Hungary 7 (Lonely Planet)

This is the kind of book that gives LP the great reputation that it deserves. The guide was generally helpful for both Budapest and Eger, and we used it religiously for our one-week visit to the country. However, it would have been useful to have translations of the phrase "Is service included in the bill" (I have also found many other LP guides also omit this useful phrase). We would have also appreciated a more in-depth historical background. The historical description between the 1960s-90s was a little light. This is a far cry from LP's Romania book, which was decent at best.

I have visited Budapest and more than five towns around it last summer, and have used this book extensively as my only guide to the country. It was of great help, in it you can find everything you will need to get the full experience of the country, including historical informations, sites to visit, maps, well choosed recommendations of restaurants and bars, informations about accommodation, transport and people. I can recommend this book to everyone who wants to visit and learn about Hungary.

While the internet is virtually an (almost) unlimted source for information about any country, it is also an overload of too much information ... that is when you need a guide to help you sort it all out. Lonely Planet does *just* *this* for anyone who is interested in visiting and touring Hungary. I have been to Hungary three times in the past five years and was delighted to discover this wonderful book. While my primary purpose was to visit relatives, the opportunity to visit historical sites and experience the culture is always foremost in my mind. Since most vacations are limited to 2, 3 or 4 weeks - you need to know where to find what interests you and make the most of your European vacation. This is the primary purpose of this book.Lonely Planet tells you about restaurants, hotels (and their prices), entertainment, folklore events, art galleries, museums, castles, and churches, too -- giving a very good description of *nearly* everything of historical or cultural interest in the major cities and towns of Hungary. There are some very nice photographs,too. I was most impressed by their including information about transportation, buses, the metro and the trains. You are given an indespensible synopsis and outline of "what you need to know" of how to get "where you want to go." Budapest is described in vivid detail - the charm of this old world capital is evident - anyone unfamiliar with its treasures is enticied to visit. I have visited, Szekesfehervar, Veszprem, Sarvar, Szombathely, Gyor, Sumeg, Koszeg, Csesznek, Zirc, Mor, and at Lake Balaton: Siofok, Keszthely, Tihany & Badacsony -- all described beautifully for what they offer the tourist. Of note, there are highlighted boxes which give special information, hard to find elsewhere, for instance, "Herend Porcelain" is featured, giving a brief history of this art and a description of some patterns. "The Victoria pattern of butterflies and wild flwoers of the Bakony was designed for Queen Victora after she admired a display of Herend pieces at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851." (page 228) Another major plus to this guide, is it gives an accurate, scholarly and well researched brief history of Hungary in about 10 pages. I have read recently published history books about Hungary - Lonely Planet got it right! So if you are looking for a concise, cultural, historical, educational complete guide to visiting Hungary - buy this book. My highest accolades to this guide! Erika Borsos (erikab93)

As a Hungarian I was wondering if I'd get any new information from this book and being a curious person I bought it and must admit that it covers mostly everything that is worth seeing in Hungary.The introductory section is a bit obsolete though this is the most vulnerable part to changes. Anyway I laughed my head off at the description of Hungarian post officers and "toilet aunties". These descriptions are true and prepare the would-be tourist for what can be expected. The section is informative, covering all the important points.The chapter on Budapest is absolutely OK, the walking tours are managable and they cover the whole city. Once you've completed the 12 walking tours you know what Budapest is like. The other chapters are good, too, though the ones describing the Great Plain and Western Transdanubia could have been a bit more comprehensive.Considering everything this guide is a good choice if you want to visit Hungary.

Please update your book every year. I know I would buy it every time you did an update. I also bought one for a hungarian friend, who was also very pleased with it, and he was born In Hungary.