Travel Planning Guide for Budapest, Hungary: Tour Packages

The morning or evening tour will give you a fantastic orientation of inner Pest and fabulous views of the stunning Buda Castle District. You will glide from the office in the city center to sites including St. Stephen's Basilica, the Hungarian State Opera House and the Grand Boulevard of Andrassy framed by its tree-lined avenues. Next we'll cruise through Vorosmarty Square and the Vaci Walking District. Finally visit Vigado and Danube Promenades, the Chain Bridge, Roosevelt Square and more!

Tour Highlights

• St. Stephen's Basilica
• Hungarian State Opera House
• Grand Boulevard of Andrassy, the best shopping street in town!

Your tasting extravaganza provides an overview of Hungary's typical food and drink. You'll learn how Hungarian food is prepared and the exact ingredients that go into making the famous dishes, plus visit a market to see where the locals shop for traditional ingredients.

Your tour begins with a discussion about the wines you will try in a private cellar. The wine tasting covers the traditional wines of Hungary, and reveals the history and legends behind each wine.

You'll then visit a typical local bar for the appetizer portion of the tour. Next stop is a restaurant for a large bowl of goulash soup with bread, followed by a main meal and a typical Hungarian dessert.

A beverage or glass of wine is included, and you'll also be offered a welcome tot of spirits to clean the palate before trying more tasty Hungarian tidbits.

To finish, there's coffee or tea to round off this great food and wine experience.

Sample Menu:

• Bowl of Hungarian goulash soup with bread
• Huge Hungarian meal with pickled salad and garnish
• A traditional dessert
  
• Accompanied by a three-tier Hungarian wine tasting

Take a stroll through Budapest, Paris of the East, on this relaxing evening walking tour, then cruise for an hour on the legendary River Danube.

Budapest's magnificent buildings and monuments are brilliantly illuminated at night, making the city appear even more spectacular than by day. This night walking tour is designed to show you the best of Budapest by night, and includes some amazing photo opportunities.

While you stroll you'll learn about the sights you'll pass, along with stories about Hungarians and their rich history. Who were the first vampires? Where did the Hungarians come from? Was Attila the Hun really a Hungarian? These and many other compelling questions will be answered as you walk through the illuminated city.

At the end of the tour you will embark on a one-hour river cruise along the Danube. The cruise provides another perspective on the city's illuminated sights, from Pest's Danube Promenade to the Buda Castle district. A commentary is included and there are yet more excellent photo opportunities.

Historically, the grapes grown in this region are used for the production of sparkling wine and champagne. Grapes are grown in a 800 hectare area. The Torley sparkling wine is made from the excellent Chardonnay grapes of Etyek, a region with endowments similar to Champagne.

Typical wines from Etyek are: Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Pinot Gris is becoming more and more popular. Indulge in some wine tasting and snacks and take the opportunity to purchase a bottle from the vineyard.

Upon your return to Budapest, your tour ends at the Hotel Intercontinental.

Combine a comprehensive tour of Budapest sightseeing with a fascinating guided tour of the city's spectacular Parliament House, Hungary's largest building. Your half-day tour includes entrance fees, hotel pickup and a local guide to point out all the important sites.

You'll tour inside the magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament building, home of the Holy Hungarian Crown. Your guide will lead you through the splendid Session Room, the impressive central staircase and the wonderful Great Vaulted Hall. Along the way, you'll be entertained and informed by your guide's anecdotal and historical commentary.

The Parliament building was built between 1885 and 1902, and was for a time the largest parliamentary building in the world. With 691 rooms and staircases stretching for more than 12 miles (20 kilometers), the building is topped by an elegant dome soaring 226 feet (69 meters) into the sky.

After your visit to one of Budapest's finest architectural achievements, sit back and relax on your city tour. You'll cross the Danube via Margaret Bridge and take a drive to the Royal Castle on the Buda side of the city. Here you will take a walk along the Fishermen's Bastion and step inside Matthias Church.

