For outdoor adventure, Europe’s largest freshwater lake, lively beach resorts and breathtakingly beautiful scenery, head west in Hungary. The region known as Pannonia is the country’s largest and criss-crossed with protected nature reserves, national parks, ancient towns and villages and historic cities. Fly into Budapest and you can be on the shores of Lake Balaton in under an hour and a half.

• If you’re doing Hungary with teens, Siófok on the eastern shore of Lake Balaton is the country’s 24/7 resort for water sports, summer festivals, lively big beaches, club nights and crowds of young locals at the weekend.
• Keszthely on the enormous lake’s western side is a more peaceful choice and very family-focused from its fun waterparks to colourful markets, cheerful kid’s events and historic castles and gardens.
• Second only to Budapest, Pécs is a must-do in Western Hungary. It’s one of the country’s loveliest cities, site of the first university and balances an incredible architectural heritage and outstanding museums with a friendly small city atmosphere.
• Sopron, almost right on the Austrian border, is one of the most complete medieval towns in Hungary and has over 200 listed historical buildings.
• Don’t miss: hiking and mountain biking in the Mecsek Hills; Pécs Old Town; Peter & Paul Cathedral in Pécs; Annagora Aquapark; Mecsextrém Adventure Park; the Ottoman Mosque of Gázi Kászim Pasha; UNESCO World Heritage Cella Septichora; Orsolya tér or ‘Bear Squar’ in medieval Sopron.

The Hungarian capital is a city to inspire contradictory feelings. Many visitors fall in love with it immediately, others compare it unfavourably to the likes of Prague and charming Ljubljana. Budapest isn’t unaware of its flaws and has invested a lot of energy into nurturing a more vibrant and inclusive atmosphere over the past 20 years. Visit with an open mind and prepare to be dazzled by the grand architecture, quite a few of the museums, pleasantly surprised by lush parks and blown away by the shopping – Great Market Hall is not to be missed.

Tokaj-Hegyalia is Hungary’s legendary wine region and reason alone to visit the tiny eastern corner of the country. Kids might not be too taken by the UNESCO World Heritage vineyards but they will like adventuring round the volcanic mountains, deep mysterious forests and captivating towns which feature just as high on this area’s list of attractions.

• This is the region which produces pale amber Tokaji Aszú AKA ‘the king of wines’, and rich, robust ‘Bull’s Blood’.
• Visit Hollókõ: the prettiest village in Hungary, a UNESCO World Heritage site and where locals wear traditional costume every hour of every day.
• The Mátra Mountains are the highest in the country and famous for their excellent hiking trails in spring and early summer.
• The enchanting Baroque city of Eger is worth seeing for its dramatic fortress and the impressive Archbishop’s Palace – thanks to a long history of occupation, it’s also one of the best places in Hungary for a traditional Turkish Bath.
• This is the region for the wildly beautiful plains of Hortobágy National Park, Hungary’s first and largest and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.