Hotels in Hungary

Hungary is located in the European continent with a land area of more than 93 thousand square kilometres and a population of over 9,797,000. This Central European country is positioned in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by seven other European countries- Slovakia, Ukraine, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.

Hungary is divided into 19 administrative counties, called megye, and an independent capital, Budapest. Today, Hungary has the world’s 57th largest economy out of 191 countries. It has a high-income economy and a very high standard of living. Hungary is ranked 20th in quality of life and is the 15th safest country in the world.

Between 35 and 9BC, territory west of the Danube was conquered by the Roman Empire. As more Roman military came into the area, a civil city steadily grew in the vicinity of the military settlement. After many ruling by different powers and empires, Hungarians eventually settled in the area and Hungary was established in 895 as a federation of united tribes.

Saint Stephen I of the Árpad Dynasty became the first King of Hungary. Under his reign, Hungary developed into a Western feudal state and was recognized as the Catholic Apostolic Kingdom. The Kingdom was invaded by the Mongols in 1241 to 1242. When the Mongols eventually retreated, hundreds of castles and fortification were erected for defence which paid off when the second Mongol Invasion was defeated around 1285/1286.

The Kingdom of Hungary flourished until 1490 when King Matthias died without any lawful sons. The resulting successions indirectly caused Hungary’s international role to decline and halt its social progress. Royal power weakened and the country could not deter the Ottoman invasions. The country divided into three- a significantly smaller Kingdom of Hungary, Transylvanian and the area of Ottoman occupation. The Ottoman wars continued for more than 150 years and the Turks expanded their territory. In 1684, an alliance was organized by the Pope to oppose the Ottoman Empire. The Holy League’s army reconquered Buda from the Turks in 1686 and by 1718, the Kingdom of Hungary was removed from Ottoman rule. 1718 was also the year Hungary reunited with the Habsburg Empire.

The war caused much devastation, stunted population and perished in smaller settlements. The Habsburgs Government repopulated areas like these with Romanians and Slovaks. The Habsburg rule became disagreeable which led to the 1848-1849 revolution and uprising against the Habsburg.  Although the revolution did not immediately produce positive results, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 was established. The dual monarchy became a new leading power in Central Europe. The Compromise benefitted Hungarians considerably and their economy grew at a very fast pace.

When World War I began, Hungary had no choice but to fight by the Germans as they were part of the same empire. The First World War led to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Treaty of Trianon. With the Treaty, Hungary lost 72% of its territory with over 3.5 million Hungarians closed out by the new borders. For this reason, Hungary supported the Nazis during World War II. However, the country suffered when the country became a battlefield and Nazis started deporting thousands of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz. After Nazi Germany lost, Hungary fell under the Soviet Communist rule. During the Stalinization of the country, Hungary’s economy collapsed and the standard of living declined severely.

The dissatisfaction brought about a nationwide revolt and started the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Violence spread between revolutionary militias against the Soviet Army and the AVH. Many Hungarians were either killed, arrested or fled the country. Under the leadership of Janos Kadar, the country recovered slowly and Hungary began liberalizing its economy, travel became less strict and standard of living started to rise.

The late 1980s saw many changes to Hungary. Travel restrictions were abolished, a multi-party system was authorized and Hungary transitioned from communism to democracy and capitalism. On the 23rd of October, 1989 the Hungarian Republic was officially proclaimed. Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Budapest is the country’s capital and it is the most populated city in Hungary. The city is actually a combination of cities Buda, Pest and Óbuda. It is strategically located at the centre of the Carpathian Basin. The Danube River runs through the city from the North. Budapest has the most populated Christian communities with the majority being Roman Catholics.

Non-EU nationals travelling to Hungary need a valid passport and also possibly a visa. A Schengen Visa is needed to travel to Hungary and most of the European Countries.

Hungarian is the official and main language spoken in Hungary. About 98.9% of the population speak Hungarian as a first language. English is the most widely spoken foreign language with German following in second. Other minority languages are recognized in Hungary such as Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Romanian, Romani, Rusyn, Slovak, Slovenian, and Ukrainian.

