From the elegant capital Budapest to the peaceful shores of Lake Balaton to some of Europe’s best-kept secrets like Tokaj, the best places to visit in Hungary are waiting to pleasantly surprise you.
Many visitors opt to spend a few days in Budapest without seeing any other parts of Hungary, but the rest of the country has so much to offer. Aside from the grand capital city, Hungary is full of smaller, underrated cities, scenic lakes, and rolling hills dotted with vineyards.
When visiting Hungary, you can enhance your experience by exploring at least one other destination outside Budapest. Our expert travel advisors can help you choose the best places to visit in Hungary for the perfect trip tailored to you.
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Hungary is an enchanting country that offers a mixture of big-city energy and relaxed destinations abundant in natural beauty. It has a vibrant past and a unique, rich culture. This landlocked country in Central Europe is known for its food, art, architecture, folklore, and tradition.
You can also easily combine a trip to Hungary with visits to other countries, like neighboring Austria. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland are other nearby countries that you can add to your trip to Hungary.
But for now, let’s take a look at the best places to visit in Hungary.
5 Best Places To Visit in Hungary
1. Budapest
Budapest is the jewel of Hungary and one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Nicknamed the Paris of The East because of its elegant architecture, the largest city in Hungary is one of the most stunning European capitals. Divided by the Danube River, Buda and Pest are the two halves that make up the whole of this city.
The city’s stunning architecture is a mixture of Gothic, Baroque, Art Nouveau, and more. Budapest has always been a cultural hotspot, especially in art and music, and the Hungarian National Gallery in Buda Castle chronicles the country’s creative history.
Like Vienna, Budapest also has a strong café culture dating to the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Some of the best historic cafés in the city where you can enjoy coffee and a slice of cake include Central Café and Café Gerbeaud.
When it comes to Hungarian food, you can find all the staples of local cuisine in Budapest. Hearty goulash is the national dish of Hungary, and you can find this meaty stew in restaurants all around Budapest.
Some other foods to try are langos, a deep-fried flatbread that is popular street food, and kurtoskalacs, or chimney cakes, a delicious sweet dessert.
Budapest is a great city to visit year-round. Spring and fall are perfect if you’re looking for milder weather and lower crowds, while summer is a warm, lively, and busy time to visit.
Winters in Budapest can be quite harsh, especially with winds coming off the Danube River. However, December is a magical time to visit because the city goes all out for the holidays, with Christmas markets and beautiful decorations.
Top Attractions in Budapest
On the left side of the river, Buda is the oldest section of the city. This is where you’ll find Buda Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that now houses a museum complex.
Buda is full of winding cobblestone streets and incredible views of the Danube River. Fisherman’s Bastion on Castle Hill offers one of the best viewpoints in the city.
On the right side of the river, Pest is where you’ll find the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building, which is open for tours. This side of the city is also home to the grand St. Stephen’s Basilica, an icon of the city. Pest is the livelier part of the city, with lots of restaurants, bars, and shopping streets.
There are several bridges across the Danube River linking Buda and Pest. The most famous is the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, which opened in 1849.
Budapest is known for its many thermal springs, which have been a part of the city’s culture for centuries. With mineral-rich water sourced from underground caves, the thermal baths are said to have healing properties.
After a full day of walking around and sightseeing in Budapest, there’s no better way to relax than by soaking in a thermal bath.
Three of the best thermal baths in the city are Szechenyi Thermal Bath, Gellert Thermal Bath, and Rudas Thermal Bath. If you have time to visit only one of the thermal baths in Budapest, Szechenyi Thermal Bath is the largest and most visited.
When it comes to nightlife in Budapest, the city’s so-called ruin bars are popular. These formerly abandoned warehouses have been turned into eclectic bars. If you’re looking for a more stylish evening out in Budapest, you can catch a performance at the Hungarian State Opera House.
2. Lake Balaton
Just over an hour from Budapest, Lake Balaton is one of the most popular getaways in the country for locals and tourists alike. On weekends in the summer, residents of Budapest flock to this tranquil lake, which has been nicknamed the Hungarian Sea.
Since landlocked Hungary doesn’t have a real sea, Lake Balaton is the closest substitute. As the largest lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton spans almost 2,000 square miles. Its striking milky green color comes from the shallow water of this freshwater lake.
Summer is definitely the best time to visit Lake Balaton. This popular destination really comes alive in the warmer months, with lively waterfront restaurants and bars, water sports and activities, music festivals, and more.
Top Attractions in Lake Balaton
Siofok and Balatonfured are two of the most popular resort towns on Lake Balaton. Both towns offer lakefront promenades, shops, restaurants, and beach areas where you can relax on the shore or go for a dip in the lake’s warm waters.
Getting out on the water is by far one of the best ways to experience Lake Balaton. You can rent a boat to explore on your own or try an activity like kayaking, paddle boarding, or windsurfing.
Some other fun outdoor activities around Lake Balaton are hiking and cycling. There are numerous walking and hiking paths around the lake, including in the Balaton Uplands National Park, a nearby nature reserve. There is a 125-mile cycling route that goes around much of the lake.
Tihany is a small town on Lake Balaton that is famous for its lavender fields. If you’re visiting in mid-to-late June or early July, it’s worth seeing the vibrant purple blooms here. While you’re in Tihany, make sure you visit Tihany Abbey, a historic, picturesque Benedictine monastery overlooking the lake.
