top7HUNGARY
3x7 things not to miss...

• It's not possible to see everything that Hungary has to offer in one trip and we don't suggest you try. What follows is a selective taste of the country's highlights: outstanding buildings, natural wonders and colourful festivals.

1. Hollókő | Nestling in the heart of the Cserhát Hills, a visit to this exquisitely preserved village a World Heritage Site  is a must for its architecture and folk customs.

2. Thermal baths | There's no better way to relax than in one of Budapest's magnificent Turkish baths.

3. The Badacsony | Hike to the top of this extraordinary volcanic outcrop on Balaton's north shore for fantastic views of the lake.

4. Pécs | Vital and absorbing, the city of Pécs has one of the most significant collections of Turkish buildings in this part of Europe.

5. Tihany | Peninsula The picturesque village of Tihany, overlooked by a Benedictine abbey, is the jewel in Lake Balaton's crown.

6. Aggtelek | Caves Take a tour through the largest, and one of the most amazing, stalactite cave systems in Europe.

7. Szentendre | This once thriving artists, colony, just 19km from Budapest, is now a delightful town boasting some magical museums, great art and a rich Serbian legacy.

8. Statue Park | Communism isn't quite dead in this extraordinary Budapest park housing a collection of monumental statues from the old regime.

9. Watersports on Lake Balaton | Siófok and Keszthely are just two of the resorts where you can sail, windsurf or, of course, swim.

10. Wine cellars | You shouldn't leave Hungary without visiting one of its famous wine cellars, the best of which are located on the Villány-Siklós wine road and in the Tokaj-Hegyalja region.

11. Eger | Atmospheric Uplands town strewn with gorgeous Baroque architecture and famed for its local red wine, Bull's Blood.

12. Paprika | The foodstuff most commonly associated with Hungary is not quite the fiery stuff of legend but it is an integral part of the Magyar kitchen.

13. Esterházy Palace | Once one of the most opulent palaces in Europe, this eighteenth-century Baroque and Rococo masterpiece is still the most beautiful in the country.

14. Hortobágy National Park | You,ll find blue-skirted cowboys, rodeo shows and a diverse collection of wildlife water buffalo, corkscrew-horned sheep and wild boar in Hungary,s largest national park; there,s also excellent bird-watching.

15. Pannonhalma Monastery | The grand-looking Benedictine abbey, designed in an unusual amalgamation of architectural styles, is Hungary's most impressive monastery.

16. Sopron | Pretty town, close to the Austrian border, featuring a spectacular Belváros brimming with absorbing museums and architecture.

17. The Vár | Budapest's Historic Castle Hill is the capital's defining feature, a long, elevated plateau spotted with bastions, churches and some fine museums.

18. Busójárás | Carnival Masked "busó" figures dressed in animal hides parade through the town, Mohács and in boats across the Danube in this awesome spectacle.

19. Danube Bend | One of the most enchanting stretches of the River Danube sweeps its way up from Budapest before twisting dramatically through a forested valley towards Slovakia the views are best appreciated from atop Visegrád Citadel.

20. Hiking in the Bükk Hills | These lovely, beech-covered hills in the Northern Uplands are Hungary's prime hiking region, with trails to suit walkers of all abilities.

21. Folk and Gypsy music | Don't pass up the chance to experience the ubiquitous, irrepressible sounds of Hungarian folk and Gypsy music. | roughguides.com