We recently had the pleasure of doing a River Cruise on the beautiful Danube River. Our cruise started and ended in Budapest Hungary which is where we embarked on our epic Hungary Travel adventure. On this cruise, we also visited Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.
The 5 days we spent in Hungary was most memorable. The overwhelming beauty of the country and the friendliness of Hungarians will have a lasting effect on us. We had also visited Hungary a few years ago. Let us tell you all our wonderful Hungary Travel experience!!
About hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It occupies an area of 93 30 square kilometers. Its capital, Budapest, is bisected by the Danube River. Its cityscape is studded with architectural landmarks from Buda’s medieval Castle Hill to the grand neoclassical buildings along Pest’s Andrássy Avenue to the 19th-century Chain Bridge. The official language is Hungarian and the currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF).
Hungary is one of the 15 most popular tourist destination of the world. Further, the country is also a home to numerous World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the largest water cave system and the second largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton) and the largest natural grasslands in Europe (Hortobágy).
In our opinion Hungary Travel is certainly a must for everyone venturing into Eastern Europe!!
Facts That Makes Hungary Travel Interesting
- Hungarians have their own cowboys.
- Founded in 896 AD, Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Europe.
- The Hungarian Parliament is the 3rd largest parliament building in the world.
- The capital city, Budapest, was almost named Pestbuda.
- Budapest is home of the largest synagogue in Europe, and the second largest one in the world.
- The capital city has the highest number of thermal springs in the world.
- You can see the hand of Saint Stephen the first Hungarian king in a church.
- Constructed in 1896, the first subway line of continental Europe was built in Budapest.
- The Hungarian alphabet has 44 letters and is said to be the hardest language to learn.
- They have won more than 465 Olympic medals.
- It is considered rude to clink your beer glasses.
- You cannot name your child unless it is approved by the government.
Hungary Travel In Budapest
Our Hungary Travel adventure began and ended in Budapest. This was when we had the time of our lives on a river cruise from Budapest to the Black Sea and back recently.
We will never forget the gentle pastoral landscapes slip by as we sailed in and out of Budapest! Straddling the Danube River, this magnification capital city of Hungary is a collage of palatial buildings, grand domes and attractive Boroque churches with soaring spires!! The various architectural styles of the buildings reflect the city’s varied history. This is consequent to various foregn powers ruling Hungary over the centuries.
Buda and Pest
The city of Budapest was officially created on 17 November 1873. This was as a result of the merging of the neighboring cities of Pest, Buda and Óbuda, with smaller outskirt towns amalgamated into Greater Budapest in 1950.
Built on a series of hills, Buda is the site of a grand Hapsburg palace and has a detached, imperial air of settled wealth. In contrast, populous Pest – as flat as a prairie – is busy, buzzing and bourgeois, with an assortment of bars, cafés and gourmet restaurants.
Bridges in Budapest - Worth Seeing in Hungary Travels
A visit to Budapest is worth it if only to see its magnificent bridges. Certainly, any Hungay Travel Guide should include visits to ideally all of Budapest’s bridges.
Eight bridges span the Danube in Budapest linking Buda and Pest, each with a fascinating tale to tell. The oldest is the famous Chain Bridge, which was opened for public traffic in 1849. Nowadays, each bridge has a totally different character and style.
Each bridge reveals a glimpse into Budapest’s fascinating past. Each structure provides a different view to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding city. The view afforded from the walkways of these bridges is simply awesome!!
The Awesome Chain Bridge
The beautiful and famous Chain Bridge fascinated us the most!! As a result, our visit to this bridge was one of our Hungary Travel highlights!!
This Bridge looks so majestic. It is one of Budapest’s most iconic architectural landmarks. The Chain Bridge was the first permanent crossing connecting Buda to Pest. It runs from the Four Seasons Gresham Palace to the bottom of Castle Hill !!️ In addition, this bridge is also the second permanent crossing on the whole length of the river Danube!!
The Chain Bridge is very popular with tourists not least because of the fantastic views it offers of the river and Parliament and the castle. It is always busy.
The night view of the Chain Bridge, with the bridge beautifully lit up, is to die for!!!
