Information About Hungary - Hungarian Attractions

A

Airport

Budapest
The main airport in Hungary is located south of Budapest. In Hungarian, the full name of this airport is Ferihegyi Nemzetközi Repülőtér, but this is usually abbreviated to Ferihegyi or simply Budapest Airport. Nowadays, the official name is Ferenc Liszt Repülőtér. There are two terminals here (next to each other): 2A and 2B.
Budapest Airport

Transport to Budapest city centre:
Train/bus
There is a train to Nyugati Station. The station is a 200-metre walk across a footbridge. However, it is easier to take the 200E bus (900 at night) to Nyugati Station or to Ferihegy Station. A cheaper ticket is available for the latter. You will need to have a train ticket as well.

Car and bus
The airport is situated 20 kilometres south-east of Budapest city centre at the end of Üllői út, one of the Hungarian capital's main thoroughfares. There is a dedicated lane for traffic to and from the airport. The M0 motorway also allows you to travel quickly around Budapest and to destinations outside the city.

Bus route 100E runs from the airport to the city centre: Info on Bus 100E . The fare is 2,500 forints.

Taxi
Taxis from Fő-taxi, telephone +36 (1) 222-2222, are available outside the arrivals halls of terminals 2A and 2B. Uber is also available: Uber Taxi . For both, the fare to the city centre is approximately 12,000 forint.

Minibus
In the Arrivals Hall, there is a counter for the Airport Minibus (tel: +36 (1) 296-8555). This minibus transports passengers for a fixed fare depending on the distance (approximately 12,000 HUF for 1-4 people) to any address in Budapest. However, there must be enough passengers travelling in the same direction. Online bookings can be made at Booking.

Airport parking
Short-stay parking spaces are located close to the terminals (1,600 Forint for the first half hour, 2,300 Forint for the first hour, rising to 18,300 Forint per day). The long-stay car parks are a little further away. (7,900 Forint for the first day, 10,400 Forint for 2 days, 12,700 Forint for 3 days and, for example, 36,200 Forint for 16 days). For information on parking, call: +36 (1) 296-5553 or visit Budapest Airport Parking

B

Balaton

Lake Balaton ? The Hungarian Sea
Lake Balaton, affectionately known as ?the Hungarian Sea,? is one of Hungary?s most treasured natural landmarks and a beloved holiday destination for locals and international visitors alike. Situated in the western part of the country, this vast freshwater lake combines natural beauty, cultural heritage and recreational opportunities in a way that has attracted travelers for centuries.

Covering an area of approximately 592 square kilometers, Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. It stretches nearly 79 kilometers from west to east and reaches a maximum width of about 15 kilometers. Despite its size, the lake is relatively shallow, with an average depth of only three meters and a maximum depth of around twelve meters. This shallow nature allows the water to warm up quickly in summer, often reaching temperatures of 24 to 25 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for swimming and water sports.

Landscape and natural surroundings
The scenery around Lake Balaton is remarkably diverse. The southern shore is flat and gently sloping, featuring long, shallow beaches where families with children can enjoy safe and relaxed bathing. This side of the lake is known for its classic holiday resorts and lively atmosphere, with towns such as Siófok offering beaches, promenades and seasonal nightlife.

In contrast, the northern shore presents a more dramatic landscape. Here, rolling hills and ancient volcanic formations rise above the water, covered with vineyards and picturesque villages. This area is part of the Balaton Uplands National Park and is especially popular with hikers, cyclists and nature lovers. The volcanic hills, formed by extinct volcanoes, create striking views and contribute to the unique character of the region.

Wine, culture and historic towns
Wine production has played an important role around Lake Balaton for centuries. Both the northern and southern shores are home to renowned wine regions, including Badacsony, Csopak and Balatonfüred. The volcanic soil, combined with the moderating influence of the lake, creates excellent conditions for viticulture. As a result, local wines have gained increasing recognition, and wine tasting is a popular activity for visitors exploring the region.

One of the most distinctive locations along the lake is the Tihany Peninsula, which nearly divides Lake Balaton into two parts. Tihany is famous for its historic Benedictine Abbey, charming streets and panoramic views over the water. During early summer, lavender fields bloom across the peninsula, giving the area its reputation as the ?Provence of Hungary? and adding colorful aromas to the landscape.

