Üdvözöljük! Welcome to the land of thermal baths and paprika—Hungary, a landlocked country in Central Europe with a language and culture unlike any of its neighbors. There are around 10 million people living here, and the capital is Budapest, often called the “Paris of the East” for its stunning architecture along the Danube River. The official language is Hungarian (Magyar), which is famously one of the most difficult languages in the world for English speakers to learn.

Hungary covers about 93,030 square kilometers (35,920 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of Indiana in the U.S., or about the same size as Portugal. The landscape is dominated by the Puszta, a vast flat grassland, and the rolling hills of the north.

The most popular sports are Football, Water Polo (they are an all-time global powerhouse), and Fencing. Their national animal is the Turul, a divine mythological bird of prey, while the Turul and the Grey Cattle are significant cultural symbols of the Hungarian spirit.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and green, where the red represents strength, the white stands for faithfulness, and the green symbolizes hope.

The food is famous for its use of Paprika, which is the soul of Hungarian cooking. You must try Gulyás (Goulash), a rich meat and vegetable soup spiced with plenty of paprika. Another favorite is Lángos, a deep-fried dough topped with garlic water, sour cream, and grated cheese. For dessert, don’t miss Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cake), a sweet, spiraled pastry roasted over charcoal. Hungary is also famous for Tokaji, a sweet dessert wine that King Louis XIV of France once called “the Wine of Kings, and the King of Wines.”

Hungary is home to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, affectionately known as the “Hungarian Sea.” The country is also a thermal wonderland, with over 1,300 thermal springs; in Budapest alone, you can soak in the Neo-Baroque Széchenyi Baths, the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Hungary has produced an incredible number of Nobel Prize winners per capita and is the birthplace of many things we use today, including the Rubik’s Cube, the ballpoint pen (by László Bíró), and even the basic theory of the hydrogen bomb. If you visit the parliament building in Budapest, you’ll see one of the most beautiful government buildings in the world, inspired by the British Houses of Parliament but with a distinctively Hungarian flair.

From the historic wine cellars of Eger to the ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter, Hungary is a land of invention, music, and deep-rooted history. Köszönöm! That means “Thank you!”