Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

Budapest - the capital

The Royal Palace (Királyi palota)

The most popular attraction on the hill.

National Gallery (Nemzeti Galéria)

Inside the Royal Palace wings B, C and D houses an astounding collection of paintings.

Fisherman's Bastion

The Fisherman's Bastion and lookout terrace (Halászbástya). For impressive views across the Danube to Pest.

Matthias Church

Matthias Church (Mátyás templom, aka Church of Our Lady). Dominant neogothic church crowning Budapest's cityscape - nowadays is under reconstruction.

The Historical Museum of Budapest

The Music Museum

Includes a collection of musical instruments and the Bartok archive.

The Military Museum

Marzipan Museum

Pharmacy Museum

Museum of Medieval Judaism

Margaret Island

Margaret Island (Margitsziget) and its large parks (see Buda) are a very pleasant place to relax and wander. Perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Parliament Building (Országház)

A neogothic jewel, beautifully situated overlooking the Danube.

St. Stephen Cathedral (Szent István Bazilika)

The main church of Budapest is an important example of neoclassical architecture, recently renovated.

Great Synagogue and the Jewish Museum (Dohány utcai Zsinagóga)

The biggest Synagogue in Europe, and the most impressive in the world. Next to the Synagogue is a small but impressive museum. In the rear of the Synagogue is a memorial for victems of the Shoah. The synagogue was recently restored to its former grandeur. A block away you'll find a smaller, but nearly identical synagogue built long before the Great Synagogue. The plaque in front explains that this was used as some sort of assembly grounds for those persecuted during the Holocaust before they were deported. It has not been renovated, and you can see through the boards on the outside how decrepit it still is. A chilling sight.

Museum of Ethnography

National Museum

Museum of Applied Arts

Natural History Museum

Ludwig Museum of Modern Art

Holocaust Memorial Centre

Museum of Transport

Jewish Museum

Bible Museum

The State Opera House

The House of Terror (Terror Háza)

Housed in the secret police headquarters, this museum objectively documents the terror of the Nazi and Communist eras. Visiting is hard work, but essential for anyone wishing to understand Hungary's recent past.

Hopp Museum of East Asian Art

Nearby is another similar collection, namely Gyorgy Museum.

Ernst Museum

Contemporary Hungarian art.

City Park

The City Park (Városliget) is at the far end is probably the most pleasant of Pest's districts and features several interesting if low-key attractions which are often overlooked

Heroes' square (Hősök tere)

With the Millennium Monument.

Museum of Fine Arts

Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) has an incredible range of European artwork from Greek and Roman times to the present. Especially valuable is its collection of Spanish Baroque painting.

Vajdahunyad Vára

A castle on a little island on a lake built for the 1898 World Fair. In the winter, the lake is turned into the city's biggest ice rink. Nowadays it houses an agricultural museum

Aquincum

Aquincum was a city in the Roman times, it's remains are turned into a great open-air museum. It's situated in the Óbuda district of northern Buda.

Gül Baba Türbéje

Gül Baba Türbéje is the shrine where Gül Baba (literally Rose Father, from whom the Rózsadomb (Rose Hill) was named) lies.Offers a nice view and the little street which leads down the hill from there contains more houses that won the "House of the Year" award.

Kassák Museum

Kassák Museum at the Zichy Castle shows works of the modern Hungarian artists as well as modern Hungarian art.

Kiscelli Museum

The Budapest Picture Gallery.

Statue Park

Rather than smash the statues of the Communist era, the Hungarians arranged them with a twist of irony in this park to the south of Buda.

Victor Vasarely Museum

Victor Vasarely Museum shows many works of the famous Hungarian-born post-modern painter Vásárhelyi Győző (1908-1997).

Kodály Museum

Liszt Museum

Bartók's House

The Music Museum

Includes a collection of musical instruments and the Bartok archive.

Fashion Museum

MEO Budapest's art fair

House of the Future

Debrecen - the second largest city in the country

Nagytemplom

Nagytemplom (Great Church) on Kossuth tér is Debrecen's most recognizable building and a symbol of the city. It is the centerpiece of what was once called "Calvanist Rome." Visitors can tour the interior, as well as go up in the tower to see the Rákóczi bell, the largest bell in Hungary, and excellent views of the city.

