Travel to Hungary with travel insurance from Essential Travel

click here for an annual travel insurance quotation

Information on Hungary with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Travel to Hungary

The picturesque capital of Budapest rests at the country’s centre, on the lovely Danube River, and is the business, administrative and cultural centre of Hungary. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, well defined with wide avenues, lush parks, and plenty of variation in architecture.

You can easily walk Budapest’s centre and there is much to see, with a fine selection of museums and monuments in and around the walled Castle District. Buda, which contains the medieval old town, lies on the south bank of the river and rests on hilly terrain which is dotted with beautiful churches and ancient ruins; while the well known Fishermens Bastion provides panoramic views over the city. Here you’ll also find the hotspring baths for which the city is famoues. Also worth seeing is the Royal Palace, which contains several interesting museums, most notably the National Gallery. Across the river, Pest is the newer, flatter side of the city full of stately buildings and wide boulevards.

Pécs is a fascinating city that has a scenic location sandwiched between the Danube and Dráva rivers. This cultural city is famed for its music, opera and ballet – and also contains some of the finest Turkish monuments in the country. An icon of the city is the 16th century Mosque Church, a relic of Turkish occupation. Not too far away is the Byzantine synagogue, in the lovely Jewish quarter. Pécs also has some good museums, including the Victor Vasarely Museum and the Zsolnay Porcelain Exhibit.

Eger is to the northeast of Budapest and is best known for its relaxed atmosphere and elegant Baroque buildings. On either side of the city are two of the Northern Uplands’ most beautiful ranges. The pedestrian-friendly core of the city holds an assortment of numerous protected buildings and monuments, including the 13th century Eger Cathedral, the Minaret, and Eger Castle.

For those with some time to drive around the countryside, there is much on offer. You can explore the many quaint historical towns hidden alongside winding rivers and nestled between lush green hills. Szentendre is next to the Danube and is a culturally interesting town built by the Serb settlers in the 17th century and now popular with artists. Meanwhile, Visegrád is best-known for Solomons Tower, one of Central Europes largest and best preserved Romanesque castles.

Pannonhalma is a tranquil village in Western Transdanubia and is most noted for its Pannonhalma Abbey, founded by Benedictine monks about 1,000 years ago and today still a working monastery. Also worth seeing, Máriapócs features an intricately designed Greek Catholic church encasing the Weeping Black Madonna.

Those searching for nature should head to central Hungary and visit Lake Balaton, just 100kms from the capital. The area is home to high-rise hotel resorts, as well as to peaceful resorts and secluded beaches. Siófok is the largest of Balatons resorts, and plenty of entertainment is on offer, along with good shopping and nightlife to suit all tastes. Nearby Szántódpuszta is home to well-preserved 18th and 19th century farm buildings, barns, workshops and a Baroque church.

Another place to enjoy the great outdoors is Hortobágy National Park, which encompasses 520 square kilometres of unspoilt wilderness. It has some of the best bird-watching in Europe, with its wetlands, marshes and saline grasslands providing sanctuary for eagles, herons, egrets, spoonbills, storks and warblers.

' '
' '

back to city guides