Budapest Castle Walk

4.3
(3 reviews)

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3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Budapest’s Castle District is a 1.5 kilometer-long neighborhood perched at the top of a hill rising from the Danube riverbank. It’s a neighborhood with a timeless atmosphere, surrounded by walls, and with plenty of places to stop and admire the spectacular views of the city below. This tour is an exploration of one of the oldest sections of the city, which is full of history, fascinating stories, and charming architecture, as well as the scars from dozens of sieges and battles. Once you pass the tour buses clustered in a few spots, this is a quiet car-free neighborhood of winding cobblestoned streets, baroque and gothic facades, colorful old stucco houses, and a few of Budapest’s most prominent buildings and monuments. This tour will showcase not only the important sites—such as the eclectic Matthias Church with its colorful tiled roof and brightly colored interior, the Royal Palace complex, and the Fisherman’s Bastion—but also the secret spots hidden in the side streets.

What's Included

Coffee break during the tour (one coffee/drink included)
Many stops for photos and questions
English-speaking, experienced local guide
Coffee and/or Tea
Gratuities
Entrance to the museums

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet your guide on the Buda side of the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) at Clark Ádám tér (square), next to the "Zero Kilometer Statue." Look for this giant stone statue of a zero (this is the point from where all distances in Hungary are measured) across the street from the entrance to the funicular. 

End point

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Fisherman's Bastion

    The streets follow the shape of the hill, and have seen plenty of action since the mid-13th century when the first royal residence was built here. Your guide will discuss the periods of history which influenced this neighborhood, with a special emphasis on the Jewish population which once lived here, the Hungarian royalty, and the Habsburg empire.

    10 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Matthias Church

    You’ll learn about the heroes and villains of World War Two who left their mark here, and the brutal siege of Budapest in which the neighborhood was demolished when the German and Russian armies met on these streets. Buda became an important European city in the 15th century, a melting pot of nations.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 3
    National Szechenyi Library

    You’ll hear about how the establishment of the Royal Court sparked the beginning of a long golden age—even though no royals ever resided here. The palace and the neighborhood have been destroyed and rebuilt many times over during the course of their history, with each period, particularly the re-building after World War Two (when there was such extensive damage), leaving a different mark on the current appearance of the place.

    10 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Castle Garden

    These days the Hungarian president is lucky enough to be able to call this neighborhood home, along with a few hundred regular citizens living in the hundreds of years old buildings. Join us to learn all about this area which has witnessed so much history.

    10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour is available year-round
  • This is a small-group tour (minimum of 2 guests and maximum of 8 guests)
Supplied by Taste Hungary

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Tags

Half-day Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Small Group
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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Rating

4.3 Based on 3 3 reviews
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