Hungary is a land for new experiences and new adventures. To the west is Lake Balatan and to the east, the Great Plain with its wide vistas. Budapest, now so accessible to American visitors, is a 19th-century jewel pulsing with energy. As much as 50 % of the country's territory is flat: the Great Hungarian Plain occupies the entire eastern part of the country and the Small Plain lies along the north-west border. The two most important rivers, the Danube (Hungarian stretch: 417 km) and the Tisza (598 km) cut across the country from north to south.

A range of mountains of medium height stretches across the country. West of the Danube, the TRANSDANUBIAN RANGE is 400-700 metres high, divided into the Keszthely Hills, the Bakony, Vértes, Gerecse, Pilis and Visegrád mountains. East of the Danube the NORTHERN MOUNTAIN RANGE rises to heights of 500-1000 meters, divided into the Börzsöny, Cserhát, Mátra, Bükk, Cserehát and Zemplén mountains. The highest point is Kékes (1,014 m) in the Mátra Mountains. The Hungarian "puszta" (plain) is a favourite tourist destination where the characteristic animals and ethnographic traditions can be seen in the Hortobágy National Park (HORTOBÁGY) and in the Kiskunság National Park (BUGAC, APAJPUSZTA, LAJOSMIZSE) when the horse shows are held.

Budapest, the capital, straddles the Danube-called the Duna here-and is the heart of the social and cultural life. Among the principal sights are the Chain Bridge, one of eight spans connecting the bluffs of Buda and flat Pest; the historic Castle District, topped by the Royal Castle (which houses the National Gallery and Budapest Historical Museum); the Fishermen's Bastion overlook; and the impressive Parliament Building. Margaret Island, the site of outdoor concerts in the summer, houses two popular spas. Budapest is the home of the Hungarian State Opera, the Hungarian State Philharmonic Orchestra and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Pecs, Szeged and Gyor have opera companies, and Debrecen is the base for the Kodaly Choir.

Summer activities include performances of opera, concerts and dance at the Hilton Hotel in Budapest; concerts and sports events in the Lake Balaton region; and opera and folk performances in Szeged. 
Gypsy music is played in many restaurants, and many hotels and night clubs in Budapest present cabarets. Casino gambling is offered in several hotels and aboard a large Danube cruise ship. The Merlin International Theatre in Budapest holds performances in English in the summer months.

Specialties include ceramics, tapestries, leather goods, famous wines, spicy salami, embroidery and lace, and inexpensive classical and opera compact disks. Vaci Utca on the Pest side is Budapest's main shopping street. The traditional Magyar cuisine abounds in piquant flavors and aromas. National dishes include goulash, fish soup, stuffed cabbage, chicken paprika with noodles, and dessert pancakes filled with nuts, cherries and currants and topped with melted chocolate. Tokay wine and brandy are popular drinks.

Check our "Rhapsodies" for quick city visits' rates. Rhapsodies are 2 or 3 nights program in major cities with hotel accommodation selected by central location and value. usually, a city tour is also included. Use them as they are for a single city visit or combine them for a more complete program. To check rates, select the date of your stay from the calendar that will appear.