Hungary’s scenery is gentler than striking. But you can’t say the same thing about the built environment on the land. Architecturally, Hungary is a treasure trove, with everything from Roman ruins and medieval townhouses to baroque churches, neoclassical public buildings and art nouveau bathhouses and schools. 

Stunning architecture, vital folk art, thermal spas and Europe’s most exciting capital after-dark are Hungary’s major drawing cards. Hungary was most visited place in 2002 and popular for spa destination since Roman times. Its thermal waters have created around 200 caves underneath Budapest. More and more though, you’ll see clear chlorinated waters in organically shaped pools that bubble, squirt and spurt at different rhythms and temperatures alongside requisite wellness centers offering a myriad of treatments.

Discover Hungary and its food, which remains the most sophisticated style of cooking in Eastern Europe. Magyars even go so far as to say there are three essential world cuisines: French, Chinese and their own. Hungary’s reputation as a food center dates largely from the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th and, despite a fallow period under communism, its cuisine is once again commanding attention.

Hungary has one of the richest folk traditions still alive in Europe. With exquisite folk paintings found on the walls and ceilings of the tiny wooden churches of the Bereg region and the wonderful embroidery that the women of Hollókő stitch to decorate smocks, skirts and slippers, this is often where the country comes to the fore artistically. Discover Hungary