Hungary

• Destinations
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• Hungary

Hungary with 10 million inhabitants is right at the centre of Europe with Budapest as its capital. Called home by 2,100 million people this historic city holds thus roughly one fifth of the country’s population. The rivers Danube and Tisza provide abundant irrigation for the extensive cultivation of the country’s fields and rich woodlands. If the rivers have been and are the highways for commerce and industry, even gold washing was a regular practice, countryside and lakes are the main attractions for people to spent their free time and leisure.

Water sports and sailing are practiced at Lake ‘Balaton’, Europe’s second biggest lake, lake “Fertöd’ (or Neusiedler See), the lake systems of the Tisza, and Velence. Speleology, hot air ballooning and light aircraft take you to sky’s or underground to admire this wonderland with more detail. Hot springs and over 100 historical thermal bath’s care for well being and health.

• Public holidays

  • 1st January - New Year's Day
  • 15th March - Day of the 1848/49 Revolution and War of Independence against the Habsburg Monarchy
  • Easter Monday
  • 1st May - Labour Day
  • Whitsun Monday
  • 20th August - Day of Foundation of the Hungarian State and St Stephen's day
  • 23rd October - Hungary commemorates the unsuccessful revolution against the Soviet communist regime in 1956
  • 1st November - All Saints' Day
  • 25th - 26th December - Christmas

• Top things to do

  • Historical City Tour
  • Danube sightseeing Boat trip
  • Take a dip a one of the historic “health Spa’s (Géllert or Lukacs or Szecheny Bath)
  • The ‘Heroe Square’ the city Park and the surrounding museums.
  • Visit the “Cave Hospital Museum at the Buda Hill”
  • Visit the Covered City Market (Nagy Csarnok) in Pest (souvenir hunting)
  • Visit the Parlament
  • Have a coffee / tea and cake at “Gerbeaud”, “Szamos” or “Café New York”
  • Visit the ‘artist’s’ village of Szentendre.
  • Visit the Gödőllő Palace (beloved summer residence of Sissi)

• Getting there

  • Vaccinations : EU and USA no vacination required; all others consult with consulate
  • Good, sturdy walking shoes; in summer light summer clothes BUT hat, sun protection is a necessity . Spring and autumn, prepare for the occasional shower. In winter warm, protective clothes are needed (especially end of January and February) as snow and ice are common.
  • For ‘Id’ or passport documentation please consult with consular services
  • Local currency is Hungarian Forint (abr, Huf or Ft. ) coins come in 5 , 10 , 50 , 100 and 200 denominations paper notes go from 1.000 , 2.000 , 5.000 , 10.000 to 20.000 notes.
  • Credit cards, VISA or Master card and American Express are generally accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels.
  • It is especially useful to speak “Hungarian”, however this may be a little difficult , thus English , German or French are idioms needed for communications

• Did you know...?

  • In Hungary there are over 1.289 thermal wells known (water over 33⁰ C)
  • In Hungary there are 150 thermal baths / health centers in operation open all year round.
  • In Budapest alone there are 13 thermal public baths plus 26 public swimming pools
  • Hungary is home to the unique “Puszta” culture and herds tribe.
  • YOU can drive the original T52 tank or fly an ‘Antonov 2’
  • The film “I Spy” (2002) starring Eddy Murphy & Owen Wilson was shot in Budapest
  • The film “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” (2011) starring Tom Cruise & Jon Voight also was shot in Budapest.

• Trips, Tours & Activities

  Panoramic City Tour

  We show you the most beautiful views, places and monuments in the city: the City Park, the Heroes’ Square, the Millenary Monument, the Opera House, the Parliament, the Castle District, the Fishermen’s Bastion, the King Matthias’ Church, St. Stephen’s Basilica.

  Panoramic City Tour with visit the House of Parliament

  House of Parliament (Holy Hungarian Crown) – Take the opportunity for a visit of the impressive House of Parliament – after a walk around Hungary’s largest building, interior visit of the magnificent neogothic Parliament with guidance through the splendid session room and the impressive staircase. The tour combines the visit of the Parliament with the regular panoramic city tour (described under Panoramic City Tour).

  Grand City Tour

  Passing by the Parliament we cross the Danube on the Margareth Bridge (Margaret-Island) and drive to the Royal Castle area on the Buda side, where we visit the Fishermen's Bastion (Promenade) and the Matthias Church after we go up to the Gellért Hill (Photostop), we cross the Elisabeth Bridge and drive towards Heroes' Square (Promenade). Passing by the Opera and St. Stephen's Basilica we reach the city centre, where the tour ends.

  Szentendre Excursion, Artists’ Village

  We take you to the picturesque village Szentendre – we visit the magnificent Caprice Hungarian Jewellery Museum – Multimedia Presentation – visiting Marzipanmuseum – after a walk through the baroque centre of the town – we return by boat to Budapest on the Danube – the tour ends at the Pier / City-Centre. In case of low water and during winter time return to Budapest by bus.

