We start the tour at the Chain Bridge, pass by the Parliament, cross the Danube on Margaret Bridge and drive over to Buda. We stop in the Castle District and during a short walk we show you the main attractions of the area (Fishermen`s Bastion, Matthias Church). Next, we drive to the Gellért Hill (Citadel) from where you can enjoy the greatest view to the city. We return to the city center, where the tour ends, close to the well-known pedestrian street “Váci utca”

Buda (Budapest)

Duration: 2 hours

Guiding is avaiable in the following languages:
English, German, Frenc, Spanish, Italian.

Starts every day at:10:00 and 14:30

Prices:
Per person 17,30€
Reduced Prices (Students):
Per person 0€

The price includes free pick-up service 30 minutes before the tour starts.

Lunch & Cruise (from 14:00 till 15:30)

The Danube, this very important and mighty river starting in Germany, on its journey to the Black sea flows through many capitals. In Budapest it runs majestically through the center of the city, creating one of the finest panoramas on the continent. The Danube embankment treasures the old and embraces the new, historic is mingling with the modern.
We would like to invite you to see our capital on the most romantic way. To customize your needs we prepared three types of boat cruises.

DANUBE LUNCH & CRUISE– The tour starts at 14:00 every day

This program was created for those who would like to see our city during the day. The meeting point is in a neobaroque building – in the Duna Palota, which was established in 1883. After the check-in our hostesses will accompany you to the Ship. (appr. 4-6 minutes walk to the Ship). You will be welcomed on board of one of our air-conditioned or heated ships, which will take you on a one-and-a-half-hour-long cruise with an excellent warm buffet-lunch.

Guiding is not included.

You can book the cruise without lunch too, with drinks only (a glass of champagne and another glass of drink: soft drink, wine or beer).

Menu

Soups
Alföld style goulash with soup noodles
Tarragon vegetable soup with noodles

Main courses
Mini stuffed cabbage
Meatballs in tomato sauce
Turkey cutlets with vegetables in parsley sauce
Csongrád style pork slices in garlic sauce
Chicken Breast Paprika

Garnishes
Boiled potatoes
Potato lángos
Noodles
Steamed jasmine rice with corn

Vegetarian
Grilled polenta terrine with feta cheese
Grilled vegetables

Salads
Corn salad in dill and yoghurt dressing
Vinaigrette potato salad
Cucumber salad with sour cream dressing
Caesar salad

Desserts
Somló style sponge cake pudding
Mini tiramisu cup
Blueberry fruit cream with chocolate sponge cake
Chocolate mousse

Drinks
1 Glass of wine (or juice) and 1 bottle of mineral water

There is a possibility for extra drink consumption on the ships, not included in the price.

The ‘Half Day Budapest Sightseeing Tour’ provides tours of both sides of the city, Buda and pest. During the Buda tour, you will be able to see the Buda Castle in the Castle district. Also nearby is the Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion. Matthias Church is a prized architectural structure in Hungary because of its stark white exterior crowned with diamond pattern roof tiles and the rich, ornate interior. And then further up Gellért Hill, you will find the Citadella and perfect picture taking moments with amazing views of the city.

The Pest side, across the Danube, you’ll find several other attractions. The tour takes you through the City Park, Heroes square, the Basilica and the Opera. Passing by the Opera and St. Stephen’s Basilica you reach Hotel Intercontinental, where the tour ends in central Budapest.

These sights you will see on the Half Day Budapest Sightseeing Tour:

• City Park
• Heroes’ Square
• St. Stephen’s Basilica
• Opera
• Buda Castle
• Castle District
• Matthias Church
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Gellért Hill
• Citadella

Images of the Half Day Sightseeing Tour in Budapest:

Tour Details:

Price: ~20€
Duration: ~3 hours by bus
Departure location: Your hotel
Departure time: 10 a.m.-11a.m. (during the summer), 2:30 p.m.

The architect, Imre Steindl, who unfortunately went blind before completion of the parliament, began construction in 1885 and the building was inaugurated on the 1000th anniversary of the country in 1896 and completed in 1904. Mátyás Szűrös declared the Hungarian Republic from the balcony facing Lajos Kossuth Square on 23d October in 1989.

The building took several years to construct, with 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and 40 kg of gold. It is said that the cost of the project would have been enough to build a town for 60,000 people. It is 268 m long and 123m wide, contains a 96 m high central dome, 691 and 10 courtyards, immense halls and majestically decorated corridors. Inside and outside, there are altogether 242 sculptures on the walls that include Hungarian rulers, Transylvanian leaders, pictures of coats of arms of kings and dukes, famous military people and lions.

When entering the Parliament, visitors can walk up great ornamental stairs, see frescoes on the ceiling and pass by the bust of the creator, Imre Steindl, in a wall niche.

