This small country, brimming with culture and natural beauty, proudly possesses one of the finest capital cities in the world - Budapest. Uniquely, it is also endowed with two-thousand-year-old roman remains, four-hundred-year-old monuments from the Turkish period, beautiful Romanesque churches, examples of the pinnacle of neo-Gothic and art nouveau architecture, and castles that are still imposing even though they have long since fallen into ruin.
Lovers of nature and the great outdoors will relish in exploring Europe's largest freshwater lake - Lake Balaton - or the many landscape conservation areas, each concealing a wonderful and protected living world. And each year thousands of visitors seeking rest and rejuvenation turn to the country's many spas, famous for their natural healing spring waters. In recent years, the resorts themselves have undergone dynamic improvements in the range and quality of services and treatments to others.
Budapest is a city where a surprise awaits you on each corner. This metropolis with her 2,1 million inhabitants is more than just the capital of Hungary. Budapest is a unique monument to the past as well as a modern metropolis - a treasury that contains 2.000 years of history and a cultural center in which one sensational events follows the other.
The city extends on both sides of the Danube River - on the right side you find the older, hilly Buda with historic and architectural monuments, on the self side the flat land of the younger Pest with the houses of the well-situated citizens and really busting life.
For relaxation go to the "Margitsziger" - an island of some 92 square acres in the middle of the city. Cars are not permitted here and old majestic trees and parks, ruins from monasteries from the days of the Middle Ages, a spa area, two cure hotels and a small zoo as well as restaurants and cafes are conductive for rest an relaxation in the heart of the city.
During your visit you will not only learn why today's Budapest is the proud heir to the Megyar tribes, who founded Hungary about 1100 years ago. You will also discover the lasting influence of the Romans on the development of the country. You will walk the footsteps of the Turks, who determined the history of Hungary in the 16th and the 17th century and you will be reminded of the days when the Habsburgians ruled the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. And of course, you will also see the Budapest, that makes today's history: a blossoming center of international trade, culture, politics, a growing metropolis with the charm of a small town who's lively presence and gleaming post make her to one of the most dynamic and beautiful cities of Europe.
The Magyar thinks of Hungary as the hub of the world "Extra Hungarian non est vita, si est vita, non est ita"... which means: "Outside of Hungary there is no life and if there was, then it would not be the real one".