Balatonfüred, located on the northern shore, is one of Hungary?s oldest spa towns. Since the 18th and 19th centuries, it has attracted nobles, writers and artists drawn by its mineral springs and elegant atmosphere. Today, Balatonfüred remains a cultural and recreational hub, with a beautifully maintained promenade, a modern marina and numerous festivals and events throughout the year.

Recreation and tourism
Lake Balaton offers a wide range of recreational activities. Visitors can swim, sail, windsurf or cycle along well-developed routes that circle the lake. Motorized traffic on the water is limited, contributing to the calm and environmentally friendly character of the area. Numerous campsites, holiday parks, hotels and guesthouses line the shores, making the lake accessible for different types of travelers and budgets.

Beyond nature and leisure, the region also boasts a rich cultural heritage. Historic castles, museums and traditional towns, such as Keszthely with its impressive Festetics Palace, reflect Hungary?s royal and aristocratic past. Nearby thermal baths, local cuisine and the warm hospitality of the inhabitants further enrich the visitor experience.

A timeless destination
More than just a lake, Balaton is a symbol of summer, relaxation and tradition for many Hungarians. Its combination of warm waters, scenic landscapes, historic towns and cultural life gives it a timeless appeal. Whether visitors seek tranquility by the water, active exploration in nature or vibrant resort life, Lake Balaton continues to offer something for everyone and remains one of Central Europe?s most distinctive and cherished destinations.

Baranya

Capital: Pécs

- Pécs is a cultural hotspot featuring a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The city is known for its ceramics, museums and Mediterranean atmosphere.
- Mohács is famous for its colourful Busójárás carnival.

Bács-Kiskun

Capital: Kecskemét

- Known for agriculture, fruit growing and, in particular, apricot brandy.
- Kecskemét boasts beautiful Art Nouveau architecture.
- Baja is popular for its fish dishes and annual fish soup festivals.

Békés

Capital: Békéscsaba

- Famous for its Békéscsaba sausages.
- Gyula attracts many visitors thanks to its thermal baths and medieval castle.

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén

Capital: Miskolc

- An industrial region with access to the Bükk Mountains.
- Near Miskolc lies the unique cave spa of Miskolctapolca.
- Eger, in the same county, is famous for its wine (Egri Bikavér) and its castle.

C

Climate

Hungary has a temperate climate which means that temperatures in the summer are high. In general, almost every day 25 degrees Celsius and there are days when even the temperature is above 35 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature ever measured in Hungary was on July 20, 2007 in Kiskunhalas and was 41.9 ° C. The nights are especially at Lake Balaton very sultry. In the interior you can have some pretty cool nights. Now and then it can also be something worse again with a single thunderstorm.
The winter cold is good. The low of Hungary is situated on February 16, 1940 in Miskolc-Görömbölytapolca with -35.0 °C.
The rainfall varies from 500 to 600 mm in the plains and from 600 to 800 mm in hilly areas. Hungary has about 1785 hours of sunshine annually. The coldest month is January (-1), while the warmest month is August with an average of over 21 degrees.

Csongrád-Csanád

Capital: Szeged

- Szeged is known as the ?City of the Sun? and is famous for its paprika and goulash.
- Cosy squares, a lively student atmosphere and beautiful riverside promenades.
- Hódmezővásárhely is known for its ceramics and local markets.

F

Fejér

Capital: Székesfehérvár

- Historic coronation city of Hungarian kings.
- Beautiful old town and museums.
- Dunaújváros showcases socialist industrial architecture.

Formula 1 Hungary

The Formula 1 Hungary is held at the Hungaroring circuit near Mogyoród about 30 kilometers east of Budapest. It is the first circuit that was used in the former Eastern bloc. This was in 1986. It's a twisty circuit where overtaking is virtually impossible. The circuit is more than 4 kilometers long. The race has 70 laps.

In 2026, the race is on July 26. The official sales site is Tickets Formula 1 Hungary.

G

General

The Republic of Hungary lies in the middle of Europe. The country is completely surrounded by land (it is not adjacent to any sea). It lies in the so-called Carpathian basin. In 1989 the name was changed from People's Republic of Hungary to Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság or Magyarorszag) in commemorating the revolution against the communist dictatorship. Since 2004 Hungary is a part of the EU.

The following countries constitute a border with Hungary: Austria 356 km, Croatia 355 km, Romania 453 km, Serbia 164 km, Slovakia 679 km, Slovenia 102 km and 137 km Ukraine, a total of 2246 km.

