Tourist and cultural attractions

Hungary and Budapest

Hungarian culture, music, art, architecture, spas, unique flora and fauna, national parks, cuisine and wine attract millions of visitors every year.

Despite its small size, Hungary has an abundance of natural attributes. In the 10 national parks there are wild river areas, rolling hills, expansive lakeside areas, mountains ridges covered with thick forests, endless plains and the unrivalled treasures of the limestone region.

 

The country boasts 8 sites, which the UNESCO has recognises as being worthy of protection and conservation as part of the World Heritage. Four of them, the national parks of the Aggtelek karst with Central Europe's largest cave system, Lake Fertő, the wine region of Tokaj and the grass plain of the Hortobágy, are natural treasures. Other parts of our cultural heritage include the ancient Christian cemetery in Pécs, the one thousand-year-old functioning monastery in Pannonhalma, the view of Buda with the Castle and the Citadel on Gellért hill and Andrássy Street with its surrounding historical area, and the little village of Hollókő, which has preserved its medieval layout, folk architecture and traditions.

 

 

Budapest, one of the most beautiful historical capitals in Europe, is situated on the banks of the Danube. The city actually consists of three cities: Óbuda, the oldest section, with Celtic and Roman ruins, Buda in hills on the western bank, famous for its historic Castle Hill and beautiful residential area, and bustling Pest with its shopping, government and commercial districts on the flat plain of the east bank.

 

The city is also well known for one of Europe's largest bath complexes, in fact there is no other capital city in the world with almost 100 thermal springs and 12 medicinal baths within its boundaries, where 19 million gallons of thermal water rise to the surface each day. The atmosphere of Roman bathing culture may be felt in its light, spacious pool halls, while Greek bathing culture is reflected in the tub baths, but traces of Nordic traditions may also be found in the heat chambers, saunas and dipping pools.

 

 

Last but not least, one may unwind over strong coffee and sweet cake in an old, cosy café. There were more than 400 coffeehouses in Budapest at the turn of the 20th century, attracting everyone, and some of the best are still in business today.