Hungary's vibrant capital, Budapest, straddling the Danube that runs through it, is an increasingly popular tourist destination that has everything you could want from a city and more.

Budapest's architecture is stunning, ranging from baroque to neoclassical to art nouveau, with the elegant Fisherman's Bastion and the massive Parliament building being just two of the city's many highlights.

Budapest's past is fascinating to explore, with many historic sites on offer; the haunting House of Terror is just one of the city's moving and significant museums.

There are many beautiful thermal bathhouses for you to relax in, as it is known as Europe's spa capital. Budapest's fantastic nightlife scene is as unique and fun as they come, with its trademark ruin bars.

• Places to visit: Buda Castle or Royal Palace, Great Synagogue, Basilica of St. Stephen, Parliament, Memento Park, Hungarian State Opera House, House of Terror
  
  
• Famous for: Cruise over Danube River, Hungarian cuisine, Performances at Budapest Opera House

Tip: Do not change money in the streets. It’s against the law and there are chances you can be cheated.

Just 20 KM away from the city of Budapest, Szentendre or St. Andrews, is among the best places to visit near Budapest, Hungary. The picturesque town is an absolute favorite for every tourist’s and looks absolutely magical with cobbled streets lined with colorful Baroque houses. This mysterious town has a plethora of places, including galleries, museums, and stores, to keep visitors occupied.

The name of the town is ultimately derived from the Medieval Latin " Sankt Andrae" ("St. Andrew"). Due to the diverse combination of nationalities to have once settled in Szentendre, the settlement has a series of names according to language. The Hungarian name for the town is Szentendre; the Croatian name is Senandrija; the German name is Sankt Andrä; conversely, in Serbian, the name is Sentandreja (Serbian Cyrillic: Сентандреја); the Slovak name is Svätý Ondrej. the firts time ever apperance of its name (Sanctus Andreas) in a student’s will in 1146 was confirmed by King Géza II. The 12th-century city centre was located around the still existing St. Andrew’s Church on the other side of the Bükkös Brook.

• Places to visit: Art Mill, Belgrade Cathedral, Hungarian Open Air Museum, Ferenczy Karoly Museum, Blagoveschensk Church
  
  
• Famous for: Museums, Artists colony with galleries & cafe

Tip: If you’re short on time, take a boat ride to Szentendre in the afternoon since it takes twice as long to travel upstream to the town in the morning.

Eger, situated on the Eger River, is one of the top tourist attractions in Hungary. Eger is a delight to wander around because it is full of beautiful old baroque buildings. There are some fantastic museums and exhibitions in the hilltop castle complex that provide an interesting look at the Turkish siege and occupation of the city.

Some of the best restaurants and bars can be found along its charming streets. Eger is known for its wines, so visitors should pay a visit to the Valley of Beautiful Women's atmospheric wine cellars to sample some.

Eger has a lot to offer, with Turkish baths, a large basilica, and some lovely hiking trails meandering through the surrounding hilly countryside.

• Places to visit: Eger Castle, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle, Magic Tower, Lyceum, County Hall, Kossuth Lajos Utca
  
  
• Famous for: Vineyards of Eger, Baroque and neo-classicist architecture of the city

Tip: Don’t forget to stop by at the churches for the most stunning sights.

One of the best places to visit in Hungary, Esztergom is a-must-see destination showcasing the influence of Christianity on the country. Physically, Esztergom is a city in northern Hungary, 46 kilometres (29 miles) northwest of the capital Budapest. It situates in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which constitute the border with Slovakia there.

It has – the Esztergom Basilica, the largest church of Hungary and also its museum has the biggest collection of Christian relics. The city was also the capital of Hungary between the 10th and 13th centuries when King Béla IV of Hungary relocated the royal seat to Buda.

Esztergom is actually the seat of the prímás (see Primate) of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary, and the former seat of the Constitutional Court of Hungary.

• Places to visit: Esztergom Basilica, Christian Museum, Castle Museum, Danube Museum
  
  
• Famous for: Interiors of the Esztergom Basilica, Museum with Christian relics
  
  

Tip: The Esztergom Cathedral is closed in the winters, so plan your trip accordingly.

Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, situated on the Great Hungarian Plain without a mountain or river in sight, is among the popular travel destinations in Hungary. There are many religious sites of interest in the former capital, as well as some excellent museums.

The city's gleaming gold Great Church, once known as 'Calvinist Rome,' is a must-see, along with the lovely St. Anne Cathedral and the Deri Museum, which houses a brilliant collection of Hungarian artifacts and artworks.

Debrecen has a large student population, so there are many bars and nightclubs to choose from. Many people use the city as a base for exploring the Great Plains' beautiful scenery.

• Places to visit: Calvinist College, Great Church, Deri Museum, Timar Haz, Centre of Modern & Contemporary Art
  
  
• Famous for: Day trip to Horotbagyi National Park, Flower Carnival in August, Lake Fancsika

Tip: Stop by at the local food joints for an authentic lunch of thick beef soup and pasta.

