Sightseeing in Budapest, private tours

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We can arrange sightseeing with private guide and car/driver within city, half and full day

During the half day city tour we cover the most remarkable and historical sights of Pest and Buda. On the Pest side we visit the impressive Heroes’ Square where after a short explanation about the Millennium Monument and its museums you can have some free time to take photos. The City Park behind the square has several sights, too: the most famous Restaurant of Hungary Gundel, Széchenyi Spa, Grand Circus, Zoo, Amusement Park and the picturesque Vajdahunyad castle.

The tour continues along the Andrássy Avenue (UNESCO World Heritage) where we pass by some mansions of former aristocrats, former Music Academy and the Hungarian State Opera House. In the office quarter we see the St Stephen’s Cathedral and the magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament building.

After crossing the Danube River we arrive in the Castle District of Buda (UNESCO World Heritage), which used to be the capital of Hungary for several hundred years. In this historical part of Buda you have chance to visit the neo-Gothic Matthias Church and take a view of the Danube and the Pest side from the Fishermen’s Bastion.

The highlight of the tour is the Gellert Hill with the Liberty Statue and the Citadel from where you can enjoy the breathtaking panorama of Budapest.

- visit of the Statue Park with former political and communist statues, memorials

In this program you have the opportunity to spend an enjoyable evening in Budapest combined with typical Hungarian folklore show and dinner.

After the pick up from the hotel we drive to a rustic restaurant, where you will be welcomed according to Hungarian traditions with fruit brandy ”pálinka” as an aperitif and fresh-made salty cake ”pogácsa”. Afterwards you have chance to taste the delicious food of the famous Hungarian cuisine with wine.

During the dinner you can enjoy a live folklore show with dancers in traditional dress and singer accompanied by a Gypsy band. The program includes Hungarian folk and gypsy songs as well as traditional dances.

After dinner we drive up to the Citadel located on the top of Gellért Hill to admire the breathtaking view of illuminated Budapest.

After a short drive we arrive in Szentendre, which is a small baroque city with Mediterranean atmosphere. Because of its picturesque location, narrow, winding streets, small romantic squares, Greek orthodox churches, souvenir shops and cafés Szentendre is a popular destination. Furthermore it is a centre of Hungarian artists with numerous museums and art collections.

In Szentendre settled down many Serbians and Greeks when Hungary was reconquered from the Turks at the end of the 17^th century, therefore this city is the religious centre of Hungarian orthodox believers.

In Szentendre we walk to the main square in the centre, where most of the sights are located: the City Hall, the Greek Church and the oldest catholic church on the hilltop offering a beautiful view of the Danube and the surroundings. After the walking tour in the pedestrian area we visit the unique Marzipan Museum where handmade marzipan figures and sculptures are exhibited. We invite you for a coffee and a cake in the pastry shop.

Afterwards you can enjoy a longer free time to visit some other museums (for example the Margit Kovács Ceramic Museum) or to do shopping along the main street. As an alternative we can visit the jewellery factory and shop called Caprice, where you have the chance to see diamonds, jewels and their fine producing processes during a short guided tour.

- Return by boat to Budapest in the period between 10^th April and 24^th October (except low water level) In case of return by boat the excursion ends at the pier of Budapest in the city centre. Ticket 1 400 HUF/person.

Gödöllő is located 30 km to the east of Budapest and its most important sight is the Grassalkovich Mansion, better known as the former summer residence of Queen Elisabeth. (Sisi)

The palace of Gödöllő with its 17000 sq metres is the largest baroque palace of Hungary. It was constructed by Antal Grassalkovich in the 18^th century and finally given to Franz Joseph and Queen Elisabeth as a present from the Hungarian state for they coronation in 1867. During World War II During World War II the building complex was plundered and most of the original furnishing taken away by German and Sovjet forces. In the exhibition rooms beside a few original furniture of Gödöllő Palace you can find many others used by the Royal Couple elsewhere. After the long still unfinished reconstruction period it was opened in 1996 for the public.

During the visit you can get familiar with the noble dynasty of Grassalkovich and the everyday life of the royal couple, Franz Joseph and Queen Elisabeth. In the Elisabeth wing there is a commamorative exhibition opened for the 100^th anniversary of her death in 1998. We walk in the English style park of 28 ha surrounding the building as well.

After the visit of the palace we invite you for a cup of coffee and cake in the pastry shop. You also can look into the souvenir shop and buy the famous Sisi cream liqueur.

- visit of the equestrian park of Lázár Brothers (world champions in carriage driving) where you can enjoy a horse show, carriage ride and a typical Hungarian three-course lunch with gypsy music

The Danube Bend is the most impressive part of the river in Hungary. In that area the Danube sharply alters its eastward course and starts flowing southward.

The first stop is Esztergom, the most important ecclesiastical centre of the Hungarian Catholic Church. We visit the largest and most remarkable church of the country called Basilica of Esztergom, its treasury (the most important collection of ecclesiastical art in Hungary) and the tomb of cardinal Mindszenty in the crypt. The terrace behind the cathedral offers nice view of the Danube and Slovakia on the other riverbank.

