May to June or September to October is the best time to visit Hungary, with mild weather and fewer crowds than peak summer. June to August brings the warmest weather but the busiest crowds in Budapest. There are highlights year-round: Sziget Festival transforms Óbuda Island into one of Europe's biggest music festivals every August, the Budapest Wine Festival brings winemakers to the courtyards of Buda Castle every September, and Budapest's thermal baths and Christmas markets drawing visitors through December.

The best things to do in Hungary include exploring Budapest's thermal baths and architecture, cruising the Danube, and wine tasting near Lake Balaton.

• Exploring Budapest's thermal baths, including Széchenyi and Gellért

• Cruising or walking along the Danube, taking in the Chain Bridge and Parliament building

• Wine tasting in the Tokaj region or around Lake Balaton

• Touring Buda Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion

• Wandering the historic centre of Eger, known for its castle and thermal baths

• Visiting Hollókő, a UNESCO-listed traditional village

• Watching a Puszta horse show in Hortobágy National Park, Europe's largest protected grassland and home to Hungary's traditional horsemen

• Hiking through Aggtelek National Park's Baradla Cave, the largest stalactite cave system in Europe

Hungary is reachable from London via a change of trains in Brussels or Paris, with daytime trains or sleeper trains connecting onward to Munich, Vienna and Prague, followed by a train into Budapest. Within Hungary, trains connect Budapest with towns and cities across the country.