Europe
Thermal baths beneath grand Habsburg boulevards, castle hills, sweet Tokaji wine, the wide plains of the puszta and a Danube capital that shines after dark.
Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hungary lies in the Carpathian Basin in the heart of Europe, a landlocked country of about 9.5 million people, roughly the size of Portugal. Its language, Hungarian, is unrelated to its Slavic, Germanic and Romance neighbours, and its culture is distinctive, shaped by the Magyars who arrived in the 9th century, by Ottoman rule, by the Habsburg empire and by the Soviet era. It has been an EU member since 2004.
Most visitors come for Budapest, which is one of the great capitals of Europe. It has thermal baths fed by hot springs, a hilltop castle and grand boulevards, and a dining and nightlife scene that includes the famous ruin bars. But beyond the capital, Hungary has medieval towns, baroque wine regions, the biggest lake in Central Europe, folk traditions on the puszta plains and a thousand years of history.
It is also excellent value, with train and bus links that reach nearly everywhere, comfortable hotels, and food and wine that cost far less than in Austria next door. English is widely spoken by younger people in Budapest, and less so in the countryside. The best months are April to June and September to October.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit. Budapest is the essential; the Danube Bend, Eger and Lake Balaton add variety, and the others reward those with more time.
Central Hungary, on the Danube
Hungary's capital, with the Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, Széchenyi thermal baths, the Great Market Hall, ruin bars and Danube views.
Don't miss The Parliament building lit up on the Danube at night, seen from a river cruise or the Buda bank.
Explore Destination — BudapestPest and Komárom-Esztergom, north of Budapest
A day-trip loop from Budapest to the baroque artists' town of Szentendre, the royal citadel at Visegrád and the basilica at Esztergom, along a picturesque stretch of the Danube.
Don't miss The view from Visegrád's citadel over the Danube's great S-shaped bend.
Explore Destination — The Danube BendHeves, northern Hungary
A baroque town with a 16th-century castle, Europe's northernmost minaret, thermal baths and family cellars in the Szépasszony-völgy, home of Egri Bikavér, Bull's Blood wine.
Don't miss Tasting Bull's Blood red wine in a cellar carved into the hillside of the Valley of the Beautiful Women.
Explore Destination — EgerTransdanubia, western Hungary
A 77-km-long lake with the Tihany Peninsula, Badacsony's basalt hills and wine, Balatonfüred's promenade and the Festetics Palace at Keszthely, popular for swimming, sailing and wine.
Don't miss Tihany Abbey on its peninsula above the lake at sunset, with lavender fields in July.
Explore Destination — Lake BalatonBorsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, north-east Hungary
A UNESCO-listed wine region and small town at the meeting of two rivers, with cellars, vineyard villages, sweet Aszú wine and dry Furmint.
Don't miss Tasting a glass of amber Tokaji Aszú in a centuries-old cellar cut into volcanic rock.
Explore Destination — TokajBaranya, southern Hungary
A Mediterranean-feeling city with early Christian tombs, the Gazi Kasim Pasha Mosque, a four-towered cathedral, Zsolnay ceramics and nearby Villány red wines.
Don't miss The Mosque-Church on Széchenyi Square, a domed Ottoman mosque topped with a cross.
Explore Destination — PécsHajdú-Bihar, Great Hungarian Plain
Hungary's oldest national park and a UNESCO cultural landscape, with the Nine-Hole Bridge, horse shows, traditional herding, birdwatching and crane migration.
Don't miss Riding horsemen across the open puszta at sunset under a huge sky.
Explore Destination — Hortobágy National ParkGyőr-Moson-Sopron, western Hungary
A well-preserved medieval town on the Austrian border, with the Fire Tower, Roman and Gothic remains, Baroque streets, Kékfrankos wine and an easy trip to Lake Fertő.
Don't miss The view from the Fire Tower's balcony over the medieval rooftops of the old town.
Explore Destination — SopronCsongrád-Csanád, southern Hungary
A lively southern city rebuilt after a great flood in 1879, with the Votive Church, Reök Palace, riverside promenades, halászlé fish soup and Szeged paprika and salami.
Don't miss The Votive Church's twin spires above Dóm Square, the heart of the city.