When the Parliament is not in session, tours are offered in English, French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Japanese, Italian and Spanish.

The building itself can be toured in groups, led by guides, leaving every half an hour in the following time frames:

October 1 – April 30.
Monday-Saturday 08:00-16:00 and Sunday 08.00-14.00

May 1 – September 30.
Monday-Friday 08.00-18.00, Saturday 08.00-16.00 and Sunday 08.00-14.00

For tours the adult fee is 2520 HUF, the student fee is 1260 HUF. Tickets can be purchased at gate #10, at the ticket office. Entrance is thought gate #4.

The Budapest Opera is considered a architectural masterpiece and attracts thousands of visitors and tourists every year, even outside the actual programmes. Though it is not the biggest Opera house in the world it is considered among the best ones in terms of sound quality and beauty which is another proof for the great architectural skills by Ybl.

The main auditorium is horse shoe shaped to give the best sound experience to all visitors and gives place for 1261 people. According to an independent measurement by several European engineers the Hungarian State Opera House is placed on third place behind La Scala in Milan and the Palais Garnier in Paris and that after beeing built so long time ago and newer, bigger operas have been built in this period. In front of the opera is a statue of Ferenc Erkel, the writer of the Hungarian National Anthem and also the first music director of the Opera.

Images of the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest

No images yet

Sights around the Budapest Opera

• Andrassy Út

Tours on which you will see the Opera

• Half Day Sightseeing Tour
• Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
• Segway Tour in Budapest

Budapest Opera Information:

Address: 1061 Budapest, Andrássy avenue 22.
Phone: +36 1 331 2550
Web: http://www.operabudapest.net
Opening Hours: Visiting the Opera every day at 3 and 4 pm, Performances at 7 pm
Budapest Card Discount: -10%
Public transfer: M1 Opera

The Opera offers guided tours almost every day in 6 languages.
Daily: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian.
On Sundays: Hungarian
Monday and Saturday: Japanese
The price for a guided tour is 2.300 HUF for adults and 1.900 HUF for students. For children under 6 the entrance is free.

The Hungarian State Opera on Google Maps

The Neo-Gothic Parliament took several years to construct, with 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and 40 kg of gold. The tour will give a commentary and historical background while guiding you through the splendid Session Room, the impressive central staircase and the wonderful Great Vaulted Hall.

After your visit to one of Budapest’s finest architectural achievements, sit back and enjoy viewing the most fascinating sights Budapest has to offer. You’ll cross the Danube via Margaret Bridge and take a drive to the Royal Castle on the Buda side of the city, in the Castle District. Here you will also get a chance to see the white-stoned, Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. From this point there are great panorama views and you can view ships cruising the Danube, the gentle slopes of the Castle Hill, the fresh green of the Margaret Island, and all the Pest side.

After visiting the Castle District, you’ll see the Citadel at the top of Gellert Hill and you’ll cross Elizabeth Bridge and drive by City Park to take a walk at Heroes’ Square. Passing by the Opera and St. Stephen’s Basilica, the tour concludes at the Hotel Intercontinental.

Sights you will see on this Tour:

• Budapest Parliament
• Buda Castle
• Castle District
• Fishermen’s Bastion
• Matthias Church
• River Danube
• Margaret Island
• Citadella
• Gellért Hill
• City Park
• Heroes’ Square
• Budapest Opera
• St. Stephen’s Basilica

Images of the Budapest Sightseeing Tour incl. Parliament Visit:

Tour Details:
Price: 38.75 Eur
Duration: 4.5hr
Departure location: Your Hotel
Departure time:
April 2011 – October 2011: 9:30am
November 2011 – March 2012: 1:15pm

This amazing structure is a little over 100 years old, built by Frigyes Schulek, between 1895 and 1902, simultaneously with the last major renovation of the Matthias Church. A bronze statue of Stephen I of Hungary mounted on a horse can be seen between the Bastion and the Matthias Church. As history has it, in the medieval times, there was fish market nearby and it was the duty of the fisherman’s guild to defend this part of the castle complex, hence the name of the Bastion. So the Bastion was built to commemorate the fisherman who protected the area of the city. There are seven tent-like towers that symbolize the seven Hungarian tribes that arrived to the Carpathian Basin in 1896.

The best time to visit the Fisherman’s Bastion is on a clear, sunny day. This weather will allow you to see all of what Fisherman’s Bastion has to offer including the stunning views and amazing architecture. From this point you can see: slim towers, ships cruising the Danube, the gentle slopes of the Castle Hill, the fresh green of the Margaret Island, and more.

It is free to enter Fishermen’s Bastion, but if you want to visit the very top there is a small fee. After dark there is no fee and during a warm summer night, it is beautiful to see the city lights. In one of the towers, you can also find a cafe, where you can sit for a coffee and enjoy the beauty Budapest has to offer.

