Tours

A half day tour by minivan may be an introductory tour. An overall tour of the city can be conducted in either a full day (8hrs) or in two half day (4hrs) tours. If you feel that a full day tour would be too much for you at one time, you may have two half day tours. In this case one half day can be dedicated to the Pest side and the other half day to the Buda side, or I can plan an itinerary for you that would include those places, that you are interested the most!

If you do not have the time for a full day tour or for two half day tours, you may visit the highlights of the city in a half day. There is also the possibility for a walking tour. During the walking tours you will not only walk from place to place, but will use some of the local public transportation such as trams, underground, buses. That will save time and will shorten the distances to walk.

Tours by minivan

The tours which are by minivan are really great ways to explore the city. Between the sights you travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan, which is driven by a professional driver, who only concentrates on driving and parking (since the traffic and especially parking can be quite hectic at times, it is very convenient to have the minivan driven by a driver, as this way there is a flexibility of walking shorter distances and be dropped off and picked up at different locations). I do think, that driving and guiding at the same time is NOT safe! The guide can only concentrate on you and your tour this way! Budapest is a big city and is quite spread (you will probably be surprised by its size after you arrive!), so in case you have time only for a half day tour, I would definitely recommend having the tour by minivan. You may see much more and have an orientation of the city during a shorter period of time. Of course a tour by minivan does not mean that you sit in the van all the time - you do get out quite a lot and visit the different places of interest.

Half or full day tour

Walking Tours

I only recommend a walking tour if you like to walk, if you have more time in Budapest and would like to have at least two half day tours or a full day tour or more. Budapest is a big city and is quite spread out, the sites are often far away from each other, so merely a walking tour would be almost impossible, so the tour is a combination of a walking tour with using some public transportation occasionally (tram, historical underground, funicular, etc). You may buy a one day transit pass, a package of single tickets for the public transportation or you may purchase the Budapest Card, which provides free public transport and free or discounted entrance to museums and other places.

Half or full day tour

City tours pre/aftrer river cruises

Since a few years (luckily) Budapest has become very popular as a river cruise destination as well. Many visitors decide to pre/after stay in Budapest, since the city is the first or last stop of most river cruise companies’ itinerary. It is a great idea to add couple of days to your cruise! Most river cruises include a general, overview type coach tour as part of  their package, however to get a deeper experience  and  to discover more of our fascinating capital, it is recommended to have a private tour as well.
You may be sure not to duplicate those places you will be seeing with the cruise ship tour, the itinerary will be tailor made to you interests and needs.
Half or full day tour

Jewish Budapest Tour

Budapest has extraordinary rich and fascinating Jewish history. There are approximately 100thousand Jews that live in Hungary today, which is the third largest Jewish population in Europe (after England and France). Many of them practice Jewish religion and preserve the culture. Budapest has a lot of Jewish related sites and places of interest. The “Jewish Budapest Tour” can be a half or full day tour, which includes the following sites (depending on the interest and on the length of your selected tour). The sites of the half day tour are all within the area of the former Jewish quarter while some of the sites of the full day tour are outside this area in different locations in Budapest. The tour itineraries are always flexible so you may select any site you are interested in from the 8hour tour even if you are having a half day tour.

Half or full day tour

Half day tour (4hrs) includes: Former Jewish quarter of Budapest, Dohány street Synagogue (second largest Synagogue of the world), Jewish Cemetery, Raul Wallenberg Memorial Park + Weeping Willow Holocaust Memorial (Tree of Life), Jewish museum (within the building of the Synagogue), Kazinczy street Orthodox Synagogue, Rumbach Synagogue

Full day tour (8hrs) includes: Former Jewish quarter of Budapest, Dohány street Synagogue, Raul Wallenberg Memorial Park, Weeping willow Holocaust Memorial (Tree of Life), Jewish Cemetery, Jewish museum, Kazinczy street Orthodox Synagogue, Rumbach Synagogue, Memorial to  Charles Lutz, Holokaust Documentation Center in Budapest,„Shoe Memorial” on the river embankment for the memory of the Jewish victims of WWII, Holocaust Memorial (in St. Stephen Park)

Related websites: www.bpjewmus.hu | www.hdke.hu  

Communist Past Tour

Introduction to the recent history of Hungary, the Communist dictatorship, the Soviet Era and the Uprising in 1956.

