Budapest
The political, cultural and commercial heart of Hungary, Budapest is a sheer delight with beautiful architecture and an attractive setting on the Danube River. Once divided by this same river, the originally independent cities of Buda - on the hilly west bank, and Pest - on the flat east bank, were united to form Budapest yet still retain their own character with Buda claiming the imposing Castle Hill and Pest home to the historic old town and Jewish district. Budapest is known as the 'City of Spas' for its abundance of hot springs enjoyed by the Romans as early as the 2nd century. Today there is a generous choice of bath houses where you can enjoy a soak in the medicinal waters, a quintessential Budapest experience.
Debrecen
Debrecen is the place to go to appreciate nineteenth-century Hungary. Once the largest city in Hungary, today Debrecen plays second fiddle to Budapest in terms of size but has an equally impressive display of architectural treasures with the Great Reformed Church the city's crowning glory. Visitors will also find thermal spas here as well as interesting museums, old-town bars and lively clubs. Depsite being Hungary's second largest city, Debrecen is manageable in size and a pleasant city to explore with forested landscapes within the city limits. Debrecen also serves as the gateway to the Hortobagy National Park, a UNESCO-listed expanse of vast plains and wetlands, reminiscent of the steppe of Central Asia.
See Also
When planning your visit to Hungary you may find the following Travel Guide resources useful:
Best Time to Visit - climate and seasons in HungaryTourist Visas - details on visa regulations and procurement
Top Travel Tips - handy info on money, health, food and shopping
