Cheap flights to Hungary from EUR15*

Sitting at the divide between the East and the West, Hungary blends Germanic, Slavic, Ottoman and Balkan influences into a living and breathing mosaic of cultures, identities and experiences. Nothing shows this more than its many-faced capital, Budapest. The “'Pearl of the Danube”' spreads over two landmark-laced river banks, throbbing with life on one side and brimming with natural splendour on the other. But make no mistake, Hungary is so much more than its dazzling capital. Venture out of Budapest by bike, bus, train, car or boat and get to the heart and very roots of the Hungarian spirit. And see for yourself that what the country lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty, warmth and character.

Fly to Hungary to:

• Visit the Neo-Baroque Buda Castle on top of the Castle Hill, stop at Matthias Church and enjoy the splendid panorama from the Fisherman's Bastion.
• Recharge in one of Hungary’s countless spa baths and wellness hotels, or in the world’s largest natural thermal lake in Hévíz.
• Explore Hungarians’ equestrian roots, wildlife and folklore in the UNESCO-listed Hortobágy National Park, close to Debrecen.
• Tour the country’s famed wine regions and taste the best in 2,000 years of Hungarian wine-making.
• Delve into Budapest’s Michelin-decorated culinary scene and buzzing ruin pub culture.

Rich past, vibrant present

No matter where you start your discovery, Hungary rewards you with old-world continental charm and youthful exuberance every step of the way. Nothing epitomises this more than itsIts capital is capital, home to a fifth of the country’s population and a plethora of unmissable landmarks, from the awe-inspiring Neo-Baroque-style Buda Castle to the replica of Stalin's Boots, a symbol of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, in Memento Park. Having descended from the fearless horsemen of the Central Asian steppe, equestrian traditions are a cornerstone of Hungarian identity and pride. Visit Eastern Hungary’s Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld), an unspoiled natural treasure trove and a living memento of Hungarians’ historic way of life. Or check out one of the country's newer but no less impressive traditions: immerse yourself in Hungary’s and Central Europe’s flagship music and art festival, Sziget, held every August on an island in the middle of the Danube.

The land of natural wonders

Hungary’s cradle, the Carpathian Basin, renders it, quite literally, a hotspot for thermal baths. With over 1,000 mineral springs running beneath four fifths of the country’s surface, Hungarian bathing culture has roots going as far back as to the Roman times and it was cemented into tradition under Ottoman rule. Dip into Hungary’s world-famous healing waters in one of the many bathing complexes of the “'City of Baths”', Budapest, such as the lavish Széchenyi Baths or the recently revamped Veli Bej Baths. Or unwind in the turquoise waters of Europe’s largest thermal lake, Lake Hévíz. And while you’re at it, make your way to the “'Hungarian Sea”', Lake Balaton, the region’s largest freshwater lake for scenic walks, laps and bike rides. Got soaked enough for a lifetime? Continue your Hungarian escapade on land and marvel at the untouched plains, marshes, wetlands, forests and grasslands in the country’s UNESCO-listed sites, national parks and nature reserves.

Hungary’s foodie side

Looking for foodie things to do? You’ve come to the right place. Traditional Hungarian dishes, from gulyás soup through pörkölt to paprikás, are stacked with meat, seasonal vegetables, dairy and paprika, and served with a smilhearte wherever you try them. In between courses, make sure to try Hungarians’ favourite invention, pálinka. “'In small amounts a medicine, in large amounts a remedy”', at least according to Hungarian folk wisdom, this fiery fruit brandy is best slammed down in one shot after a cheerful “'Egészségedre”'. Wine connoisseurs can wine and dine their way through Hungary and its diverse and pristine wine regions. Start with sipping some Eger Bull’s Blood (egri bikavér), the country’s rustic red blend that, Turks believed, was mixed with bull blood to give Hungarians superhuman strength in battle. Don’t leave without sampling the amber-gold royal favourite, Tokaji Aszú, or crispy whites with a view at lakeside Badacsony.

A true cultural immersion

You can’t throw a stone in Hungary without hitting a landmark testifying to the country’s golden days or its darkest times. Spend a day roaming the puszta, just like the first Magyars did, in Hortobágy National Park (Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park), right in the heart of the Great Hungarian Plain and the country’s equestrian heritage. Make yourself at home in the houses, amphitheatres, public baths and courtyards of Aquincum, a once flourishing Roman civilian town in Óbuda’s Aquincum Museum. Absorb the Habsburg grandeur of Gödöllő Royal Palace, the second largest Baroque palace in the world, once owned and cherished by Queen Elisabeth of Hungary. Or get in touch with Hungary’s rich religious heritage: venture out to Esztergom to see its spectacular Neo-Classical landmark, the Esztergom Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or head to the “'Calvinist Rome”', Debrecen, to discover Hungary’s largest Protestant church and Calvinist heartland. History buffs shouldn’t skip Europe’s largest synagogue, Budapest’s Dohány Street Synagogue either, with its Moorish-Romantic shapes and iconic onion-like domes.