Images of the Fishermen’s Bastion in Budapest

• Matthias Church
• Castle District
• Buda Cstle

Tours on which you will see the Fishermen’s Bastion

• Half Day Sightseeing Tour
• Budapest Hop On Hop Off Bus

Fishermen’s Bastion Budapest on the map

The church is named for Saint Stephen I of Hungary, the first King of Hungary (c. 975–1038), whose right hand is said to be housed in the reliquary. Along with the Parliament, it stands at 96 meters tall. According to current regulations there cannot be a taller building in Budapest than 96 meters. Having the same height as the Parliament also symbolizes the balance between church and state in Hungary.

The most infamous facts about the history of the Basilica is the length of time it took to build, over 50 years. The original plans for the cathedral were drawn up by architect Jozsef Hild in 1845 but the construction was put on hold until six years later after the war of independence.The dome collapsed in 1868, requiring the builders to start over from the ground up.
Today, the St.Stephen Basilica is opened to the public and on Christmas eve it holds the city’s largest Midnight Mass.
Entry into the Basilica is free but for breath-taking views it is advised to walk up the 364 steps or take the elevator up to the observation deck, open during April-October every year, with a small fee of 500HUF. The guided tours are available Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm. Fee: 2,000HUF.

Organ concerts are held on Mondays beginning at 5pm during the months of March-mid December for 3,000HUF a ticket.
How to get there: From any metro station you can take the M1,M2 or M3 to Deak Ferenc ter.

Images of the St. Stephen Basilica in Budapest

• Budapest Opera
• Andrassy Út
• River Danube

Tours on which you will see the Basilica in Budapest

• Half Day Sightseeing Tour
• Budapest Hop On Hop Off Bus

St. Stephen Basilica on the map

While cruising the Danube the boat stops at Visegrad, Esztergom and Szentendre, offering guided tours of their top attractions. The tour stops first at Visegrad where you will see the medieval citadel and romantic ruins of the former royal residence. The tour extends with a stop at Esztergom, giving a chance to view the historical cathedrals. Afterwards a three course lunch is provided with coffee and the tour continues with a guided tour at the city of Szentendre and its Baroque city center. Your tour will end returning back to the Danube Bend in Budapest.

This amazing tour has much to offer, such as a three course lunch, air-conditioned cruising, hotel pickup and all required entrance fees included. This tour is perfect for a wide range of people and details regarding the tour are listed below.

Sights in Budapest you will see on the Danube Bend Day Trip:

• Budapest Parliament
• Buda Castle
• The Bridges of Budapest
• Gellért Hill
• Margaret Island

Cities among the Danube Bend Day Trip:

• Visegrad
• Esztergom
• Szentendre

Photos of the Danube Bend Day Trip:

Tour Details:

Price: ~ 57€
Duration:~ 10 hours
Departure location: Your Hotel
Departure Time: 9 a.m.

Heroes’ Square is a historic must see sight in Budapest, known to the locals as Hősök tere. Not only is this site remarkable but it is also enveloped by two considerable buildings, Museum of Fine Arts on the left and Hall of Art on the right. Behind it is City Park that also includes a charming lake. It is located at the end of the iconic boulevard, Andrassy Avenue which is recognized as a World Heritage Site since 2002.  Over the years this site has been a valuable scene of many historic events, demonstrations, celebrations and popular gatherings.

The centre of Heroes’ Square embodies the Millenary Monuments. It’s development was begun in 1896, to commensurate the thousandth anniversary of the arrival of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin by Hungarian tribes and wasn’t completed until 1900.

The center, 36-meter, high rising column contains the Archangel Gabriel at the top. In his right hand the angel holds the Holy Crown of St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary. In his left hand a two barred apostolic cross. Legend has it that the archangel once appeared to St. Stephen, directing him to convert the then pagan Magyars to Christianity. Below are the seven statues that represent the seven leaders of the tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century as well as other distinguished figures of Hungarian history such as Hungarian kings, princes and commanders.

The stone cenotaph on the ground in front of the column is the Heroes’ Monument, decorated by iron chain it is the traditional spot for wreath-laying ceremonies. The inscription reminds us of those who have given their lives for Hungarian freedom and independence. And behind the column is the two-part colonnade. The four groups of symbolic figures on the top represent Work, Wealth, War, Peace, and Knowledge and Glory.

The 14 statues on the millenium monument are the following:

Stephen I of Hungary

Ladislaus I of Hungary

Coloman of Hungary

Andrew II of Hungary

Béla IV of Hungary

Charles I of Hungary

Louis I of Hungary

John Hunyadi

Matthias Corvinus

István Bocskay

Gabriel Bethlen

Imre Thököly

Francis II Rákóczi

Lajos Kossuth

The Heroes’ Square on the map