Discovering Budapest on foot during fall – when myriad autumn colors mingle to dress this dazzling city with picturesque pomp – always holds a special experience, especially when knowledgeable local guides turn these walks into fun-filled crash courses on Hungarian culture with their witty stories and insightful anecdotes. Guided tours can reveal several sides of Budapest, from surveys of must-see sights to master classes in architectural masterpieces to nightlife highlights – here we present a comprehensive and wide-ranging guide for tour companies offering thematic walking tours in Budapest.
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Free sightseeing
Several tour companies offer free sightseeing tours that focus on all of the must-see sights of both Buda and Pest, such as St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Chain Bridge, the Castle District, the Citadel, and Fishermen’s Bastion, enhancing the experience with stories, jokes, and anecdotes about history, architecture, society, and life in lovely Hungary. During the tours, guides give useful information about museums, places to eat out and hang out, thermal baths, bars, and how to avoid tourist traps in Budapest, while turning a few hours into a fascinating and memorable adventure.Companies offering these tours:
Please bear in mind that even though these tours share similarities in their routes, sights, and visited venues, they are all unique and different, with each guide sharing their own stories, secrets, and tips!
City Rama:
When: Daily at 2pm
Meeting Point: Szentháromság Square, by Matthias Church
Price: Free with a Budapest Card, 3,000 HUF without
Requires reservation: No
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Free Budapest Tours
When: Daily at 10:30am and 2:30pm
Meeting point: Deák Ferenc Square, at the statue in front of the church; St. Stephen’s Basilica for the afternoon tour
Duration: morning tour: 3 hours, afternoon tour: 2.5 hours
Price: FREE, based on tips
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Free Budapest Walk
When: Daily at 10:30am and 2:30 pm
Meeting point: , near the lion fountain
Duration: 2.5 - 3 hours
Price: FREE, based on tips
Requires reservation: No
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Next City Tours
When: Daily at 10:30am and 2:30pm (a Spanish tour also starts at 10:30am)
Meeting point:
Duration: 3 hours
Price: FREE, based on tips
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Original Europe Tours
When: Daily at 11am, 12pm, and 2pm
Meeting point: , outside of Starbucks
Duration: 2.5 hours
Price: FREE, based on tips
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Communist Tours
One of the most intriguing eras in the history of Hungary is most certainly the time of communism, piquing the interest of many people. As the traces of Soviet tyranny are still evident all over Budapest, several tour companies organize interactive adventures on foot that enable strollers to take a glimpse behind the Iron Curtain, and get a firsthand account of what life was like in Budapest when the red star shined bright from atop the . Walking through important venues, the guides share several fascinating stories about the Eastern Bloc, sometimes showcasing memorabilia, old IDs, and uniforms, explaining the most significant changes in society since the collapse of communism in Hungary in 1989.Companies offering these tours:
Please bear in mind that even though these tours share similarities in their routes, sights, and visited venues, they are all unique and different, with each guide sharing their own stories, secrets, and tips!
Absolute Tours:
When: Daily at 2:30pm
Meeting point: Absolute Tour Center – 1065 Budapest, Lázár utca 16 (behind the )
Duration: 3.5 hours
Price: 27-54 euro
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Budapest Wonder Guides:
When: Saturday 2pm
Meeting point: in front of the
Duration: 2.5 hours
Price: 6,000 HUF
Requires reservation: Yes, you can contact them here
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Fungarian:
When: upon booking
Meeting point:
Duration: 2.5 hours
Price: 60 euros/1 person, 90 euros/2 people, 105 euros/3 people
Requires reservation: Yes, more information and booking here
Small-Group Budapest History Walking Tour:
Communism, Revolution, WWI, WWII
When: at 2:30pm after booking
Meeting Point: behind the
Duration: 2.5 hours
Price: 60.37 USD
Requires reservation: Yes, more information and booking here
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Discover the jewels of the Jewish Quarter
As Hungary has a huge Jewish population, the – a part of that has been home to the religious centers of the Orthodox Jews since the 19th century – is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sights, and while Budapest’s is the second-largest Jewish temple in Europe, the Jewish community is well-represented all over Budapest. During these informative tours, walkers can visit all the jewels of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, including several synagogues and memorable monuments, while also learning about the sorrowful Holocaust history of Hungary, as well as the present-time culture, hangouts, traditions, customs, music, and “top-nosh” cuisine of Budapest’s lively Jewish community.Companies offering these tours:
Please bear in mind that even though these tours share similarities in their routes, sights, and visited venues, they are all unique and different, with each guide sharing their own stories, secrets, and tips!