Déri Museum

On Déri tér 1. (right behind the Great Church, take tram #1) is a place to see. It's a national museum with all kinds of arts. There is a nature display showing the animal life of the region, another collection featuring historical items from the region, and an art gallery featuring works from Hungarian artists. It's most famous work is Hungarian Mihály Munkácsy's Christ trilogy, three large paintings depicting Christ before Pilate, the Crucifixion, and Ecce Homo!

Ferenc Medgyessy Memorial Museum

On Péterfia u. 28. (just behind the Debrecen Plaza and most easily reached by tram #1) displays the works and life of the artist.

László Holló Memorial Museum

On Holló László sétány 8. (located in Tócóskert, take bus #19) is housed on a one-acre park featuring a cottage housing the artist's works and a statue garden.

Delizsánsz Kiállítóterem

Postamúzeum (Post Museum) on Múzeum u. 3. (across the square from the Déri Museum in the main post office).

Debreceni Irodalmi Múzeum (Debrecen Literary Museum)

On Borsos József tér 1. (just north of the downtown, take bus #12, 15, 31 or 32) has a permanent exhibit from the 1890 Csokonai literary circle. It also houses occasional temporary exhibits.

Vidámpark (Amusement Park)

On Ady Endre út 1. is not as large or impressive as the park in Budapest, but nevertheless boasts to be the largest such park this side of the Tisza. There are 15 rides including a fantasy castle, ferris wheel, and a children's railroad.

Állatkert (Zoo)

On Ady Endre út, together with the Vidámpark forms the Culture Park.

Aquaticum

On Nagyerdei Park 1. is the major resort of the town. It features a water park, public pool, bath house, hotel, and restaurants.

Műjégpálya (Skating Rink)

DVSC Stadium

Where the local soccer team plays (nicknamed "Loki"). They most recently won the Hungarian championship in 2005 and 2006.

Kossuth Lajos University

Located on Egyetem tér, just west of the park, is one of the largest universities in the region and good for a stroll, or for taking Hungarian language classes in the summer.

Eger - famous for its baroque buildings, castle and wines, especially Bull's Blood (Bikavér).

Gothic Palace

The Gothic Palace houses an excellent exhibit on the history of the castle, the Turkish siege, and aftermath.

Art Gallery

The Art Gallery contains artwork from different Hungarian artists, most notably Munkacsy.

Panopticum

Panopticum exhibits of a dozen wax figures based on characters from the book "Eclipse of the Crescent Moon" by Géza Gardonyi. Winter time: open 9am-3pm. Entrance 350ft adult; 250ft children/students/retired.

Weapon exhibition

Weapon exhibition on Dobó bastion contains weapons from all around the world.

Minting museum

Minting museum displays coins of ancient origin.

Minaret

Minaret the northernmost minaret in Europe and the tallest in Hungary (the other two are in Pécs and Érd) the minaret is a 42 meter high symbol of the Turkish occupation. It is 97 steps to the top, but be warned, the climb up is in an incredibly enclosed space on uneven and slippery steps and there is little room to move around up top so those who are afraid of heights or tight places should just enjoy it from the outside. Open for visitors from April to November.

Ráctemplom

Ráctemplom (Serbian church) on Vitkovics Mihály u. 30. features baroque and rococo architecture and the iconostasis painted by Miklós Jankovich.

wine museum

The wine museum, not very big but pleasant

Basilica

Basilica on Pyrker tér 1. is the third largest in Hungary (the other two are in Esztergom and Budapest).

Lyceum

Lyceum is the baroque building opposite the Basilica and currently functions as a college. The Archbishop's Library inside is home to various frescoes, including one of the Council of Trent, as well as the only handwritten letter by Mozart in Hungary. The Observatory in the tower features a mirror telescope, a cannon sun dial which announces midday with a small explosion, and a camera obscura which projects an image of the city skyline on the wall.

Széchenyi Street

Széchenyi Street is the main pedestrian shopping street which features a variety of shops and restaurants.

Esztergom - The first capital, the seat of Constitutional court and the Roman catholic Church of Hungary, home of the biggest church in Central Europe.

Esztergom Basilica

Esztergom Basilica on castle hill. 9AM-4:30PM. The town's claim to fame and the largest basilica in the country. It was in a church formerly built on the same spot that the Hungarian king Vajk was baptised and from then on known as Saint Stephen. Entrance to the basilica is free, though you can pay extra to visit the crypts, cupola, and the treasury.