After a photo stop at the Citadel, you'll cross Elizabeth Bridge and drive by City Park to take a walk at Heroes' Square. Passing by the Opera and St. Stephen's Basilica, the tour concludes at the Hotel Intercontinental.

Your three-course meal begins with an aperitif, and is accompanied by wine. Then sit back and enjoy the varied music and dance of a traditional folkloric show.

On your return to Budapest, you will have a marvelous view of the illuminated city from Castle Hill. The tour ends at either your hotel or at the Casino, where you will be given a voucher for free admission.

Experience the beauty of Hungary's southern Great Plains on a day trip to the towns of Kecskemet and Lajosmizse. You'll discover Hungary's sunniest region, a land of rivers and lakes, and a paradise for lovers of fishing, water sports and horse riding.

The tour takes you on a scenic drive through the Great Plains to Kecskemet, where you will be taken on a guided walk through the town. Kecskemet is the largest town in the region, with historical monuments, nature reserves and a thriving cultural life.

Continuing on to Lajosmizse, you will be greeted with a traditional welcome drink. After an exciting performance by the famous horsemen of the region, you'll take a carriage ride through the Puszta, the typical steppe landscape of the Great Plains.

You'll then enjoy a Hungarian three-course meal with wine at a traditional tavern, accompanied by stirring gypsy music.

On your return to Budapest, you'll drive through the unique Great Plains landscape of sand dunes, grasslands, reed-lined waterways and backwaters, tiny white farms, well-kept pastures and rolling fields of wheat.

Get your bearings and see the sights on a 3.5-hour walking tour of Budapest. Escorted by an expert English-speaking guide, you'll see all the highlights including Heroes' Square and Vajdahunyad Castle, plus unexpected gems on this fascinating walking tour of magical Budapest.

Your walking tour begins with a short ride on the Millennium metro out to Heroes' Square and City Park. A walk through the park then takes you to the Vajdahunyad Castle complex, built for the world Expo in 1896 in typical Hungarian designs. Next stop is the Szechenyi bath house (peek inside when open) before taking the Millennium metro back to the city center.

Continuing on, the walking tour stops at St. Stephen's Basilica. Next, you'll follow tiny streets towards the city center walking district, stopping at Ferenciek Square to view the amazing architecture. Take a short stroll along the Vaci walking street then head down to the riverside's famous Danube Promenade. As you walk along, take in the spectacular views of Gellert Hill and the Citadel, Buda Hills and the Buda Castle District.

Stop outside the Vigado, the former municipal hall, then make the most of a picturesque photo opportunity of the little princess before crossing the famous Chain Bridge.

For the final part of the tour, you'll climb the steps to the Royal Palace in the Buda Castle District, then walk through the old cobblestone streets and alleys to the tour's finishing point in front of the Matthias church and Fisherman's Bastion.

At the conclusion of the tour, your guide can provide tips, directions and more to help you make the most of your time in Budapest.

At Herend porcelain factory, founded in 1826, you'll learn how the tradition of hand-painting the highly successful patterns has been passed down from father to son. You'll have time for a coffee break here, as well as time to purchase some of the world-famous hand-painted porcelain.

The tour continues to Lake Balaton, the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, scenically located at the foot of the volcanic hills of the Balaton Uplands. Here, you'll visit a traditional tavern to enjoy a three-course lunch with wine.

After lunch, you'll take a drive to visit the oldest spa in Hungary, Balatonfured, before returning to Budapest.

You will then visit the famous outdoor Statue Park (where all the communist statues were displayed after the change in 1990) for a guided tour learning the symbolism of the statues from Lenin, Marx and Engels, friendships and liberations. Your guide will cover the ideas behind them and where they were placed in the city and for what reasons. Also at the park you will visit some exhibitions of communism related themes that is ever changing along with a real Trabant car that was originally designed to be a covered motorcycle and became a trademark as the Hungarian family car!

