Once the centre of the Great Habsburg Empire, Hungary today is a romantic land of Gypsy music, fine wines, folklore and great culinary traditions at still very affordable prices!

Hungarian born, I can never get tired of this gorgeous country and her people!:)) On my last trip with my husband, baby girl and 4 months pregnant, we happened to experience a particularly cold winter. We travelled in January.

Though the weather was crystal clear and sunny, it was terribly cold. However that and my 14 month old who just started to walk and was determined to practice, didn’t stop us doing and seeing all that we wanted. Snow started falling on our second day of arrival and it just added to beauty of this magical country.

In Budapest we stayed with some dear friends of mine who cheuffeured us everywhere from the Castle District where we saw the Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya), the Mattias Church (Mátyás Templom) and the Castle (Budai Vár) inside and out. We had coffee and lovely desserts at the historic Ruszwurm Cukrászda (Ruszwurm Cafe).

Come to think of it we stopped at quite a few restaurants and Cafés! You can easily find one that suits your palate and budget. Interestingly the Cafés in Hungary only offer coffe and desserts unlike in Australia where you can have light meals as well. The Gerbeaud Kávézó (Gerbeaud Cafe) in particular has the most delicious cakes like the Dobos Torta, the Eszterházy and my husband’s favorite the Somlói Galuska - heavenly! And when you ask for a hot chocolate that is exactly what you get, thick, rich magnificent chocolate that is actually liquid! You must try it!
We found that eating in Hungary is very inexpensive and good value wheather you dine in a restaurant or shop in a supermarket.

Another favorite of ours was the Gellért Fürdő (Gellert Spa) in Buda by the foot of the Szabadság Hid (Freedom Bridge) and the Gellért Hegy (Gellert Hill). This thermal bath and spa offers gorgeous mozaic pools of different temperature and you can endulge in the most wonderfully relaxing body treatments. In summer you can also make use of the equally beautiful outdoor pool and garden that is also a work of art.

Then there is the beauty of the neo-gothic Országház (Parlament House) or the lavish Magyar �?llami Operaház (Opera House) in Pest.

However Hungary is not all about the “Pearl of the Danube”, Budapest. Taking a Danube River cruise north will take your breath away as you sail through historic Visegrád, Szentendre and Esztergom that also has the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in Hungary the Esztergom Basilica.

Hungary offers many diverse destinations from lush mountains in the north-west like the Bükk mountains, the Great Plain (Alföld) in the east, rivers like the Tisza and lakes such as the famous Balaton to gorgeous small villages and hidden gems of cities.
On your next trip to Europe why not visit this ever evolving country that is rich in culture! Isten Hozta Magyarországra! (Welcome to Hungary!)

If you would like to know more about Hungary please visit www.hungarianworld.blogspot.com.