From beautiful Budapest – the city of lights – to its many quaint villages and fantastic scenery, Hungary evokes a strong sense of history and tradition at every turn. While Budapest, justifiably compared with cities like Prague and even Paris, is by far the country’s biggest tourist draw, not all the exciting places to visit and things to do in Hungary are in the capital. Cities and towns of all sizes have preserved their classic old historical attractions, many of which exhibit influences from various cultures, including Turkish invaders and Italian Renaissance designers. And Hungary’s countryside includes some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in Eastern Europe. In fact, wherever you are in Hungary, you’re never far from spectacular mountains and lakes, beautiful river scenes (the Danube runs right through the country), and lush valleys, all providing great opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities.

1 Buda Castle

When you first set eyes on spectacular Buda Castle in Budapest, you’ll appreciate why so many people consider the city the “Paris of the East.” This spectacular historic landmark – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – ranks right up there with Versailles in terms of its majestic proportions and wonderful design. Built on the site of a palace destroyed during the Siege of 1686, this newer structure was rebuilt in the 18th century for the Habsburg monarchy and includes more than 200 rooms. Its symmetrical layout focuses on the lovely 61-meter-high central dome facing the Danube, where you can get stunning views of the castle and the other buildings on Castle Hill. Parts of the original medieval building have been reconstructed, including the Buzogány Tower and the impressive 15th-century South Tower.

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2 The Danube

The beautiful Danube River flows through Hungary from north to south, and as it passes through Budapest, it splits the city in two. One of the best sunset views of the river and of both Buda and Pest is from the Freedom Bridge, a favorite spot for locals. Other great places from which to view this majestic river are at the Danube Bend, one of the country’s most popular recreational and excursion spots. This is where the river winds its way through the heavily wooded Visegrád Mountains before turning sharply south (the river’s “knee”) towards Budapest. The area is popular with hikers and nature-lovers and is included in the many excellent river cruises that travel the Danube from as far as neighboring Austria.

The Danube Cycle Path is a popular way for active travelers to see the river as it winds through the hills between Budapest and Vienna. Along with constantly-changing river scenery, you’ll pass elegant Esztergom, the Roman fort of Kelemantia, and traditional Hungarian villages like Szigetmonostor. If you prefer a more relaxing way to experience the river, the Danube Bend Day Trip from Budapest is a full-day guided tour that begins with a scenic drive and returns to the city by boat.

Official site: http://www.danube-cycle-path.com

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3 Historic Spa Towns

If you’re looking for a vacation that combines some down time with a rich cultural experience, Hungary delivers. There are many historic spa towns and facilities throughout the country offering everything from simple bathing in regenerative waters to longer stays in lovely spa resorts. Hungary’s reputation for its hot springs and baths dates back more than 2,000 years to the Romans, who highly valued the healing effects of Hungarian thermal waters. Then, in the 16th century, it was the turn of the Turks who built the many Turkish Baths still in use today. All told, more than 1,000 springs provide medicinal and thermal water to natural and medical spas, one of the most popular being Lake Hévíz with its 25°C yearly average water temperature, the largest biologically active thermal lake in Europe. In Budapest, excellent spa packages are available at the lovely Szechenyi Bath and Spa, and numerous other locations across the city.

Official site: http://szechenyispabaths.com/

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4 Tihany

Tihany is one of the most popular holiday resorts on Lake Balaton. Originally an island, this tiny peninsula – covering just eight square kilometers – boasts some of Hungary’s most extraordinary scenery. Designated a nature reserve, the southwestern section is closed to traffic and is wonderful to explore on foot along the well-marked trail network. A must-visit landmark in the town itself is the beautiful 17th-century Benedictine Abbey, with its spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding area, a particular treat in spring, when the region’s almond trees are in bloom, and in June, when the fragrance of lavender fills the air. From the abbey, be sure to walk to the lovely old Inner Harbor, with its moorings for passenger ships and pleasant lakeside promenade.

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5 The Caves of Lillafüred

Lillafüred in the Bükk Mountains is another very popular spa destination in Hungary. It’s also famous for its many spectacular caves, all within an easy walk of the town. Some of the most interesting to explore are the István Cave with its fantastic stalactite formations, and the Petofi Cave, famous the world over for the impressions of extinct plant species left in the limestone walls. For a more adventurous hike, take the trail to the Szeleta Cave with its relics from the Ice Age, including skillfully made arrows and spears. When you’re done with all that exploring, take a ride on the old narrow-gauge railway through one of the most rugged part of the mountains.