Explore Destination — SzegedNógrád, northern Hungary
A UNESCO-listed old village of about 55 preserved houses in the Cserhát hills, with a 13th-century castle, folk museums, Palóc crafts and Easter festivities.
Don't miss The Old Village's whitewashed houses and wooden gables in the hills, still lived in today.
Explore Destination — HollókőExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and make a Hungarian trip feel like one.
Hungary sits on hot springs, and its baths are part of daily life, from the palatial Széchenyi in Budapest to small spa towns. See Budapest.
Tip Bring flip-flops, a towel and a swimsuit, or rent them.
The river passes Parliament and Buda Castle, and reaches the Danube Bend. See Budapest and the Danube Bend.
Tip Go at night for the lit-up views.
Budapest's bars in derelict buildings are eclectic and lively. See Budapest.
Tip Go on weekday evenings for elbow room.
The sweet Tokaji Aszú has been called the wine of kings. See Tokaj.
Tip Book a cellar tour.
The great plains have horsemen, cattle and traditional farms. See Hortobágy.
Tip Go in summer for the horse shows.
Central Europe's largest lake has beaches, vineyards and a lively summer season. See Lake Balaton.
Tip Visit in June or September to avoid crowds.
Food and drink
Hungarian food is rich and paprika-red, with stews, dumplings, sausages and pastries, plus some of Europe's most underrated wines.
A paprika-spiced soup or stew of beef, potatoes and vegetables, traditionally cooked in a cauldron by herdsmen.
Where to try it Restaurants across Budapest and the puszta.
Deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream, garlic and cheese, a favourite street snack at markets and by Lake Balaton.
Where to try it Markets, beaches and food stalls.
A sweet spiral cake baked over coals, rolled in sugar and cinnamon, and sold hot at fairs and in Budapest.
Where to try it Christmas markets and street stalls.
A layered sponge cake with chocolate buttercream and a caramel top, created in Budapest in 1885.
Where to try it Historic cafés such as Gerbeaud in Budapest.
A sweet wine from grapes affected by noble rot, with honeyed and apricot flavours, produced in the Tokaj region.
Where to try it Cellars in Tokaj.
A hot, red fish soup with paprika, made with carp or catfish, a Danube and Tisza speciality.
Where to try it Riverside restaurants in Szeged and along the Danube.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Hungary is easy and safe, though language, currency and a few local scams are worth knowing.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Hungary has a continental climate, with hot summers, cold winters, and pleasant springs and autumns.
Mild, green and less crowded, with blossom and outdoor terraces opening.
Hot, sometimes over 35°C. Lake Balaton is at its liveliest, and festivals fill Budapest.
Warm days, grape harvests and golden leaves, with lower prices.
Cold and grey, but Christmas markets and steaming outdoor baths are magical.
Worth planning around: July and August heatwaves in cities, and January and February for long sightseeing.
Trip length
Hungary is small, and Budapest is the focus. A week covers the capital with a couple of day trips, and two weeks allows a loop through wine country and the south.
Getting around
Trains and buses are cheap and cover the country. Budapest is the hub, and most journeys radiate from it.
Sample route
Budapest, the Danube Bend, Eger, Tokaj, the puszta, Szeged, Pécs, Balaton and Sopron. Covers nine of the ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Hungarians are proud, direct and hospitable, with a strong sense of history and a dry sense of humour. Family meals and toasts matter, and formal manners are appreciated in first meetings.
Shake hands with everyone, including at the start and end of meetings.
By tradition, Hungarians do not clink beer glasses, a custom linked to the 1849 revolution, though wine and spirits are fine.
Use titles and formal speech with strangers and elders.
Flowers or wine if invited home.
In homes, guests are often offered slippers.
Shower before entering pools, and wear swim caps where required.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Hungary, several of which are specific to how the country works.
FAQ
Yes, generally very safe. Watch for pickpockets and overpricing in tourist bars.
Three to four days for Budapest, and ten to fourteen for a wider trip.
Yes, compared with Western Europe, and Budapest is very good value.
April to June and September to October.
Many nationalities can visit visa-free for 90 days under Schengen rules. Check current rules, including ETIAS.
Some places accept euros but at poor rates. Use forints.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
Read the Hungary travel guideAdvertisement
.jpg){kind=link}