Budapest Custom Private Tour With A Local: Highlights & Hidden Gems

What your day looks like

Book a local host from Budapest for a personalized meet-up. Ditch the travel guides, decide where to go, what to see, and what to do together with your private, personal host, with a friend who knows what you like, and the city will unveil its best to you. The itinerary is fully personalized for you. Your host may suggest walking to the iconic 19th-century suspension bridge guarded by majestic lions and taking a postcard-perfect photo. See the architecturally significant building of thermal pools, which are part of the famous Hotel Gellert complex. Learn about the thermal bath culture and ask your host to help you book a session that you can enjoy during the rest of your stay. Do you feel like climbing up a hill? If you like walking and the weather allows it, the host will recommend walking up to the Liberty Statue. The walk can be hard, but the view will be paying off, no doubt! Some buses and taxis can take you up the hill, so if you don't feel like walking but you're still keen on seeing the view, the host can arrange transportation for you. Here's another great historic place where you can learn about Hungarian culture and history. Little shops and stalls line up to sell handcrafted souvenirs. In the spring and summer months, many free open-air events can help you connect with the Hungarian heritage. Your host will suggest walking past the 14th-century church named for King Matthias, who married here. You can also book a visit to see the church and the ecclesiastical museum. Admire this 19th-century fortress with 7 turreted lookout towers offering panoramic views (you'll need to buy a ticket to access the viewpoints), plus there's a lovely cafe on the terrace. If you'd like to explore Pest, your host will suggest walking towards St. Stephen’s Basilica, a Neoclassical masterpiece that was once the site of an 18th-century theatre. If time allows, head up to the cupola and look across the river for views of the Buda side of the city. This will require purchasing a ticket (not included). Walk down Andrassy ut, you'll soon realize why Budapest is also known as the Paris of the East. Walk past the beautiful Opera house, one of the finest examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture in existence today. Heroes’ Square takes pride of place at the end of Andrassy Avenue, Budapest’s Champs-Élysées-esque boulevard. Heroes’ Square features the colossal Seven Chieftains of the Magyars statue complex and the Memorial Stone of Heroes, which stands in tribute to those who have died defending Hungary. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts are also positioned around the outside edges of the square, which makes an informative cultural addition to any guided tour of the area. Are you a foodie? Then ask your host to take you to the Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) and learn about Hungarian food and the best local ingredients. This magnificent venue holds more than 100 stalls over three floors, housed in a wonderful, Neo-Gothic-style building.