Also included on your tour is a visit to a private exhibition room, where we will introduce you to the real features of a Hungarian home through relics to typical furniture and furnishings. Furthermore, view an extensive collection of many communist related relics, such as red and blue passports, party member's registration book, pins, medals, currency and huge placards to help your understanding of the propaganda Hungary once lived within.

When in Budapest don't miss the opportunity to take a morning tour of the city's spectacular Parliament House, Hungary's largest building. You'll admire one of Budapest's finest architectural achievements, and have the remainder of the day free to explore the city at your leisure.

Budapest's magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament building is the home of the Holy Hungarian Crown. Your guide will lead you through the splendid Session Room, the impressive central staircase and the wonderful Great Vaulted Hall. Along the way, you'll be entertained and informed by your guide's anecdotal and historical commentary.

The Parliament building was built between 1885 and 1902, and was for a time the largest parliamentary building in the world. With 691 rooms and staircases stretching for more than 12 miles (20 kilometers), the building is topped by an elegant dome soaring 226 feet (69 meters) into the sky.

The building is predominantly neo-Gothic with Renaissance influences, although the base ground plan is Baroque. A strong Byzantine influence is noticeable in the interior of the building, especially in the marvelously decorated staircase hall.

Budapest's sights are spread out, so getting around by bike is the best way to see the city. Peddling along bike paths is easier than walking and much more fun – plus you'll visit places that sightseeing buses can never access. While you cycle, your professional guide will fill you in on the city’s history to help you gain a greater understanding of Budapest and Hungary.

The tour takes you to Budapest's main sights, and starts with a ride along the city's most elegant road to the monumental Heroes' Square. After a gentle ride through the leafy and relaxed City Park, you'll take a peep into Budapest's loveliest bath house.

You'll see the elephants when you cycle past the zoo, then visit the Basilica, Budapest's biggest church. After crossing the first bridge of Budapest, it's an easy ride up Castle Hill to enjoy the view from a lookout terrace. From here, you can compare the flat Pest side of the city with the hilly Buda side.

This four-hour cycling tour is mostly on entirely flat bike paths, so you don’t need to be ultra fit. The tours are in small groups, ensuring a friendly and interactive atmosphere.

The tour includes two breaks. At the first break your guide will provide some welcome cold drinks while giving you hints on the best places to visit after the tour. A Hungarian specialty lunch is served at the end of the tour.

Take an excursion into Hungary's history on this popular Danube Bend full day trip. You'll visit the gorgeous old towns of Visegrad, Esztergom and Szentendre, includes a three-course lunch and a cruise on the River Danube a highlight of any trip to Hungary!

The day trip takes you to Visegrad, with its medieval citadel and romantic ruins of the former royal residence. Then it's on to Esztergom for an interior visit of the town's famous cathedral.

After enjoying a three-course lunch with coffee, you will continue on to the Baroque artists' village of Szentendre. Here you'll take a guided walk through the town and visit the Caprice Hungarian Jewelry Center, followed by coffee and soft drinks.

Your tour returns to Budapest by boat on the River Danube (May 01 to September 30 only, tide permitting). During other times or at low tide the tour returns to the city center by bus.

With a half day to discover Budapest, the Grand City Sightseeing Tour makes the perfect introduction for the first time visitor. With hotel pickup included and the option of a morning or afternoon departure, see all the key sites from the comfort of your motorcoach.Your travels will take you across the Danube on the Margaret Bridge, show you the House of Parliament, the Royal Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and much more.

You will cross the Danube on the Margaret Bridge (Margaret Island) and drive to the Royal Castle on the Buda side. Here you will visit the Fishermen's Bastion (Promenade) and the Matthias Church (Interior visit).

You will also climb the Gellert Hill for fantastic photo opportunities of the city before crossing Elizabeth bridge and driving by the City Park towards Heroes' square (Promenade). Passing by the Opera and St. Stephen's Basilica you reach Hotel Intercontinental, where your tour ends.

You will hear all about the local Hungarian beers and also learn a very important lesson: how to do shots! Two tastings are provided so you can drink like a local and learn about the city's favorite spirit.

