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Hungary

Hungary

Continent

Europe

Best States to Visit

  • Budapest
  • Debrecen
  • Miskolc
  • Szeged
  • Pécs

Best Cities to Visit

  • Győr
  • Nyíregyháza
  • Kecskemét
  • Sopron
  • Eger

Size

93,030 KM2

Population

9,660,351

GDP

$154

Spending Budget

$69 - $73

Famous For

  • Architecture
  • Classical music

Best Time to Visit

  • June
  • July
  • August

History

The territory of present-day Hungary has for centuries been a crossroads for various peoples.The foundations of the Hungarian state were established in the late ninth century AD with the conquest of the Carpathian Basin by Hungarian grand prince Árpád. By the 12th century, Hungary became a regional power, reaching its cultural and political height in the 15th century.Hungary came under Habsburg rule at the turn of the 18th century, later joining with the Austrian Empire to form Austria-Hungary, a major power into the early 20th century. Austria- Hungary collapsed after World War I, and the subsequent Treaty of Trianon established Hungary's current border. Following the failed 1956 revolution, Hungary became a comparatively freer, though still repressive, member of the Eastern Bloc. The removal of Hungary's border fence with Austria accelerated the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, and subsequently the Soviet Union.On 23 October 1989, Hungary became a democratic parliamentary republic. Hungary joined the European Union in 2004 and has been part of the Schengen Area since 2007.

Present Day

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe.Spanning 93,030 square kilometres (35,920 sq mi) of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south , Croatia and Slovenia to the southwest,and Austria to the west. Hungary has a population of 10 million, mostly ethnic Hungarians and a significant Romani minority. Hungarian, the official language, is the world's most widely spoken Uralic language, and among the few non-Indo-European languages widely spoken in Europe.Budapest is the country's capital and largest city; other major urban areas include Szeged, Miskolc, Pécs, and Győr.Hungary is a middle power in international affairs, owing mostly to its cultural and economic influence. Hungary has a long history of significant contributions to arts, music, literature, sports, science and technology. It is the thirteenth-most popular tourist destination in Europe, drawing 15.8 million international tourists in 2017. It is a member of numerous international organisations.

Future

The future looks positive for Hungary's economy, given the trend since the end of the communist system. Growth has been steadily increasing, inflation has been declining, and unemployment has stabilized. Relative to other countries in the region, Hungary's economic conditions have proved quite favorable. The key economic event in the near future affecting Hungary will be accession to the European Union. This event will bring about a significant restructuring of trade, employment, agriculture, and financial services. Hungary has already begun to introduce major fiscal and financial changes in preparation for accession, following the detailed guidelines issued by the European Union. Among other changes that accession would bring, Hungary intends to join the euro states adopting a single European currency. Doing so would link Hungary's inflation and interest rates to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and remove the independence currently enjoyed by the Hungarian National Bank.
Must Visit Places ------------

Budapest

The capital city of Hungry, Budapest is known for its scenic location on the banks of the Danube, its beautiful and varied architecture, and its relaxing natural thermal baths. The city is also an excellent destination for music lovers; it boasts a world-class classical music scene as well as a vibrant nightlife that attracts young people from all over Europe.

Aggtelel National Park

Located in the Gömör-Torna Karst region of northern Hungary, Aggtelek National Park was founded in 1985 to protect the unique natural assets in the area. One of the park's biggest attractions is the 26-km-long Baradla Cave, which has the honor of being the largest stalactite cave in Europe.

Balaton Uplands National park

Created in 1997 by the combination of six already-protected areas, Balaton Uplands National Park encompasses almost 57,000 hectares on the shores of the stunning Lake Balaton. The park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, and there are plenty of walking paths for visitors to enjoy.

Bulk National Park

With its 431,300 hectares of mountainous and forested terrain, Bukk National Park is the largest national park in Hungary and is a popular vacation spot. An impressive 97% of the park is covered with trees; because of this, the area is home to 90 different species of nesting birds, several of which are endangered and cannot be found anywhere else

Danube Drava National Park

Mostly situated inside the flood land areas of the Danube and the Drava rivers, the Danube Drava National Park is home to more than 400 species of protected plants and animals. Attractions in the park include the Abaliget Medicinal Cave, the Bat Museum, the Life on the Flood Plains Exhibition, and several informative education centers.

Debrecen

The second largest city in the country, Debrecen has been the Hungarian capital not once but twice over the course of its history. The city's rich history can be seen in the many historical buildings that line the street, particularly in and around the central Kossuth Square.

Eger

Located in the foothills of the Bükk Mountains, Eger is home to what are arguably the most beautiful baroque buildings in Hungary. The city is best known for its medieval castle, which helped defend the city against the Turks, but visitors can also climb to the top of an authentic Ottoman minaret, relax in the thermal baths, or visit the wine cellar hidden under the basilica.

Gyor

Gyor is known primarily as an economic and industrial hub, but the city has plenty for visitors to see and do. The downtown core is worth a visit for its beautiful baroque architecture alone, but there are also plenty of excellent museums and cafes.

