4 hidden bucket list destinations in Hungary – PHOTOS, VIDEOS

Each year, Hungary is visited by millions of tourists who usually come to see the most well-known tourist attractions such as the Hungarian Parliament, the Buda Castle, Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Esztergom Basilica, Lake Balaton, Tokaj Wine Region, Lake Hévíz, or the Pécs Cathedral. Nonetheless, Hungary also has numerous lesser-known but amazing natural wonders and awesome historical sites that are just waiting to be discovered.

We have collected some of these hidden gems you should definitely visit.

Lake cave of Tapolca

Jump on a boat and explore the unique underground world in Tapolca!

The lake cave, which is situated in the centre of this small town, was discovered during the drilling of a wellbore in 1903. It was opened to the public ten years later.

The lake cave of Tapolca is Hungary’s first cave that is open to the tourists and has electric light.

It was also one of the two dozen caves in Hungary that were placed under protection as early as 1942. The sequence of layers, that enclose the cave system, consists of crystallized limestone and limestone marly layers which alternate with 1−2 cm clay strips. This gorgeous natural structure was formed 13.7 million years ago.

The most well-known representative of the fauna of the lake cave is the common minnow, a small fish species that people living in Tapolca call “csetri”.

After the 2012 renovation, visitors can walk down the 75 steps leading into the cave and stroll through the smaller and larger rooms of the dry section where the temperature is 20 ⁰C all year round. You can also jump on a boat and discover the mysteriously illuminated blueish water of the underground lake.

“Floating village” of Bokod

Lake Bokodi, situated about 80 kilometers west of Budapest, is an artificial lake (a power plant cooling pond) created in 1961 by the Oroszlány Thermal Power Company.

It was primarily formed for the purpose of storing and supplying cold water and cooling heated water that is returned to the lake from the power plant.

Due to industrial activity, the water temperature of the lake is ideal for wildlife, especially for the fish, as the water never freezes not even during winter. However, the power plant has been closed since 2015 so the lake is no longer heated in the winter.

Over the years, the lake has become a popular spot for fishing and a number of wooden fishing houses were erected by the locals. These “floating” houses are connected to the shore by long piers made of wooden planks.