Hungary

is a medium-sized country in the Carpathian basin, with ten million inhabitants. It has a statehood of more than one thousand and one hundred years, and is a member state of the European Union since 2004. The country has given the world many well-known inventors, scientists, explorers, composers and athletes. In addition, Hungary has more Nobel Prize winners per capita than any other nation. Hungary is proudly placed 8th both in the all-time Olympic medal table and in that of the FINA World Championships, while it ranks 5th in the European Championships (aquatics), despite being the world’s 108th country as far as its size is concerned, and the 84th in terms of its population.

Budapest

 is the capital and the largest city of Hungary, a metropolis which leaves the visitor thirsting for more. It has the largest thermal water system in the world, and the first underground on the European continent has been built in Budapest more than 120 years ago. The Buda Castle Hill, with the 700-year-old Matthias Church, the Royal Palace and the Fishermen’s Bastion, is among the most charming World Heritage Sites, from where one can look down at the downtown and the Danube River, with her many bridges, among them the beautiful Chain Bridge – the first one throughout the history to permanently connect Buda and Pest.

Regarding the topic of water, the city’s number one reference is the Danube River, which splits the city into the hilly Buda and the flat Pest. Besides, Budapest is a city of spas, with a unique composition and temperature of the waters, where visitors can reinvigorate in one of the 19 different thermal baths, including classical and even Turkish spas.

The city already hosted many aquatic events, like for instance the first edition of the European Aquatics Championships back in 1926, which was later followed by numerous other continental aquatics championships (in 1958, 2006, 2010 and 2014) and the FINA World Championships in 2017. Budapest has already been named European Capital of Sports for 2019, hosting 365 sporting events throughout the year, highlighted by the European Maccabi Games in July and the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in August.

Gastronomy

First of all, let us admit it: Hungarians love eating. As a matter of fact the Hungarian cuisine is way more than goulash and paprika; nevertheless tradition plays an important role in Hungarian cooking. Today, it offers a vivid fusion of authentic and modern dishes.

Hungary, situated in the heart of Europe, has a wealth of culture and history. Besides unique ingredients – such as Mangalica pork, goose or duck liver – exciting creations attract foodies and connoisseurs from all over the world.

Here is a list with some of our authentic Hungarian meals one should not miss when visiting our country:

• starters: foie gras, sausages (hurka, kolbász), pancake Hortobágyi style (palacsinta), cold ones include paprika cheese spread (körözött) with a crescent roll (kifli) or soft scone (pogácsa)
• soups: gulyás, fish soup (halászlé), broth/consommé (húsleves), cold fruit soup
• snacks: deep fried flat bread with garlic/sour cream/cheese (lángos), chimney cake (kürtőskalács)
• main dishes: stuffed cabbage with sour cream (töltött káposzta), stew (pörkölt) made from beef/chicken/gizzard/pork/venison or even vegetable stew (lecsó)
• side dishes: potato in various forms, small dumplings like noodles (nokedli), egg barley (tarhonya) and in addition to these, pickles (savanyúság)
• when it comes to extras, sour cream, hot/sweet paprika are also on the table
• desserts: cottage cheese dumplings, dumplings filled with plums (túró/szilvásgombóc), Gundel pancake (palacsinta), strudel with apple/quark/poppy seed/cherry filling (rétes), Somlói trifle (Somlói galuska), chestnut purée (gesztenyepüré)

Should you bump into a dessert bar named “Túrórudi” (a cottage cheese bar coated with chocolate), don’t walk away, it is worth a try! Whatever you might be your favourite meal in Hungary, please find two expressions, which our visitors might find useful: „Jó étvágyat!” (Enjoy your meal) and „Egészségedre!”