Budapest
Budapest, a colorful experience, a little taste of Europe is the "Pearl of the Danube”, one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world, enjoying a superb picturesque panorama, as a sign of maximum recognition of all this, UNESCO has added the Danube panorama, with the Castle of Buda, to the World Cultural Heritage List. It is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre, sometimes described as the primate city of Hungary.
History left its traces everywhere in the city. You can see them on her grand buildings, in cobbled streets and on people's faces. Despite of modernization efforts the capital of Hungary managed to preserve its unique identity.
Generally, Budapest has two parts: Buda, west of the river, is hillier and older, with a wealth of graceful Habsburg and neoclassical buildings and Pest, the commercial centre on the opposite bank, is flatter and more sprawling with a generous scattering of art nouveau architecture.
Straddling the romantic Danube River, with the Buda Hills to the west and the start of the Great Plain to the east, Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in central Europe; the human legacy is just as remarkable as Mother Nature’s. Architecturally, Budapest is a gem, with a mix of baroque, neoclassical, Eclectic and art nouveau (or Secessionist) buildings; it's booming cultural metropolis where history and the contemporary blend with cosmopolitan flair. The city parks are brimming with attractions, museums are filled with treasures, pleasure boats are sailing up and down the scenic Danube.
Due to a fault line shaping the course of the Danube valley, a great number of thermal springs came to the surface at Budapest, so it is also a great place to relax in hot Sulphur baths or to get massaged beneath art deco murals in grand hotels Turkish-era thermal baths belching steam, making the Hungarian capital a delight both by day and by night.
The food and wine are excellent, cheap and in abundance and the nightlife is hot.
Budapest is still a reasonably inexpensive city compared to other neighboring capital cities, with a wide variety of good value for money accommodation. Make sure to check out the accommodation recommended by worldofhungary.com, as we offer lodging to every taste and budget. You can sleep in a luxury palace hotel like the New York Palace Hotel or the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, or even in a contemporary boutique hotel.
Debrecen
The second largest city in the country. It is one of the most vivid and coziest places in Hungary; this city is a unique and outstanding whirlpool of a dynamic cultural and intellectual heritage and of an effective and successful economic life.
The centuries’ old traditions and the most recent technical and scientific innovations enhancing each other make Debrecen a nationally and internationally renowned city.
Eger
It's a beautiful northern town famous for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings and red and white wines, bit it's more than a town of thermal baths and students; it is also a town of wine: the excellent red and white wines of its famous and historic wine-producing region are measured in several hundred-year-old cellars.
Győr
There are many cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and night clubs in its lovely baroque city center.
Győr boasts a lot of historic monuments and, as an acknowledgement of its well preserved splendid Baroque city centre it was granted the Europa Nostra Award for monument protection in 1989. For those who prefer fishing or bathing in natural waters, the lakes and backwaters in the surroundings are a perfect place for recreation.
Kecskemét
A town famous for its vibrant music scene, plum brandy, and Art Nouveau architecture. Many unique museums and nationally important collections have found a home here including: the Hungarian People's Applied Arts Museum, the Museum of Hungarian Naive Artists, The 'Szórakaténusz' Toy Museum and Workshop, the only photography museum in the country, and the Leskowsky Collection of Musical Instruments.
Miskolc
The third largest town in the country. Known for its industrial traditions as well as its rich history and culture.
Its monuments are of outstanding interest: the Greek Orthodox Church is decorated with the largest iconostasis in Central Europe. There is a unique cave bath in Miskolc-Tapolca, the third largest city in the country, located near the Bükk hills.
Nyíregyháza
A medium-sized city with a busy water resort, museum village, and annual autumn festival. A quiet, friendly town where the squares are decorated with flowers and the well-tended parks offer pleasant walks.
In the centre of the town a Baroque Lutheran Church (Lutheran Square) stands with carillon on its front designed by an Italian architect.