Hungary is situated in Central Europe, sharing borders with the Slovak Republic, Ukraine, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Austria and Slovenia. There are several ranges of hills, chiefly in the north and west.
The capital city of Budapest, situated on one of the most beautiful areas of the Danube, is made up of two parts – Buda and Pest. The former is the older, more graceful, part with cobbled streets and medieval buildings; the latter is the commercial centre. The capital is a lively city that has long been a haven for writers, artists and musicians. The Historical Museum of Budapest contains archaeological remains of the old city, and furnishings, glass and ceramics from the 15th century. On the Pest side is the Parliament and the Hungarian National Museum, containing remarkable treasures including the oldest skull yet found in Europe.
Lake Balaton in the west is a popular holiday region, not least because of its sandy beaches and shallow waters. Local dishes include halaszle (fish soup) with pasta and goulash (gulyas) soup. Budapest has many nightclubs, bars and discos. During the summer months the popular Lake Balaton resort has a lively nightlife.
