Bold moves

Whether by plane, train or e-tractor, cities and nations are rising to the challenge of getting the world from A to B.
Calling the tune

This summer, our Monocle 24 radio station is broadcasting interviews with key thought leaders from across the globe. Here we revisit 10 of the most insightful so far, from political leaders to newspaper editors, humanitarians to architects.
Good spot

Even in a suppressed economy, opportunity is everywhere. We meet the residents of Nicosia who are forging their own path and highlight cities on the up.
On the right track?

Where’s my parcel? How far have I run? Where have I been? The desire to track and trace everything is booming. But have we become slaves to these apps and devices – and do they really deliver on their promises?
Word up

There’s a newfound appetite for reliable news and positive storytelling. We meet the people aiming to feed it.
Culture Briefing

As this unusual summer turns to autumn it seems that the most striking cultural offerings around reflect the times. From a spooky take on the civil rights-era US to alien hunters, dystopian societies, catastrophe and, yes, Japanese electropop, our pick of what’s good for the eyes, ears and mind has a thrilling, otherworldly feel. Get ready for a stroll along the road less travelled.
Going for gold

The International Olympic Committee’s HQ is on top of the podium when it comes to office design.
Give us a wave

Eladio Dieste made brick beautiful. Now the Uruguayan’s curved aesthetic is proving to be more relevant than ever.
Table for two

Boffi De Padova is known for its smart group of design-led Italian furniture brands. An eye for tactility and artisan craft has drawn the company into a new collaboration with Japanese firm Time & Style.
The Monocle shop

We’re here to kit you out with a versatile collection of clothes and accessories whatever the weather. Choose a polo for sunny days, a jacket for balmy evenings or a button-down for work – these pieces can be mixed and matched, and dressed up or down.
Plate expectations

We make for the shoreline of the Baltic in Stockholm, where Tommy Myllymäki opened Aira earlier this year. In a berth in a boathouse-style structure, this restaurant serves haute cuisine without starchy service or New Nordic strictures. This isn’t a spot for a forgettable lunch; it’s a fresh take on destination dining.
Food and Drink Briefing

Food-focused finds from Hong Kong to Vienna, and three companies providing meals on wheels.
My Last Meal: Jim Muir

The veteran British correspondent in the Middle East settles into a favourite Beirut haunt to discuss covering Lebanon’s civil war, opening an office in Tehran and how Twitter changed journalism – as well as his enduring appetite for the region’s food.
Sole focus

Hit the ground running this autumn in style-savvy trainers that are fit for the city.
On a roll

Denim production once defined US textile manufacturing but a focus on quantity over quality nearly snuffed it out. Now Vidalia Mills is bucking the fast-fashion trend. We meet the founders of the first denim mill to open in the country this century.
Fashion Briefing

From Japan to Spain, we uncover fashion’s top moments and discover why bricks and mortar done well will always bring in the crowds.
Good to go

On the move? Whether you’re getting into your stride on foot or hitting the town on two wheels, now is the time to travel in style – and the residents of Munich are leading the way.
Small wonder

Looking for an escape that feels a world away from the usual islands and crowded beaches? The autonomous Åland Islands between Finland and Sweden have great food, peerless shops and long days of sunshine.
Travel briefing

We focus on a selection of the planet’s finest new hotels and drop in on the shop that sells everything you’ll need to capture the moment once you get to them.
Room for all

The Danish capital’s latest hotel venture pays homage to its past life as the city’s central post office. It gets our stamp of approval.
Good sport

As the world gets moving again, it’s time for us to pick up the pace. Here’s our selection of the sports and fitness attire to help you shift into a higher gear – and look good while you’re at it.

Places to visit / Hungary

Laying down routes

Searching for places that are untrampled by mass tourism, where the wines are well made and well priced, we recommend a trip or two beyond Hungary’s capital to its surrounding regions.

A medium-sized country of 10 million in the heart of Europe, Hungary is easy to get to and borders seven states, including Austria to the west, Ukraine in the east and Serbia to the south. The country’s position as a gateway to the West meant that over the centuries it has been invaded – and influenced – by Mongols, Ottomans, Austrians and Germans. It also fell to Soviet control after the Second World War. Since the Iron Curtain came down in 1989, Hungary has joined Nato and the EU, and embraced some aspects of its Western neighbours while keeping an identity of its own. That character is rooted in its landscape of vast plains, soaring peaks, sporty escapes and more than a few lakes and vineyards.

The terrain swoops from the flat grassland and wetlands in the east, known as the Puszta, to the stunning Matra Hills in the north, which are dotted with ancient churches, castles and charming independent hotels. The north shore of Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe and an agreeable spot for a summer dip, is surrounded by rolling countryside and is known for its wine, as is the area around the southern city of Pecs, which enjoys a balmy almost Mediterranean climate (though summers are hot throughout the country). International trains connect Budapest with many foreign capitals, including Vienna, Warsaw, Berlin and Paris. Budapest also has quick rail links with cities Miskolc and Debrecen in the east and Pecs, while the far-reaching Volan bus firm is also useful. Some routes, however, such as Budapest to Lake Balaton or out to the eastern wine region of Tokaj, are best reached by road. Visitors are advised to hire a car and utilise the country’s nippy motorways to get around – nowhere in Hungary is much more than a three-hour drive from the capital.

Getting there

Although there are five smaller airports in Hungary, most passengers will arrive directly into Budapest Ferenc Liszt International, which is well served by routes to 144 destinations in 47 countries. The airport is 25km from the city proper (an easy cab or shuttle-bus ride) but those wishing to hire a car here will see that the busy traffic in the capital quickly disperses as you head away from town. Do remember to drive on the right, though.

Key sites:

Ferenc Liszt Airport
Danube Bend: Resorts on the river
Etyek: Wine region
Veszprem: Spa town
Balatonboglar: Resort town south of the lake
Heviz: Spa town at the lake’s southern tip
Pecs: A charming city with many age-old factories
Palkonya: Village close to Croatian border
Sopron: City in a western wrinkle
Pannonhalma: Don’t miss the Abbey
Eger: Northern city with great hotels at hand
Tokaj: Top wine region
Debrecen: Plain charming
Hortobagy: Home to a national park.
Szarvas: Town on the Koros River
Baja: Southern city with plenty of galleries
Kalocsa: One of the nation’s oldest towns

ILLUSTRATOR: Róbert Farkas

Editor’s Letter

The opener

Cosy corner

Bold moves

Calling the tune

Good spot

On the right track?

Word up

Culture Briefing

Going for gold

Give us a wave

Table for two

The Monocle shop

Plate expectations

Food and Drink Briefing

My Last Meal: Jim Muir

Sole focus

On a roll

Fashion Briefing

Good to go

Small wonder

Travel briefing

Room for all

Good sport

Bosphorous blues

Affairs Briefing

Business Briefing

Design Briefing

Southern comfort

Hungary for more?

Laying down routes

City of culture and charm

Look north

Better lake than never

Don’t miss the south

Go with the flow

Mountain escape

Glass half full

A taste of the action

Our top trips and treats

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