Tour guides Hungary > Budapest
Take a trip to Budapest
Budapest, rightly called “The Pearl of the Danube”, is divided in two by the Danube. Buda, the historical side (right bank) and Pest, the modern city (left bank). The baths and spas are one of the great attractions of the Hungarian capital, a vestige of the ancient Turkish culture. The Rác, Rudas, Császár and Király baths as well as thermal springs, sometimes outside, such as Széchenyi, are worth mentioning. Budapest is also home to a magnificent covered market (Nagy Vásárcsarnok) which displays its stalls on three floors. Visit the Royal Palace in the Castle district or Margaret Island with all its peaceful gardens.
For more details, consult our Blog entry for must-sees in Budapest.
Tour guides in Budapest
Five ideas for guided tours in Budapest
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Castle Hill (Várhegy)
The Castle Hill district has a lot of historical sites to visit.
Starting with the Royal Palace. For a magnificent view of the Danube, visit the Fisherman’s Bastion. On the Trinity Square, discover the most imposing building of the castle, the Matthias Church. You can simply stroll through the district and walk quietly in its small cobbled streets, stop at the charming Kapisztrán or Szent-György squares to eat in its good restaurants or have a drink in a café. To avoid wasting time, this area should be visited with a Budapest local guide.
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The Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd)
After centuries when the crossing between Buda and Pest was a real adventure. In 1842, a chain bridge was built to allow the link between the two banks. The work lasted 6 years. It became very quickly the symbol of the city. Destroyed during the Second World War like all the other bridges over the Danube, it was rebuilt identically. Take a trip back in time by walking on the 375 meters of the bridge suspended by two huge chains. Discover two imposing lion statues at its ends. All along, you walk on large stone slabs.
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The thermal baths of Budapest
Budapest is the city famous for its thermal baths. There is a great variety of them in all styles. The most picturesque are of course those that have remained in their old style, especially those built during the Turkish occupation. The inhabitants of the Hungarian capital like to meet up with friends in its spas while enjoying the benefits of the waters.
Here are the main baths in Budapest, of which there are more than one hundred:
– Gellert: of Art Nouveau structure, a long pool allows you to swim. It is also the most touristic.
– Szechenyi: the complex located in the main park of the city has 3 large open-air pools.
– Kiraly: one of the oldest in the capital. It dates back to the 18th century when the Turks settled here.
– Rudas: from this SPA, you will have the most beautiful view on Budapest.
– Lukacs: it is one of the most local spas of the city with the least amount of tourists, but also more authenticity.
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Margaret Island
The most beautiful park in Budapest is located on Margaret Island in the middle of the Danube. Between the Arpad and Margarita bridges. Originally, it was three separate islands that were joined together by a common concrete block during the gigantic renovation of the Danube banks that took place in the 19th century. Its surface area exceeds 100 hectares and you can walk everywhere without cars, which are forbidden. The walks are very varied: plantations of large centennial trees, rose gardens, Japanese gardens. You can even visit old monastery remains and a zoo. In Mazis, one comes to Marguerite Island with family or friends to relax, picnic, play sports or swim near the grassy beach of “Palatinus”.
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Mount Gellért
For the most beautiful view of Budapest, go to Gellért Mountain (Gellért-hegy). To get there, start your ascent at the Elizabeth Bridge where the statue of Empress Sissi was erected. From there, climb the steps to the top or take bus 27 and you’ll get there in a few minutes. At the top, in addition to the breathtaking view of the Danube, you will discover the Citadel (former residence of the Habsburgs) as well as the Statue of Liberty, the only remnant of the Soviet era.