Hungary

Hungary Flag

Why visit Hungary?

A destination which offers something for everyone whether to enjoy architectural landmarks, bicycling, casinos, caves, churches, folk art, folk music, hiking, historic cities, horseback riding, lakes, museums, national parks, rivers, thermal spas, villages, and vineyards.

Hungarian Parliament Building(Parliament of Budapest), Budapest, Hungary. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

A popular destination for:

• Amateur & Professional Photographers
• Bucket List Destination
• Cruise: Disembark/Embark
• Groups: Family, Friends, Incentive Travel, Multigenerational, Reunions
• Milestones: Anniversary, Birthday, Honeymoon, Retirement
• Romance

Halászbástya (Fisherman's Bastion), Budapest, Hungary. Photo Credit: Giraffew/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Carpets, dolls, embroidery, lace, porcelain, pottery, spices, stoneware, tablecloths, table runners, and wine. 
• Local Cuisine to Try: Dobos Cake (sponge cake). Goulash (soup). Halászlé (fish soup). Pörkölt (meat stew). Túrós Csusza (curd cheese noodles).
• Local Drink to Try: Borozó (wine). Bull Blood (wine).  Egri Bikavér (wine). Pálinka (fruit brandy). Tokaji  Aszú (wine). Unicum (bitter herbal). 

Sopron, Hungary. Photo Credit: akos147/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• In 1978, Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. President had the Hungarian Crown of St. Istvan returned.
• Amongst all the eastern European countries has the most luxury hotels.
• Turkish Baths (Budapest) are contributed by the Turks.
  
• Little remains of pre-baroque architecture due to wars.
  
• Invention birthplace of ballpoint pen, carburetor, Rubik's Cube, and vitamin C supplements.
• Citizens receive a tuition-free university education.
• Amongst one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
• Receives over 15 million international tourist travelers annually.
• Largest thermal water cave system in the world.
• Home to the second largest thermal lake in the world.
• Lake Balaton, is the largest lake in Central Europe.
  
• First country in the world to enact Laws of Ethnic and Minority Rights.
• Kékes is the highest mountain.
  
• Budapest (capital) has over 100 embassies.
  
• Has their own currency, Hungarian Forint (HUF).
• Holds the highest rate of patents filed.
• Budapest Metro is the second-oldest underground metro system in the world (1896). 
• Children, church employees, handicapp low income, pension recipients, and students all receive free universal health insurance coverage.
  
• Popular destination for Dental and Plastic Surgery Tourism.
• Széchenyi Medicinal Bath, is the largest medicinal bath in Europe.
  
• Esztergom Basilica, is one of the largest basilicas in Europe.
  
• Switched from using Latin Alphabet. 
• Paprika powder is a culinary staple.
  
• Centuries ago, Pannonia (west) received vines from the Romans.
• Napoleon III, last Emperor of France would order barrels of Tokaji wine annually.
  
• DIgestive liqueur bitter Unicum requires 40 herbs to create.
• Has approximately 450 public baths.
• Home to approximately 1,500 thermal springs.
• Herend Porcelain (Herend) is one of the world's largest operating ceramic factories (since 1826).
  
• Chess is considered a sport by popularity.
  
• Holds the second-highest number of Olympic gold medals in the world.
  
• Holds one of the longest undefeated consecutive runs (31 wins in 4 years) in football history.
• Millenary Benedictine Abbey was founded by Benedictine Monks.
  

Esztergom Basilica, Esztergom, Hungary. Photo Credit: Walkerssk/Pixabay 

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (January) Budapest International Circus Festival, (March) Budapest Fringe
  Festival, Budapest Spring Festival, Easter Festival, Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival, Hollóko's Easter Festival, (April) Budapest Fashion Week, Budapest Lamb Toros Pork & Brandy Festival (May) Kocsonya Fesztival, Sutnicake Cake Festival, (June) Budafest Summer Opera & Ballet Festival, Danube Carnival, Formula One Grand Prix, International Guitar Festival, International Palace Tournament, Island Festival, Knight Tournaments, National Jewish Festival, Organ Concerts, Rockmaraton Festival, Szeged Summer Festival, Traditional Handicraft Fair, Valley of Magic Festival, VOLT Music Festival, (July) Balaton Cross Swimming Competition, Balaton Sound Festival, Budapest Pride, Frontier Castle Festivities, Hortobagy Shepherds' Festival, Kapolcs Valley of Arts Festival, Koros Valley Folk Arts Festival, Red Bull Air Race Budapest, (August) Debrecen Flower Carnival, Sziget Music Festival, (September) Buda Castle Wine Festival, Budapest Art Weeks, Budapest Contemporary Music Weeks, Budapest International Fair, Budapest International Wine Festival, Budapest National Gallop, Tihany Garda Fish Festival, (October) Budapest Fashion Week, Budapest Palinka and Sausage Festival, Oktoberfest, (November) Goose & Wine Festival, (December) Budapest Christmas Fair and Festival.
  
• Holidays: New Year Day, National Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Pentecost Monday, Foundation Day, National Day, All Saints Day, Christmas Day, and Second Day of Christmas.

Hollókő Castle, Hollókő, Hungary. Photo Credit: Rene Rauschenberger/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Tokaj and Villany are best known as wine regions.
  
• Lake Balaton (west) is a water activities paradise.
  
• Known intolerance towards Jews, LGBT, and Roma.
  
• Targeted pick-pocketing crime towards tourists known to occur.
• Travelers’ checks are not widely accepted.
  
• Has zero tolerance for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) whether alcohol or drugs.
  
• Validate your public transportation ticket(s) to best avoid fines.
• Fines are paid at the Post Office. Police will confiscate your passport if you contest a fine as an “invitation letter”. Requiring you to resolve the dispute at the Police Station. Passport only returned after resolution and/or fine payment.

Tapolca, Hungary. Photo Credit: sikermarketing/Pixabay 

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months of validity upon return and one blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA not required for visits under 90 days.
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000USD.

Széchenyi Medicinal Thermal Bath, Budapest, Hungary. Photo Credit: baklava/Pixabay 

• Best Time to Visit: May - September
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Month: July 
• Peak Season: June - August

Lake Balaton, Transdanubian Region, Hungary. Photo Credit: Jakob Straub/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Budapest (including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue), Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst, Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae), Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape, Hortobágy National Park (Puszta), Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment, Old Village of Hollókő (and its surroundings), and Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape.

Shoes on the Danube Bank Monument, Budapest, Hungary. Photo Credit: larahcv/Pixabay 

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

Danube River, Budapest, Hungary. Photo Credit: joakant/Pixabay 

                                                           All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.