Hungary's central position and experience in welcoming travellers makes it the ideal place to enter Eastern Europe. The majority of travellers arrive in picturesque Budapest, which has a lively arts, café and music scene, and is host to a range of cultural and sporting festivals. To venture outside the capital is to travel through plains, resort-lined lakes, Baroque towns, and rustic villages. Hungary's other attractions include sampling its quality wines, 'taking the waters' in a relaxing thermal spa, or bird-watching in some of the best spots in Europe.

Full name : Republic of Hungary
Capital : Budapest (pop 2 million)
Area : 93,000 sq km
Population : 10 million
People : 89.9% Hungarian, 4% Gypsy, 2.6% German, 0.8% Slovak & 0.7% Romanian
Language : Hungarian
Religion : 68% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist), 6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 5% Other
Government : Parliamentary democracy
President : Laszlo Solyom
Prime Minister : Ferenc Gyurcsany

GDP : US$163 100 million
GDP per head : US$16 300
Growth rate : 4.1%
Inflation rate : 3.6%
Major industries : Mining, metallurgy & agriculture, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Trading partners : Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia
EU member : Yes