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HUNGARY
The Perfect Formula
H U N G A R Y
HUNGARY lthough striking in its own right, Hungary will provide you with more of a gentle view to enjoy. However, it is in the cities that you will really see the grandeur of the country’s architecture, providing an endless array of beauty and intrigue wherever you turn.
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Hungary’s continental appeal has shot to the front of the grid, virtue of its subtle but extensive offering Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Joe Palliser
Upon a trip to Budapest in particular, you will find everything from Roman ruins, baroque churches and art nouveau bathhouses, as well as the city’s world-famous churches that attract tourists from all over the world. Not only is the country incredibly warming to visitors, but it will also provide you with a myriad of ways
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to spend your free time. Its food remains one of the most formidable and sophisticated styles of cooking to be found in Eastern Europe, with its reputation for food dating largely back to the late 19th century. Despite a lul in its culinary prowess during the period of time under communism, the array of cuisine options in Hungary are once again commanding attention, as are the nation’s wines. As a country on the whole, it still holds onto its rich folk traditions, with the beautiful folk paintings found on the walls and ceilings of churches in the Bereg region – where the country
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really comes to life artistically. A slightly more modern tradition comes in the form of the Grand Prix, taking place at the Hungaroring since it was created in 1986 and growing more and more popular with every passing
FACTS & FIGURES
year. Hungary offers many widely varying and diverse destinations to explore, with low-lying mountains, lakes and rivers, small hidden villages and large expanses of cities. Capital: Languages: Area: Population (2016): Currency: Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD: Climate:
Budapest Hungarian 93,030 square kilometres 9.818 million Forint UTC+1 +36 .hu Humid continental
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H U N G A R Y
The Business End ON THE whole Hungary is a relatively affluent country, with a high-income mixed economy, a skilled labour force and the 16th lowest income equality in the world to boast. With that in mind, Hungary attracts foreign direct investment with ease, aided by its long history of successful tourism, voted the world’s 13th most visited tourist destination previously. Among the country’s visitors, 98 percent of them come from inside of Europe, most of which will arrive by car. Hungary’s most popular tourist season arrives between April and October, at which point Budapest becomes a hot-bed of tourists
exploring the wonders the city has to offer. Budapest’s rise to popularity truly arrived in the 1990s, with its main attractions in the city including Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery and the Parliament. Despite the prowess of Budapest among tourists, it has numerous attractions that are well worth exploring. At present it is estimated that Hungary has approximately 1,300 thermal springs and a third of those springs have been utilised to create spas, promoting a culture of relaxation when you visit the country thanks to this innovative step.
Fisherman Bastion in Budapest. It is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on the Castle hill
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Out & About
Buda riverside with restaurant ship on Danube river, Budapest
King Saint Stephen statue against the Liberty Bridge over the river Danube
AS PREVIOUSLY mentioned, you really will be spoilt for choice when it comes to how and where to spend your time in Hungary. Depending on your travel requirements, the hotels available provide exceptional service and comfort during your time away from home. The La Prima Fashion Hotel Budapest for example, is a four-star hotel that is perfect for business and
leisure travellers alike, providing them with an ideal city centre location, hightech facilities and gym. Similarly, when it comes to deciding on where to eat, you are completely spoilt for choice. Restaurants such as Baraka, Varosliget and Caviar & Bull, will provide you with a real insight into what Hungary can offer in the culinary stakes. Whether you are after a fine dining experience, or would like to
immerse yourself in the culture and atmosphere in a street café, there truly is something for everyone. No matter how busy your schedule during a trip to Hungary, find time to take in some of the country’s history. Depending on where you will be based there are an array of monuments, museums and churches that will take your breath away and provide you with a real look into the country’s culture.
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H U N G A R Y
Outlook Recommends ‘A slightly more modern tradition comes in the form of the Grand Prix, taking place at the Hungaroring since it was created in 1986 and growing more and more popular with every passing year.’
