Below let us suggest some of the main lands, resort areas and sights of Hungary. Naturally we refer only a few Hungarian attractions that can be interesting for expatriates and tourists. If you wish to know more about the lions and spots visit

The Danube Bend
The Danube Bend is a 20 km long part of the river to the north of Budapest. Starting a tour from Budapest on the right bank one should visit at least the three main towns: Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom.

Szentendre is a little picturesque town that was inhabited by Serbians, Dalmatians and Greeks who had been fleeing from the Turks in the 14th and 17th centuries. Historic buildings, Catholic, Orthodox and Calvinist churches, museums, in-door and out-door collections are open for the public. The atmosphere of the town and the ancient buildings show that once it has been a busy merchant town.

Visegrád is famous of its royal castle. The trails lead us back to the 4th century when the Romans built a castrum here. The fortress was used even in the 9-10th centuries. After the Hungarian tribes arrived in the region, a monastery was built in the 11th century. In the 14th century the royal seat was transferred to Visegrád and served as the residence of the royal family. Gothic and Renaissance styles are dominant.

The Esztergom Castle is also worth to see which was the first palace belonging to the kings. The first king of Hungary, St. Stephen was crowned here. The largest Hungarian church can be found here, the Basilica of Esztergom. The crypt built in Egyptian style serves as the burial scene of the archbishops of Esztergom. On the southern side of the church the Bakócz chapel can be found, which is one of the most essential relic of Renaissance style. At the end of the last century, in 1895 the Mária-Valéria Bridge was built to connect Esztergom and the neighbouring Párkány lying on the opposite side of the Danube. In 1919 and during the II. World War the bridge was bombed. After more than 50 years the bridge was reconstructed in 2000-2001. Today it also serves as a crossing between Esztergom and the Slovakian Párkány. A curiosity of the bridge is the toll-collector house at the bridgehead, which operates as a historical museum.

Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is the biggest fresh-water lake in Central Europe. The lake is a popular resort area for Hungarians and foreigners as well. The surface of the Balaton is 590 square kilometres and its length is 77 km. In summertime the water's temperature is around 25 Celsius degrees and in wintertime when it is frozen and the ice is thick enough serves as a great natural skating ring. Both the northern and the southern costs are rich in resort areas and tourist-attractions.

On the northern part of the Balaton the Balaton uplands, and the Káli-medence are splendid landscapes with beautiful panorama. If you are interested in rural tourism and would like to taste the atmosphere of the Hungarian little villages you should spend some day in the neighbouring villages of Salföld, Szentbékkálla, Köveskála and Mindszentkála. Small settlements (Kapolcs, Monostorapáti, Vigándpettend) of that region are the hosts of various summer festivals and programs. To the north of the Balaton beauty spots and excellent wine producing areas can be found. Wine is cultivated on the slopes of Badacsony mountains, which attracts lots of tourists to Badacsonytomaj and the surrounding villages. Among others you should visit Tihany and Keszthely by all means.

Tihany peninsula can be seen far away stretching into the Balaton. A Benedictine abbey was founded here in 1055 by king Andrew I. That was the time when Tihany was first mentioned. In the Latin deed of the foundation around 100 Hungarian words were written down. The crypt of the Abbey served as a royal grave, which can be seen even today. The Abbey Church was built up seven centuries later in baroque style. If you are in Tihany, you should also visit the busy ferry port and the Poppet Museum where dolls and other games from the last two centuries are collected. The Open-air Theatre of Tihany waits the children and adults with several programs and performances in July and August.

Keszthely is settled at the north-west end of Balaton. The town is rich in sights, traditions and events. The rightly most frequented spot is the Festetics Palace, the residence of the late Festetics family, who owned the town and its surroundings from the early 18th century, to the middle of the 20th century. The huge building consists of more than a hundred premises, partly operates as a museum introducing the life of lords lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. The large library of 86 000 books can be also visited. On the ground floor temporary exhibitions and on the first floor weekly-organised concerts are open to the public.

