How to Plan a Trip to Hungary

It's never too early to start to plan a trip to Hungary. The country offers an incredible array of sightseeing possibilities, so visitors must plan wisely to avoid being overwhelmed once there. Hungary is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with enough sites to keep most tourists happy for months.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Plan to visit some of Hungary's famous castles if you want a glimpse into the country's history. Some castles--like Feketehalom Castle near Codlea--date back to the mid-thirteenth century, when King Bela IV built a network of castles throughout the region to defend against Mongol invasions.

2. Spend at least a few days in Budapest, the country's capital and largest city. There are some memorable sites to visit in this ancient city that no visitor to Hungary should skip, with the most notable being the Danube River. A stroll along the Danube takes travelers past exquisite churches and castles, as well as a variety of quaint shops and restaurants.

3. Visit some of Hungary's famous wineries. With 22 distinct wine-growing regions and over 400 labels, wine enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunities to fill up a glass and sample the region's grapes. The Villány-Siklós Wine Route in the southern part of the country is a great way to see the best of Hungary's wine industry.

4. Try to time your trip to Hungary so that you can enjoy one of the many festivals that occur throughout the year. The Sziget Festival is one of Europe's largest cultural gatherings, held on an island in the Danube River in Budapest in early August. The festival offers over a thousand events to almost 400 thousand attendees from around the world.

5. Take in a show at one of Hungary's many culturally significant theaters. With a long history of music, art and folklore, the country offers many opportunities to absorb these cultural modes of expression. The theaters themselves--like the Timisoara State Theater--are hundreds of years old and are fascinating to tour even when no shows are being performed.

Tips & Warnings

• Working with a travel agent can be the best solution if you are looking to develop a complicated itinerary or want to visit some out-of-the-way places on your trip. However, the vast majority of tourist areas in Hungary are well documented, so most people should start by planning their own trips until things get too overwhelming.
• Avoid visiting Hungary during the cold and wet months (November to April). Temperatures can drop to well below freezing in the winter, while over 24 inches of rain falls each year, mostly in the spring.