Wine tasting - an obligation in Hungary

The climate and the landscape of Hungary are great for viniculture. There are 22 wine regions in the country, such as the great Tokaj, or Etyek. Every single one has their own characteristics, types and processes, so there's plenty to discover.

Your private host will know which regions are worth to visit, and they will be able to take you to the best wine cellars for wine tasting that is one of the obligatory things to do in Hungary. Make sure to have enough time for this awesome experience, and eat enough 'zsíroskenyér', a special Hungarian snack, between the fine glasses of wine.

Visiting Lake Balaton with the surroundings

One of the top things to do in Hungary is to Visit Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central-Europe. It's a popular holiday destination for the locals, so your local guide will easily show you around. There are many cultural events held in this area, such as the Valley of Arts Festival in Kapolcs.

The capital of South beach is Siófok with lively nightlife and hot beaches. Take a ferry across the lake to Tihany, to see the famous Abbey of Tihany. Move on to the west, along the lake to explore the picturesque hills of the wine regions of Balaton-Felvidék and Badacsony. If you are into water sports, sailing and windsurfing are also available here.

Kayak-Canoe tours of Szigetköz

A personalized kayak-canoe tour at the upper part of the Danube river that is surely among the most unique things to do in Hungary. You can paddle out to the calmest of hidden little canals, or you can choose wilder, almost whitewater-like routes. No matter which you choose, you'll be amazed by the diverse wildlife of this area.

There are comfy camping sites where you can put up your tent in the Szigetköz area, or you can rent a bungalow, too. Experiencing the closeness of nature on this level is truly amazing: on the water during the day and under the stars at night.

Try a very Hungarian way of cooking: Bogrács

Ask your local host to throw a small borgács-party for you and your friends, so you can enrich your cooking repertoire with some extraordinary dishes. 'Bogrács' refers to a huge pot that is hung above the fire, and it's the favorite method of Hungarians to cook. There are many traditional Hungarian dishes that are the most delicious when prepared over a fire, such as fish, soup, beef stew, or goulash.

A dinner like this involves a lot of delicious food, cozy fire, friends, and a great amount of Pálinka. It's obviously the best thing to do in Hungary if you'd like to experience a local, authentic dinner.

Veszprém, the city of Queens

A trip to Veszprém, a city built on picturesque hills and valleys is one of the most popular things to do in Hungary. It was already inhabited in the 9-10th century and it's famous for having the privilege of holding the coronation ceremony of Hungarian Queens.

You can ask a local host to hold a personalized guidance in the city where they can tell you more about the historic importance of this area. Get introduced to sights such as the Archbishop's Palace. With your guide's help, you can be up-to-date about the cultural events and festivals. One of them is the awesome Street Music Festival, where inspirational musicians flood the streets with awesome music!

A piece of Paradise: Lillafüred

This settlement is located in the Bükk National Park. Well-known for its wonderful landscape with the hills, lakes, caves and rich wildlife. The park is an excellent destination for hikes. A very peculiar, tiny forestry railway will show you around in this beautiful area.

Ask one of your hosts to come with you making sure to cover all the famous sights in this area. They can guide you to the trout farm, where you can try the freshest and most delicious trout meals of Hungary. It's surely a must!

A day trip to Esztergom with one of your guides

Other great things to do in Hungary with your personal guide is to visit the well-known city of Esztergom. Peek over to the land of Slovakia from the hill of Esztergom, as it is right on the border. This place is has a rich history that your guide can share with you.

The Basilica of Esztergom is located on the top of the hill, that is the massive building of the Archdiocese of Esztergom, the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church. Time and wars destroyed it many times, but it has been restored to its current form in the 1800's.

Refresh yourself in one of the thermal-spas in Hungary

The hydrography of Hungary is unmatched in the world, as the quality and quantity of thermal waters is outstanding throughout the country. Ask advice from your local host about which wells are the best to visit in your area and why. Nowadays there are whole wellness complexes in the most popular areas. You can have a relaxing weekend in any of them, and refresh both your spirit and your body.

There are numerous hot and thermal springs in the country that emerge with a 30+°C temperature. The most famous ones are in Budapest, Hévíz, Hajdúszoboszló and Zalakaros, but smaller wells can be found at many other settlements as well.

Visit the southernmost pearl of Hungary: Pécs

Pécs lies in the rolling mountains of the Southern Transdanubian region of Hungary. It's known for being established by the Romans at the beginning of the 2nd century, as Sopinanae. The main monument of this era is the Early Christian Necropolis, that is part of UNESCO World Heritage.

During the Turkish Era in the 1500's, many buildings were built by the Turks in their unique oriental style. Your local guide will know where to find these old buildings. They will also show you world-renowned Zsolnay porcelain collection in the Zsolnay-quarter, that recently became a Hungaricum. To relax, check out the well-known wine region of the area, Villány.

Hungary, the home of Festivals

Despite being small in size, the reputation of Hungary, as the home of Festivals is great. Ask your local guide what events are on when you are visiting the country. There is surely something to do in Hungary no matter when you come.

There are many festivals all year round, however, the main ones are from early summer util early autumn. Do I have to introduce the greatest festival of Europe, Sziget Festival? Or the well-known electronic music festival, BalatonSound? Besides these gigantic ones, there are smaller, cozier festivals, like EFOTT or SZIN as well. Checking out one of them is one of the coolest things to do in Hungary.