Among Hungary's diverse tourist attractions are Turkish and Roman ruins, medieval towns and castles, more than 500 thermal springs (some with resort facilities), and Lake Balaton, the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Budapest is a major tourist attraction and cultural capital, with two opera houses and several annual arts festivals.
Popular sports include handball, football (soccer), tennis, and volleyball. The Budapest Grand Prix, the only Formula-1 motor race in Eastern Europe, was inaugurated in August 1986. A valid passport is required of all foreign visitors. Citizens of some countries (including the US, Canada, and the UK) do not need visas.
Hungary had 31,141,271 visitor arrivals in 2000. The majority of those visitors (97%) were from other European nations, followed by citizens of the US. Tourism receipts totaled $3.4 billion in 1997. That year there were 57,870 hotel rooms with 143,573 beds and a 47% occupancy rate.
In 2002 the US government estimated the cost of staying in Hungary at between $93 and $204 per day.