Budapest Grand Walk

Walking is the best way to explore Budapest, and the only way to truly discover the details hidden among the city’s streets. This 4-hour grand walking tour, led by an experienced local guide, visits a mix of many of the city’s major sights and lesser-known ones which should not be missed. Focusing on the history of the city and the country, this tour covers a large area of the city, squeezing in many places of interest. You’ll begin at 3pm in the Pest Palace district with a glass of sparkling wine. In this neighborhood you will see some stunning buildings (many of which have seen better days) including the Hungarian National Radio Building (which was an important site during the 1956 Revolution) and the National Museum. Then briefly check out the neighboring Jewish District, and see the Grand Synagogue (Europe’s largest), the Gozsdu udvar complex, and bustling Király utca. In addition to seeing grand public spaces, you’ll see monuments including the heartbreaking Shoes on the Danube Holocaust memorial and the Soviet Monument. You’ll also learn why there is memorial to characters such as a US major, and Ronald Reagan. Then hop on continental Europe’s oldest metro line and also stop for a coffee break at a favorite local café. Budapest has layers of history, and this tour will reveal them through the telling of the stories of the buildings and streets, as well as the important players in Hungarian history from kings, dictators, and freedom fighters to architects, writers, and politicians.
• Learn - Hear about Hungary’s 1,000 year-long history, Budapest’s colorful past, the stories behind many of the city’s most important sites, Hungarian culture, and daily Budapest life.
• Experience - Your tour will be like visiting the city with a smart (and fun) local friend who can give you the inside scoop on the city’s history, people, customs, and social scene. You’ll get a good overview of the city, which will prepare you to delve in further if you have more time (or will tempt you to return if your visit is a short one).
• See - You’ll visit Pest highlights including lesser-known corners of the Pest Palace district, Oktogon, Andrássy út, Heroes’ Square, the Opera, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Liberty Square, the National Bank, the old Stock Exchange Building, Parliament, Kossuth Square, the Shoes on the Danube Memorial, the Hungarian Academy of Science, and the Chain Bridge. Discover old buildings—from those which are a bit dusty or still scattered with war-time bullet holes, to those which have been renovated to the highest standard. They are all full of personality and deep history.You’ll walk about 3 miles total, starting in Pest’s Palace district, making a circle up to Heroes’ Square, and ending up next to the Danube (in sight of the Buda Castle).