Although the 1990s brought extremely difficult times with economic problems affecting many aspects of every day life, foreign investment and living standards have rapidly increased and the country is now firmly back on track.
For travellers, Hungary offers a wide range of attractions which beautifully fuse the best of eastern and western Europe together walk the vibrant streets of Budapest, take a dip in a thermal spa, listen to some local music, visit a local vineyard, admire some amazing architecture or simply unwind at the postcard perfect Lake Balaton. The varied highlights of this small countries amazing culture and history will keep you on your toes for weeks.
After the Czech Republic, Hungary is the most visited country in the former Eastern Bloc. Thousands of backpackers are attracted to Budapest, a cosmopolitan European capital on the banks of the Danube.
Visitors who refer to Hungary as a Balkan country risk getting a lecture on how this small, landlocked nation of just over ten million people differs from all those Slavs.
Hungary made the transition to multi party democracy without a shot being fired. The removal of the iron curtain along its border set in motion the events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The end of Communism has hastened the spread of glossy western capitalism and on arrival in Budapest your first impressions will be of a fast developing and prosperous nation.
This is the country which boasts one of the worlds most beautiful capital cities and the World Heritage list.
Hungary is divided in two by its main waterway, the Danube other large rivers include the Tisza and Drava, while Transdanubia contains Lake Balaton, a major body of water. The largest thermal lake in the world, Lake Heviz is located in Hungary. The second largest lake in the Carpathian Basin is the artificial Lake Tisza.
Despite repeated historical disasters which devastated both the people and their heritage, much remains of great value that is worth visiting and getting to know.
Lake Balaton in the west is a popular holiday region, not least because of its sandy beaches and the shallow waters.
Local dishes include fish soup with pasta. Budapest has many nightclubs, discos and bars. During the summer months the popular.
