H U N G A R Y
B U D A P E S T
O V E R V I E W
One of Europe’s great old-world cultural oases, Budapest sits on a rich tract of historical, cultural, and architectural wonders. The “Pearl of the Danube” is a fascinating marriage of historic Buda and modern, bustling Pest.
With striking 18th and 19th-century European architecture, and of course stunningly ornate thermal bathhouses, the appreciation of which dates back to Roman times, here you will find an incomparably atmospheric place to explore.
Budapest is a wonderfully walkable city, and one of our hand-picked tour guides can walk you effortlessly through the magic all around you.
From Buda Castle and its panoramic views of the city to St. Stephen’s Basilica and its ancient treasures, expert insight will bring it all to life.
Become a Global Guide Group Member today, and get connected directly with the kind of guide who can give you an unforgettable personalised day tour in Budapest.
Here's what we think should form the core of your experience:
Hungarian Culture
With more than 100 museums and 40 theatres in Budapest, there are few better places in the world in terms of artistic depth.
The Hungarian National Gallery, for example, is located in the city’s historic Buda Castle and offers a sweeping mix of Medieval, Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque Hungarian art.
And of course, taking aone of our spectacular private tour guides with you can help bring it all to life in a way you never imagined.
Take a stroll through Budapest on any given day, and you’ll be met by impressive street art and eye-catching murals, all in and amongst the stunning 19th-century architecture that forms the bulk of the city’s makeup.
This is particularly the case in the Jewish Quarter, which is home to the largest synagogue in Europe. The same can be said for many of the famous ruin bars, galleries, and boutiques for which Budapest is known.
As well as institutions such as the Hungarian State Opera House and the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, the city hosts a number of popular festivals – including the exceptionally popular Budapest Spring Festival.
Hungarian Cuisine
Despite the distinctly international flavour of Budapest’s dining scene, let us encourage you to immerse yourself in at least a couple of authentic renditions of some of Hungary’s most famous dishes and culinary styles.
It would be positively criminal to visit Budapest without having at least a couple of gulyás – known around the world as goulash. Another local favourite is lángos, a deep-fried dough topped with sour cream, cheese, or garlic – sitting somewhere between a doughnut, a tarte-flambée, and a Neapolitan pizza on the spectrum of “flatbread with stuff on it”.
From chicken paprikash to kolbász, the classic dishes of Hungary can be found at every turn in this former jewel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Our expert tour guides have the knowledge and experience of Budapest to ensure you get to explore the true glory of this underrated culinary destination in Central Europe.
Hungarian & Budapest History
One of Europe’s oldest cities, Budapest was founded in the 4th century by the Celts, and eventually settled by the Roman Empire.
When the Empire collapsed, the settlement was subject to several centuries of turmoil, with the arrival of the Hungarians in the 9th century opening up a period of rapid expansion. However, as your Budapest tour guide will explain, the city in its current iteration was officially formed in 1873 – following the legal unification of the cities of Buda, Pest, and Obuda.
Buda on the west banks of the Danube became the nation’s seat of government, while Pest on the east banks became the area’s commercial hub.