This tour enables you to mingle with the locals, share stories, meet other travelers and make new friends. Your guide is an endless fountain of information, giving you undivided attention and offering plenty of insider tips.

The Budapest Pub Crawl gives you an excellent introduction to the nightlife of Budapest. It's like a moving party, the perfect start for a night on the town with friends old and new.

Sit back and relax on this leisurely four-hour excursion to the stately mansion of Godollo Castle. You'll take a tour of the castle, enjoy a walk around the park-like grounds and perhaps stop for coffee and cake at the Palace Cafe.

Godollo was the summer residence of Sissi, the beloved queen of the Hungarians, whose formal name was Elizabeth of Bavaria. Formerly the 18th-century central estate of the Grassalkovich counts, the castle is an outstanding example of Central European Baroque architecture. The estate was transferred to the ownership of the Hapsburg kings in 1867.

After your guided tour of the castle, you might like to take a stroll through the grounds to the Royal Stables and equestrian Riding School, or take a break and enjoy coffee and cake at the Palace Cafe.

Venture to Szentendre, town of museums on a half day sightseeing trip from Budapest. Located at the South Gate of Danube Bend, the tiny town squares, meandering streets, Serb temples and baroque bourgeois buildings contribute to a picturesque Mediterranean atmosphere.

Home to a young community of artists, many museums and galleries exhibit the works of locals who lived or currently live in the artists' quarter, established in the past century. You'll visit  the magnificent Caprice Hungarian Jewelry Center, and have a walk through the baroque center of town, with an opportunity to do some shopping.

Your tour returns to Budapest by boat on the Danube (May 1 to September 30 only, tide permitting) and will end at the Pier. During other times or at low tide you will return by bus to the city center.

Start your 3-hour Jewish Budapest guided tour with a drive along the Danube and visiting the World War II Victims memorial at St. Stephen's Park.

You'll then continue to New Leopold town, the former middle class Jewish District where you'll visit the world's second largest Synagogue, the Dohany Street Synagogue, as well as the Jewish Museum, the Jewish garden, Tree of Life and the Temple of the Heroes.

Before concluding your tour, you may wish to enjoy lunch (optional) in a Kosher restaurant.

During your bike ride you'll visit Budapest's major sights such as the Opera and Andrassy Boulevard, Heroes Square and City Park, Inner Pest's Basilica and Parliament and finish at the Buda Castle District.

On the tour you'll be escorted by an English speaking guide, the use of a comfortable bike, great tips and stops along the way for incredible photo opportunities.

Please refer to Itinerary (below) for tour description.

Tour one of the largest wine cellar systems in the world, then sample up to a dozen Hungarian wines from different regions. With unlimited wine, friendly company and an informative guide, you'll be an expert on Tokay and Bulls Blood by the end of this tour!

The history of Budapest's wine cellar system dates back more than 250 years. On your guided tour of the limestone cellars you'll see ancient curved oak casks, including the third largest oak cask in the world.

The guided walk inside the cellar system takes 30 to 40 minutes. Along the way you'll learn about wine making and be able to ask everything you have always wanted to know about wine.

After the walk you will visit a wine-tasting room to taste 10 to 12 special Hungarian wines from different regions. Try Hungary's most famous dessert wine, Tokay Aszu, and learn how the famous red Bulls Blood is made.

This is an interactive wine tasting lasting one to 1.5 hours. You'll have the opportunity to talk to other travelers, share stories, have fun and enjoy unlimited wine.

Join a guided small group tour from Budapest and visit the very popular Statue Park. You'll observe its outstanding outdoor exhibition of the communist era statues, which were removed from Budapest after the collapse of communism. Your English speaking guide will explain how communism started in Hungary including the reasons and the effects.

Learn how the Hungarian people lived throughout the communist dictatorship as you listen to interesting stories about jammed radio stations, banana lines, black markets and illegal unemployment. See the monumental communist statues of of the likes of Marx and Engels, Lenin and others. Your guide will explain what the statues symbolize and what propaganda they were spreading.

