What do the ballpoint pen, Vitamin C, soda water and the Rubik’s Cube have in common?

They all have a Hungarian story behind them.

Hungary may be a small country, but its contribution to science and innovation is surprisingly large. That is something our guests often discover with genuine surprise during their travels in Hungary.

The modern ballpoint pen was developed by Hungarian inventor László Bíró, whose name even lives on in the word “biro,” still used for ballpoint pens in some English-speaking countries.

Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi was awarded the Nobel Prize for his research on Vitamin C – famously using paprika, one of the essential ingredients of Hungarian cuisine, as a source of the vitamin.

Ányos Jedlik played a pioneering role in the development of carbonated water, which later became an essential ingredient of Hungary’s beloved fröccs, or wine spritzer.

And, of course, there is the Rubik’s Cube, invented in Budapest by Hungarian architect and professor Ernő Rubik.

These are just a few examples of the many Hungarian inventions and scientific achievements that have influenced the world.

This is one of the stories we love sharing with travelers visiting Budapest and Hungary – because discovering Hungary is not only about seeing its beautiful places. It is also about discovering the remarkable people and ideas that have come from this small country.