Hungary beyond the Danube
Though Hungary is located almost bang in the centre of Europe, it has maintained a distinctive heritage and language all of its own. Thanks to low-cost holidays and flights and the city’s majestic appeal, many people flit in and out of Budapest without experiencing much beyond the banks of the Danube.
Budapest, by Sorina Bindea
But travel south and you’ll find sweeping plains; north, the stunning city of Eger and the famed Tokaj vineyards. Visit the vast freshwater lake at Tisza or just take a day trip from the capital and tour the historic cities of the river bend.
Budapest itself is not to be dismissed; a city of two halves spanning the Danube in a dramatic cityscape, with upbeat and inexpensive Pest on the one side and hilly, monumental Buda on the other. There’s plenty to take in here, from thermal baths to steaming bowls of goulash. However, even if you only have a few days at your command, there’s a lot to be said for jumping aboard a cruiser and setting off along the river to the Catholic opulence of Eszergom and its great Basilica, or medieval Visegrád with its ruins and show-stopping views.
To the north, the mountainous region of Eger-Tokaj boasts scenic villages, charming cities and flavoursome wines. The city of Eger boasts enough Baroque beauty to rival Budapest, and its museums relate a colourful history to match its patchwork of rooftops and green hills beyond. If natural sights are more to your taste, the caves beneath Aggtelek National Park are filled with stalactites, whilst wildlife roams freely in the forests above. The famed Tokaj vineyards are a big draw for this region, definitely meriting a stop on the tour and a swig or two.
Travel to the south-east and you’ll find World Heritage reserves, folk traditions from jam-making to wine festivals and the placid waters of Lake Tisza. Western Lake Balaton may have long been the seaside of choice for land-locked Hungarian residents, but Tisza has the Great South Plains: a huge expanse of prairie grazed by buffalo, patrolled by Hungarian cowboys and blessed with a few thermal waters of its own.
There are countless other sights to see if you can find the time – seek out the Roman catacombs in Pécs, trek the Villány Wine Road or pick up a piece of handcrafted Herend pottery before you return. With a fascinating culture and kind residents, Hungary is a relatively inexpensive trip that offers surprising culture and beauty for excellent value. No matter where you go in Hungary, make sure Budapest isn’t your only stop in this rich and surprising country.