Bupap:
When: Agreed upon booking
Where: Agreed upon booking
Price: 1,500 - 2,000 HUF
Requires reservation: Yes, more information and booking here
Fungarian:
When: upon booking
Meeting point: Café Zenit, across the street from the Dohány Street Synagogue
Duration: 2 hours
Price: 60 euros/1 person, 90 euros/2 people, 105 euros/3 people
Requires reservation: Yes, more information and booking here
Hidden treasures of Budapest:
Organizes various tours in the Jewish district, click here for more information
Hungária Koncert Kft.:
Organizes various tours in the Jewish district, click here for more information
Original Europe Tours:
When: Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11am
Meeting point: , outside Starbucks
Price: FREE, based on tips
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
More information
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Off the beaten track in Budapest
As history and modernity mingle in Budapest, there are countless architectural masterpieces, stunning sculptures, secret gardens, and little wonders everywhere our eyes wander all over the city. Besides all the must-see sights that the city has to hold, there are various hidden gems that you would probably not hear about or stumble upon when strolling the streets of Budapest by yourself. From breathtaking gardens, to private courtyards and villas, to extraordinary squares, these tours take walkers on an adventure of often-overlooked places that let you take a sneak peek into the soul of beautiful Budapest.Companies offering these tours:
Please bear in mind that even though these tours share similarities in their routes, sights, and visited venues, they are all unique and different, with each guide sharing their own stories, secrets, and tips!
Absolute Tours:
Hidden Budapest
When: Monday, Thursday at 2:30pm
Meeting point: Absolute Tour Center – 1065 Budapest, Lazar street 16 (behind the Opera House)
Duration: 3.5 - 5 hours
Price: 40 euros
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Beyond Budapest:
Secret Sights Budapest Downtown
When: Private tour
Meeting point: Fővám Square, at the playground
Duration: around 2 hours
Price: 18.75 euros
Requires reservation: Yes, you can contact them here
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Imagine Budapest:
Secret Gardens and Squares Downtown
When: Upon booking
Meeting point: outside Starbucks
Duration: around 2.5 hours
Price: 4,500 HUF
Requires reservation: Yes, you can contact them here
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Gastro tours
When visiting a foreign country, it is always worthwhile to embark on a culinary adventure, tasting the country’s signature spices, flavors, meals, and treats. As Hungarian restaurants do not abound outside the country, visitors get a truly unique experience when taking a gastro tour in Budapest, guiding food fans into the mouthwatering world of goulash, stew, lángos fried-dough snacks, kürtőskalács, and world-famous Magyar wines at architecturally stunning historical market halls, with the guidance of a knowledgeable local who knows all tips and tricks to ‘marketing’. There are various taste-bud tantalizing walking tours in Budapest that provide a basic introduction to the country’s cuisine.Companies offering these tours:
Please bear in mind that even though these tours share similarities in their routes, sights, and visited venues, they are all unique and different, with each guide sharing their own stories, secrets, and tips!
Absolute Tours:
Classic Gastro Experience with Wine tasting
When: Between April 1st - October 31st: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 12pm, between November 1st - March 31st: Wednesday and Saturday at 12pm
Meeting point: Budapest 1054, Báthory utca 22
Duration: 3 hours
Price: 59.25 euros
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
More information
Absolute Tours:
Street Food Experience
When: April-October, Monday, Thursday, Friday at 3pm, November-March: Friday at 2pm
Meeting point: Budapest 1054, Báthory utca 22
Duration: 3.5 - 4 hours
Price: 45 euros
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Taste Hungary:
A Day of History and Gastronomy
When: Upon booking
Meeting point: Agreed upon booking
Duration: full-day
Price: 150 USD
Requires reservation: Yes, book here
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Walk and Taste:
When: Every Friday and Sunday between 10am-2pm
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 39 euros
Requires reservation: Yes, more information and booking here
