Hungary Travel Guide

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The small country of Hungary (Magyarország), surrounded by a sea of Slavs, is unique for its language, culture and ability to survive. Settled by the Magyars (a Finno-Ugric tribe who arrived via Russia in the ninth century), the country and its people have remained true to their heritage despite Mongol invasion in the 13th century, Turkish occupation in the 16th and 17th centuries, Austrian rule in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and communist domination in the mid 20th century.

The pride locals have for their nation is immense, but it doesn’t spring solely from the stalwart strength of their nation. Hungary is also home to historic urban centers and evocative landscapes, not to mention quality wines, rejuvenating thermal springs, and a thriving arts and music scene.

Budapest, the capital, is a fantastic city split in two by the Danube. Buda is older, hillier, and more graceful, while Pest is the commercial center dotted by gorgeous art nouveau buildings. Budapest contains the country’s best bars and clubs, and has been a long time haven for writers, artists and musicians. Other centers, such as Eger, Pécs, Szentendre and Sopron, to name but a few, are vibrant cities with rich histories and stunning architecture.

The Puszta, a seemingly unending prairie topped by big skies, is the country’s defining landscape, but Hungary’s outdoor beauty doesn’t stop there. There are 11 national parks and hundreds of protected areas to explore, along with Lake Balaton, Europe’s largest body of fresh water, a multitude of meandering rivers and thousands of acres of vineyards and orchards. And at the end of a hard day sightseeing, there’s no better place to relax than in one of Hungary’s 150 thermal spas, some of which date back to Roman days.

Geography

Hungary is situated in Central Europe, sharing borders to the north with the Slovak Republic, to the northeast with Ukraine, to the east with Romania, to the south with Croatia and Serbia and to the west with Austria and Slovenia. There are several ranges of hills, chiefly in the north and west. The Great Plain (Nagyalföld) stretches east from the Danube to the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, to the mountains of Transylvania in Romania, and south to the Fruska Gora range in Croatia. Lake Balaton is the largest unbroken stretch of inland water in Central Europe.