The next stop is the small riverside village called Visegrád, where we visit the ruins of the medieval fortress from the 13^th century on the hilltop. We walk through several reconstructed rooms with different expositions and enjoy the most beautiful panorama of the Danube Bend from the walls of the fortification.

After a short drive we arrive in Szentendre, in a small baroque city with Mediterranean atmosphere. Because of its picturesque location, narrow, winding streets, churches, museums, souvenir shops and cafés it is a popular destination.

We walk to the main square in the centre, where most of the sights are located: the City Hall, the Greek Church and the oldest catholic church on the hilltop offering a beautiful view of the Danube and the surroundings. Afterwards you can enjoy a longer free time to visit some museums or do shopping along the main street. As an alternative we can visit the jewellery factory and shop called Caprice, where you have the chance to see diamonds, jewels and their fine producing processes during a short guided tour.

- Return by boat to Budapest in the period between 10^th April and 24^th October. (except low water level) In case of return by boat the excursion ends at the pier of Budapest in the city centre. Ticket 1400 HUF/person.

The Danube Bend is the most impressive part of the river in Hungary. In that area the Danube sharply alters its eastward course and starts flowing southward.

The first stop of our tour is the small riverside village called Visegrad, where we visit the ruins of the medieval fortress from the 13^th century on the hilltop. We walk through several reconstructed rooms with different expositions and enjoy the most beautiful view of the Danube Bend from the walls of the fortification.

After a short drive we arrive in Szentendre, which is a small baroque city with Mediterranean atmosphere. Because of its picturesque location, narrow, winding streets, small romantic squares, Orthodox churches, souvenir shops and cafés Szentendre is a popular destination. Furthermore it is a centre of Hungarian artists with numerous museums and art collections.

In Szentendre we walk to the main square in the centre, where most of the sights are located: the City Hall, the Greek Church and the oldest catholic church on the hilltop offering a beautiful view of the Danube and the surroundings. After the walking tour we visit the unique Marzipan Museum where handmade marzipan figures and sculptures are exhibited. We invite you for a coffee and a cake in the pastry shop.

Afterwards you can enjoy a longer free time to visit some other museums or do shopping along the main street. As an alternative we can visit the jewellery factory and shop called Caprice, where you have chance to see diamonds, jewels and their fine producing processes.

The Puszta (the Great Plain) stretches from the Danube to the country’s eastern border. It is a characteristic landscape with its endless horizon of dry steppe, where ancient Hungarian flora and fauna live national parks in harmony with the local people, their everyday life and traditions.

The excursion starts in Kecskemet in capital of the Puszta. We walk around the main square to see imposing art nouveau buildings dating back to the 19th century: the colourfully decorated City Hall, richly ornamented Cifra Palace and the Old Church from 18^th century, the former Synagogue, the world-wide known Zoltan Kodaly Music Institute, the neo-Baroque Theatre and the oldest historical monument, the Franciscan’s Church from the 14^th century.

We continue the excursion to a typical equestrian park in the middle of the Great Plain. You will be welcomed according to Hungarian traditions with local fruit brandy ”pálinka” and a special salty cake called “pogácsa”. You also have the possibility to take a carriage ride through the endless Puszta. The farm has typical animals of this region like grey cattle, ”racka” sheep, half-bred horses, ”mangalica” pig etc.

You also can admire the beauty and the outstanding skills of the horses in an equestrian show represented by horsemen in traditional costume. The program includes four-hand driving, pony carriage driving, wagon drawn by oxen and some other attractions. You even have the opportunity to ride a horse without saddle.

After the program a Hungarian three-course lunch (including wine and coffee) will be served in the “csarda” restaurant and you can enjoy the live music of gypsy band.

Balaton, the "Hungarian sea”, is one of the largest lakes in Europe with its almost 600 sq. km surface. It is located in the middle of Western part of the country 100 km southwest from Budapest and stretches 77 km long.

The Balaton excursion starts in Balatonfüred on the north side, which is the oldest spa-resort by the lake. In the 19^th century many prominent personages, writers, actors, actresses and singers built their own holiday homes and villas in the city like the summer residence of actress Lujza Blaha and of writer Mór Jókai. Beside these holiday homes it has a large State Heart Sanatorium, too. We walk along the Tagore promenade on the lakeshore and taste the fresh mineral water of Kossuth Well.

We continue the excursion on the northern shore and stop in the city, called Tihany, which is located in a National Park of the Peninsula Tihany. We visit the famous baroque Benedictine Abbey Church on the hilltop founded by King Andrew I in the 11^th century and its Romanesque crypt with the tomb of the church founder. After the walk along the Echo Hill to see the spectacular panorama you have some free time for shopping.

The excursion will be combined with a boat trip on the lake (depending on the season) or with the most famous Porcelain Manufactory of Hungary called Herend. After the visit of the Mini-Manufactury and Museum we invite you for a coffee in the pastry shop.

