Hungary certainly should not have too many problems with the latter thanks to its strikingly beautiful capital Budapest and its countrywide scenic splendour from Siofok on Lake Balaton to elegant Szentendre on the Danube. Made a member of the European Union in 2004, Hungary has certainly seen its fortunes change for the better since the days of the Iron Curtain. The shift towards multiparty politics and a market-oriented economy was as seamless as with any of the former members of the Warsaw Pact, meaning Budapest is now more closely aligned with Western Europe. Part of Hungary’s past and present success is owed to its excellent location right at the heart of Europe where East meets West and the northern former Eastern bloc countries of Poland and Slovakia are separated from Croatia, Serbia and Romania to the south. This location continues to reap benefits today as Hungary has established itself as one of the main destinations for European investment in recent years. Geographically, Hungary is dominated by low-lying rolling plains and large bodies of water – namely the mighty Danube, the longest river in the EU, and the Tisza, another great European waterway originating in the Ukraine. Lake Balaton in Hungary’s west is the largest body of water in Central Europe and makes a popular destination for holidaymakers during the country’s hot summers. | 
