麻豆APP

Top 5 cities to visit in Hungary

I was so Hungary, so Iran to eat a Turkey, might be lame but I couldn鈥檛 help myself. Contrary to the joke Hungary is a land of plenty and famous for its goulash and paprika. It鈥檚 home to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, which is often referred to as the Hungarian Sea.

Hungarian folk culture is rich and highly influenced by the many societies that ruled over the land from Romans, Ottomans, Mongols, Magyar, Czechs to the Soviets. It鈥檚 filled with Roman ruins, medieval town houses, baroque churches, neoclassical public buildings and art nouveau bathhouses for you to explore.

Hungary is a landlocked country, despite the Hungarian sea, located in Central Europe and borders Slovakia (north), Romania (east), Serbia (south), Croatia (Southwest), Slovenia (west), Austria (Northwest) and Ukraine (Northeast). Even though it is quite small there are many stunning sceneries worth exploring. Here are the top 5 cities to visit in Hungary.

1. Budapest

Shoes Danube Promenade, Budapest – Wikipedia

Considered the most beautiful city in Hungary and among the top best cities to visit in Europe. Budapest reflects the country鈥檚 relatively dark history and progress to a colorful modern time. From a nationwide revolution against communist regime in 1956 that resulted in bullets holes covering many of the buildings in the area, still visible up to date, to it being a top tourist destination today.

The city also pays homage to the countless Jews lives lost during the 2^nd World War. The memorial is found at Shoes of the Danube, where Jews removed their shoes before being shot and washed away by the river.

Budapest is Hungary鈥檚 capital city and was formed when three cities, 脫buda, Buda and Pest, joined together. It was originally known as 鈥楶est-Buda鈥� but the name was later changed to appease the public. Buda and Pest are connected by the bridge of Sz茅chenyi (known as the 鈥楥hain Bridge鈥�).

2. Eger

Egri Bikaver – Wikipedia

It is a wine-producing town famous for producing 鈥楤ikaver鈥� or 鈥楤ull鈥檚 Blood, a type of red wine. According to locals, 鈥楤ikaver鈥� has the richest taste of all red wines in the whole world. The wine is produced in the Valley of the Women, a series of wine cellars and restaurants built into surrounding hills.

Witness the remnants of the Turkish invasion that greatly influence the city鈥檚 baroque architecture style. Climb up the 150-step Torok Kori Minaret, the northernmost Turkish minaret in Europe, and enjoy a perfect aerial view of the surrounding.

Eger is located in norther Hungary on the Eger River. It is the second largest city in the country and was founded by Saint Stephen, Hungary鈥檚 first Christian king, in the 10^th century. Saint Stephen commissioned the building of castle hill cathedral, which the city grew around. Up to date Eger remains an important religious center being home to fourteen beautiful churches with their own unique features.

3. Sopron

Fire Watch Tower, Sopron – Wikipedia

Sopron is located on the boarder of Austria and Hungary. For centuries, it has been an Austrian and Hungarian city but a 1921 vote declared it should be part of Hungary, thus earning the city the title 鈥楳ost Loyal Town鈥�. The towns iconic Fire Watch Tower pays tribute to this with a statue known as 鈥渢he People of Sopron.鈥� The city is also referred to as Little Prague as it resembles Prague with its Gothic and early Baroque architecture.

The charming bilingual town was established an ancient trade center on the Amber Road connecting the Adriatic Sea and the Baltic Sea. Traces of Roman past can be found in the town that was once part of Roman Empire called Scarbantia. During the 2^nd World War Sopron was bombed several times but many of its medieval buildings survived. Belvaros, a medieval inner town is proof of this.

4. P茅cs

Sopianae Early Christian Necropolis – Flickr

It lies on the southern slopes of Macsek Mountains and is the fifth-largest city in Hungary. It is also referred to as 鈥榯he Borderless City鈥� due to its peaceful multicultural union of Hungarians, Croatians, Serbians and Germans. In 1998 UNESCO prize 鈥淐ities for Peace鈥� was awarded to P茅cs for maintaining its cultural minorities as well as its tolerant and helping attitude towards refuges of the Yugoslav Wars.

The city traces date back to more than 2,000 years when it was first settled by Celts. It enjoys a mild climate that is sometimes referred to as 鈥榯he city of Mediterranean impressions鈥�. The city enjoys longer summers thus shaping its unique green scenery.

Today its filled with historical monuments such as the Christian Necropolis, dating back to the 2^nd century Roman Empire, that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 16^th century Mosque of Pasha Qasim that was converted into a Catholic Church and colorful lively city streets.

5. Debrecen

Great Reformed Church, Debrecen – Wikipedia

This is the city that was favored by medieval aristocrats and it鈥檚 the country鈥檚 most important cultural centres today. It is the 2^nd largest city in Hungary after Budapest and served as the countries capital city during the revolution in 1848 to 1849 and the Second World War in 1944 to 1945. Locate on the southwestern sandy plain of the Ny铆rs茅g region and on the eastern end of the Hortob谩gy puszta (steppe).

It is also known as 鈥渢he Calvinist Rome鈥� due to its importance to the reformed creeds in east-central Europe. The Great Reformed Church, displaying a neoclassical style and Baroque style architecture, is a great example of Protestantism in the predominantly Catholic country.