I was born and raised in Hungary. Skip the crowds in Budapest and visit these 5 charming towns instead.

• When traveling to Hungary, it may be tempting to spend all your time in the capital city, Budapest.
• However, as a local, I think many of the smaller towns have a lot to offer, too.
• One of my favorites is Szentendre, home to cobblestone streets, great food, and an open-air museum.

As someone who was born and raised in Hungary, I can understand why so many tourists flock to Budapest.

It’s easy to spend a week (or more) in the capital city, doing everything from cruising on the Danube to sipping cocktails in a ruin bar or riding the Ferris wheel.

However, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t visit some of the country’s smaller towns, too. Here are five of my favorites.

I’ve lived in Szentendre for nearly a decade and still love its charm.

Located less than an hour outside the capital is Szentendre, a town filled with cobblestone streets, colorful houses, Baroque churches, and charming alleys adorned with flower pots and whimsical umbrellas.

While there, I recommend walking through the heart of town or strolling along the Danube River with award-winning ice cream from Teátrum Pizzabár.

I also suggest relaxing in a deck chair at Kacsakő Bisztró, a bohemian riverside spot beloved by locals. There, you can watch the Danube drift by or listen to live music while eating a juicy burger or smoky barbecue ribs.

Before leaving, stop by Skanzen, Hungary’s largest open-air ethnographic museum. Here, you can truly feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Complete with authentic artifacts and relocated homes, this museum is broken up into regions that represent different parts of Hungary.

I think Hollókő looks like it belongs on the pages of a storybook.

About an hour and a half outside Budapest lies the village of Hollókő, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that beautifully preserves traditional Palóc culture and architecture.

I love the way the whitewashed houses with dark-brown wooden beams line the narrow streets, as if they’ve been plucked from a fairytale.

Some of my favorite things to do include wandering around the old village, visiting the Palóc Doll Museum with my kids, and marveling at the intricate lacework displayed at Szatyingos, a museum that hosts demonstrations and craft workshops.

I also recommend buying a local pastry, like a lángos (deep-fried flatbread) or a kürtőskalács (chimney cake), and heading up to Hollókő Castle for panoramic views.

Wine lovers should definitely visit Tokaj.

When visiting Hungary, I think every wine lover should know about the Tokaj, Eger, and Villány regions. However, as a fan of white wine, Tokaj is my favorite.

Within this region lies the town of the same name, which is about two and a half hours east of Budapest.

Although the town’s World Heritage Wine Museum is on many travelers’ to-do lists, I recommend visiting a family-run cellar instead. In my experience, the owners often have a wealth of knowledge about the region and its wines, as many families have been living here for generations.

Tokaj is also the birthplace of Tokaji Aszú, a sweet white wine that I think every traveler should taste. I also suggest trying different cuvées, too, which are blended wines.

Tihany is a popular summertime destination on Lake Balaton.

Two hours outside Budapest lies Tihany, an iconic town on Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe.

The main attraction is the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany, a church that dates back to the 11th century.

My family and I visit Tihany at least once every summer to marvel at the views, shout at Echo Hill, and wander among the town’s thatched-roof cottages, artisan shops, and cafés.

My favorite place in Tihany is an espresso bar called Kotyogós Kávéterasz. Its terrace overlooks the Inner Lake (Belső Tó) and has a huge grassy area for kids to play. I love ordering the elderflower mead, while my husband almost always chooses the lavender rose spritz.

While you’re near Lake Balaton, don’t forget to check out the street art in Tapolca.

Tapolca is about an hour west of Tihany and is perhaps best known for the vibrant street art at Tapolcai Halas Lépcső. There, artists showcase the colorful koi fish in Lake Malom.

Other spots I recommend visiting include Szerelmesek Hídja (Lovers’ Bridge), Tópart Bisztró, and the Tapolca Lake Cave Visitor Centre, where visitors can take a 10 to 15-minute boat ride underground.

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