Must see Sights of Hungary

Visitors can discover Hungary’s most beautiful sights in various ways: while hiking, walking, on two wheels, relaxing in any thermal baths or visiting museums. Whichever they choose, they will get to come upon a different face of the country each time.

Sights of Budapest
Budapest has managed to preserve its historical atmosphere and special eclectic cityscape, while allowing new places to open one after the other, and continues to be a vibrant metropolis. You will find interesting cultural events in abundance and many excellent entertainment venues in Budapest. Many hidden treasures, the secrets of past times, stories of fortunes rising and falling, and sultry gossip lie there on the street, just waiting to be discovered.

The first of the must-see sights has to be the Parliament building, designed by Imre Steindl in Gothic Revival style. It is the largest building in the country, and a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) is a landmark in Budapest, and was built to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state, in 1896. The square is surrounded by the statues of 14 prominent figures from Hungarian history, while the archangel Gabriel stands on top of the central column. This statue was awarded the grand prize at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair.

The view from the lookout terraces of the Fisherman’s Bastion in the Buda Castle District is truly one of a kind.

Citadella at the top of Gellért Hill is another Budapest landmark. The view is amazing: you can see Buda Castle, the Parliament building, the bridges over the Danube, the Pest side and the Buda Hills, all from one place.

And of course, you cannot forget the Chain Bridge, which was the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest over the River Danube.

Castles & Palaces
Discover the treasures of the past. The country’s built heritage, its castles, palaces and historical legacy are unparalleled. Boldogkő Castle is one of the most picturesque castles in Zemplén, and stands on top of Bodókő hill, surrounded by vertical cliffs. The medieval Füzér Castle is one of the seven wonders of Hungary. It sits on a symmetrical peak, on a volcanic cone with steep sides. Esterházy Castle in Fertőd is the largest Baroque palace in Hungary. It was where Joseph Haydn lived and worked, and Empress and Queen Maria Theresa once spent a night here. Buda Castle, with its characteristic dome, stands on top of Buda Castle Hill. At one time it served as a royal residence, and today it is home to two museums and the foremost library in the country. Vajdahunyad Castle was built on the manmade island in City Park Lake that surrounds the building, which can be accessed via four bridges.

Baths
There are plenty of baths and spas both in Budapest and all over the country, for anyone who wants to heal and relax. Széchenyi Thermal Bath is one of the largest bath complexes in Europe. Many Turkish style bath are in Budapest from the times of the Ottoman rule. Hévíz Lake Bath is the largest warm water lake with medicinal water in Europe. The cave bath in Miskolctapolca is simply an indoor pool created by nature.

Nature
The geography of Hungary is extremely varied: from the Great Plain to Hortobágy, the foothills of the Alps, Lake Balaton, Lake Hévíz (the second-largest thermal lake in the world), the Bükk Mountains and caves, Hungary has it all in the Carpathian Basin. Hortobágy National Park is the real and true ‘Hungarian puszta’, the oldest national park in the country. Lillafüred is one of the highest and the most picturesque parts of Miskolc, and the best mountain holiday resort. You will definitely fall in love with the panorama of Badacsony and Lake Balaton when you sit by the grapevines and admire the view: truly an experience you will never forget. Approaching the lavender fields in full bloom on the Tihany peninsula, while you pass by beautiful rows of grapevines with Lake Balaton in the background, is wonderfully romantic. You can discover most of the unique Tapolca Lake Cave from a boat. Let’s face it: being underground is an extraordinary experience.

Hidden treasures
We are surrounded by natural phenomena or built heritage that needs to be seen and visited. The beauty of the Káli basin, the Egerszalók salt hill or the library of the Cistercian Abbey of Zirc are all unique places. People have long worked and shaped the Megyer‑hegy Tarn, an extraordinary natural wonder near Sárospatak: what you will find here is the amazing union of a former millstone mine and nature itself. The brightly shining limestone cones of the Egerszalók salt hill have been created by the thermal water that breaks through here from the ground. Káli basin and the sea of rocks: amazing peace surrounds you on the wonderful land lying at the foot of the monadnocks in this area. From Köveskál to Mindszentkálla, Kővágóörs – off you go! The Reformed Stone Church in Csaroda is a wonder built in the 13th century, standing in the middle of the village surrounded by the Csaroda stream. The unique library of the Cistercian Abbey in Zirc contains a collection of almost 65,000 books.

Museums
There are many art galleries, museums and world-class works of art to visit, both in Budapest and all over the country. The National Gallery, for example, is home to the largest public collection of fine arts in Hungary. Helikon Castle Museum, the museum of Festetics Palace in Keszthely, has a carriage exhibition where you can see contemporary coaches and sleighs, while the hunting exhibition displays trophies of wild animals collected from five continents. Victor Vasarely was a key figure in op art, kinetic and international geometric abstract art, whose works are displayed in the inspiring exhibition of 20th century artists in the Vasarely Museum. There is also a world-class art centre in historical central Debrecen: the MODEM Modern and Contemporary Arts Centre. The Ludwig Museum, located within the walls of MüPa, is the only contemporary art museum in the country that exhibits international works as well.

Food
Hungary is a land of creative recipes, quality ingredients, and friendly service, providing a vivid fusion of authentic and modern meals. A gastronomic revolution has taken place here in the past few years. New restaurants, bistros and street food places have opened on every corner of the capital city.