Hungary

Hungary has a lot to offer fresh-air fiends, from excellent hiking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking and fishing, to more contemplative pursuits. The country's many varied ecosystems make it a good birding destination, while spas and thermal springs are great for postactivity unwinding.

• Budapest’s nightlife simply has no rival among other European cities. Along with bars, pubs, dance halls and classic concert venues, Budapest has unique romkocsmák (ruin pubs) and kertek (gardens) that pop up all over town in the warmer months.

• The 'city of healing waters' has enough thermal baths to satisfy the most wanton of appetites for wet fun. Some date back to the Turkish occupation, others are likened to swimming in a cathedral. If you want to splash in an outdoor whirlpool, there's plenty of that too.

• Besides being home to Europe’s largest and most splendid synagogue, Budapest has seen a resurgence of Jewish culture, music and cuisine. On the sombre end of the spectrum, the Jewish ordeal of WWII is well documented in the Holocaust Memorial Center.

Hungarian National Tourist Office Has a chain of some 130 tourist information bureaus called Tourinform across the country. They are usually the best places to ask general questions and pick up brochures – and can sometimes provide more comprehensive assistance.

Budapest Tourism produces plenty of handy information about the capital and its attractions.

Hungary has an ever-increasing range of eating options, particularly in Budapest. In most places, it's fine to book on the day or not book at all; for fine dining in Budapest, book a week or two ahead.

• Restaurants Range from cheap Hungarian to refined sushi and Michelin-starred fine-dining establishments.
• Vendéglő Regional restaurants typically serving inexpensive homestyle cooking.
• Cafes Open during the daytime, these are great for coffee, cake and light (and sometimes substantial) meals.
• Csárda Typically rustic places serving large portions of Hungarian cuisine, often accompanied by Gypsy music.

• Pickpocketing is common at popular tourist sights, inside foreign fast-food chains, near major hotels and in flea markets. Sometimes pickpockets work together, with one distracting you by running into you and then apologising profusely – as an accomplice takes off with the goods.
• Thefts from rental vehicles are not uncommon. Don’t leave anything of value, including luggage, inside the car. This is a rare occurence these days, but occasionally waiters may make a ‘mistake’ when tallying the bill, or add service to the bill and then expect an additional tip. If you think there’s a discrepancy, ask for the menu and check the bill carefully.
• There are isolated incidents of taxi drivers, particularly in Budapest, taking advantage of passengers unfamiliar with local currency – switching large denomination notes for smaller ones and demanding extra payment. Only ever take taxis from reputable companies and make sure you know exactly how much cash you're handing over. Reputable ones include Budapest Taxi and Fő Taxi.