  Gödöllő Excursion, Palace of Sisi

  Only 25 km from the capital we find this palace where the Hungarian Queen Elisabeth (Sisi) spent her days visiting the country, or simply trying to escape the Viennese court. The palace has been restored to its original splendour and will provide an excellent vision of the everyday life of monarchs in the 18th and 19th century. Interior visit, return to Budapest. Tour ends at the city centre.

  Folklore Evening

  This is a pleasant evening at a traditional restaurant - after an aperitif we serve you a 3 course menu with wine, accompanied by a varied folklore show programme - returning to Budapest, you have a marvellous view on the illuminated city, called ’Paris of the East’ from the Citadel of Gellert Hill.

  Jewish Budapest

  We visit the Dohány Street Synagouge, the second largest synagoge of the world, the Jewish Museum (interior visits), the Jewish Cemetery, the Holocaust Memorial and the surroundings of the Synagoge. The tour ends at the orthodox centre, there is the possibility for a lunch in a kosher restaurant and a visit of the orthodox temple. No tour during holidays and on special occasions.

  Dinner and cruise on the Danube

  Budapest has many faces. This vibrant city calms down a little bit at nights, lights are lit up, and a new city comes out from the twilight. We created this program for those, who would like to enjoy the wonderful view of the city swimming in lights in a romantic candlelight atmosphere, and have a romantic dinner, prepared by Hungary’s only one Gault Millau rated chef, Klöter Gregor-Grex, on a boat with live music. The salon music is performed by 3 members of the Zoltán Kodály Awarded Rajkó Folk Orchestra, including the world-famous violinist Zsigmond Vidak who is the owner of the Bronze Merit Cross of the Hungarian Republic. The meeting point is in the Duna Palota. 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 a warm buffet-dinner and live music. Guiding is not included in the program.

  Budapest sightseeing cruise on the river Danube

  You are invited for an hour’s panoramic boat ride at night. You will be able to experience how the legends of Budapest come alive. Look behind the walls of the Royal Palace, the Parliament, the bridges, and other splendid sights all bathed in light.

• Accommodation

  • Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest Klotild Palace – 5*, Pest side
  • Continental Hotel Budapest – 4* superior, Pest side
  • Royal Corinthia Hotel Budapest – 5*, Pest side
  • Hunguest Hotel Griff – 3*, Buda side
  • Danubius Hotel Flamenco – 4*, Buda side
  • K+K Hotel Opera – 4*, Pest side
  • Star Inn Hotel Budapest Centrum – 3*, Pest side

• Transfers

  • Meet & Greet: 24-hours service from arrival to departure
  • Private Taxi / limousine transport
  • Coach & bus transfer
  • All services are possible from or to airport as well as train stations or river / boat stations.

• Meetings and events

  We offer you a wide range of tourism services as hotel room reservations for individuals and groups as well up to the highest categories in Budapest and in all over Hungary. We provide transfers, folklore shows, special restaurants for customized demands, gala events, tailor-made team building programmes, leisure programmes, ladies’ programmes, private guide service in all major world languages, excursions, round trips, sightseeing tours and tickets to every kind of social, cultural or sport events.

  There are conference rooms and services in our offer. We welcome incentive, students and holiday groups. Our travel agency offers accommodation in more than 100 different hotels in Budapest and in Hungary to satisfy all different needs of our guests.

• What we recommended

  • Costes Restaurant – 1 Michelin star
  • Onyx Restauratn – 1 Michelin star
  • Gerbeaud Coffee House
  • New York Palace Café
  • Hungarian State Opera
  • National Theatre
  • National Dance Theatre
  • Palace of Arts (MÜPA )
  • Hungarian National Gallery
  • Kunsthalle (Mucsarnok)
  • A38 Ship –music club on the Danube
  • CityPark Ice Rink (winter time)
  • City Lake in the City Park (rowing in summer time)
  • Thermal Baths such as Széchenyi Bath, Gellért Bath
  • Central Market Hall

  All in Budapest.

• Special events

  • F1 Grand Prix (generally end of July or beginning of August).
  • Budapest Marathon.
  • Spring Music and Concert Festival.
  • Budapest Dance Festival.
  • Sziget Festival: the biggest festival in Europe, 7 days of party with 1000 acts on 60 stages on an island in the Danube, right in the centre of Budapest.
  • BNV The Budapest International Fair is Hungary's longest standing and most famous fair and at the same time the only general fair in Central Eastern Europe.
  • Fridge Festival: Central Europe’s biggest winter sports and music festival in the heart of Budapest. Sports, exhibitions, live concerts. Location: City Park Ice Rink.
  • Organ Concerts in St Stephen’s Basilica.
  • National Gallop: celebration of Hungarian traditions including traditional Hungarian horseback riding and hussar traditions. The main attraction is the horse race takes place on the vast historic plaza, Heroes’ Square.
  • Sweet Days Chocolate Festival.
  • Festival of Folk Arts (a 3-day festival around 20th August).
  • International Wine and Champagne Festival (first half of September).
  • Christmas Fair.
  • Judafest – Jewish Cultural & Gastronomy Festival.