One flight to Hungary and you’ll be hooked. From folk music to thermal baths, it’s likely you’ll fall in love with this country. There is much to do when you travel to Hungary – admire Hungarian art while sipping wine at the spa or take a trip to the lively capital Budapest. A combination of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture line the Hungarian landscape, while Hungarian people keep the country afloat with exquisite pottery, paintings and wood carvings. Whether you’re an opera-lover or a fan of folk music, Hungarian music is engaging. It’s easy to see why many travelers fall in love with Hungary.
Most Hungary flights head straight for the capital Budapest, where visitors delight in world-class restaurants and cafes, a lively art scene and endless people watching. Sports lovers will delight in Hungary’s obsession with soccer. Find a cheap flight to Hungary during soccer season and partake in the spirit of the sport, or just find a local café, order up some Hungarian grub and catch the game on TV with the locals. Whatever you choose to do in Hungary, you’re bound to be back for more.
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Hungary is best visited over the summer period, when the weather is warmer and the attractions are all open. The weather in spring and autumn can be very pleasant, but temperatures drop to around 20F. Over winter temperatures approach freezing. Some rain can be expected throughout the year.
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Peak season:
Peak season at Lake Balaton and most of the countryside is the summer months, June through August. The weather is usually good.
Budapest is a year-round destination, despite cold temperatures in the winter. There is a plethora of attractions to be visited inside, and the city is picturesque in the snow.
Off season:
Outside Budapest, there is little tourism in the winter months. Some find off-season Balaton more appealing than it is in peak season, however, as the cold months see various winter activities taking place on the lake, such as ice swimming.
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Both in the main cities and through the countryside, transportation is excellent.
In Budapest there is a choice of underground trains, trams or buses. Taxis are relatively cheap.
The bus service throughout Budapest is very extensive. There are long-distance buses or short route town-to-town services. Both are cheap, easy to use and relatively fast.
The rail service is good, though the network does not cover as much space as the bus network. If you’re planning on travelling a long way by rail, buy a pass which saves a lot of money on individual tickets.
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Budapest (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Hungary.
| | Road | Rail |
|---|
| Debrecen | 3.00 | 2.40 |
|---|
| Miskolc | 2.30 | 1.55 |
|---|
| Szeged | 2.30 | 2.20 |
|---|
| Lake Balaton | 2.00 | 2.30 |
|---|
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- Eger has two main draws for the tourist: its spectacular 13th-century castle and the finest red wine in Hungary, Egri Bikaver (Eger Bull’s Blood). After touring the castle, take some time to sample the wine. You can buy it from all restaurants in town, but more fun is to visit one of the many cellars that sells wine direct from barrels. Take along an old bottle and have it filled up, or just a buy a jug to drink then and there. Prices are low, so it shouldn’t set you back more than a couple of euros.
- Many travelers book flights to Hungary for further travel to Lake Balaton, a popular tourist destination for foreigners thanks to new routes opening from low-cost airlines. The lake is the largest in Central Europe, often referred to as the Hungarian sea and its shores are lined with beaches and resorts as you would expect on an actual coastline. The surrounding area, however, provides a bit more culture than you might expect at beach towns. Take a day trip to visit ruined castles, such as Szigliget, the Abbey at Tihaney and its hermit’s caves or the nearby Kali Basin and Lake Heviz’s thermal spas.
- Budapest has enough to keep any culture vulture busy for weeks. After admiring the museums, relaxing in one of the thermal baths, visiting Buda Castle and climbing Gellert Hill, use the evenings to explore the city’s nightlife. The restaurants and bars in Budapest are legendary. From the amusingly-named “Fatal Restaurant” (where the food is actually exquisite and very healthy) to the many jazz clubs, there is food, drink and good times throughout the city every evening.
- Hungarian food is far from delicate and many visitors expect to overwhelmed by stodge and cabbage. In fact, the food, though “hearty”, is often delicately flavored. Meat is still the primary focus of most meals, and vegetarians may struggle to find dishes on the menu. Try pheasant stew, dumplings, goose, goulash, salami or anything cooked in the ubiquitous paprika for a flavor of the country.
- March 15 is National Day in Hungary, to commemorate the 1848 revolution. Festivities take place throughout the country, many of the largest taking place in its capital. Celebrated since 1860, this is an event worth seeing.
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All visitors must have the equivalent in hard currency of Ft1,000 per day or a major credit card, as well as return or onward tickets and all documents required for next destination.
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U.S. citizens must hold a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
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