Hungary

All our Hungary collections:

• Best places to stay in Budapest

Budapest is well known for its beauty, renowned museums, Medieval Castle District and thriving nightlife, so this is an obvious choice as an entry point for Hungary. But there's a lot here besides. Its thermal lakes make for a serene backdrop - with obvious rewards for those looking to unwind, excellent birdwatching and horse riding opportunities, and Hungary has a number of exceptionally charming smaller centres

For a City Break

Budapest is split dramatically by the Danube, with Buda, west of the Danube, including the castle and many of Budapest's best known attractions, and Pest to the east. Both regions have their own distinct charms, and are linked, elegantly, by a series of bridges..

Well known for its beauty, Budapest is a great city for visitors because it's very easy to get around on foot, and has a user-friendly transport system for longer journeys. And everywhere you look there's something beautiful to behold: fine Art Nouveau facades, a slew of graceful churches, rows of inviting cafes and a surprise Turkish bath or two. Budapest also has some wonderfully inexpensive but stylish places to stay.

• The Palazzo Zichy is a contemporary property, with cool, clean interiors in the shell of a fine 19th century mansion. Situated in the university district, there are plenty of interesting bars and clubs close by.
• Brody House is reputedly the coolest hotel address in the city (easily one of the best places to stay in Hungary), the place to rub shoulders with creative types - Budapest's Soho House?
• Mamaison Andrassy Hotel is a little Bauhaus gem of a hotel, located in an exclusive Embassy neighbourhood just off Pest's Andrássy Avenue. Expect sleek and contemporary rooms with floor to ceiling windows and an Art Deco style restaurant.
• The Four Seasons Gresham Palace is a landmark Art Nouveau property has some of the best views in town, plus beautifully decorated rooms.

Szeged is known as 'the sunniest city in Hungary', a university town akin to Oxford and Cambridge, with beautiful architecture, plenty of smarts, and a youthful, culturally rich vibe.

Pécs is another one of the best places to stay in Hungary for a city break. Historic and interesting, Pécs has a selection of excellent museums and monuments, and sits on a wonderfully sheltered plain with a good wine region and an excellent reputation for quality local produce.

Eger is known as a beauty, and while it's maybe more a large town break, rather than a city break, it's rich with dramatic Ottoman and Turkish history, has a reputation with drinkers of 'big' wines, and there's loads to see and do here.

For Foodies

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Hungary has been doing its best to reclaim its spot at the high table of cuisine. Hungarian food is spicy, but not hot, by general standards, and it's probably best thought of as tasty, rather than healthy, with a lot of emphasis on paprika, the national spice, and meat and potatoes. They also do a great line in deserts and sweet treats.

Tokaj is an obvious choice for wine buffs, this is the home of the tipple Louis XIV called 'the king of the wines, the wine of the kings'.

To Relax

Siófok on Lake Balaton, which is Hungary's and Central Europe's largest lake, is a bit like a seaside resort, with plenty of fun and sun, but by a lake instead of the sea. Families might prefer the quieter northern side of the lake, but there are plenty of choices - this lake spreads for 600 square kilometres.

Hungary is also blessed with more than a thousand natural springs, around 300 of which are also naturally heated, so if you find a thermal bath relaxing then come on down, the water is perfect!

There are a number of thermal baths near Lake Balaton, but you can find baths everywhere, including in Budapest. The Széchenyi Thermal Baths claims to be the largest thermal bath in Europe, but the art nouveau Gellért Baths and Hotel at the foot of Gellért Hill is more aesthetically pleasing.

Still not sure? Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Hungary, or contact one of our friendly gurus for advice.