Hungary has a total area of 93,036 km2 and a population of 10.023 million (March 2009). Budapest is the capital and has 1.7 million inhabitants in 2009. Then Debrecen is the largest, the city has around 200000 inhabitants.

The highest point of Hungary is the Kekestető with a height of 1015 meter. This is also the main ski area of Hungary. The lowest point lies in Gyálaret, now a district of Szeged. Here is the height 75.8 meters. Pusztavacs is the geographical center of Hungary.

Győr-Moson-Sopron

Capital: Győr

- Győr has a charming Baroque old town.
- Sopron is a wine-growing town near the Austrian border, ideal for walks in the Lövérek Forest.
- The region is popular with wellness tourists (Bük, Sárvár)

H

Hajdú-Bihar

Capital: Debrecen

- Debrecen is Hungary?s second-largest city, home to major festivals and museums.
- Hortobágy National Park (UNESCO) is the place to go for puszta landscapes and traditional pastoral culture.

Heves

Capital: Eger

- Eger is known for its Baroque town centre, its thermal baths and its wine cellars.
- The region offers access to the Bükk Mountains, which are ideal for hiking and nature walks.

I

Important phonenumbers

Emergency: 112
Ambulance (Mentők): 104
Police (Rendőrseg): 107
Fire (Tűzoltóság): 105
Roadside Assistance: 188
Phone number Information in Hungary: 198
Phone number Information outside Hungary: 199
Tourinform Hotline from Hungary: 06 (80) 630-800
Tourinform from abroad: +36 (30) 303-0600

J

Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok

Capital: Szolnok

- Known for the River Tisza, ideal for water sports.
- Regional museums and traditional Jász culture.

K

Komárom-Esztergom

Capital: Tatabánya

- Esztergom is one of Hungary's oldest towns, home to a magnificent basilica.
- Stunning views of the Danube and historic fortresses.

L

Landscape

Hungary is generally divided into four geographical regions: the Nagy Alföld(Great Plain), the Northern Highlands, Dunántúl (Transdanubia) and Kis Alföld (Small Plain).
The Nagy Alföld covers more than half of the country lies east of the river Duna (Danube), which cuts from north to south through Hungary. The surface drains through the River Tisza and is an important agricultural area. The famous puszta (Puszta) - a formerly nomadic steppe area was used as natural pasture - is extracted, but a small part in the East is left in its natural state.

The second area are the mountains in the north. The Mátra mountains and Bükk mountains range have tops to 1000 m. At the foot of these mountains are important industrial cities of Budapest and Miskolc.

Dunántúl covers the entire area west of the Danube, with the exception of Kis Alföld in the northwest. This region consists mainly of rolling hills and low mountains. It is an agricultural area, the soil contains minerals. Lake Balaton, one of the largest lakes in Europe, is situated in Dunántúl.

The Kis Alföld is mostly flat and low, except the foothills of the Austrian Alps on the western border.

N

Nógrád

Capital: Salgótarján

- A peaceful, hilly region featuring castles such as Salgó and Somoskő.
- Popular with hikers and nature lovers.

P

Pest

Capital: (surrounding area) Budapest

- Pest surrounds the capital but is itself rural and hilly.
- Known for Szentendre (an artists? town) and Visegrád Castle with its views of the Danube.

Provinces

Hungary is divided into 19 provinces and the capital Budapest.

Overview provinces and capitals:
* Bács-Kiskun (Kecskemét)
* Baranya (Pécs)
* Békés (Békéscsaba)
* Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (Miskolc)
* Csongrád (Szeged)
* Fejér (Székesfehérvár)
* Győr-Moson-Sopron (Győr)
* Hajdú-Bihar (Debrecen)
* Heves (Eger)
* Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok (Szolnak
* Komárom-Esztergom (Tatabánya)
* Pest (Salgótarján)
* Pest (Budapest)
* Somogy (Kaposvár)
* Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg (Nyíregyháza)
* Tolna (Szekszárd)
* Vas (Szombathely)
* Veszprém (Veszprém)
* Zala (Zalagerszeg)

R

Railroad

In Hungary there are two train companies: MÁV and GYSEV. GYSEV drives in the west of the country and also in Austria. It connects Sopron and Győr with Ebenfurth (Austria) and goes to Szombathely and Szentgotthárd. The MÁV drives in the rest of the country.

MÁV timetable: MÁV .
Timetables GYSEV: GYSEV .