The Castle Hill Area - A Must In Any Hungary Travel Itinerary
We spent an afternoon in the Castle Hill Area on the Buda side of the city. The winding cobblestone streets and leafy promenades of Castle Hill lead past baroque houses, Habsburg monuments and cafes including the early 19th-century Ruszwurm Shop!!️ The Ruszwurm Pastry Shop is one of the oldest pastry shops in Budapest. In addition, other key attractions include Buda Castle, a palace razed and rebuilt over the centuries, now home to the Hungarian National Gallery, and the Budapest History Museum. Turrets and terraces of Fisherman’s Bastion offer unbelievable views over the Danube and the nearby Matthias Church.
The view of some of the historical buildings from Castle Hill Hungary Budapest is awesome!! I am especially pleased with some pictures I took whilst visiting this area. The view of the Danube River and the dome of the Hungarian parliament from this vantage point is amazing!! To sum up, the Castle District crowns the hilly west bank of Buda in Hungary Budapest.
The Matthias Church
Our visit to the beautiful Matthias Church in Hungary Budapest was definitely a highlight of our visit to this awesome city. Without a doubt, it is one of the finest churches in Budapest, and one of the most unique churches in Europe!! Located atop the Buda Castle hill, it has been serving the citizens of the Buda Castle Hill since 1015, since its founding by the first Hungarian king.
Hungary Travel In The Pest Area
Pest is the eastern, mostly flat part of Hungary Budapest. This part comprises about two thirds of the city’s territory. It is separated from Buda and Óbuda, the western parts of Budapest, by the Danube River.
In contrast to the Buda area, Pest is fiery and lively and home to bustling backdrops of ruined pubs, historic attractions, and replete café culture.
Take a stroll on Andrássy Avenue
Andrássy Avenue is Budapest’s answer to the Champs Elysée. Similar to the Champs Elysee, it is a beautiful boulevard that stretches down the heart of Pest. Just take a walk and make sure you look up as every single building here has its own unique details. However, some of the most striking sites are the Hungarian State Opera, Heroes’ Square, and as mentioned above the Millennium Underground. Andrássy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most importantly, you’re not going to find a street like this over in Buda.
Go to a Ruin Bar
People come to Budapest as much as to visit Szimpla Kert as they do to visit Buda Castle. Ruin bars have become synonymous with Budapest, as numerous complexes have popped up in semi-abandoned buildings in and around the Jewish Quarter. While Buda may have bars and trendy cafes, there is nothing that captures that dilapidated, eccentric feel of the bars of downtown Pest.
Behold the Heroes’ Square
Heroes’ Square is the largest and most symbolic square in Budapest. As a result, this awesome place is one of the most visited locations in Budapest!! The two of us really enjoyed going around the square and hearing about its historical and cultural significance.
The Millennium Column soares above the square. Consequently, it is the focal point of the Millennium Monument. The column is topped with a statue of the archangel Gabriel.
Behind the column is a semicircular colonnade with statues of famous men who made their mark on Hungarian history. Statues atop the colonnades symbolize War, Peace, Work and Welfare, and Knowledge and Glory.
Around the base of the monument are a number of equestrian statues honoring the seven chieftains of the Hungarian tribes. These chieftans, led by Árpád, conquered the area now known as Hungary.
Budapest’s Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall is located on the Pest side of the city, with two floors of food and souvenirs that both locals and visitors love to shop at.
It is the biggest market hall of the city. The magnificent Great Market Hall, stands right next to the Pest end of Liberty Bridge. This beautiful building is adorned with Zsolnay tiles and opened in 1897.
We spent a very enjoyable 2 hours at this very busy market browsing around, comparing prices and ultimately buying some souvenirs and gifts for the folks back home.
Hungary Travel Must Include Visit to Thermal Spa
Budapest holds the title “City of Spas” since the year 1934. This is because it has more thermal and medicinal water springs than any other capital city in the world. There are 118 springs in Budapest. This is enough to produce 70 million liters of thermal water a day. The temperature of the waters is between 21 and 78 Celsius.
The Szechenyi Baths (built in 1913) are the most visited and much praised attraction in Budapest. It is relaxing, fun, affordable and, at night, romantic. In addition to the marvelous medicinal natural hot spring waters in the 18 pools, there are 10 saunas / steam cabins, several massage therapies, facial treatments, and more. These spas are very popular with young people from all over the world.
A visit to a thermal spa in Budapest is a ‘must’ in anyone’s Hungary Travel itinerary!!
Budapest’s Most Moving Memorial
We were really moved when we saw the unique shoe memorial on the banks of the Danube River.
