First
of all, let us emphasize that it's a point of pride to us that we
never give the same tour twice. Any tour is an unique interaction
between the guide, the guests, and the city. Still, that said, here's
some information about the kind of tours we routinely offer. Do
keep in mind, though, that most of the time the actual tour will
mix bits of all these themes in to the itinerary.
These
are primarily designed as walking tours, though sometimes we may
jump on public transport in order to whisk us along to another destination.
For those who wish, though, we can also provide car
service.
All
our tours are a minimum of 2 hours, but can be as long as you like.
We only do privately booked tours, exclusively for those guests
who booked it. At the moment, we do not do any sort of regularly
scheduled tours for which people can just show up.
The
most obvious choice is the medieval fortress town of Buda perched
on Castle Hill over the Danube. The trip includes highlights like
the Matthias Church, The Fishermens' Bastion, and the Royal Palace.
Our
most popular tour. This may have to do with the fact the quarter does
not easily reveal itself, even with the help of a guide book. The
quarter is Budapest's most dynamic neighborhood going through a dramatic
revitalization. At the same time it is home to one of the continent's
oldest surviving Jewish communities.
Downtown
Pest and Andrássy ut
This
tour is often linked in with the Jewish Quarter, as the two districts
lie adjacent to one another. You will see monuments like the Basilica
and the Opera, and also explore the courtyard life of Turn of the
Century Pest.
And
we also have topical tours...
Budapest
fully embraced archietectural freedom at the fin de siecle. The
style was called Secessionism, but was also characterized by a search
for a National Style, at the same time employing exotic motifs and
magnificent materials like Zsolnay pyrogranite ceramics.
The
heroic Hungarian Revolution of 1956 is a favorite for history buffs.
We visit the locations where the Revolution broke out: at Parliament
and then the Radio. We see crucial battle points like Corvin Movie
Theater and the Ganz Electrical Works. The tour also includes the
controversial Terror Museum and the site of Imre Nagy's dramatic
reburial.
And
some very special tours that we do...
Jewish
Experience in Hungary
This
tour is much more in depth than just the Jewish Quarter, and can
include a Kosher meal and Klezmer Music as well. We visit other
sites of importance to the Hungarian Jewish community, including
the magnificent and heart-breaking old Jewish Cemetary, and the
site of the original medieval community up in Buda Castle.
Family
Heritage Tours
People
whose ancestors emigrated from Hungary often ask us to specifically
craft a tour to take them to the towns where their forebears came
from. We can also do advance research to prepare for viewing municipal
documents related to the family's heritage. The tour often includes
visiting cemetaries, churches, synagogues, and old family addresses.
