Families visiting Hungary will find a good selection of attractions aimed at young ones. Budapest is the best place to find a concentrated selection of entertainments designed specifically for children. In Hungary’s capital city you will find a zoo, an amusement park and an aquarium plus a variety of other attractions such as cinemas (showing Hollywood movies in English), parks and leisure centres. The Mogyorod Aquarena Water Park is one of the most popular family attractions outside of the capital and is the ideal place to head to if you are vacationing in the summer season.

Budapest Amusement Park 
Fun with a definite leaning toward the traditional and old-fashioned can be found at Budapest’s Amusement Park. For over 50 years, the facility has been providing family fun with its dodgem cars, merry-go-round and classic wooden rollercoaster. The park enjoys a convenient location close to a number of other attractions including the zoo and several museums. Phone: +36 1 363 8310

Budapest Tropicarium-Oceanarium 
Children and adults alike will appreciate the variety of fascinating sea creatures residing in the tanks at the Tropicarium-Oceanarium in Hungary’s capital city. The highlight of the facility is undoubtedly the 11-metre long tunnel, which you can walk through, observing all manner of fish and sharks too, swimming above your head. There are eight different sections to explore, including a simulated tropical rainforest that’s home to monkeys, crocodiles, giant turtles and a variety of birds. Phone: +36 1 424 3053: website: www.tropicarium.hu/_lang/eng/flash_eng.htm

Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden 
Guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of all members of the family, this popular attraction is home to over 2,000 animals with species collected from across the globe. The animal enclosures mimic their natural habitats as much as possible and all inhabitants are well cared for and in good health. There are some pleasant green areas at the zoo, with some eye-catching plants and flowers on display. Phone: +36 1 273 4900;

Mogyorod Aquarena Water Park 
Located next to the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod, the Aquarena Water Park encompasses a spacious 11.5 hectare area and is the ideal place to head on a hot summer’s day. Children will love the eight different pools, which have 26 slides that placed end-to-end would stretch to nearly a mile. Outside of the summer season, the water at the park is heated so bathing is still a pleasant experience even if the air is a little on the mild side. Phone: +36 1 6 28 541 100; website: www.aquarena.hu/en/

Hungarians are an active race as a rule and enjoy the great outdoors, pursuing a variety of sports. Facilities, consequently, are excellent and visitors will find no shortage of opportunities to indulge in their favourite pastime or to try a new one. The country has lots of water so water sport opportunities are plentiful, as are places for fishing if you an avid angler. Horseback riding is popular, having earned itself a place in modern day Hungary from its importance to the country’s early settlers.

Cycling 
Cycling enthusiasts will find Hungary lends itself to the pursuit of their favourite activity with each part of the country offering varying terrain and cycling conditions. The northern region is hilly and there are inclines that will challenge even the most experienced rider. The Buda and Borzsony hills are a good place to head if you like things on the steep side. The Great Plain is predominantly flat although winds can make riding a good deal tougher. Transdanubia is perhaps the gentlest area and that most suited to novice and intermediate riders. Cycling is forbidden on both motorways and the national highways numbered zero to nine. Lights and reflectors are required by law and police do stop cyclists without them.

Golf 
Golfers get to indulge their passion at a variety of courses located in different parts of the country. The Budapest Golf Park and Country Club is the place to head for if you are holidaying in the capital; the club sits just 20 miles from the city centre and offers an 18-hole course plus equipment for hire. Slightly farther out from Budapest is the Pannon Golf and Country Club at Alcsútdoboz, 25 miles west of the city. The club also offers 18 holes and equipment rental facilities. One of the best courses away from the capital is the Hencse National Golf and Country Club. Here visitors will find a 90-hectare facility with 18 holes set amid picturesque forests and lakes.

Horseback Riding 
Historically, the country has had a close and long relationship with the equine species dating back to the time of the Magyars. Today, Hungary has a large number of riding schools and stables distributed the length of the country, providing good opportunities for riding enthusiasts to enjoy some time in the saddle. During high season, it’s sensible to book ahead as riding is a popular activity with the locals and you face potential disappointment if you simply turn up and hope for the best.

Water Sports 
Canoeing and kayaking can be pursued on organised trips, which follow either the Danube or the Tisza River. Visitors interested in such trips should ask at local travel operators or tourist information offices. Lakes around the country, such as Lake Pecs at Orfu and Lake Tisza at Tokaj, are the perfect places to enjoy a spot of sailing, with vessels for hire and lessons available also. Lake Balaton is perhaps the most popular place for sailing activities with Kiliantelep and Balatonszemes among the best locations although Tihany, Siofok, Balatonfured, Balatonboglar and Fonyod are also worth checking out.

Often referred to as Magyar cuisine, the traditional food of Hungary is typically quite spicy, using liberal quantities of paprika and black pepper. Fats and starches feature heavily and are the basis of many popular dishes. Soups are prevalent and among the most popular are húsleves (a rich meat soup), fozelék (a thick blended vegetable soup), halászlé (soup with fish and paprika) and hideg meggyleves (a cold soup made from sour cherries).

Main dishes tend to be heavy on meat content, posing problems for vegetarians but appealing to the palates of dedicated carnivores. Popular dishes to consider trying include pecsenye, which is pork steak with cabbage; pörkölt, a meat stew similar to goulash; paprikás krumpli, a stew with spicy sausage potatoes and paprikás krumpli, paprika-based stew with potatoes, spicy sausage and paprika.

Pancakes are also a popular feature of both starters and main courses in Hungary, with the veal-filled hortobágyi palacsinta among the most popular. Noodles and cheese are also popular ingredients in many courses.

If you eat out in Hungary, you’ll notice some regional variations in the cuisine but generally speaking the style of cooking is the same. If you aren’t especially impressed by the local creations then there are always foreign restaurants available. Budapest has a large selection of international eateries with everything from European cuisine to Oriental food available. The usual selection of popular fast-food franchises such as McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC are also on hand.

Eating out is fairly pricey in Hungary although budget establishments are available if you look hard enough.

Hungary’s a good country for shopping in with both traditional handicrafts and modern consumer goods available for purchase. Malls with popular designer names can be found in the big cities, while markets selling edible and handmade products, can be found across the country.

If you’re in Budapest and are looking for covered shopping then head for centres such as the German-owned Árkád, with its 170 outlets, Campona with its large retail selection and 11-screen cinema complex, Csepel Plaza with a cinema and 60 retail outlets and the impressive Mammut with its excellent retail selection and dining areas. Staying in Budapest, if it’s food and souvenirs you are looking for, then head for the Central Market Hall or Nagy Vasarcsarnok, as it is known locally.

In other parts of the country, Keszthely is known for its open-air market and Hortobágy for its street vendors. However, you can find both markets and street vendors pretty much anywhere in the country. If you are looking for traditional goods at decent prices then Keszthely and Hortobágy are the places to frequent.

If you are seeking distinctly Hungarian products then certain food and drink items are representative of the country. Hungarian wines are known among connoisseurs and are worth picking up. If you feel like being adventurous, then purchase some of the other interesting spirits and liqueurs such as the fruit brandy known as palinka or the bitter herbal liqueur known as unicum.

Paprika is an essential ingredient in many Hungarian dishes and the country produces many different kinds, some more spicy, pungent and aromatic than others and some coming in the native, un-ground dried form. For other essential Hungarian cooking ingredients, be sure to get some halaszle kocka, which are fish stock cubes used as a base for many tasty soups.