Heviz

Primarily a spa town, Hévíz is located not far from Lake Hévíz, the second-largest thermal lake in the world. The lake is believed to have healing properties, and in addition to bathing in its waters, visitors can go to one of the many wellness spas in the town that offer medicinal mud baths, mud wraps, weight baths, and other therapies.

Kaposvar

According to ancient legend, Kaposvár was built on seven hills in much the same way as other historic cities like Rome and Lisbon. Today, it is a peaceful, well-kept university town with plenty of historical and cultural attractions. Traffic has been forbidden on the Main Street since the late 1980s, and the beautiful Kossuth Square is a pedestrian's dream

Keszthely

Perched on the westernmost shore of stunning Lake Balaton, Keszthely is the oldest city in the area and a popular tourist destination. There are three small beaches in the town, which allow visitors to relax in the sun and enjoy the warm, shallow waters of the lake.

Kiskunsang national park

Composed of nine separate areas totaling approximately 50,000 hectares, Kiskunsag National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park contains a number of unique environments, including alkali lakes and ponds, sand dunes that are believed to shift with the wind, and grass deserts.

Lake Balaton

Often called the “Hungarian Sea” because of its impressive 50-mile length, Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. With its beautiful green-yellow waters and silky mud, the lake is an extremely pleasant place to swim and is even believed to have healing properties.

Lake tisza

Nestled right in the middle of the Great Hungarian Plain, Lake Tisza is a large man-made lake created in the 1990s by the damming of the Tisza River. Today, the lake is a popular tourist destination and the shores are lined with plenty of recreational areas, campsites, and places to rent boats, kayaks, and other watersports equipment.

Miskolc

Flanked by Avas Mountain, Miskolc is the fourth-largest city in Hungary. The Szinva Creek cuts through the city's downtown core, providing a beautiful setting for many squares and terraces. There are plenty of excellent museums in the city, including the Pannon Sea Museum, the Ottó Herman Museum, and the Diósgyori Papermill Museum.

Orseg National Park

Situated not far from the Austrian and Slovenian borders, Orseg National Park boasts a hilly landscape dotted with forests, streams, orchards, and peat bogs. Many walking trails wind their way through the park, allowing visitors to admire the rich variety of colorful birds, one of the largest butterfly populations in Hungary, and a number of protected dragonfly species.

Papa

Not far from the Bakony Hills, Papa is a small city with baroque architecture beautiful enough to rival that of the country's much larger cities. Many of these buildings can be found in the downtown core, including the Great Church and the lavish Esterházy Palace.

Pecs

Thanks to its mild climate, Roman history, and the many surrounding vineyards, Pécs is known as the “city of Mediterranean impressions”. The city is approximately 2,000 years old, and visitors interested in history can enjoy the many museums that explain the area's rich past.

Siofok

One of the most popular summer vacation destinations in Hungary, Siofok is located on the southern shore of stunning Lake Balaton. Tourist attractions include the water tower, the Mineral Museum, and the Great Church, but most people come here to lounge on the beach and swim in the beautiful waters of the lake.

Sopron

With a fascinating history that includes helping to bring about the fall of the Iron Curtain, Sopron is one of the oldest cities in Hungary. It's also often considered to be the most beautiful city in western Hungary; the medieval Inner Town is mostly intact, and its cobblestone streets wind their way past impressive buildings, such as the neo-Gothic Ursuline Church, the historic Firewatch Tower, and the ornate City Hall.

Szeged

Known as the “City of Sunshine” because it has more yearly sunny days than any other city in Hungary, Szeged is a lively university town with a youthful feel and a bustling arts scene. The city has plenty for visitors to enjoy; the old town boasts a number of beautiful palaces, the peaceful main square is full of trees and park benches, and the large pedestrian-only area is lined with inviting cafes and restaurants.

Szolnok

Located on the bank of the River Tisza, Szolnok is the cultural epicenter of the Great Hungarian Plain. The city is somewhat lacking in historical architecture; because it was bombed a dozen times during the Second World War, it has no buildings that date back further than the 18th century.

Tata

Inhabited by only 25,000 people, Tata is a charming baroque town easily accessed by the Vienna-Budapest motorway. The city's best-known attraction is its Renaissance fortress, but other notable buildings include the Esterházy Palace, the town hall in Kossuth Square, and the parish church.

Visegrad

Visegrad was the summer home of King Matthias during Renaissance times, and the small town still retains much of its medieval charm to this day. The Royal Palace of Visegrad is the main attraction in town; visitors can climb to the top of the hexagonal Solomon Tower, explore the citadel, and learn about the castle’s history in the adjoining museum.

Zalaegerszeg

Thanks to its location on the edge of the Zala Hills, Zalaegerszeg is a popular destination for anyone looking for fresh air and a tranquil atmosphere. There are plenty of sights for visitors to admire in and around the town center, including the Sándor Hevesi Theater, a beautiful fountain decorated with a Göcseji Tulip, and the Mary Magdalen Church.