The capital
Every trip starts in Budapest, one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe. Buda's castle hill and Pest's grand boulevards face each other across the Danube, joined by famous bridges. Come for the Parliament, the thermal baths, the coffee houses, the markets and the ruin bars. Plan three or four nights at least.
The river towns
Just north of the capital the Danube swings sharply south, and the Danube Bend gathers three lovely stops: the artists' town of Szentendre, the hilltop citadel of Visegrád and the vast basilica at Esztergom, looking across to Slovakia. It is the easiest day trip from Budapest, by train, bus or summer boat.
The lake
About two hours south west, Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe and Hungary's summer playground. The south shore has shallow water and lively resorts like Siófok; the north shore has vineyards, volcanic hills, the Tihany peninsula and the spa town of Hévíz nearby.
The northern wine hills
Two hours north east of Budapest, Eger is a baroque town of churches and thermal baths below a famous castle, with wine cellars carved into the hillside at the Valley of the Beautiful Women. It also works as a gateway to the Bükk hills and, further east, the Tokaj wine region.
The sunny south
Near the Croatian border, Pécs is a university city with an early Christian burial site listed by UNESCO, a mosque turned church on its main square, the Zsolnay cultural quarter and a warm, almost Mediterranean feel. It pairs well with the Villány wine region.
How to combine them
With a week, base in Budapest, take a day trip to the Danube Bend, then spend a few nights at Lake Balaton or in Eger. With ten days or more, add Pécs and Villány in the south or Tokaj and Debrecen in the east. Use the free trip planner to shape a route at your pace.