Rovásírás (Old-Hungarian script)

Old Hungarian script (Rovásírás) is the script the Hungarians used to use before the introduction of the Latin alphabet in 1000 because of the Kingdom of Hungary and Christianity. The name Rovás comes from the Hungarian word for "cutting", because the letters were carved on wood or sticks. After 1000 the script did not disappear and remained in use in Transylvania.
Scholars suggest that Rovás is better suited to write Hungarian than the Latin script. The script is currently gaining popularity again. There are even proposals for missing letters as W and Q, to create new characters. There is even an official request for the script to be fully accepted into Unicode. Original the script was read from right to left, but now the other way is also common.

In eastern Hungary and Transylvania many places write their names now again in this script.

See for example: Hungarian Rovás Homepage

Example of script:

S

Somogy

Capital: Kaposvár

- Gateway to Lake Balaton (particularly the southern shore).
- Kaposvár is renowned for its colourful Art Nouveau architecture.

Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg

Capital: Nyíregyháza

- Nyíregyháza is home to a popular zoo and spa complex (Sóstó).
- The county is known for its traditional villages and fruit growing.

T

Toll

The use of the highways in Hungary is a mandatory E-vignette. This is different from vignettes in neighboring countries like Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia and Romania, where you must paste a vignette on the windscreen. In Hungary, one must buy a vignette, in which the license plate is recorded. You must keep the receipt thereof and upon request show. This is automatically enforced with cameras on the ramps. One does not need an additional sticker on the windshield to paste. Cars fall into the class D1 and you can only buy vignettes for four days, weekly, monthly or yearly vignette. The cost for one weeks vignette are 3500 HUF, 4780 HUF for one months and 42,980 HUF for one years (2019 prices). One week vignette costs 10 euro approximately and an one months vignette 15 euro, depending on the exact exchange rate. More information on Toll . Since 2015 there is also a region vignette. It costs HUF 5000.

Be aware of 2015 the M0 is not completely toll free anymore. A map of toll roads is here.

Wich roads are tollfree:
* the M8 motorway,
* M9 expressway on its section between Main Road 6 and Main Road 51,
* the Kaposvár loop section of M9 expressway (sign of Main Road 61),
* the following sections of the M0 expressway:
- the section between Main Road 1 and the M5 motorway,
- the section between M4 expressway (Main Road 4) and M3,
- Megyeri Bridge (the section between Main Road 11 and Main Road 2).

The purchase of a vignette can be made at the border, at petrol stations and customer agencies on some motorways (note the word Matrica). One can also buy the vignette forward all over the Internet (see above URL) or by telephone. When the license plate should be taken to ensure that the intermediate lines are not used in Dutch and behind the badge NL should also be placed (with a space between license plate and NL).

Tolna

Capital: Szekszárd

- One of Hungary?s most important wine regions.
- Gentle hills, ideal for wine tours and cycling trips.

Traffic

Hungary has an extensive and well-developed road network. The country is an important link between Western and Central Europe to Southern and Eastern Europe.
The country has a very good highway system which is extended every year. All main roads lead to Budapest except 8. The highways are abbreviated with an M prefix, but called autópálya. Today, the first sections of highways were built out to begin or end in Budapest. A significant improvement was the construction of the bypass around Budapest, the M0. Bacause of this road traffic can travel easily around Budapest. The airport is not far from here. For a comprehensive list of motorways you can look at the following site (in German or English): Motorways and more .

The toll motorways should be paid (except in parts of large cities). See Toll .

Turul

The Turul is a mythological bird. It plays a role in the origin of the Hungarians and Hungary. The bird is probably a large falcon, the word comes from Turkish. It appears twice in the mythology. Once the Hungarians to move to depart from Russia to the current region, another time the Turul conceived Álmos and it is so the basis of the Hungarians.
There is a statue on the hill in Tatabánya (visible from the M1). It is argued that it is maybe the largest bird statue of Europe.

V

Vas

Capital: Szombathely

- Hungary?s oldest city, with a Roman history.
- Near Bükfürdő, one of the country?s largest thermal spa complexes.

Veszprém

Capital: Veszprém

- Historic City of Queens.
- Located near Lake Balaton, with a wealth of festivals and cultural attractions.

Z

Zala

Capital: Zalaegerszeg

- A green, hilly province with thermal baths.
- Hévíz, home to the world?s largest natural thermal lake, is located in this region.