Nearly 80,000 Jews were expelled from Hungary in a death march to the Austrian border and approximately 20,000 Jews were brutally shot along the banks of the Danube River.
Shoes on the Danube Promenade is a haunting tribute to this horrific time in history. The film director Can Togay and the sculptor Gyula Pauer created it. This monument consists of 60 pairs of 1940s-style shoes, true to life in size and detail, sculpted out of iron. The shoes were Installed along the banks of the Danube River.
Hungary Travel - The Countryside
Hungary has a lot to offer. Situated at the crossroads in Central Europe, it is a mesmerizing blend of European and Ottoman influences. Consequently, it has a very rich culture and history.
We first visited the little town of Kalocsa, a town with a thousand year old history. It was so interesting to listen to our tour guide talk about this town. We heard about warlike bishops, saintly kings, rampaging Ottomans and other heroes!! Among its fine buildings is an impressive Baroque cathedral and a grand Archbishop’s Palace with its Ceremonial Hall displaying a replica of the Hungarian holy crown.
This region is one of the biggest producers of paprika. Paprika is used as a seasoning that’s an essential part of Hungarian cuisine. Goulash is one of the most famous examples of a dish made with paprika.
We really enjoyed a short visit to the Paprika House in the outskirts of the town. Here we learnt all about the production and use of paprika, before continuing our exciting Hungary Travel adventure.
The Puszta is the great Hungarian Plain. It is a hauntingly atmospheric prairie stretching as far as the eye could see. The Puszta Plain is home to villages seemingly frozen in time. It was so nice to see Hungarian grey cattle, spiral-horned sheep and buffalo grace on its pastures. In addition, this region is also famous for its horses.
Another not to miss location in your Hungary Travel plans!!!
We then visited an equestrian farm. Here, we witnessed a performance by some of the region’s most skilled riders. All the riders and horses gave a stunning and wonderful performance. Further, there was even a donkey that performed brilliantly!!
We also had an opportunity to take a ride on a horse drawn carriage. As a result, we were able to experience this unique wilderness from a different perspective.
The Beautiful Town of Pecs
Our next stop was the beautiful town of Pecs. Here, we spent a couple of hours on a walking tour which was most enjoyable!!
This beautiful city reflects a wonderful culture and artistic melange. It is a consequence of the many people who held sway in this region over time. This little town lies on the slopes of a mountain range, and boasts of a climate which is almost Mediterranean in nature. As a result the land around Pecs is very fertile. It was so very nice to see all the fruit and almond plantations around this area.
Walkabout in Pecs
As we walked through the rambling streets, we discovered a 14th century Christian mausoleum, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as a former Mosque turned into a Catholic Church after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. We also saw the ruins of a Turkish bath, a magnificent Cathedral and the famous Zsolnay Porcelain Museum. Our walking tour ended at the remains of an ancient fort that guarded the entrance of this town.
There are many towns similar to Pecs all around this beautiful country. Consequently, Hungary Travel will not be complete without visiting at least one of them!!
Yummy Hungarian Cuisine
Hungarian or Magyar cuisine is the cuisine characteristic of the nation of Hungary and its primary ethnic group, the Magyars. Traditional Hungarian dishes are primarily based on meats, seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh bread, dairy products and cheeses.
Goulash is one of the most famous Hungarian dishes. Goulash is a rich stew made of meat and vegetables, and with lots of paprika. Traditionally, it is made from beef, but you can also find goulash made from pork or chicken.
In addition to eating Hungarian Goulash many times, we also enjoyed some of the other favorites of this awesome country. Among them were 2 types of stews we enjoyed very much; Sólet, a stew made from kidney beans, onions, barley and paprika and Lecsó which is basically a vegetable stew made from tomatoes, yellow peppers and onions. Another favorite of ours was Chicken Paprikash. This dish has everything that characterises Hungarian cuisine; paprika, pepper, onion, garlic, green pepper, tomato, meat and sour cream.
Best Time for Hungary Travel
The best times to visit Budapest are from March to May and September through November. These shoulder seasons are when the weather is idyllic and the city isn’t overcrowded with tourists. However, the climate in Hungary is always relatively mild. Temperatures rarely exceeding bearable levels.
Last Word On Hungary Travel
Hungary is without a doubt one of the most beautiful countries in this world! It is said that Hungary is beautiful. In fact it is ludicrously beautiful!! If you do not have too much time to spend in Hungary, at least visit Budapest!!!
Please do contact us in case you need more information.
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