The southern shore is a 70km long warm and shallow beach, with holiday resorts. Residential and summer homes, hotels and private apartments vary the landscape. The main city is Siófok, with its large, 17 km long beach and several hotels. On the so called Golden Beach and Silver Beach life is fizzling throughout the whole summer. Balatonfüred another essential town of the southern side of Lake Balaton. The town is also a target of medical tourism due to its mineral waters. An important event is the "Anna ball" of Füred, which main attraction is the election of the belle of the ball.

 

The Great Plain
The Great Plain is an enormous plan area to the East of the Danube with rich plant and animal world. The area is divided to Northern Plain and Southern Plain. On the southern part one can find Kalocsa, which is famous of its paprika production, which is the Hungarians' national spice. Szeged is a cultural centre of the region with universities, theatres, concerts and various cultural programs. On the northern part we should mention Debrecen a medieval city that had been the centre of reformation for centuries in Hungary. Not far from Debrecen one of the main Hungarian sight, the Hortobágy National Park can be found.

The Hortobágy
The Hortobágy National Park, as part of the World Heritage, is a plain area on the eastern part of the country, which preserves its particular natural values as well as its ancient traditions. One of the attractions is the Nine-holed Bridge, a stone bridge built in 1833. At the foot of the bridge you can find the Hortobágyi Csárda (inn), which has housed the travellers for around 300 years. More csárda invite the tourists to taste traditional shepherd foods, hortobágyi palacsinta, or guinea-fowl soup. If you intend to get acquainted more deeply with the history of that area it is worth to turn in the Sepherd Museum where you can get some impression of how the shepherds and the period inhabitants lived. The famous and old horse breeding of Hortobágy operates at Máta. Equestrian performances, horse riding, barren drive, pleasure flight are organised for enquires.

Transdanubia
Transdanubia is the western hilly part of the country. The Transdanubian Mountain Range is drawing through the region. In Western Transdanubia Sopron and Kõszeg Mountains, the so-called "Hungarian Alps" are nice targets for excursion, as well as the small towns of Õrség. Beside the miniature settlements Sopron, Kõszeg, Pannonhalma and Fertõd are really worth to see.

At the foot of the Kõszeg mountains is situated Kõszeg. The subalpine climate, the numerous historical sights and the rich cultural life make the town attractive for tourists. The most ancient part of the city is the castle, partly built in the 13th century and was finished in the 16th century. The castle played an important role during the Turkish invasion. In 1532 Captain Miklós Jurisics stopped the Turkish troops and prevented Vienna's capture. Today the castle gives home to the castle theatre and the Jurisics Miklós Castle Museum.

On the northern part of the region at the border of Austria the beautiful Fertõd is settled. Its most attractive sight is the Esterházy Palace from the 18th century. The Palace and its beautiful French garden were mentioned at its time as the Hungarian Versailles. Joseph Haydn marked musical life in the palace, since he was the court musician to count Esterházy and his family. Today in summertime concerts are given in the beautiful concert-hall.

The history of Sopron city situated at the foot of Lövér mountains is traced back to VI-V thousands B.C. During the Roman Empire Scarbantia (former name of Sopron) played an important role in the intercontinental trade since trade route junction was here. The settlement gained the range of a city even in 1277. The present picture of the city was formed after the fire of 1676. The medieval and the later built Baroque buildings partly remained intact, which can be seen today in aboriginal condition. The symbol of the city is the Castle Tower (Fire Tower) partly built in the 13th century. In1919 after the World War I in the Treaty of Saint Germain a part of Western Hungary was given to Austria. Due to a referendum the citizens of Sopron decided to remain Hungarian and that's why the city received "Civitas Fidelissima", the most faithful town title. Sopron is famous of its wine producing as well.

The complex of Benedictine Abbey in Pannonhalma is part of the World Heritage. The first Benedictine monks arrived and the monastery was founded in 996. The chapel and the church was built in the 11-12th centuries. The Baroque style buildings were raised in the 18th century. The monastery has been a spiritual centre with enormous cultural values. The library with more than 300 000 volumes waits the visitors. Local guides conduct the tourists through the complex of buildings. During the Mongol, Turkish invasion and even in the wars of Napoleon served as an asylum. Education has always been part of the monks' duties. Even today they take part in public education. The Benedictine Abbey runs a secondary school where 300 students study.