In a way, the Danube river is the defining element of Hungary’s landscape. The river crosses the country almost centrally from North to South and has stamped many of the images we know of Hungary. But of course there is more to Hungary than just its major waterway. Stretching from the Pre-Alps in the West to the Puszta steppe in the East and from plains in the South to mountains in the North, Hungary is a fascinating travel country with plenty of history and things to see.

Hungary offers a good mix of options for travelers. Nature hiking, cave exploring tours and birdwatching are popular activities for visitors. Others come for river cruising or to relax in one of the thermal baths, built around more than 1,000 thermal springs in the country.

Hungary welcomes large numbers of visitors from Central European countries and from the UK. A popular destination is Lake Balaton in the Western half of the country, the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. The regions surrounding the lake, including the world’s second-largest thermal lake Héviz, also welcome a lot of guests from abroad.

Among Hungarian cities, the capital Budapest is by far the largest and most important in the country. It is also the most-visited town in Hungary. It features many spas and cultural attractions as well as the historic palace of the Hungarian kings.

Further notable cities in Hungary include Debrecen, which has an attractive downtown area; Szeged, the center of the Southern region and Pécs, which is surrounded by the Mecsek mountains.

PopulationAreaCurrencyEU memberSchengen area
9,797,60093,030 km²Forintyesyes

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