Tihany, situated in the Lake Balaton region with a rich history, is a small village. In fact, the entire region is a historical district.The downtown of the district is the Benedictine Tihany Abbey, which was set up in 1055 AD by András (Andrew) I, who is then buried in the crypt.

Among the top tourist attraction to pay a visit in Hungary outside Budapest, Tihany is renowned for its Abbey where the first records of Hungarian language are found! In 1754, the church itself was reconstituted in baroque style. The functioning church is packed with visitors throughout the year.

Tihany is known for its echo, which dates back to the 18th century. Poems by Mihály Csokonai Vitéz and Mihály Vörösmarty were written for this echo, but the most famous is by János Garay, which summarizes the legend of the location. Due to changes in the landscape, the echo has faded. The other part of the legend is about the "goats' nails" that werehed up on the shores of Balaton and are actually the corners of prehistoric clams.

• Places to visit: Benedictine Abbey Church, Lavender House, Visszhang-hegy, Open-air Folk Museum, Benedictine Abbey Museum
  
  
• Famous for: Lavender Garden, Bird watching at Inner Lake & Outer Lake, Loczy Nature Trail

Tip: Visit the church in the evening hours to escape the throngs of the crowd.

Lake Balaton is unquestionably one of Hungary's most beautiful destinations. The lake, also known as the Hungarian Sea, has a 197-kilometer shoreline that is actually circled by a cycle path that visitors can use! The lake is surrounded by resort towns, and the Balaton Uplands National Park, in particular, has beautiful forests.

The Zala River is the largest inflow of water to the lake, yet the canalized Sió is the only outflow. In the northern shore, the mountainous region is best-known both for its historic character and as a major wine region, while the flat southern shore is widely recognized for its resort towns.

Balatonfüred and Hévíz quickly developed early as resorts for the wealthy, but until the late 19th century when landowners, destroyed by Phylloxera attacking their grape vines, started building summer homes to rent out to the rising middle classes.

• Places to visit: Herend Porcelain Factory, Festetics Palace
  
  
• Famous for: Szigliget Fortress, Heviz Spa, Balaton Sound Festival

Tip: Getting to Lake Balaton by public transport is affordable and reliable, but make sure you consult the official timetables of buses and trains before you start planning your day.

Aggtelek is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Miskolc, close to the Slovakian border. Aggtelek is a village that serves as a gateway to the popular Aggtelek and Slovak Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most stunning stalactite formations can be found in Aggtelek's Baradle Cave, which is one of Hungary's most interesting places to visit. The cavern 'Giant's Hall,' in particular, is spectacular and a treat for nature lovers.

Ogogteluk was the name given to Aggtelek when it was first discovered in 1295. It was deserted for many years after the Mongol invasion of Hungary in the 13th century. The entrance to the cave of Aggtelek. The village was destroyed by fire in 1858. The Eastern Front passed close by during World War II, causing more damage.

• Places to visit: Aggtelek Cave System

• Famous for: Baradla Cave, Rakoczi Barlang Cave

Lillafüred (Miskolc-Lillafüred) is a town located in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary. It is officially a part of Miskolc, though it is aboout 12 kilometres away from the city, in the Bükk Mountains. Lillafüred is, in fact, a tourist resort.

The Bukk Mountains are one of Hungary's most beautiful tourist destinations. Lillafured is an excellent base for exploring the Bukk National Park. There are over 1,000 caves in the park, as well as beautiful freshwater lakes and dense woods ideal for hiking. The Lillafured waterfall is also Hungary's highest waterfall.

• Places to visit: Bukk National Park, Lillafured Waterfall, Lake Hamori, Anna Cave
  
  
• Famous for: Trekking in Bukk National Park, Miskolc Zoo

Tip: Cave bathing is the most popular thing to do among tourists.

Sopron has witnessed history throughout the ages and is one of Hungary's most historically significant cities. Celts, Romans, Germans, Avars, Slavs, and Magyars all settled here, leaving their mark on the city's culture and architecture. While the city has grown, the inner town, Belvaros, remains charming and enjoyable to explore.

Sopron, which dates back to the Roman era, is located on the Austrian border, just over an hour from Vienna. Its residents speak both Hungarian and German, as it was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Because of its long history, there is a wealth of interesting and impressive architecture to see, including the magnificent Firewatch Tower and the beautiful Baroque buildings that line the main square.

Visitors have the best of both worlds, with pristine forests nearby as well as the glistening Lake Ferto; they can wander around the medieval center before immersing themselves in nature.

• Places to visit: Lake Neusiedl, Storno House, Firewatch Tower, Old Synagogue, Harrer Chocolate Factory
  
  
• Famous for: Fertő-Hanság National Park with Lake Ferto, Fire Tower with 200 steps

Tip: Take a stroll on Sopron’s cobbled streets.