his small country proudly possesses one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world - Budapest, not to mention its culture and natural beauty. Uniquely, Hungary can also boast of two-thousand-year-old Roman remains, four-hundred-year-old monuments from the Turkish period, beautiful Romanesque churches, neo-Gothic and art nouveau architecture, and castles that are still imposing even though they have long since fallen into ruin. Those who love nature and a little relaxation by the shore may explore Europe's largest freshwater lake - Lake Balaton, which is also called the "Hungarian Sea" - or the many conservation areas with their wonderful and protected living world.

Hungary is the ideal place for anyone wishing to enjoy a spa or wellness vacation. Each year thousands of visitors seeking rest and rejuvenation travel to the country's spa cities, which are famous for their natural healing thermal waters. Recent years, the resorts themselves have been dynamically improved both in the range and quality of services and the treatments on offer. In addition to spas, you can find countless cultural, sports and other facilities right across the country.

If you travel to Hungary don't miss to taste the gastronomic delicacies for example Goulash soup, stuffed cabbage, paprika chicken, roast pig or duck, the famous letcho, and for dessert the sour-cherry strudel. Finally, don't forget the excellent Hungarian apricot brandy and the many tasty quality wines including the "king of wines", Tokaj.

Hungary's world heritage sites are the followings: Pécs, Pannonhalma, Budapest, Hollóko, Hortobágy, Aggtelek, Tokaj, Ferto. These places are worth visiting as all of them have a special and interesting atmosphere. If you discover this unique country in the middle of Europe, you can be sure that it will be an unforgettable experience. Travel to Hungary!

Winter is relatively mild, with temperatures sometimes below 0 degrees. Tourist sights, however, are often closed and there is not much to visit in these bleak days. New year's eve is an exception. Street parades, live concerts and in-house parties are the places where Hungarian celebrate the coming of the new year.

Spring is glorious in Hungary. March can be a little windy but April is sure to offer some warm sunshine. This is the time of the Budapest Spring Festival, a two-week long cultural and musical event.

The summer in Hungary is warm and long, and tourists are pouring into the country. In addition to the sights of Budapest, most of the tourists take some time to visit the countryside and catch a glance of the traditional Hungarian lifestyle in the Puszta, or amaze themselves with the work of artisan in historical towns like Eger or Sopron.

The autumn is beautiful, nice hikes can be taken in the hills around Budapest. Museums are still open and with the passing of the summer heat, longer walks can be enjoyed during the day in the downtown area. November usually turns rainy but it is counterbalanced by the hype caused by the approaching of the Christmas holidays.

Form of state: Republic
Location: Central - Europe
Area: 93 030 sq km
Population: 10355000
Capital: Budapest
Time zone: Central European Time (GMT+1 hour)
Official language: hungarian
Administrative division: Budapest and 19 counties
Climate: continental
Currency: Forint (HUF)
International phone code: +36 for Hungary / +36 1 for Budapest

Hungary has a very extensive public transportation system, especially in Budapest. Buses run from half past four in the morning until about 11 at night. Night buses run on the most frequented lines from 11 until 4 in the morning, so it is always possible to either go home at night or to substantially reduce taxi costs by taking public some part of the way.

Never forget to purchase and validate a ticket because ticket controllers are plenty and can spot you as a foreigner from quite a distance. Tickets can be purchased at newspaper stands and special ticket offices at Metro stations. If you intend to take a bus at night, make sure you purchase a ticket during the day as it can be difficult to get one at night, though the driver is supposed to be able to supply you with one. There are ticket-machines in major tram stops as well, but they can be out of order and it is rather difficult to explain this to the controllers.

It is possible to get weekly and monthly passes, which are quite a bargain. For about $10 you can get a monthly pass for the Budapest area and never have to worry again.

Stores are normally open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but shopping centers are usually open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Banks, post offices, etc. are open usually up to 5 p.m. and open at 8 a.m. The post office at the Nyugati (Western) Train Staition is open 24/7. You can find non-stop food stores all over Budapest and supermarkets just outside the capital are also open all day.

Any kind of emergency: 112
Police: 107
Ambulance: 104
Fire-fighters: 105

Hungary is becoming more and more westernized in this aspect. Shopping centers are "popping up" all over the country, especially in and around Budapest. If you are looking for hand-made products, visit the famous Vaci utca in the city center.

Currency: Forint (HUF) Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF
Notes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 HUF

Some indicatory prices:
Fast-food meal: $2,50 USD (700 HUF)
Restaurant meal: $4-6 USD (1200-1800 HUF)
Taxi: $0,80 + $0,65 USD/kilometer (200 HUF + 160 HUF/kilometer)
Bus/metro ticket in Budapest: $0,30 USD (100 HUF)
Gasoline: 95 octave, unleaded - $0,70 USD (230 HUF)
Bread: 1 kg - $0,50 USD (150 HUF)

Hungary is not an expensive place for foreign travellers. If you don't spend most of your time in night clubs and casinos, you can get away with $30-$50 USD a day. It's been a decade since the transition from socialism to liberal democracy and market economy, so you can basicly buy in Hungary most of what you are used to at home.

You can exchange your foreign cash at banks, travel agents, shopping centers and exchange offices in the shopping area. Commission is around 2%. ATMs can be found throughout the country, accepting both credit and debit cards. Traveller's cheques are not accepted very widely, or if yes, at a rather low rate, so it's better to walk around with the minimum cash and a bank card.

Hungarian society is very tip conscious. Never forget to tip waiters and taxi drivers. Tip is about 10% of the total amount.

Like in every country, pay attention to pick-pockets, especially in crowded shopping centers and the underground area. Don't forget that they'll spot you as a tourist from a distance and approach you thinking that you'll be an easy prey. Always hold your bag and valuables close to you. These second class thieves will never use aggression to get hold of anything, so if they see that you are cautious, they'll leave you alone.

If you are having a meal at a restaurant, always ask for the price if it is not indicated on the menu card. Never change your foreign cash on the street because these guys are not making a living from the usual 2% commission. If you are taking a taxi, try to avoid private taxis without a company name indicated on the side of the car. If the taxi driver proposes to transport you "without a bill", don't forget to agree on the amount prior to the service. This can avoid you a lot of trouble.

If you are taking public transport, make sure you validate your ticket every time. Ticket controlers are plenty and they "love" tourists as they see them as a source of easy cash. You can rarely get away by saying that you had no idea where to validate your ticket.