Hungary attractions

Named in honor of the founder of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Széchenyi Square is a must-visit while in Budapest. It’s lined with architectural highlights such as the art nouveau Gresham Palace, which is now a Four Seasons Hotel. Be sure to visit the lobby and to admire artisan stained glass, mosaics, and ironworks.

Kecskemét is a quaint Hungarian city of about 100,000 residents, offering travelers the chance to enjoy traditional Magyar culture, secessionist architecture, and locally produced fruit brandy known as pálinka. Located just about an hour from Budapest by train, Kecskemét is easily reached for day trips full of urban adventure and museum hopping.

The Castle of Diósgyor (Diósgyori Vár) was built in the 12th century by King Bela IV and peaked in importance during the reign of King Louis the Great, largely due to its location near the road leading from Hungary to Poland. Once surrounded by a four-meter deep moat, the castle featured an inner castle built around a rectangular courtyard, four corner towers and a Knights’ Hall that measured 25 meters long and 13 meters wide. It served as an engagement gift for six Hungarian queens, earning it the nickname “the Castle of Queens.” The castle fell into ruin by the end of the 17th century and was completely rebuilt in 2014. At that time, the rooms of the castle were reconstructed to resemble those of the original castle and it was furnished with medieval era furniture. Today, the castle hosts plays that revive the Middle Ages and various events from Hungarian history, as well as the annual Kalaka Folk Festival each July. There is a large waxworks exhibition in the outer castle, which is one of the largest in central Europe, and in a small mint on the ground floor, tourists can make commemorative coins.

Completed in 1885, Budapest’s neo-Baroque concert hall was built to celebrate the country’s 1,000-year anniversary. The luxurious interior was renovated during the Soviet era but has now been mostly returned to its original form. Today, the Danube Palace (Duna Palota) is known for its program of folk shows, orchestral concerts, and cultural events.

Built in the late-1800s as a theater and library, this opulent building on Corvin Tér today houses the Hungarian Heritage House (Budai Vigadó, a beacon of Hungarian folk culture. Though damaged in World War II, the building has been restored to its former glory and presents visitors with frequent performances rooted in Hungarian tradition.

An exquisite mix of old and new Hungarian architecture, the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (Zsolnay Kulturális Negyed) features much of the ceramic work that the country is famous for. The area extends outward from the original Zsolnay family factory that produced much of the original porcelain, tiles, and stoneware that can be seen throughout Hungary. Visitors can view pieces being made by hand at the factory, or take a stroll on the sprawling green grounds that surround it. The Bobita Puppet Factory is another highlight for many, a foundation for Hungarian culture and art. The quarter consists of smaller, themed sections including the Handicrafts District, the Creative District, the Children and Family District, and the University District. With its interactive activities and preservation of longstanding culture, it is widely regarded as a top cultural experience of Central and Eastern Europe. It’s a living example of the history of the area’s arts and traditions.