The Keresztény Múzeum/Christian Museum

Mindszenty ter 2. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. The biggest ecclestial collection in Hungary. The museum is in the Primate's Palace in the Watertown part of town.

Castle museum

Szent Istvan ter 1. Tu-Su 9AM-4:30PM. It's next to the basilica. The castle was built on ancient Roman fundaments. Free.

Széchenyi square

Széchenyi square is one of the town's latest sights. It was completely rebuilt in 2006. It's the main square of Esztergom with mostly baroque buildings, fountains and restaurants.

Bálint Balassa Museum

Pázmány Péter u. Local and regional history museum.

Mihály Babits Museum (Babits-villa)

Babits Mihály u 11 (By car: Take Siszler u. opening from the main road). House of famous 20th century poet Mihály Babits.

Kecskemét - a town famous for its vibrant music scene, plum brandy, and Art Nouveau architecture

Cifra Palota (Ornamental Palace)

Cifra Palota (Ornamental Palace) on the East side of Szabadság square. One of the finest examples of Hungarian secessionist architecture, the building was completed in 1902 based on the designs of Hungarian architect Géza Márkus. Formerly an apartment building, it now houses the Kecskemét Gallery.

Old Synagogue

Old Synagogue across the street from the Cifra Palota on Szabadság square this fantastic moorish-style synagogue now houses the House of Science and Technics.

Town Hall

Bozsó Gyűjtemény (Bozsó collection)

Klapka u. 34. 76/324-625. Features Hungarian folk art and furniture from local artists.

Magyar Naiv Művészek Múzeuma (Museum of Hungarian Naive Artists)

Gáspár A. u. 11. 76/324-767. A survey of the Naive, art produced by untrained artists that typically reflects peasent life. The collection includes several colorful, surreal or somewhat medieval paintings, as well as some sculptures. The museum is located near the Toy Museum and is closed during the winter months.

Szórakaténusz Játékmúzeum és Műhely

 (Szórakaténusz Toy Museum and Workshop) [4] Gáspár A. u. 11. 76/324-767. Displays peasent toys of Hungary, some of the more fascinating ones include wooden churches and a wooden pinball game. The museum is fun for all ages. Workshop can be visited for an additional fee.

Kecskeméti Képtár (Kecskemét Gallery)

Rákóczi u. 1. 76/480-776. Housed in the magnificent Cifra Palota the gallery hosts a history of the city (though with no explanations in English) and several modern paintings from Hungarian masters. Also of note is one exhibition room that is decorated similar to the exterior of the palace.

Ráday Museum of Calvinist Ecclesiastical History

Kálvin tér 1. Excellent museum hosts examples of Calvinist Architecture, including the ceiling and pulpit from a Transylvanian church, a collection of chalices, an exhibit on clocks, local sculptures depiciting biblical stories, and a mineral collection.

József Katona Memorial House

Katona József u.

Zoltán Kodály Music-Pedagogy Institute

Kéttemplomköz 1. 76/481-518. Housed in a former monastery complete with a wooden tower is the institute founded by composer Kodály. Inside is a small exhibit (the length of a hallway) featuring music books, pictures, and other items regarding Kodály's life. There's very little in English, in fact there's very little at all, and it's probably best appreciated by fans of the composer.

Leskowsky Musical Instrument Collection

Zimay László u. 6/a 76/486-616. The personal collection of Leskowsky can only be visited by prior arrangement. Leskowsky will take you around personally and show his collection of instruments from around the world.

Hungarian Photography Museum

Katona József tér 12. 76/483-221. Hungary's only Photography museum is housed in a former synagogue (before that it was a dance hall). The well-restored ceiling features Jewish themes. Besides the photography itself there's a wonderful collection of cameras, ranging from older giant boxes to modern sleek designs.

