3 h

Small Group

By walk

Instant confirmation

About this activity

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Buda Castle, Szent Gyorgy Ter, Budapest 1014 Hungary

Two buildings stand out on Castle Hill, the oldest part of Budapest, known for its narrow and cobbled streets and its baroque and Gothic facades: the massive and imposing palace on the southern tip of the hill and the colored roof of Matthias Church in the middle, with its rank steeple pointing towards the heavens.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Buda Castle, Budapest, Szent György tér 2, 1014 Hungary

We start our tour at the palace, the ancient seat of royal power. It was rebuilt, extended, changed, burned down and rebuilt again several times over and it got its current eclectic appearances only after World War II. The first to build on Castle Hill was King Béla IV. He erected a fortress on this spot around 1250 after a devastating invasion by Mongolian hordes. In the Renaissance period, King Matthias made it into the most famous court in Europe at the end of the 15th century. Then came the Turkish pashas who ruled the country for over 150 years, followed by a succession of Hapsburg emperors.

Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: National Dance Theatre, Szinhaz utca 1 - 3, Budapest 1014 Hungary

Discuss the changing function of the building throughout its history.

Stop At: Sandor Palace, Szent Gyorgy ter 1-2., Budapest 1014 Hungary

The Sándor Palace is the official residence of the President of Hungary, and the seat of the Office of the President. It has served as both since 2003. The original palace was build in Neoclassical style in 1806. It was commissioned by Count Vincent Sándor, an aristocrat and a philosopher of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Matthias Church, Szentharomsag ter 2, Budapest 1014 Hungary

A highlight of the tour is Matthias Church with its abundantly decorated roof and amazing interior. The church is a very finely executed Neogothic reconstruction fantasy from the end of the 19th century and it is a strikingly beautiful building.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest, Szentháromság tér, 1014 Hungary

Fisherman's Bastion is an architectural fantasy in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles designed and built between 1895 and 1902. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin at the end of the 9th c. The terrace provides one of the most famous panoramic views of the Danube, Margaret Island, Pest and the Gellért Hill.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Vienna Gate, Budapest, Bécsikapu tér, 1014 Hungary

Our tour ends at the Vienna Gate, from where you can see all the way to Obuda (Old Buda), where the Romans founded the city then called Aquincum.

Duration: 10 minutes

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Included

3-hour guided walk
Professional guide

Not included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Buda Castle tickets (2000Ft for adults and 1000Ft. for students and seniors); Matthias Church (approx. 1500Ft. for adults and 1000Ft. for students and seniors); Fisherman's Bastion: (800Ft. for adults and 400Ft. for students and seniors (fees are subject to change)
Entry/Admission - Matthias Church
Entry/Admission - Fisherman's Bastion

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
A maximum of 6 people per booking

Features

Tourism

95%

Cultural

75%

Sport

20%

Reviews

5.0

12

c

carmela.lasorsa

5 | 2019-08-12

We had a thoroughly enjoyable walking tour through the old castle district covering the various architectures, building usage, house names (yes there is a red hedgehog building) and so much more. Our local guide Kata Hidasi was so good making the history really come alive with her stories and the logical sequence we followed. We took the option of having her guide us through St Mathias Church which was definitely well worth it. A highlight of our stay in Budapest.

C

ChefCVG

5 | 2019-07-08

The Castle District is a little misleading - you're not going to visit a castle. It's the old town area which is mostly rebuilt because it was damaged so extensively during WWII. It was quiet and not very touristy, except by the church. Our guide, Veronica, was EXCELLENT. She made what could've been a boring tour very interesting. She started the tour with a concise yet brief history of Hungary and was a wealth of information. St. Matthias' church was good, but there's an extra charge. Had this tour been with a bad guide, I would've marked it lower - but Veronica made the tour good.

M

Mrs S P

5 | 2019-07-03

Marianna was extremely knowledgeable- we learnt so much about Budapest's history. I would have no hesitation in recommending her.

C

Cynthia P

5 | 2019-07-03

This was a fantastic half day tour of the Buda District led by Marianna. She was the most wonderful guide. She shared with us the 1,000+ year history of Hungary in a way that made it incredibly entertaining. And she showed us all the key sites in the Buda Castle district. Her own personal stories of what it was like under Soviet occupation were fascinating. It was a great way to get to learn a little bit about Budapest. Thank you Marianna!

F

Frank S

5 | 2017-05-21

Excellent guide, Runa Hellinga. Runa came and picked us up at the hotel at her own expense. We really enjoyed her knowledge and historical comments on the tour.

M

Melvine E

5 | 2017-01-22

Our family has Hungarian heritage and three hours spent wandering about this historic part of Budapest having the history explained by our guide helped us appreciated the city all the more.

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