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Budapest, Hungary

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Things to see and do in Hungary

Beaches and boat trips

Sunbathe on the popular sandy beaches (strands, or take a dip in the famously shallow waters of Lake Balaton. Take a boat trip and explore the many towns that border the lake shore.

Budapest

Visit Budapest (www.budapestinfo.hu). Explore Buda's elevated cobbled streets and soak up spectacular views from the Fisherman's Bastion. In Pest admire the Hungarian Parliament, Vajdahunyad Castle and Museum of Applied Arts, or unearth the treasures at the Hungarian National Museum. Take a trip out of town to the socialist statue graveyard, Statue Park.

Caves of Aggtelek

The Caves of Aggtelek are located in the Aggtelek National Park in northeastern Hungary bordering the Slovak Republic. Aggtelek was the country's first national park that was set up to protect its geological formations. Formed in shallow seas during the Triassic Period over 200 million years ago, the park lies on limestone bedrock that is prone to karstification - the natural creation of caverns and sinkholes. There are over 260 caves that have been formed in this way in the park. The Aggtelek National Park also contains the ruins of the Háromhegyi Pálos church and monastery near Martonyi village. The Pálos were the only religious order to be founded in Hungary whose origins date back to 1308. The Caves of Aggtelek were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.

Danube Bend

Follow the Danube Bend to the historic towns of Szentendre (www.szentendre.hu), Visegrád and Esztergom (www.esztergom.hu). Szentendre boasts a large artist's colony and a plethora of church spires, the ruins of a 15th-century palace and castle reside at Visegrád, and Esztergom is home to Hungary's largest basilica.

Eger

Head to Eger (www.eger.hu), one of the country's oldest and most colourful cities, which boasts around 200 historical monuments, including its 14-sided Minaret.

Hollókő

Travel back in time at Hollókő, a World Heritage-listed site with around 60 wattle and daub houses and the substantial remnants of a 13th-century castle.
 

Horse riding

Go horse riding on the Great Plain, which is home to several famous stud farms and stages regular horse shows. Take lessons or go on an excursion with riding schools all over the country.

Hortobágy National Park

Watch the birds circle, prance and play in the Hortobágy National Park (www.hnp.hu). Around 350 species have been spotted here, including storks, warblers, eagles and herons. A guide is required for visits to some parts of the park, and motor vehicles are not permitted.

Kiskunság National Park

Take in the spectacular 'five-in-hand' horseshow at the Kiskunság National Park, where riders perform incredible feats on horseback.

Lake Balaton

Explore the northern shores of Lake Balaton (www.balaton-tourism.hu). Discover Tihany's Benedictine Abbey, Veszprém's celebrated Castle Hill and cobbled streets, 10km (6 miles) north of the lake, and Sümeg's imposing hilltop castle and frescoed Church of Ascension.

Medieval churches and cathedrals

Discover the country's remote northeast, home to tiny medieval churches and one of the country's most beautiful cathedrals, the Greek Catholic Cathedral of Máriapócs, where the iconic Black Madonna resides.

Mountain hikes

Hike in Hungary's mountains. The Zemplén, Bükk and Mátra ranges northest of Budapest are popular, with the latter containing Hungary's highest peak, Kékestetö (1,015m/3,329ft). For less strenuous walks head to the hills north and south of Lake Balaton.

Pécs

See the fifth-oldest university in Europe (1367) and the finest Hungarian examples of Ottoman architecture from Turkish occupancy (1543-1686) in Pécs (www.pecs.hu). Visit the Cathedral, the Mosque of Gazi Kasim Pasha and the Archaeological Museum.

River Tisza

Fish in the River Tisza, widely regarded as one of Europe's premier angling spots. Accommodation for anglers is readily available, and guides can be hired if required. Species such as carp, bream, pike, trout and tench are abundant.

Sopron

Visit the delightful medieval hearts of Sopron (www.sopron.hu) and Kőszeg in the west of the country. Sopron boasts 240 listed buildings, including the Firewatch Tower, Storno House and the Gothic Goat Church, while Kőszeg's Jurisics tér contains a treasure-trove of baroque, renaissance and gothic architecture.
 

Szeged

Visit the vibrant university town of Szeged, an economic and cultural hub that is also home to Hungary's finest Greek Orthodox church (www.szegedportal.hu). Take a side trip to Kecskemét (www.kecskemet.hu), a centre for Hungarian art nouveau architecture.

Thermal lake

Soak away the stress in the large thermal lake at Hévíz (www.heviz.hu) near Lake Balaton. The soothing waters rarely drop below 33ºC (91ºF).

Thermal springs

Relax in Budapest's thermal springs (www.spasbudapest.com) (there are over 100 in the city) and medicinal baths. Visit Király Medicinal Baths, which date from the Middle Ages, the historic Rudas Medicinal Baths or the splendid outdoor pools of Széchenyi Baths.

Wine tasting

Spend hours wine tasting at the vineyards of the Szépasszony Valley, where visitors can sample the famous Bikavér (Bull's Blood) wine. Due east is Tokaj (www.tokaj.hu), the equivalent of Champagne as a wine-producing area. Alternatively, sample some of the country's best reds in and around Villány (www.villany.hu).

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