HOTELS
La Prima Fashion Hotel Budapest
LANDMARKS
RESTAURANTS Baraka Varosliget Café & Restaurant Caviar & Bull
Memento Park Hungarian State Opera House Liberty Monument
RETAIL Mercure Budapest Buda
MUSEUMS Castle Museum Museum of Fine Arts Hungarian National Hotel President Budapest Museum 6
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Szimpla Sunday Farmers Market WestEnd City Center Arioso
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The Grand Prix Hungary Grand Prix History
The Country hosted its first Grand Prix in 1930, however, following on from the building of the Iron Curtain, the sport didn’t return to the country until the 60s. In the early 1980s, negotiations began with the Soviet Union for racing to be held in Moscow, but it was in the summer of 1983 that the attention of decision makers began to turn to Budapest as the perfect location in a bid to put the country firmly back on the motorsport map. A new circuit was built in a valley – that would go on to be known as Hungaroring Circuit – 19 kilometres outside of Budapest, providing the perfect spot to hold the Grand Prix due to its natural vantage points.
HUNGARORING FACTS:
The Hungaroring race track in Mogyoród, Hungary where the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix is held
The track is renowned for its ability to create extremely entertaining races, with its tight and twisting laps testing the drivers’ abilities to the max.
Track in Detail
The track was built in record time, taking approximately eight months and provided the sport with a venue that had easy access to most city centre hotels. Since its opening event, the race has always received excellent attendance from local fans, partly due to the fact
that approximately 70 percent of the track is visible form any point – which has afforded the circuit the name ‘the shallow plate’. Over the years the track has been consistently improved and reconstructed and now it’s top-class infrastructure meets with the strict requirements of Formula 1, while also providing a popular event for testing and being one of the safest racetracks in the world. Hungary Grand Prix tickets are still available at time of publication.
Lewis Hamilton has won the Hungarian Grand Prix a record five times
GRAND PRIX Date: First Grand Prix: Number of Laps: Circuit Length: Race Distance: Lap Record:
27-29 July, 2018 1986 70 4,381 kilometres 306.63 kilometres 1:19.071 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
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Transport Links
Budapest trams carry almost 100 million more passengers annually than the Budapest Metro
Hungarian Parliament on the West side of the Danube, Budapest
HUNGARY PROVIDES a plethora of transportation options to meet with your needs during a stay there. As previously mentioned the popularity of traveling by car to the country is on the rise, however, there are many faster and relaxing ways to navigate the country. If you will spend the majority of your time in Budapest, the intercity trains are recognised as the fastest mode
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of transport, as well as always being well maintained and clean for a very comfortable journey. All major cities are linked to Budapest through this line, at a relatively cheap rate and in comparison to a large proportion of Western European fares, the Hungary IC train is very reasonable. Hungary’s national bus network is operated by a selection of 28 state-run companies, all of which are united under
the Volan Association. You will find that the connections available run at regular intervals, providing a more efficient and often quicker way to travel. The majority of roads in Hungary are two lanes – apart from the more modern motorways – and the majority of main roads are in great shape and therefore easy to travel on should you decide to rent a car or drive as your mode of transport.
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Landmark Attractions
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Basilica of St Stephen
“St Stephen’s Basilica of Budapest is one of the most beautiful and significant churches and touristic attractions of the country. This is partly due to its historical heritage, of being dedicated to the holy king St Stephen who was also the founder of the Hungarian state, and partly to the architectural and artistic value of the building itself.” – en.bazilika
Great Synagogue
“Budapest’s stunning Great Synagogue is the largest Jewish house of worship in the world outside New York City. Built in 1859, the synagogue has both Romantic and Moorish architectural elements. Inside, the Hungarian Jewish Museum & Archives contains objects relating to both religious and everyday life. On the synagogue’s north side, the Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial presides over the mass graves of those murdered by the Nazis.” – Lonely Planet
House of Terror
“The headquarters of the dreaded secret police is now the startling House of Terror, focusing on the crimes and atrocities of Hungary’s fascist and Stalinist regimes in a permanent exhibition called Double Occupation. But the years after WWII leading up to the 1956 Uprising get the lion’s share of the exhibition space (almost threedozen spaces on three levels). The reconstructed prison cells in the basement and the Perpetrators’ Gallery, featuring photographs of the turncoats, spies and torturers, are chilling.” – Lonely Planet PHOTOGRAPHY BY TBACHNER - OWN WORK, CC BY 3.0,
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BusinessTravel Guide joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com
+44 (0)1603 959 676
ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com
+44 (0)1603 959 672
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