After the Second World War Hungary became a communist country and ended up to be controlled by the powerful Soviet Union. This almost half a century period between 1945 and 1989 is a very interesting part of Hungarian history. During the tour you will see the unique collection of communist statues in Memento Park (formerly known as Statue Park) outside of Budapest, that represent the social realistic art, visit places that had great interest during the uprising in 1956, which was a desperate attempt to get away from dictatorship and become free. The uprising was not successful and it became possible only to commemorate the heroes of the revolution after the change of regime in 1989. You will see several of these memorial places as well. You will be able to hear from an authentic local person (your guide) how it was to live under communism, how everyday life was and how everything changed since the end of communism.   

   
The tour includes: Memento (Statue) Park (outside of Budapest – 30min drive) , Liberation Monument (Gellért Hill), Szabadság square: Memorial to the Liberating Soviet Soldiers, Revolutionary heroe statue of Imre Nagy, Lajos Kossuth square: 1956 Memorial, Parliament (exterior), Hereos’ Square
The tour ends at the House of Terror  (or at your selected location)

Half day tour (4hrs)

related websites: www.szoborpark.hu | www.terrorhaza.hu

Wine Tour

Visit a family owned and run, small vinery just outside of Budapest in the quaint little village of Etyek. During the tour you will hear all about the area, the different types of grapes, the wine making phases and methods from the most authentic source, the wine maker himself. The wine tasting includes 6 different local wines and a tasting variety of a Hungarian cold plate (ham, saussage, liverpate, egg-cream, vegetables, bread, etc.) The excellent quality of the wines will bring you closer to the traditionally high level wine culture in Hungary!

Half day tour (3,5hrs)

Budapest Food Tour

Under Construction

Danube Bend Tour (Esztergom, Visegrád, Szentendre)

The Danube Bend area gives you an insight into Hungarian history and you may also see the lovely countryside, landscape and natural beauty. The tour goes along the river Danube to the north from the capital to the Danube Bend. The first stop is ESZTERGOM which is the ecclesiastical centre of Hungary and has the largest Roman Catholic church of the country. After visiting this majestic building the tour goes on to VISEGRÁD which used to be Royal Residence and where the ruins of a 13th century fortress can be found and you may enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the river Danube as well and get acquainted with the rich history. The last town is the charming, baroque artists’ village of  SZENTENDRE which has a very special architecture and atmosphere due the great number of Serbian refuges settling here in the 17th century. It also used to be the home for hundreds of artists at the turn of the century. It is well known for its charming colorful houses, narrow cobblestoned streets and patios, antique shops, museums and cafes. It is great place for shopping and lunch.

Full day tour (8hrs)

Szentendre Tour

The charming, baroque artists’ village of SZENTENDRE is only a 30minutes drive from the capital. It has a very special architecture and atmosphere due the great number of Serbian refuges settling here in the 17th century. It also used to be the home for hundreds of artists at the turn of the century. It is well known for its charming colorful houses, narrow cobblestoned streets and patios, antique shops, museums and cafes. It is a great place for shopping and lunch.    

Half day tour (4hrs)

Gödöllő Palace Tour

Gödöllő is a small town and is located 30kms from Budapest. Gödöllő Palace is one of the most important, largest monuments of 18th century Hungarian Baroque Palace architecture. The building underwent several enlargements and modifications throughout the centuries. The decision of Parliament designated it the resting residence of the Hungarian Monarch in the 19th century. This state lasted until 1918, thus Francis Joseph and later Charles IV and the royal family spent several months in Gödöllõ every year. It became the most popular summer-residence of Queen Elisabeth (Sissi). Due to the extensive restoration of the past years it regained its original style and glamour.    

Half day tour (4hrs)

related website: www.kiralyikastely.hu

Herend - Lake Balaton Tour

The first stop is Herend the world famous porcelain manufacture where you will be joining an organized tour by the Herend mini-manufacture and learn about porcelain making and admire the old porcelain master pieces at the Herend museum.

Full day tour (10hrs)

related website: www.herend.com

Eger Tour

Eger is one the most beautiful baroque towns of Hungary. After 1,5-2hrs drive you will be able to experience a traditional small-town atmosphere.
The tour includes: walk to Eger castle, walk on Dobó square, Minorities church, walk passed by the city hall, Eszterházy Károly Teacher's Training Collage: Library of the Diocese, Exhibition of Astronomical Equipment, Camera Obscura, Cathedral of Eger, walk in the old town, Turkish minaret, visit vineries/wine caves at Syrens’ Walley, drive back to Budapest.

Full day tour (8hrs)