Eger is a lovely baroque city located between the wooded Bükk and Mátra hills 130 km eastward from Budapest. The history of the town goes back to the time of our first king St Stephen, to the 11^th century. He was who made the town an Episcopal see and it has been one of the major centres of the Hungarian Catholic Church ever since. Eger is the third richest city in historic monuments of Hungary.

We visit during the walking tour the second largest Cathedral in Hungary built in Classical style, the famous library of the Teacher’s Training College (Lyceum) that is considered one of the masterpieces of Hungarian Art of 18^th century. In the 53 m high observatory tower of the building the whole panorama of Eger can be seen on a table with help of a Periscope.

We walk to the famous castle of Eger that played a significant role in the Hungarian history in the 16^th century, when its defenders lead by Captain Dobo had a great victory over the huge Turkish forces in a heroic struggle. The tour in the castle includes exhibitions of the former Gothic Bishop’s Palace, visit of the tomb of Captain Dobo and we enjoy the lovely panorama of the whole city from the medieval castle walls.

We keep walking afterwards to the most northern Turkish minaret in Europe from the 17th century and to the main Dobo Square in the pedestrian area.

The three-course lunch and wine tasting are served in a wine cellar of the Valley of the Beautiful Lady that belongs to major wine-growing regions in Hungary and home of the well-known red wine Egri Bikaver (Bull’s Blood), too.

After lunch you can enjoy some free time in the pedestrian area before return to Budapest.

- The library and the observatory tower of the Lyceum are closed on Mondays! They can be visited only on weekends between 1^st of October and 31^st of March!

We leave Budapest early in the morning and arrive in the Austrian capital in about a 2,5 hours drive.

In Vienna we drive along the famous boulevard (Ringstraße) with many remarkable sights: State Opera, Parliament, City Hall, Burgtheater, University campus and Votivchurch. After a short walk we visit the Hofburg Palace from where the Habsburgs ruled during 640 years. Today the Austrian president’s office, the Spanish Riding School, the National Library and the former Imperial Apartments can be found there.

We walk down the pedestrian street (Kärtnerstraße) full of elegant shops to visit one of the symbols of Vienna the Stefansdom (St Stephen’s Cathedral). We enter into the largest, gothic church of Austria dating back to the 14^th century.

The former summer residence of the Habsburgs called Schönbrunn will be reached in a short drive. The majestic baroque palace was constructed in the 17^th century and is surrounded by French garden.

You have the chance to visit the magnificent rooms in rococo style from the time of Maria Theresa as well as the salons of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) from the 19^th century.

We also visit the colourful, post-modern Hundertwasser House constructed in 1985 by the world-famous Austrian painter-architect Friedrich Hundertwasser.

During this combined program we start the day with a city tour that covers the most remarkable and historical sights of Pest and Buda. On the Pest side we visit the impressive Heroes’ Square where after a short explanation about the Millennium Monument and its museums you can have some free time to take photos. The City Park behind the square offers several sights to visit as well like: Restaurant Gundel, Széchenyi Spa, Grand Circus, Zoo, Amusement Park and the picturesque Vajdahunyad castle.

The highlight of the morning tour is the Gellert Hill with the Liberty Statue and the Citadel from where you can enjoy the breathtaking panorama of Budapest.

After the city tour the day continues in Etyek, which is a smaller settlement close to Budapest and a famous vine growing area near our capital. Grapes cultivated in that vineyard are the base materials of the word famous Hungarian Törley Champagne. In a traditional wine cellar of the village we taste the most typical wines of Etyek like Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, „Szürkebarát”, „Királyleányka”, Rajnai Rizling. After a rich Hungarian lunch we return back to Budapest.

- private guide service
- private transportation
- 3-course lunch with wine tasting

During the Jewish tour we cover the most remarkable and historical Jewish sights and memorials of Pest and Buda. On the Pest side we start in the Terézváros, in the old Jewish quarter what is the cultural and administrative centre of the Jews in Hungary today. The visit of the Moorish style Synagogue of the Dohány street, the largest active synagogue in Europe, is unforgettable experience for everybody. After walking through the Heroes’ cemetery of the former ghetto we reach the Raul Wallenberg Memorial Park to see the metal weeping willow “Memorial tree” with engraved names of victims of Word War Two. The Jewish Museum (on the site of the house where Theodor Herzl was born) you can see the largest variety of religious objects in the country.

After a short walk we visit the memorial of the Swiss consul Carl Lutz who saved thousands of live during the war. Before leaving the district by chance we have a look of the Ortodox Synagogue of Kazinczy Street from inside.

The tour continues along the Danube river where a new Holocaust Memorial can be found near the Parliament building. There are 50 pairs of period shoes made out of bronze in memory of those Jews who were shot by the Nazis to the river.

The most important Jewish heritage on the Buda side is the medieval Synagogue on the Castle Hill. This temple was built in the former Jewish street in the 14^th century and still has medieval grave stones left from the same period.

The tour ends at the Jewish Cementery of Pest which is still the burial place of the local Jews.

Prices on request. Please email your dates, number of people, hotel category preference and we will provide a quote.

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