The location of Hungary in the Carpathian Basin gives the country a continental climate. The summers are hot with low humidity but frequent rain showers while the winters are cold and snowy.

A well-known traditional Hungarian dish is the Goulash, a meat soup or stew. With origins dating back to medieval Hungary, it is a common and the favourite meal was eaten in Central Europe. It is considered one of the national dishes of Hungary. Soup called the Fisherman Soup, or Halászlé is similarly prominent as the Goulash. The Halászlé is made of mixed river fish with a generous amount of paprika. Popular desserts include the Dobos Cake, strudels and Somlói Galuska.

How to Get There?

By Flight

There are a few international airports in Hungary, although many prefer to arrive in the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Flights from Kuala Lumpur costs from RM2, 000 onwards. Since there is no direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Budapest, all flights have at least one transit stop in between. Most of the flights are more than 14 hours long not including the transit time

By Train

Another way to get to Hungary is by taking a train from London to Budapest. The route requires travellers to take the Eurostar from London to Paris. From there, a train can is available to Munich and finally an overnight train to Budapest. Besides Munich, there are other connections like Cologne, Zurich, Brussels and Vienna from Paris. Take note though; train journey will take longer and may end up costing more.

What to Do There?

Budapest

Budapest has much wonderful and historical architecture. There is the Buda Castle, the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Széchenyl thermal baths, Saint Stephen’s Basilica, Heroes’ Square or Hõsök tere, Margaret Island and many more. There are plenty of tour operators that provide tour group services for tourists. There are even unique private tour services like the Budapest Tuk Tuk and the E-Tour Budapest.

The Hungarian State Opera House

The Hungarian State Opera House is a beautiful neo-renaissance building in Central Budapest. Founded in 1884, it is home to the State Opera and the State Ballet. Here, tourists can experience authentic Hungarian Opera, appreciate the State Orchestra, enjoy a musical production or a ballet performance. Programmes and ticket information are available online. There are also tours available in many languages during the day.

The Szechenyl Baths

Pamper yourself at one of the spas and bathhouses in Budapest. The Széchenyl Baths are very popular with travellers. There are three huge outdoor pools open year round, saunas, steam chambers massage rooms. Enjoy a treatment like the Aroma Massage or have a Medical Mud Treatment. Tickets differ on weekend and weekdays while the treatment prices range depending on the service provided.

Where to Stay?

Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

This luxury 5-star hotel is strategically located in Downtown Budapest; a short walk away from the Danube River and other city attractions.  It has 351 rooms, which includes 35 spacious suites. The Kempinski Hotel has an indoor swimming pool, a spa with sauna and steam room, a fitness centre, and a business centre. The services provided include a 24-hour receptionist, concierge, laundry service, porters, tours, car rental and even babysitting. The hotel also has a few restaurants and bars- the Living Room, Blue Fox The Bar, És Deli, És Bistró, Nobu Lounge Bar and Nobu Restaurant.

Mercure Budapest City Center Hotel

The Mercure Budapest City Center Hotel is located in the Business centre of Budapest, Váci. The hotel is a non-smoking hotel rated at 4-star and has 239 rooms. There is a 24-hour reception, concierge, laundry service, business centre, a computer station, television lounge, parking and airport transfer available for guests. Dining option at the Mercure Budapest City Center Hotel is its restaurant, the Winestone City Center. It serves regional-inspired cuisine and a selection of Hungarian and international wines

Budapest Mariott Hotel

The Budapest Mariott Hotel is a 5-star modern luxury hotel located along the Danube River. The hotel is located near the Chain Bridge to the Buda Castle. Recently updated, the hotel offers deluxe bedding, high-speed WiFi and scenic views of the river. Guests can use facilities like the health club, sauna, spa, hot tub, steam room, a computer station, and business centre. There is also a restaurant, Peppers! Mediterranean Grill and a bar, AQVA Lounge Bar.