Collection of Hungarian Folk Art Crafts

Museum of Medicinal and Pharmacy History

House of Science and Technics

Zwack Fruit Brandy Distillery and Exhibition

Miskolc - with the unique cave bath in Miskolc-Tapolca, the third largest city in the coutry, located near the Bükk hills

Main Street

Main Street (Széchenyi st.) and City Hall Square (Városház tér) with 19th century houses and lots of shops

Ottó Herman Museum

National Theatre of Miskolc

Protestant Church of Avas

A beautiful Gothic church on the Avas hill, one of the oldest buildings of the city (13th century)

Greek Orthodox church

Greek Orthodox church (18th century) with the largest iconostasion in Central Europe

Protestant "Wooden Church"

A beautiful church made of wood (built in 1998 as the exact copy of the original church that was burnt down in 1997)

Avas Observation Tower

Avas Observation Tower with panorama on the city

The partly restored ruins of medieval Diosgyor castle, surrounded by the modern blocks of flats. There are several exhibitions in the castle: archaeological findings in the area of a castle and the old Pauline monastery, mediaeval weapons and two waxworks, one shows the everyday life in Diósgyőr in the Middle Ages, another shows King Louis the Great and the envoy from Venice. Mediaeval castle plays are held in every May and August.

Cave bath

Cave bath (thermal bath in a natural cave)

Before the cave bath there is a large, nice park with a boat lake

Rock chapel (a chapel in a small natural cave)

Palace Hotel (Palota szálló)

A beautiful hotel with Renaissance restaurant

Lake Hámori

(an artificial lake; boats)

Narrow-gauge railway

Narrow-gauge railway between Miskolc-Diósgyőr and Lillafüred with open carriages

Anna Cave

Anna Cave (Anna-barlang, also known as Mésztufa-barlang and Petőfi-barlang). It has evolved in travertino (freshwater limestone), that is a rare phenomenon. Near the cave entrance is the Szinva waterfall, with a height of 20 metres the highest in Hungary. Guided tours.

István Cave

A dripstone cave with guided tours.

Szeleta Cave

A half-an-hour walk from Lillafüred railway station, following the red square hiking sign. Prehistoric human remains were found here.

Museum of Metallurgy

Ancient foundry

One stop beyond Lillafüred by Bus 15 or the narrow-gauge railway. This 18th century foundry is supplemented with a little museum.

Nyíregyháza - a small city with a busy water resort, museum village, and annual autumn festival

Sóstói Múzeumfalu (Open Air Museum of Sóstó)

Located in the suburb of Nyíregyháza - Sóstó on Tölgyes utca 1. It wonderfully preserves the architecture and customs of rural life in the region from a hundred years ago. The museum also often holds festivals and events where visitors can step back in time and experience life the way it used to be.

Jósa András Múzeum on Benczúr tér

is the city's main museum and houses several permanent exhibits and occasional temporary ones. The permanent collection includes exhibits on local painter Gyula Benczúr, the life and works of local author Gyula Krúdy, the life of the museum founder Jósa András, the history of Nyíregyháza until World War I, the Hungarian calvary or huszárs, and the history of money.

Görög Katolikus Egyházművészeti Gyűjtemény (Greek Catholic Art Collection)

Görög Katolikus Egyházművészeti Gyűjtemény (Greek Catholic Art Collection) on Bethlen Gábor utca 5. contains artistic relics of the Hungarian Greek Catholic church dating back as far as the 16th century.

Felső-Tisza-vidéki Vízügyi Történeti Gyűjtemény

Felső-Tisza-vidéki Vízügyi Történeti Gyűjtemény (Water Supply Historical Collection of the Upper-Tiszanian Region) on Móricz Zsigmond utca 48. contains items, photos, and portraits relating to water engineering in the county for the past 100 years.

Kállay Gyűjtemény (Kállay Collection)

On Széchenyi utca 1. contains items relating to and owned by former prime minister Miklós Kállay.

Greek Catholic Church on Bethlen Gábor u.

Roman Catholic Temple on the main square, Kossuth tér

Reform Church on Kálvin tér, just south of Kossuth tér

Lutheran Church on Luther square

Orthodox Synagogue on Sip u. is currently not used, though recently restored and can be visited.

Pécs - a pleasant cultural centre and university town

Early Christian monuments

A must for anyone visiting Pecs is the 4th c. early Christian necropolis. Several of the excavated, underground burial chambers and chapels have been connected to make it a complex under the name Cella Septichora. (Cella Septichora being the largest of them.) Several of the burial chambers are painted, including the St. Peter and St. Paul Chamber with one of the earliest depictions of Virgin Mary.

