Situated on both banks of the Danube, Budapest unites the colorful hills of Buda and the wide, businesslike boulevards of Pest. Though it was the site of a Roman outpost during the First Century, the city was not officially created until 1873, when the towns of Óbuda, Pest, and Buda were joined. Since then, Budapest has been the cultural, political, intellectual, and commercial heart of Hungary; for the 20% of the nation's population who live in the capital, anywhere else is simply the country ("vidék").
Budapest has suffered many ravages in the course of its long history. It was totally destroyed by the Mongols in 1241, occupied by the Turks in 1541, and nearly destroyed again by Soviet troops in 1945. But this bustling industrial and cultural center survived as the capital of the People's Republic of Hungary after the war--and then, as the 1980s drew to a close, it became one of the Eastern Bloc's few thriving bastions of capitalism. Today, judging by the city's flourishing cafés and restaurants, markets and bars, the stagnation enforced by the Communists seems a thing of the very distant past.
The house of parliement
Much of the charm of a visit to Budapest lies in unexpected glimpses into shadowy courtyards and in long vistas down sunlit cobbled streets. Although some 30,000 buildings were destroyed during World War II and in 1956, the past lingers on in the often crumbling architectural details of the antique structures that remain. Budapest is a wonderful city to visit!
Fishermens Bastion in the Castle District
Budapest Walking & Museum Tours: available upon request with licensed private guides
Private chauffeured driven tours below include driver, & licensed guide English speaking, transport, tolls, parking, insurance, - They do not include your tickets entrance to museums or sites, or any meal except the PUTZA tour & the full day in Buapest with lunch cruise where a lunch is included.
Budapest Grand City Tour:
We pass by the magnificent House of Parliament, cross the Danube on the Margaret Bridge, then drive to the Royal Castle on the Buda side, where we visit the Fisherman's Bastion (promenade) and the St Matthew’s Church (interior visit). After the Citadel (photo stop) we cross the Elisabeth Bridge and drive to the City Park towards Heroes' Square (promenade), passing the Opera, Dohany Street Synagogue and St. Stephen's Church. From there we go back to your Hotel where the tour ends.
Cost of 2 -3 persons, including driver guide & transport for 4 hours: 150 Euros
Budapest Grand City Tour + lunch cruise on Danube + Hungarian Jewish heritage tour (full day):
Grand city tour in the morning described above, then, a lunch on board of a pleasure boat sailing the Danube. After lunch, we will visit the places significant in the Jewish heritage of Budapest. Lunch is included with drinks.
Cost of 400 Euros for 2 persons
Hungarian Jewish Heritage of Budapest Tour: (4h)
This tour is designed for you to get to know the life, culture, and history of the largest central european Jewish community. You will be introduced with your guide to the most beautiful building of the Budapest Jewish district: renovated Dohany street Synagogue, which survived to WW2. Jewish museum, Holocaust cemetary, Raoul Wallenberg Memorial park, tree of life, the Carl LUTZ monument, and the center of the orthodox Jewish community, Kazinczy St. Synagogue.
Cost of 200 Euros for 4 hours tour for 2 persons / 300 Euros for 4 persons
Szentendre Tour:
Old Roman town called Ulcisia Castra (wolf camp), nowadays known as Szentendre. A stroll around the town is delightful, especially for those seeking out museums, art-galleries and churches. Our selective tour starts from the highest point of Szentendre, the Church Square that offers a fine view of the river Danube and the town. After the tour we head back to Budapest.
Cost of 4H tour / 220 Euros for 2-3 persons
Szentendre Visegrad Estergom Tour:
This tour starts from Budapest by riverboat on the Danube or by car. In Szentendre we visit Kovacs Margit, Doll and Skamzen museums, Garag St and wine cellars. In the afternoon we travel to Visegrad, and visit the old castle and tower of Salmon with its panoramic view of the whole countryside. If time permits we can also take a short trip to Esztergom. Recommended places to see in Visegrad: KING MATTHIAS PALACE, WATER BASTION AND UPPER CASTLE. Estergom: ROYAL PALACE, CASTLE HILL AND BASILICA
Cost of 2 persons 8 hour tour is 400 Euros
Puszta Tour: (This is the favorite tour in Hungary)
Spend an unforgettable day on the Hungarian Puszta. We drive to Kecskemet-Kalocsa-or Lajosmizse, where, after a traditional carriage ride, you will be greeted with a welcome drink. Following the thrilling display by these famous Hungarian horsemen you can enjoy a typical Hungarian meal with wine and gypsy music. Later we return you to your Hotel in Budapest. Recommended: Horse carriage ride, horse show and riding. Introducing some native animals that are only found in Hungary. (6-hours)
Cost of 250 Euros (2 to 3 persons) / lunch is included in this tour
Herend & Tihany Tour:
We visit the museum of Herend with its fascinating exhibitions, old and new. After the museum we go to the factory to see how the porcelain is made. From there we drive to Tihany for lunch. After our meal we visit the famous Church on the hill and the village museum. By ferry we cross Lake Balaton to Siofok and then drive back to Budapest. Recommended places to see in Tihany: BENEDICTINE ABBEY MUSEUM, POTTER'S HOUSE AND ARANYHAZ.
Cost of 2 persons -8 hours tour . 400 Euros
Eger Tour:
One of the country's most attractive Baroque cities, and a 1000-year-old Episcopal seat, today Eger is an archiepiscopal center with a glorious historical past and great historical monuments. Eger is also a town of medicinal baths and student life, where good wines are served in wine cellars that have seen the passage of several hundred years.
Recommended places to see: BASILICA, ARCHIEPISCOPAL PALACE, and VALLEY OF THE BEAUTIFUL LADY AND PALOC FOLK ART MUSEU
Cost for 2 persons, 8 hours tour, 500 Euros
The Hungarian Versailles-Gödollo Tour:
The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy's ruling couple Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Queen Elizabeth built this castle and developed its 71-acre park. They frequently stayed in the Grassalkovich Mansion built in the " Hungarian Baroque" style in the 18th century. The main staircase gala hall, the Queen's reception salon, her writing and dressing rooms, her bedroom, and Franz Joseph's study and smoking salon have all been restored to their original condition.
Cost for 2 persons 4 hour tour, 300 Euros
Ecseri Piac Tour:
Uncover the enchanted world of the Ecseri Flea Market. >From knickknacks to Art Nouveau furniture, from postcards sent and received long ago to silver pocket-watches. Old and new, rich and poor, beautiful and touchingly ugly, there are all here, together affording a unique insight into the great past of a great city. The Ecseri Flea Market is a treasure house for collectors, browsers and anyone looking for an unusual souvenir to take home.
Driver only for this tour, no guide, cost of 100 Euros up to 4 persons, transport + drive
OTHER SPECIAL TOURS FROM BUDAPEST:
Transfer to Vienna( Austria), or one day in Vienna with a driver guide, English speaking/ for 2 persons Cost of 450 Euros for 2-3 persons
Private helicopter tours of Budapest ( 20 minutes flight over Budapest is for 2 persons minimum / 300 Euros per person/ for 5 persons per helicopter 160 Euros) ( 30 minutes flight Budapest + danube band minimum of 2 persons 400 Eurosper person / for 5 persons per helicopter 250 per pers)
Special evening Hungarian folk shows / Gipsy music & dinners under request