Your small group tour continues to the nearby Budapest wine cellar system. One of the largest in the world, it extends for more than 30 kilometres inside a limestone hill. The history of the wine cellar system dates back to over 250 years. You'll see very old wood carved oak casks, including the third largest oak cask in the world and the famous blessed Saint Stephan cask.

Enjoy a guided walk inside the cellar system (30 to 40 minutes) and learn about wine making. Afterwards, visit a wine tasting room used for wine competitions and auctions and taste 10 to 12 special Hungarian wines from different regions. Try the most famous dessert wine of Hungary, Tokay, and the red wine 'Bull's Blood', as you discover how each is made. This is an interactive wine tasting for 1 to 1.5 hours giving you the opportunity to talk to other travellers, share stories, learn and have fun. Unlimited wine is included before your tour concludes with a transfer by minibus back to the tour's original meeting point.

Combine relaxed strolling with travel on the Millennium metro on this leisurely afternoon tour of Budapest. To make the trip even easier, you'll be collected from your central Budapest hotel.

The tour starts with a walk to the famous Vorosmarty Square (Gerbeaud Coffeehouse). After a short rest, you'll travel by Millennium metro to the State Opera House for a visit of the interior.

Back on foot, continue walking along Andrassy Street, passing the infamous House of Terror and the Kodaly Korond city square.

The tour then rides the metro once more to Heroes' Square and Szecheny Spa. Continue on foot through the City Park to Vajdahunyad Castle, where you will have an interior visit of the castle.

The tour ends with a return trip on the Millennium metro to Budapest's city center.

Your fist two stops are the Liberty Square for Cardinal Mindszenty's part in the revolution and the U.S. Embassy before a short walk to the Imre Nagy memorial. Here is the remembrance of the man who defied the leaders in Moscow and paid dearly on the gallows two years later in total secrecy through a court and sentencing. Next stop is the Parliament area where the shots were fired, which began the revolt to take up arms. Also here you view the eternal flame for the 1956 revolution remembering all those who fought and lost their lives.

Then you take a short walk to Olympic park for the bloody remembrance of the 1956 water polo game against the Russians. Here we will also view where some of the first marches started from Bem square. Afterwards, take a short ride on tram to the university and learn about their roles in the revolution. The sixth stop takes us to the Hungarian Radio where demonstrators marched to take over the building for Imre Nagy's famous speech calling to the West for support. Here you'll learn about the storming of the building. The final stop of the tour is Corvin lane to one of the major battle areas where boys and men fought alongside each other Soviet tanks with nothing more than Molotov cocktails and small fire arms. This stop will depict the location for its protective feature against the stronger Soviet army and how the Freedom Fighters were able to overcome almost the impossible and defeat some of the Red Army's soldiers and tanks bringing on full fledged fighting and destruction to the city.

Start your walk from the side of the Danube, from here you have a great view of the Parliament. If you walk down to the river bank, you can see many seagulls, and the ships cruising up-and-down the river. From here, ascend the castle hill through the tight streets and stone steps, all the way to the walls of the castle. Almost all of the buildings are protected monuments, which look just like they did many hundred years ago.

You will see among others the residence of the President of the Republic of Hungary (Sandor Palota), the National Gallery, the Siklo, and the panoramic view the hill has to offer in all directions. After leaving the castle hill, you will make your way down to the Taban, and from there up to the Citadel, located on Gellert-hill. In the hillside you will have a great view on the bridges crossing the Danube. At the Citadel, you can photograph the Statue of Liberty, and the city from a much higher perspective.

Some of the things you will learn:

• How to cross the line from holiday snaps into one of the most beautiful and expressive forms of art in existence.
• Golden rules of composition, lighting and exposure
• How to look at everyday objects in a manner that will bring out their artistic potential
• How to be more adventurous and creative with your work: painting with light, tripod techniques, and clever ways to enhance everyday scenes.
• Not to be afraid to take your camera out of 'Auto' mode.