Mosque Church

Széchenyi tér. Formerly the Pasha Gazi Kassim Mosque, this Ottoman-era mosque was converted into a Catholic church by the simple expedient of hanging a crucified Jesus above the mihrab (the prayer niche pointing to Mecca). Even the original Arabic inscriptions inside the niche remain intact.

The Cathedral (Székesegyház)

The most important, largest and beautiful religious building in the area.

Television tower

Open for visitors; provides a nice panorama on the city, on the neighbouring Mecsek Mountains, and on the hills in the south.

Vasarely Museum

Dedicated to the works of Victor Vasarely, founder of op-art.

Csontváry Museum

A museum featuring the paintings of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, a visionary painter from the early 20th century.

Szeged - the sunniest city in Hungary

Kárász street - main street, downtown

Tisza river

Dóm square, and the Votive church

Székesfehérvár - Former royal seat, currently famous for its baroque architecture and museums

Bishops Palace

This large pile dominates Városház square and is one of Hungary's most important Zopf style buildings. The palace was constructed in 1800-1801 from ruins of the former cathedral in the Ruin Garden.

Szent István Cathedral

On Arany János utca was originally built in 1235 by King Béla IV, who was later crowned there. Most of what you see today, however, was from after 1777, when the cathedral became the episcopal seat. The interior is baroque in style and the towers were begun at the beginning of the 19th century.

Szent Anna Cathedral

Directly next to the Szent István Cathedral on Arany János utca, Szent Anna's is one of the few medeival buildings left untouched by the Turks. The church was constructed in 1470 in a Gothic style.

Középkori Romkért (Medieval Ruin Garden)

A national memorial located on Koronázó tér, just east of the main square. In the middle ages this was the site of Hungary's most important church and had it not been for the Turks blowing it up, it would be to Hungary what Westminster Abbey is to England. The church was begun in 1016 under Hungary's first Christian king, Szent István. At the time, Székesfehérvár was the capital of the kingdom, and this church was the site of numerous coronations. In addition, from 1038 to 1543 fifteen Hungarian kings were put to eternal rest here (starting with Szent István himself and ending with Szapolyai János). As already mentioned, the church was destroyed by the Turks in 1601 and in 1800 the remains were used to build the Bishops Palace on nearby Városház square. Today all that remains of the once great basilica are stone walls outlining its form. The big draw, however, is to visit the mausoleum containing Szent István's sarchaphogus. This was discovered in 1803 during the building of the Bishop's Palace. The cherubic forms on the outside and royal relics contained within clearly identified this as the tomb of Szent István. The sarchaphogus originally was taken to the National Museum in Budapest, but was brought back to Székesfehérvár in 1936, and since then has remained in the attractive mausoleum at the entrance of the garden. Photography is not allowed in the mausoleum.

Régészeti Kiállítás

Új Magyar Képtár

Csók István Képtár

Budenz Ház

Fekete Sas Patika Múzeum

Schaár Erzsébet Gyújtemény

Babaház (Doll Museum)

On Megyeház u. 17 has 63 dollhouse displays spread out over seven rooms. The collection contains dolls and dollhouses as old as from the 17th century up to the 20th. The fine details are sure to keep adults just as interested as little girls, and for the boys there's even a large display of old military toys set up defending a castle. Photography is not allowed in the museum.

Palotavárosi Skanzen

Located on Rác utca 11, slight west of the downtown, is nowhere near as large as other museum villages in Hungary (though the whole street is preserved, only number 11 can visited), nevertheless it does an excellent job of preserving day to day life of Sebian immigrants living on Rác street (Rác is the old Hungarian word for Serb). The first section contains the family room and kitchen (make sure to look straight up at the darkened chimney where they used to dry sausage). The next section preserves the family's hat shop, and the final section contains various mementos from the street's former residents. Photography is not allowed in the museum.

Bory Castle

Bory Castle is the town's most popular attraction. Located in an Eastern residential area the castle (really more of a mansion) is the work of Hungarian sculptor and architect Jenő Bory. The castle was built from 1923 to 1959 by several of Bory's students under his supervision. Today the castle contains a wide range of architectural styles ranging from Scottish, Romanesque, and Gothic. Most of the complex is completely open to visitors, and you can freely climb the towers, or walk through the gardens and among the sculptures--all originals by Bory. Inside are several galleries featuring paintings, also created by Bory. Closed during winter