Hungary

Why Hungary

Hungary is one of Europe's best-kept secrets: less than two hours from Paris by plane, it offers a cultural, architectural and gastronomic density that few destinations can rival. Budapest, its capital, regularly competes with Prague and Vienna for the title of the most beautiful city in Central Europe, and this is not an exaggeration of tourism façade.

What strikes you on the first evening is the light. The neo-Gothic Parliament, its 691 towers and domes bathed in gold at sunset, the surface of the Danube shimmering below, the Buda Castle opposite on its hill: a life-size opera set, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But Hungary is not only Budapest. It is also the tuff cellars of Tokaj where the sweet wines that Louis XIV called "the king of wines" are aged, the baroque alleys of Eger where goulash has been simmering for centuries in suspended cauldrons, the endless steppe of Hortobágy traversed by shepherds on horseback, and Lake Balaton whose turquoise water invites you to stay an extra week.

Gastronomy is convincing the last sceptics. Paprika is not a condiment here: it's a culinary philosophy. The thermal baths are the most unexpected social experience of the trip: sharing a pool at 38°C with locals playing chess or reading their newspapers, in the neo-baroque décor of the Széchenyi baths, is an immersion in Hungarian daily life that has no equivalent.

When to go

Hungary can be visited all year round, but the ideal conditions are concentrated in two windows: spring (April-June) and the late season (September-October).

In spring, temperatures gradually rise from 17 to 22°C. Budapest's terraces fill up, the international Budapest Spring Festival celebrates classical music in April, and the vineyards emerge from the winter slumber. The crowds remain managed, the prices reasonable.

Autumn is perhaps the best season: 22-25°C in September, copper colours in the vineyards of Tokaj and the hills of Eger, grape harvest in full activity, and the Budapest Wine Festival at Buda Castle at the beginning of the month. The golden light of September on the Danube is breathtaking.

July-August are pleasant (28-29°C), perfect for Lake Balaton, but Budapest in the middle of summer concentrates intense international crowds, especially around the Sziget festival (first week of August), one of the biggest festivals in Europe. Book early and anticipate the price increase.

Winter (December-March) is cold, sometimes freezing in February (-2°C at night). Budapest retains a special attraction in December thanks to its Christmas markets on Vörösmarty Square and in front of St. Stephen's Basilica, among the most beautiful in Central Europe. But tours outside Budapest are not well suited to the extreme cold.

How much does it cost

La Hongrie est environ 30 % moins chère que Paris, ce qui rend le voyage particulièrement accessible pour une destination de cette qualité. En monnaie locale, 1 euro vaut environ 365 forints hongrois (HUF). La carte bancaire est acceptée partout dans les hôtels, restaurants et sites touristiques ; du cash reste utile dans les marchés locaux et les villages reculés.

Pour un voyage confortable en 3 étoiles, comptez 80 à 110 € par personne et par jour, tout compris : hébergement, repas (midi au restaurant, dîner), transports locaux et entrées des sites. Un repas correct dans un bon restaurant de Budapest coûte 15 à 25 €. Un ticket de métro vaut 0,55 €. Une entrée aux bains Széchenyi : 22-28 €.

Les circuits organisés depuis la France démarrent à partir de 700 € par personne pour 7 jours, hors vol. Le vol Paris-Budapest se négocie entre 60 € et 220 € aller-retour selon la compagnie et la saison. Ryanair, Wizzair, easyJet et Air France opèrent la liaison.

Where to go

Hungary is naturally structured around Budapest, the unavoidable entry point and heart of the circuit. But the regions are worth a visit, each with its own identity.

Budapest, the pearl of the Danube

Budapest is actually two cities separated by the Danube and united in 1873: Buda, historic and residential, on the west bank and its hills; Pest, lively and cosmopolitan, to the east. You can go from one to the other via one of the eight bridges, including the Chain Bridge, the symbol of the city since 1849. The Buda Castle, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street (the largest in Europe), the State Opera and the ruin bars of the 7th district form a program that can easily be spread over 3 to 4 days.

The Danube Bend and Hollókő

45 km north of Budapest, the river makes a spectacular bend before dipping southwards. The UNESCO village of Hollókő, perched in the Cserhát hills 91 km from the capital, is a timeless stopover: 300 inhabitants, 17th-century half-timbered houses, a medieval castle and palóc embroidery that perpetuates centuries-old craftsmanship.

Eger and the wine-growing north-east

Eger is the quintessential baroque city, with its heroic castle, Ottoman minaret and wine cellars carved out of volcanic tuff. The Tokaj region, two hours to the east, produces Tokaji aszú, a world-renowned sweet wine that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These two destinations naturally combine into a 4 to 5-day tour from Budapest.

Lake Balaton

The size of the Rhône department, the Balaton is the inland sea of the Hungarians. The north shore concentrates vineyards and picturesque villages, with the Benedictine abbey of Tihany as the highlight. The south bank attracts families with its sandy beaches and lively resorts. A 2 to 3-day stopover is the ideal complement to a tour between Budapest and Pécs.

Pécs and the South

Pécs, the capital of the South, is one of Hungary's warmest cities, bathed in sunshine and bearing the traces of 150 years of Ottoman architecture. Its early Christian necropolis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Zsolnay ceramics, recognizable by their iridescent pyrogranite sheen, adorn the roofs of the country's most beautiful monuments, starting with the Budapest Opera House.

Our itineraries

In pictures

Practical advice

Formalities

Hungary has been a member of the European Union and the Schengen area since 2004. French nationals enter with a national identity card or passport, without a visa or any special formalities, for an unlimited period of time. No vaccination is mandatory. It is recommended to check the validity of the DTP and, in 2026, the measles vaccine, which is on the rise in Europe.

Getting around

Budapest has an exemplary public transport network: 4 metro, tram, bus and trolleybus lines cover the entire city. A single ticket costs €0.55, a 24-hour season ticket about €5. The M1 metro (the oldest in continental Europe, 1896) connects the centre to the City Park and the Széchenyi Baths.

To reach the other cities, the Intercity trains of the MÁV company are comfortable and punctual: Budapest-Eger (1h45), Budapest-Pécs (3h), Budapest-Tokaj (2h30). Car rental is recommended for Lake Balaton and the Puszta de Hortobágy.

Culture and uses

Hungarians are discreet and warm at the same time. Contact is not made immediately, but a smile is always returned. English is well mastered in Budapest among the under 40s; in the villages, Hungarian remains dominant. A few words learned will be appreciated: "köszönöm" (thank you), "kérem" (please), "egészségére" (health). Tipping is customary in restaurants (10%), but is not compulsory in bars. The currency is not the euro, remember to withdraw forints on arrival.

Frequently asked questions