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6 Sopron

Sopron, just 64 kilometers south of Vienna and eight kilometers from the Austrian border near the eastern foothills of the Alps, is a popular destination for day trippers. Its allure stems as much from its attractive surroundings as from its many well-preserved medieval and Baroque buildings. Sopron’s 240 protected buildings, 115 of which are officially-listed monuments, comprise one of the largest such collections in Europe. All the buildings in the Old Town are found within the confines of the medieval town wall built on Roman ruins. Many of these buildings contain features added from other historical periods, so you’ll never know quite what to expect as you explore.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Sopron

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Sopron Map – Attractions

7 Eger Castle

Hungary has many delightful historic forts, castles, and palaces, each steeped in history. One of the best known is Eger Castle. Located in the lovely spa town of Eger on the southern slopes of the Bükk Mountains, Eger Castle once protected the gateway into northern Hungary. Extended in the 16th century, the new design was based on contemporary Italian fortresses, and was again added to after the Turks took over in 1596. Visitors today can explore the remaining towers high above the town, as well as many ruins, all of them providing a sense of the size and strength of this once great fortress. It also serves as a convenient place from which to explore the old medieval and Baroque architecture in the lower town, with its excellent restaurants and cafés.

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Castle Map

8 Cathedral of St. Peter

Dominating the northwest corner of the fortified Old Town of Pecs lies the Cathedral of St. Peter. Built on the site of an ancient Roman burial chapel, the cathedral, like so many historic attractions in Hungary, shows influences from many different cultures. Founded in 1009, the original church lasted well into the 12th century, was rebuilt, and then suffered even more damage due to Mongol attacks. After years of neglect – including a spell as a mosque and arms store – the church was completely rebuilt in 1891, creating the splendid structure you see today. Inside, many unique religious artifacts from throughout Hungarian history have been collected and are on display, as are a number of graves from the Early Christian cemetery. Afterwards, take a walk over to the nearby Mosque of Yakovali Hassan Pasha, with its 22-meter-high minaret and museum. In the center of the Old Town, look for Szénchenyi tér, a lovely medieval marketplace.

9 Visegrád Royal Palace

Located above the beautiful old town of Visegrád in the Danube Bend, just 40 kilometers north of Budapest, the ruins of Visegrád Royal Palace and the old citadel are an easy day trip from Hungary’s capital. The first Royal Palace was built under Charles I after he and his court moved to Visegrád in 1316, and was extended a hundred years later with many Italian flourishes, gaining it a reputation as one of the finest palaces in all of Europe. While now largely ruins – the legendary palace was only rediscovered in the 1930s – the palace impresses with its dimensions and incredible views over the Danube and the surrounding area and is fun to explore as you try to recall what it must have looked like in its heyday (be prepared for plenty of walking).

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Royal Palace – Kiralri Palota Map

10 The Buda Hills

The Buda Hills, on the western outskirts of Budapest, rise to heights of more than 518 meters and are crisscrossed by an extensive network of trails, perfect for walking or biking. Numerous bike rentals can be found throughout the city, or you can take the tram to the terminus of the Cog Railway that climbs to the lovely residential neighborhood Széchenyi-hegy. From here, the narrow-gauge Children’s Railway follows a scenic route to Hűvösvölgy. There are walking trails from any stop, or you can get off at the highest stop, János-hegy, and ride the Budapest Chairlift down for some of the finest views over the city.

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11 Aggtelek National Park and Caves

One of the largest and most impressive stalactite caves anywhere in Europe and the largest in Hungary, Baradla Cave is protected by Aggtelek National Park, on the Slovak-Hungarian border about 2.5 hours by car from Budapest. The park covers almost 200 square kilometers, much of it also protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Baradla Cave stretches for more than 25 kilometers, with a main tunnel seven kilometers long. Its passages were formed over thousands of years as rain and melting snow eroded away the limestone. Dripping mineral-rich water has formed giant stalactites and stalagmites in fantastic shapes and bizarre colors. Excavations show that the cave was used as a shelter for humans for more than 7,000 years. Three other caves have recently been opened to visitors: the Imre Vass Cave, the Béke Cave, and the Rákóczi Cave.

The park is popular with hikers and walkers from all over Europe, who follow its network of well-marked trails, and along with guided cave tours, the park offers ecology, zoology, and botanical tours. Guided walks also explore the natural and cultural environment of the village of Jósvafő, where festivals mark the harvest and religious holidays.

Address: Aggtelek National Park Directorate, H-3758 Jósvafő, Tengerszem oldal. 1

Official site: http://anp.nemzetipark.gov.hu

More Must-See Places to Visit near Hungary

After you’ve seen Budapest and the many other destinations you can reach on day trips from Budapest, you may want to tour some of the other major capitals of Eastern Europe: Bucharest, in Romania, and Prague, in the Czech Republic. On the way to Prague, stop in Brno to admire its landmark modernist architecture. Follow the Danube by boat, bike, or car into beautiful Austria and its capital city, Vienna.