Already renowned internationally for their humorously informative café-based language lessons that let anyone “learn Hungarian in one hour”, Fungarian also provides a variety of fascinating tours that take travelers far beyond Budapest’s typical sightseeing spots. With their new Public Transport Tour, Fungarian again blends education with an excursion to teach the basics about getting around the city like locals do, helping tourists save money on taxi costs and providing new Budapest residents with an insider’s perspective on circumnavigating the city.
While each tour can be customized to include preferred Budapest attractions, the primary expedition begins at a café in the heart of downtown across from the Great Synagogue, where clients are given maps and notebooks along with some basic background about the city’s comprehensive transportation network. Next the friendly guide takes the group to the nearby Astoria transit hub, where the myriad types of passes available are explained in depth; this information is especially important since recent changes to the ticketing system took effect.
After procuring a pass for every tour participant (with the cost included in the excursion fee), the group begins going mobile back in front of the Synagogue aboard one of the electric-powered trolleybuses; here the guide explains how the numbering system of this particular vehicular fleet honors a controversial icon of communism. Two stops later, the group disembarks in front of the gorgeously designed New York Palace and transfers to the main tram line, riding the yellow Combino cars another two stops to freshly renovated Rákóczi Square, the site of a charming brick market hall. From here the tour continues aboard Budapest’s most modern transportation line – the new Metro 4 – en route across the river to the base of Gellért Hill and the historic hotel of the same name.
Next the tour leaves land behind as the guide leads travelers on a ride up the Danube River aboard one of the city’s public ferryboats, providing sweeping views over Castle Hill and the Pest waterfront along the way. Disembarking at the Vigadó Square dock, the guide shows guests how to buy tickets and read timetables for inexpensive riverboat excursions to nearby riparian destinations like Margaret Island and Szentendre.
Back on dry land, the journey continues with a short walk to Vörösmarty Square, stopping along the way to introduce the new Bubi public-bike system. In front of the famous Gerbeaud coffeehouse, the intrepid travelers step downstairs to the terminus of continental Europe’s first subway line, which whisks the party away underneath Andrássy Avenue and its monumental sights like the Opera House and House of Terror museum (both of which can be seen en route by request) before reaching the towering landmarks of Heroes’ Square. Here the Fungarian guide acquaints the group with surrounding museums and the appealing attractions of City Park before concluding with a question-and-answer session, and using the map to diagram the route traversed by the group’s intrepid travelers.
The entire tour lasts about 2.5 hours and costs 55 euros for individuals, with discounts available for groups and families – check out the official tour website for more details.
