Hongarije - exploringhighlanders

Hongarije, poort naar Oost-Europa!

Hungary, from its rich history to beautiful cities and vast nature. This country in Central/Eastern Europe is certainly one of the nicest countries on the continent! Travel through this fascinating country and you will encounter beautiful cities such as Budapest and Györ, or enjoy the wonderful nature at Lake Balaton!

Quick facts of Hungary:

Hungary and Austria used to be one country, which fell apart during the First World War
Hungary is a full EU and NATO member, but does not have the Euro but the Forint
Hungarian is one of the most complicated languages in the world, it is a derivative of the Finno-Ugric languages that comes from former Mongolia.
Hungarian cuisine has some very famous dishes such as Goulash. The Hungarians also use peppers in their dishes like no other!
The Budapest metro is the oldest in mainland Europe, so it is recommended to travel with metro line 1!

A country like Hungary has plenty to offer, the cosmopolitan city of Budapest is worth a visit in itself! But even beyond Budapest there is a beautiful interior of the country, Lake Balaton is a nice place to chill and explore the area. Combine this with Eastern European charm and ditto prices and you have a special trip! Even if you are traveling further into Eastern Europe, there are plenty of nice destinations to enjoy your time in Hungary! Read more about our own experiences in Hungary!

Visit the cosmopolitan city of Budapest!

Budapest, as one of the largest cities in Europe, is one of the most important cities in Central Europe. Historically speaking, the city of Budapest actually consists of 3 parts. Well, which parts will it consist of? Yes, it is of course very surprising that it is Buda and Pest. The 3rd part Óbuda was apparently not included. Doesn't taste that good either, I can imagine. This way you also have something to say at the coffee table.

So Budapest, nicknames are “Paris of the East” which I can also agree with. The city center is incredibly charming. The beautiful architecture of the many buildings such as the Parliament, the Basilicas or Buda Castle give you the feeling of being in a very prosperous city. The city offers you a large number of highlights to visit. As well as wonderful thermal baths and cozy streets to celebrate life. A visit to Budapest should certainly not be missing from your Eastern Europe bucket list!

Highlights Budapest

Arriving at Budapest Central Station, Budapest Keleti, I first started by checking in at my hotel opposite the station. The Baross City Hotel was a great choice for me, especially because of its location near the station and because it was nice and cheap. From here I took the metro to Széll Kálmán tér station to start from the other side of the Danube at the Fisherman's Bastion. After a short walk up the hill I arrived at the beautiful complex of this 19th century fort. I personally think this is one of the most beautiful places in Budapest, partly because of the beautiful view of the Parliament building and the rest of the city. It is fun here both during the day and in the evening to have a beer here.

From the Fisherman's Bastion you can easily walk past the impressive Matthias Church. This enormous church from the 14th century quickly stands out and is the central part of this district. The Buda district, on the west side of the Danube, is certainly a very nice area to walk around. You get the feeling of being in a small town here more than in Budapest. Partly because this part is located on a hill, it gives a somewhat cozy feeling. The many nice shops and galleries in the streets also complete this. From here you can easily walk towards the beautiful complex of Buda Castle. This enormous building from the regal history of Austria-Hungary has occupied an important position in Budapest for centuries. You also have a beautiful view from here! Partly because of the perspective with the chain bridge.

From Buda Castle you can easily walk down to the most famous bridge in Budapest. Namely the Chain Bridge. This beautiful building from the 19th century, in combination with the parliament building, gives that typical picture of Budapest. You can walk via the Danube river to the other part of Budapest, namely Pest. A recommended walk from here is the nice Jewish quarter of Budapest. Until the Second World War, Budapest had a large Jewish population. After the terrible war, only a fraction of the Jewish population remains. It is recommended to visit the impressive monument of the Shoes on the Danube near the parliament building. Fortunately, some of the culture has remained, as evidenced by the many Jewish restaurants with delicious dishes and the beautiful Great Synagogue of Budapest. In this district you will also find fantastic bar streets with lively nightlife!

The Pest district is enormous, from the Jewish Quarter you can also easily walk to the Budapest Market Hall. This nice market hall from the 19th century is an interesting place to enjoy a snack and a snack. In Budapest you should certainly not miss the Parliament Building. This largest parliament building in the world is the image of Budapest. This enormous building in Neo-Gothic style has a total of 365 rooms. So a room for every day in the calendar year. This enormous building is incredibly photogenic and is actually beautiful both during the day and in the evening. Especially in the evening from the other side of the Danube because of the beautiful lighting.

St. Stephen's Basilica is located between the Parliament Building, the market hall and the Jewish quarter. This building is also a beautiful example of the wealth this city has. In and around St. Stephen's Basilica you will also find the main streets of Budapest, which are great for shopping, as well as the many delicious restaurants here.

After all this, it's probably time to relax. First go to Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út metro station to ride the oldest European metro line. The 19th century steampunk atmosphere here is fantastic! Take the metro to Budapest's famous mineral baths. The Széchenyi Baths are known for their natural beneficial effects, this combined with the beautiful buildings surrounding them certainly make it a special wellness experience! On the other side of the city you will find the Gellért Thermal Baths. These are just as beautiful and actually even more fun! Please remember to bring your swimwear. Unfortunately, the wellness pools here are not nude.

Budapest, what has been described here are actually just the highlights of the city. Don't forget to enjoy yourself, and if that means wandering around without a plan, that's just as much fun! The enormous city is ideal for exploring, so plan at least 3 full days for Budapest. So that you can enjoy the nice atmosphere of Budapest in addition to the highlights!

Visit beautiful Lake Balaton!

Lake Balaton, one of the largest lakes in Europe, is known for its clear blue water. It is therefore the heart of Hungary. This enormous lake of 80 by 15 km is therefore not to be missed. From Budapest you can easily reach the lake by train. Which of course also works just as well with the car. The most famous seaside resort on Lake Balaton is Siófok. In summer this town is one of the main tourist attractions on Lake Balaton. Due to the fairly shallow bottom, the lake quickly warms up in the summer, making it ideal for swimming! Whether you want to chill out or explore the area from here. From Lake Balaton you can quickly reach many beautiful places in Hungary! In winter it can be called deserted again!

Hungary, personally I think it is one of the nicest countries in Europe. The combination of cities and nature makes this country very interesting. If you want to explore Eastern Europe for the first time, you are in the right place. The country is easily accessible and very safe. This, together with the cheap prices and wonderful Eastern Bloc atmosphere, makes it a great country to unleash your Eastern Europe travel bug!