra in regards to the historical past and tradition of the city on the Tokaj Museum, situated in a historic service provider’s home.
Uncover The Greatest Locations To Go to in Hungary With JayWay
This listing of the most effective locations to go to in Hungary might not be that lengthy. But, every of those high 5 locations to go to in Hungary is exclusive and price including to your Hungary itinerary.
For the latter, depart it to our skilled journey planners to create one among your most memorable journey experiences. In any case, one of the simplest ways to see Hungary is with JayWay.
Born and raised in Athens, Maria’s obsessed with journey and storytelling, a mix that makes her superb for her function as our content material supervisor.