For wine lovers, Lake Balaton is also a great destination. The Balaton wine region is one of the best in Hungary, and there are numerous vineyards and wineries around the lake.
3. Eger
One of the best places to visit in Hungary, Eger is a smaller Hungarian city that flies under the radar for many visitors. However, this historic city is worth a stop on your trip to Hungary.
With beautiful Baroque architecture, thermal baths, vineyards, and an impressive medieval castle, there’s a lot to love about Eger.
Located an hour and a half by car or two hours and 15 minutes by train from Budapest, Eger is nestled in northeastern Hungary, close to Slovakia. It’s a relatively small city, with a population of around 80,000 people, so it offers a quieter, more laid-back way of life than buzzing Budapest.
If you’re interested in learning more about the rich history of Hungary and discovering the charm of this small city, you should add a day or two in Eger to your itinerary.
Top Attractions in Eger
The main attraction in this beautiful city is Eger Castle, an imposing medieval fortress that has protected Eger for centuries. In 1552, Eger Castle defended itself during an attack by the Turks, successfully repelling the much greater Ottoman forces. Today, you can tour the sprawling castle complex where history comes to life.
Although Eger was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Empire, like most of Hungary in the sixteenth century, it remained free for another forty-four years after the Siege of Eger. This makes Eger a source of patriotic pride for Hungarians.
Remnants of the Ottoman occupation can still be seen in the city, including the 130-foot Eger Minaret, one of just three Ottoman-era minarets left in the country.
Like Budapest, you can also find thermal baths in Eger. This is another relic from the Turkish era, although today Eger Thermal Bath has grown into a large and modern compound with more than a dozen indoor and outdoor pools, including a children’s area with water slides.
Another main reason to visit Eger is its wine culture. The wine-producing region around the city is especially known for its red blends, including the famous Egri Bikaver, or Bull’s Blood.
4. Pecs
Another underrated city in Hungary that is worth spending some time in is Pecs. This lovely city in southern Hungary, close to the border with Croatia, was named a European Capital of Culture back in 2010. Similar to Eger, it’s a smaller city that is very walkable and easy to explore in a day or two.
From Budapest, Pecs is two hours and 15 minutes by car, or two and a half hours by train. The city is a testament to history, with reminders of the past around every corner. This is one of the best places to visit in Hungary if you’re interested in history and culture.
Top Attractions in Pecs
Pecs was founded by the Romans, and one of the best ancient Roman sites you can visit is the Early Christian Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 4th-century burial site contains remarkably well-preserved decorated tombs and mausoleums.
Pecs Cathedral is another great historic site to visit. Although the foundations of the church also date back to the 4th century, the current iteration of the structure is considerably newer.
The Romanesque cathedral dates back to the 11th century, although it had to be restored and partially rebuilt after damage during the Ottoman occupation.
Speaking of the Ottoman occupation, a remnant from this era is the Mosque of Pasha Qasim, which was later converted into a Catholic church. You can also see remains of the medieval city walls, which once encircled the city.
Another of the city’s must-visit places is the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter. This area was the home of the Zsolnay porcelain factory in the 19th century and has now been restored and turned into a museum and cultural center.
Zsolnay porcelain is a distinctive, colorful type of ceramics, and you can see it displayed all around the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter.
As a cultural hotspot, Pecs has some wonderful venues like the National Theatre of Pecs, which hosts concerts, operas, plays, and more.
5. Tokaj
Last but not least, one of the best places to visit in Hungary is Tokaj. Situated in the northeastern part of the country, Tokaj is known for being one of the top wine-producing regions in Hungary. It’s particularly famous for its sweet white wines, like Tokaji Aszu.
Tokaj is two and a half hours by car from Budapest. Visiting this region combines well with a stop in Eger since it’s about the midway point if you’re coming from Budapest. The small town of Tokaj is located at the heart of this hilly region dotted with vineyards and wineries.
Top Attractions in Tokaj
The main attraction here is, of course, the wine. Tokaj itself is a very charming riverfront town, with cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a laid-back atmosphere. There are many wineries right in the town where you can enjoy an intimate tasting in a wine cellar.
Other wineries are just a short drive away in the countryside around the picturesque town, and many offer tours where you can learn about the production process of Tokaji Aszu and other wines.
Tokaji Aszu can be paired with savory or sweet dishes, but one of the most popular pairings is foie gras, of which Hungary is a top producer, following France.
Wine production in Tokaj dates back to the 17th century. The rich volcanic clay soil and the process of rotting and drying the grapes contribute to the unique, complex, and sweet flavor of the wine. Although Hungary is home to several notable wine regions, Tokaj is the most famous.
Aside from wine tasting and winery tours, you can also learn more about the history and culture of the town at the Tokaj Museum, located in a historic merchant’s house.
Discover The Best Places To Visit in Hungary With JayWay
This list of the best places to visit in Hungary may not be that long. Yet, each of these top five places to visit in Hungary is unique and worth adding to your Hungary itinerary.
For the latter, leave it to our expert trip planners to create one of your most memorable travel experiences. After all, the best way to see Hungary is with JayWay.
Born and raised in Athens, Maria’s passionate about travel and storytelling, a combination that makes her ideal for her role as our content manager.