Hungary

Hungary is located in Central Europe on the bank of the Carpathian Basin. On land, it shares borders with Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Due to its geographic location, the place remained the center of many civilizations from Huns to Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes, Avars, West Slavs, and now Hungarians. For this reason, the contemporary culture in the country reflects the stark influences that those civilizations left behind. These influences make Hungarian culture so diverse and rich. And that’s what I personally loved about the country.

Next, modern-day Hungary emerged when the Austro-Hungarian Empire broke into pieces after World War I. And after World War II, the country became the satellite state of the USSR. Hungary’s tumultuous history also left a deep impact on its culture. Today, on the one hand, its historical places remind you of the great Austrian Empire and its landscape; on the other, its people tell the stories about the beauty of this land.

The country has a diverse landscape akin to its rich cuisine. Plus, a due to the varying altitude in the country, you’ll get to experience the mountainous to the moderate climate. Besides the diverse climate, I was surprised and amazed by the biodiversity of the area. It’s truly like a biodiversity hot spot. The area is inhabited by some of the rare breeds of animals and birds in the world. Its climatic, hydrological, and geological conditions are the major factors behind its diversity. The remote Hungarian hills are inhabited by several species of fauna and flora.

My love of the Hungarian cities and Hungarian cuisine was developed after visiting the country for several times. There I interacted with many people, especially those who were close to traditional food and cooking. I happened to make several friends there. Though one week wasn’t enough to explore the entire Hungarian culture, it was adequate to learn about its different places, food, language, and people.

If you’re planning to visit the country and explore its beauty and amazing landscape, then do try the five places that I personally visited and loved. The Great Synagogue, which is the largest synagogue in Europe, is a good place to visit. It was built back in 1859, and it can accommodate 3000 people. Budapest is a must-to-visit city. Since it’s also the capital of the country, it gives you a beautiful view of the Buda Hills, which is just mesmerizing. Then Lake Balaton is a pretty sight to see. Szentendre, Heviz, Egee, Tihany, and Lake Beusiedle are some of the amazing and beautiful sites in the country that must be explored and visited once in a lifetime.