Hungary is one of the best tourist destinations. Its rich history, great architectural buildings, notorious capital, paprika, Tokaji, hot springs and so much more allures tourist to visit this unique land at least once. Located in the heart of Europe, Hungary has so much to proffer its visitors. Whether you’re planning to visit Hungary or just curious about this great country, check out these 20 interesting facts to know more about this stunning part of the world.

1. Table of Contents

   Toggle

   Heaven for Beach Holiday Lovers

If you want an unforgettable beach trip, head to the Lake Balaton, where sunseekers have being flocked to its shores for decades. The largest lake in Central Europe located at almost 600 square kilometers. Balaton Lake is so vast that people often referred it to as the Hungarian sea. The medicinal qualities in nearby sulphuric waters of Heviz also a reason why people visit this place. It is believed by locals and many others that water here has power to cure rheumatic ailments, pains and aches.

2. Plenty of Natural Hot Springs

Hungary is blessed with plenty of natural hot springs and home to more than 450 public bathhouses and spas. This protuberant culture of bathhouse existed since Roman times and considered the best cure for a hangover.

3. Land of Intelligent’s

Hungarians are very smart people, many big inventions goes to Hungarians bucket including worldwide famous Rubik’s cube, krypton electric bulb, helicopter, ballpoint pen and the biro.

4. World’s First Official Wine Region

All around the world wine from Italy, France and Spain are more famous than Hungary but Tokaj has something more unique than we can’t compare with others.  It is also known as King of Wines or “Tokaji Aszu”. King Karoly made official Hungary’s Tokaj region where world famous wine has been produced since the 5^th century.

5. Winners of Over 465 Olympic Medals

Hungary is the second country who won more than 465 gold medals in every Olympic they’ve competed in. and the most interesting thing is they’re banned from Olympic Games 1920 and joined the Soviet-led boycott of the summer Olympic 1984.

6. Don’t clink Your Beer Glasses

Hungarian vowed never to clink their beer glasses for 150 after their defeat in Hungarian revolution in 1848 against Habsburgs. Because legends claim that Austrians clink their beer glasses after the each of 13 executions of Hungarian generals. Though 150 years have passed but still they don’t like to clink beer glasses. You can clink any other glass but not the beer glass.

7. Owners of unique and hardest language

There are thousands of languages spoken all around the world but Hungarian language known as Magyar is the hardest language to learn. This unique language was originates from the steppe of Central Asia and the ancestors of the Magyar tribe who founded Hungary.

8. MCDONALD’S the first foreign fast food restaurant in Hungary

Yes, McDonald’s was the first foreign fast food restaurant establish shortly before the fall of communism in 1989 in Hungary. Though, McDonald was the first foreign but it wasn’t the first fast food restaurant in the country. The local fast food chain “city grill” and “paprika” were already treating Hungarian’s taste buds.

9. Paprika, Paprika!

More than 1,000 tons of paprika is produced in Hungary annually. Paprika is so famous in Hungary that there are two paprika museums, Szeged and Molnar. Both museums are perfect to explore the spice industry as well as one can enjoy paprika samples.

10. Every child name is regulated by law

A unique law that every parent must have to follow while choosing their child name. There is an extensive list of names and you can select your child name that must be present in the list. If the name is missing from the list, parents have to fill the form for approval with the Research Institute for Linguistics of the Hungarian Academy of Science.

11. Land of Nobel Prize winners

Hungary has most number of Nobel Prize winners, total of 13 winners. Hungarians won Nobel Prizes in almost every category except peace. But there is something that most of the people don’t know is that, all of the 13 winners emigrated from the country.

12. 99 % Literacy rate

5 % of the total GDP of country is spent on education which leads the Hungary to 99 % literacy rate. The country has about 77 institutions of higher education with 9 technical schools and 10 universities.  In 2017, there were 91 males for every 100 females in Hungary.

13. Home of greatest pianist of all time

Franz Liszt of Hungary was known world widely for his great skills of piano. Franz was a well-renowned composer, piano conductor and teacher. Hungarians admired him so much that they renamed their Budapest International Airport to honor him on his 200^th birthday in 2011.

14. “96” is an important number

Hungarian state was officially begin in 896 A.D. first metro was built in 1896 to celebrate Hungary’s millennial anniversary. According to the law, no building in Hungary can be taller than 96 feet high. And the Hungarian national anthem takes 96 seconds to sing at proper tempo.

15. 3^rd Largest Parliament Building

In 1896 Hungarian parliament building was built to celebrate Hungary’s millennial birthday in Budapest. The building has 691 rooms, 20 km of stairs and at 96 m high and tied with St. Stephen’s Basilica, the tallest building in Hungary. Also it is the 3^rd largest parliament building in the world after London’s Westminster and Romania’s parliament building.

16. Greatest swordsman

Aladar Gerevich is a Hungarian fencer, who is regarded as “the greatest swordsman who ever lived”. Aladar won gold medals in 6 consecutive Olympics from 1932 to 1960.

17. Fulfill your wish to become a writer

The great statue sits in the park near the Heroes Square can fulfill your wish if you want to become writer. Legend in Budapest says that if anyone touches the pen of statue he/she can become a great writer.

18. They love Soccer

Hungarians love soccer and still refer to the match of the century when Hungary beat England in their home ground at Wembley Stadium.

19. Goulash

Goulash is a national dish of Hungary, made from potatoes, pork, beef and paprika. The delicious stew now available with variety and when add sour cream it becomes paprika or paprikash.

20. Inhabitants

Hungary was once a part of Roman Empire and after its fall, Huns who were the inhabitants of the country named it Hungary.