Hungary

Hungary emerges from behind the Iron Curtain with rich options for travelers

Hungary has a long, rich history that includes membership in the Roman, Turkish, and Austro-Hungarian empires, as well as a shorter stint behind the Iron Curtain that’s left few traces behind. Today, Hungary’s infrastructure as a whole has developed measurably and it has once again regained its position as a vibrant European country.

The country’s geographic placement makes it a perfect stopover for the train traveler crisscrossing the Continent. For visitors looking for more bang for their buck, the country is still a little cheaper than most of its Western counterparts, though it is not the true budget destination it once was. Still, in a land of expensive gasoline and hefty highway tolls, trains are the principal means of long-distance travel for most of the population; the best way to see this remarkable little country is by rail.

© 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.