If you are staying at the Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel, you are in luck. First, you can call one of the most stunning palaces in the city your temporary abode. Second, you can book a truly jaw-dropping city tour: inside a Volkswagen Transporter T1 (aka Samba). Call it a hippy van or a vintage minibus, once you rumble past Heroes' Square, the Buda Castle, and the Basilica balancing on its original seats and looking through the folded-back sunroof, you will feel like the coolest kid in town.

A fun sightseeing experience

It is a sunny Saturday afternoon. A first-generation Volkswagen Transporter pulls up to the Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel – our ride for the day. We can't help it and snap a few photos for the Gram before hopping in and getting comfortable on top of the old-school spring seats. We are in for a 3-hour-long sightseeing tour in this iconic, 61-year-old van – a special treat the hotel offers to its guests.

In the front seat, our guide Imre, who is a local patriot, smiles at us, not even raising an eyebrow at our childlike enthusiasm and clicking of the cameras. It is because he has been a tour guide for years, and also, as the owner of the Samba, he is very much aware of the attention and awe it gets.

The Samba

You are surely familiar with the model, if not by name, then the photos. Volkswagen first produced the Transporter T1 in 1950, making it the new craze and the favourite van of the world. These models were nicknamed Samba, and owning one was a sign of luxury. Currently, there are 12 vans in Hungary, so sitting in one is truly a privilege.

The tour: From the Puskás Arena to the City Park

Surprisingly, it is very comfortable. And, once we hit the road with the sunroof folded back, the sun reaching our faces, and the wind blowing our hair, we picture ourselves starring in a vintage Hollywood movie. People seem to play their part in it as they wave at us eagerly. The van runs 32 km/hour, making it perfect for sightseeing tours: you can take your time marvelling at the futuristic Puskás Arena, the lush City Park, the uniquely shaped Museum of Ethnography, and the historic Heroes' Square. You can catch a glimpse of the charming Vajdahunyad Castle, Széchenyi Baths, and the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

While looking left and right through its 23 windows (which ensure a 360-view), Imre tells stories about the city. You can learn why Buda is hilly and Pest flat, who the most legendary figures of Hungarian sports are, and where our Jewish Quarter is located.

From the Andrássy út to the Parliament

We rumble through the elegant Andrássy út, a World Heritage Site lined with palaces and embassies, see the Opera House and look up to St Stephen's Basilica. There are several longer stops during the tour, so you get to step out of the van. One is at the Parliament, where Imre talks about its history and even explains the gunshot marks on one of the surrounding buildings.

From the Margaret Bridge to the Buda Castle

The tour then takes us to the Buda side: we cross the French-styled Margaret Bridge, peek at the Danube, and make our way up to the Buda Castle. An amazing bit of the experience is that you actually enter the Castle and run along its narrow streets in the comfort of the van. You spot the colourful-tiled Matthias Church and get to know a more hidden part of the District too.

Descending from the Castle, we soon make our way back to our starting point. The van stops in front of the Anantara Hotel, and we feel energised and grateful for an afternoon well spent.

Details

  • The tour is available for the guests of the Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel.
  • It is fully flexible regarding the timings.
  • It can also be personalised by adding slightly different stops or even a coffee break. 
  • The van fits 6 people maximum, and there is no minimum number of participants.
  • You can book the tour here or inquire at the reception.

Tags