This is a land with 1,100 years of history and a unique fusion of eastern and western cultures. This is a land where the River Danube flows through one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. This is a land where rejuvenating thermal springs run just below the surface. This is a land called Hungary.

Sophisticated Budapest – a city of two million people – is the perfect destination for culture, entertainment and shopping. In addition, visitors will be captivated by its delightful gastronomy, beautiful architecture, relaxing spas and diverse nightlife.

The list of attractions goes well beyond the capital. Visit enchanting cities, small towns and villages, and allow the romance of the Danube Bend to capture your imagination. The country takes pride in its ten national parks, nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, Lake Balaton. Next to Balaton is Hévíz, which is Central Europe’s biggest thermal lake. Strewn with water lilies, it is open all year round, and is famous for its healing properties and for promoting general well-being.

If you travel south of Pannonia you’ll reach the city of Pécs, which was selected as European Capital of Culture for 2010. Here you’ll enjoy a Mediterranean atmosphere as you explore Roman-age Christian tombs and Turkish mosques.

The cultural influences of east and west can be seen in the monuments, traditions and everyday life of today’s Hungary. Remains of the Roman Empire and a few monuments from the 150-year Ottoman occupation survive, and visitors can still take a dip in a couple of original Turkish baths in Budapest. Small medieval churches and splendid basilicas, hilltop fortresses and magnificent palaces, all bear witness to an eventful history.

You can get a real flavour of Hungary past and present by tasting the culture in its galleries and museums. Furthermore, there are clues all around in the country’s architecture. A single street can take you on a journey through several centuries. Hungary contains examples from a host of architectural periods, including Roman ruins, medieval castles, Baroque palaces, Art-Nouveau mansions and cutting-edge contemporary buildings. There are the remains of ancient castles and centuries old country houses all around Hungary, and over 50 of these have been converted into elegant hotels where you can enjoy the historic charm and aristocratic luxury while making use of the facilities and comforts you’d expect from 21st-century accommodation. Hungary’s architecture, spas, gastronomy and folklore bear witness to over 1,000 years of fascinating history

Hungary is one of the oldest European countries, situated in the middle of the continent in Central Europe. Hungarians speak a language and have a culture unlike any other in the region. This distinctiveness has been both a source of pride and an obstacle for more than 1,100 years.

This country:

• boasts one of the world's most beautiful cities: Budapest, the ‘Pearl of the Danube’
• has 2,000 year-old Roman ruins and 400 year-old Turkish monuments, which can be found  side by side
• boasts Central Europe's largest fresh water lake – Lake Balaton – which provides a natural paradise for its visitors
• offers hundreds of therapeutic mineral springs, which gush to the surface from the depths.

But there is something else that keeps bringing visitors back to us – the legendary Hungarian hospitality. Despite a history of varying fortunes which devastated both its people and its cultural assets and treasures, Hungary retains a valuable cultural and environmental heritage that people come from all parts of the world come to enjoy.