For visitors...

Traditional cultural events, thermal baths, baroque palaces, friendly people, casinos, water sports, good food, museums, old churches and interesting rural villages are Hungary's main attractions.

Almost everyone who loves European culture will love Hungary, although medievalists might be disappointed: Because of invasions and wars, little remains of Hungary's prebaroque architecture. There is always plenty of good food and drink, but those who require deluxe accommodations throughout their entire stay may want to avoid those rural areas where luxurious properties are not available.

Northeastern Hungary the Danube Bend is Hungary's hilliest region, where its highest peak--Matra Hill at 3,327 feet--can be found. Here you can visit the preserved medieval village of Hollókö; see remnants of the country's Turkish heritage in Eger, also known for its regional wines; or explore the 14-mile (23-km) cave system in Aggtelek.

Southern Hungary is mainly agricultural region of the Alföld (Great Plain), including the last remnants of the Puszta, Hungary's prairie, lies south and east of the Danube River. The main cities here are Kecskemét and Szeged. The Great Plain comprises approximately 20,000 square miles. On the other side of the river, in southwestern Hungary, are the verdant Mecsek Hills. The city of Pécs is the centerpiece of this hilly region.

The Danube Bend (Dunakanyar), a string of small riverside towns just north of Budapest, is a popular excursion spot for foreigners and Hungarians alike. Inasmuch as the name "Danube Bend" suggests a single change in the river's direction, however, it's a misnomer. The Danube, which enters Hungary from the northwest, flows in a southeasterly direction for a time, forming the border with Hungary's northern neighbor, Slovakia. Just after Esztergom, about 25 miles (40km) north of Budapest, the river swings abruptly south. This is the start of the Danube Bend region. The river then swings sharply north again just before Visegrád, and yet again south before Vác. From Vác, it flows more or less directly south, through Budapest and down toward the country's Serbian and Croatian borders.

The delightful towns along the Bend--in particular, Szentendre, Visegrád, and Esztergom--can easily be seen on day trips from Budapest; they're all within a couple of hours. The great natural beauty of the area, where forested hills loom over the river, makes it a welcome departure for those weary of the city. Travelers with more time can even make a long weekend out of the Bend.

Lake Balaton may not be the Mediterranean, but don't tell that to Hungarians. Somehow over the years they have managed to create their own Central European version of a Mediterranean culture along the shores of their long, shallow, milky-white lake. Throughout the long summer, swimmers, windsurfers, sailboats, kayaks, and cruisers fill the warm and silky smooth lake, Europe's largest at 50 miles (80 km) long and 10 miles (15km) wide at its broadest stretch. Around the lake's 315 miles (197km) of shoreline, vacationers cast their reels for pike; play tennis, soccer, and volleyball; ride horses; and hike in the hills.

Lake Balaton, it seems, has something for everyone. Teenagers, students, and young travelers tend to congregate in the hedonistic towns of the south shore. Here, huge 1970s-style beachside hotels are filled to capacity all summer long, and disco music pulsates into the early morning hours. The south-shore towns are as flat as Pest; walk 10 minutes from the lake and you're deep in farm country. The air here is still and quiet; in summer, the sun hangs heavily in the sky.

Older travelers and families tend to spend more time on the hillier, more graceful north shore. There, little villages are neatly tucked away in the rolling countryside, where the grapes of the popular Balaton wines ripen in the strong southern sun. However, if you're coming from Budapest, the northern shore of the lake at first appears every bit as built up and crowded as the southern shore. Beyond Balatonfüred, this impression begins to fade. You'll discover the Tihany Peninsula, a protected area whose 12 square kilometers (4 3/4 square miles) jut out into the lake like a knob. Moving westward along the coast, passing from one lakeside settlement to the next, you can make forays inland into the rolling hills of the Balaton wine country. Stop for a swim--or the night--in a small town like Szigliget. The city of Keszthely, sitting at the lake's western edge, marks the end of its northern shore. All towns on the lake are within 1 1/2 to 4 hours from Budapest by a gyors (fast) train, but the trip takes much longer on a sebes (local) train.

Basics

Full country name: Republic of Hungary
Area: 93,030 sq km
Population: 10.1 million
Capital City: Budapest (pop 2 million)
People: 89.9% Hungarian, 4% Gypsy, 2.6% German, 0.8% Slovak & 0.7% Romanian
Language: Hungarian, German
Religion: 68% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist)Protestant, 6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 5% Other
Head of State: President
Head of Government: Prime Minister

GDP: US$134 billion
GDP per capita: US$13,300
Annual Growth: 5%
Inflation: 5%
Major Industries: Mining, metallurgy &agriculture, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Major Trading Partners: Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia
Member of EU: Yes

Passport/Visa U.S.: Passports are needed by citizens of Canada and the US Reconfirm travel document information with your carrier before departure.
Telephone Codes: 36, country code; 1, city code for Budapest
Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed From the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October
Tipping Overview: Tip waiters 15-20% and taxi drivers 10%. At restaurants, the tip should not be left on the table. You should include it in the price and then ask for a certain amount of change. A fair price for a tune from a Gypsy musician is 100-200 Ft.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts

When to Go

We prefer Hungary May-September, when the temperatures are the most pleasant and the country's cultural season is in full swing. Even at the peak of the tourist season, Budapest's cultural sites are spread out enough across the city that the hordes never become oppressive. Fall and spring (50-60 F/10-15 C) can also be quite pleasant, but temperatures can drop about 20 degrees F/9 degrees C below the average on some days and nights. (We definitely suggest taking along warm clothing.) Winters are rather cold (25-35 F/-4 to 1 C).