HALF-DAY EXCURSIONS IN BUDAPEST

• Budapest, half-day City Tour – 4 hours
  The "Paris of the East" was once how this metropolis was described, now it is ranked as one of the most beautiful capitals of the world. Highlights of the tour are: the romantic Castle Hill with its cultural monuments (13th century Coronation Church-Matthias,the Fishermen's Bastion,and Royal Palace), Gellert Hill with a breath-taking panoramic view of the city, the impressive Houses of Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica, the Synagogue, Hero's Square.
• Walk in the Castle District including Wine - Tasting in the House of Wine - 2 hours
  After exploring the castle area and visiting the most prominent buildings, experience the unique tastes of Hungary and savor some magnificent wines from the 22 regions.
• Museum Visiting (National Museum, Fine Arts Museum, National Gallery just to name a few) - 3 hours
  along with a coffee/pastry in a historical patisserie. Perhaps finishing off with an organ concert at the Matthias church (extra).
• Guided tour of the State Opera House (only available in the afternoon) - 1 hour
• Guided tour of the Houses of Parliament - 1 hour (this program is not available when in session)
• Jewish Heritage in Budapest - 3 hours
  Visit the most important Jewish sights in the capital including the Dohany utca Synagogue (2nd largest in the world). A kosher lunch is an option (extra).
• Shopping tour - 2 hours,
  in the elegant walking pedestrian street with a visit to the colorful Art Nouveau CentralMarket Hall (the largest enclosed market in Budapest). This multi-story building is packed with not only with produce, including fruit, vegetables, meat, wines, paprika, salami, but also handcrafted Hungarian. Many famous dignitaries have visited the market hall - Queen Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher, Chancellor Kohl, and the late Princess Diana and all have marveled at its beauty.
• Excursion to the Buda Hills - 4 hours, ride the cog wheel railway and Pioneer Railway, visit famous caves, walk in the forest, enjoy a coffee or refreshments.
• Discover the beauty of the Roman Ruins - 3 hours in Budapest (from May till early September).
  Visit to Aquincum (the capital of Pannonia), Hercules Villa, military baths...
• Fitness Program in the Thermal Hotel of Margaret Island or the Gellert Baths
  Solarium, Massage, gymnastics, sauna, swimming, medical treatments,beauty parlor, cosmetician etc. Discover the island by bringo-bicycle). Rates available on request.
• Cruise the Legendary Blue Danube - 1 hour 
  

EVENING PROGRAMS

• Dinner with Folklore Show
  Enjoy a delicious Hungarian style dinner followed by lively folklore entertainment.
• Village Wedding
  A colorful, traditional wedding ceremony with a festive dinner and folklore program with dancers and gypsy band.
• Budapest by Night
  Tour Budapest by night and see why this city was called the "Paris of the East". Finish off with dinner above the illuminated city.
• Danube Cruise
  Cruise the Danube in the evening.During the one-hour cruise, drinks are served as well as the possibility of viewing by monitor the interior of the buildings that are passed by along the riverbank.
• Operetta Night
  Listen to the most famous melodies of Lehar, Strauss, Abraham and Kalman from the Gypsy Baron,Merry Widow, the Circus Princess...
• Musical, Opera Nights
  The Musical World presents live orchestra and dance chorus with pieces from Miss Saigon, Evita,Cabaret, West Side Story, Hello Dolly, The Phantom of the Opera.Besides these musicals there are numerous others as well as national and international Operettas, Operas... (Programs depend on dates).
• 19th Century Market
  A lively market scene is recreated where the vendors, stunt men, magicians, dancers present a friendly market atmosphere of the 19th century. The venue depends on the amount of participants. Included to add more flavour and spice to the above program is a rich Hungarian country buffet dinner so that guests may experience the fine cuisine of the country.

HALF-DAY EXCURSIONS OUTSIDE BUDAPEST

(All tours can be extended to whole day tours)

• The East bank of the Danube
  From May till late September it is possible to take a river ferryboat to or from Budapest
  • Vác - One of the most important towns on the east bank, (22 miles from Budapest). A baroque city centre, with an Italian style cathedral and triumphal arch erected to celebrate the visit of Empress Maria Teresa
  • Gödöllő - Visit the exquisite former summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph and his beautiful Queen, Elisabeth, better known as Sissy. A guided tour of the castle, finishing off with coffee and cake in the palace café. Special programs are possible at the palace including fashion shows depicting fashions of the last century to the latest organised by the Fashion Theater or perhaps a classical music program, either in the garden or in the ballroom of the palace.(extra).
• The West bank of the Danube
  From May till late September it is possible to take a river ferryboat to or from Budapest
  • Szentendre - One of the most charming of small towns in Hungary (12 miles from Budapest). Once the site of the roman military garrison, Ulcisia Castra, today reflecting the 18th century Serbian, Greek and Dalmatian settlers from the past and also the influence of the local artist's colony. Abundant with churches, museums(including the Serbian ecclesiastical art museum and the extraordinary collection of Margit Kovacs' ceramic museum), galleries, antique shops,Hungarian hand-made folk art, cafés, restaurants and more.

Szentendre Programs:

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    • Art and Music
    • Cocktail Party - in a museum or in a gallery with light music
    • Brunch - buffet style in a restaurant
    • Wine tasting with wine presentation, in the rustic corridors of the wine catacombs. Get acquainted with the taste of the most famous of Hungarian wines from the different regions.
    • Goulash cooking course (minimum 10 people).
    • A presentation of Hungarian Folk embroidery, egg painting...
    • Folklore - a 40-minute performance presented by the Szentendre Folk Ensemble and reflecting the colorful traditions.
    • Visit to the Open Air Village Museum (open from May till late September). 162 recreated and furnished Hungarian rural buildings including homes, churches, stables, and workshops of past centuries
    • Theme Parties - (60 - 350 people) in the Village Museum.Participate and learn the techniques of making pottery, weaving,creating dolls from corn husk or toys from bulrush or straw, necklace making from pearls, egg painting, carving, or even how to embroider and make bone lace. For smaller groups we can organize the same activities during the whole year in the Ethnography Museum of Szentendre, which is only 2 minutes from the town centre.

All quotes will depend on the size of the group.

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  • Székesfehérvár - Martonvásár
    Székesfehérvár is one of Hungary's oldest cities, founded by St Stephen's father in the 10th century and home of Hungarian kings for500 years. Not only the site of royal burials but also of coronations.A beautiful baroque and rococo city. Nearby are the roman ruins of Gorsium, a skanzen (ethnographical village) and the city's oldest romantic building, the Bory castle, built by Jeno Bory for his everlasting love of his wife. Martonvásár, famous since Count Brunswick's fine taste in music inspired it to be the home of Beethoven and where he wrote one of his famous sonnets for Josephine Brunswick.There are many inside and open-air concerts in honour of Beethoven.

FULL DAY EXCURSIONS OUTSIDE BUDAPEST

• Magic of the Puszta - Horses
  A traditional program involving visiting the Great Plains of Hungary or better known as the Puszta. Beginning with a visit to Kecskemet and a brief reception at the Town Hall, followed by a short orientation of the town. Afterwards, to the country where a colorful and exciting horse show depicts the magic of the past. Carriage rides or horseback riding is possible. Lunch, Puszta style, is served while a gypsy band entertains. To add to this active and informal program, we suggest a ride on the Nostalgic Train to the Puszta or a traditional wedding ceremony (both Hungarian and Gypsy).
• Danube Bend excursion (including lunch)
  Travelling to the most beautiful panoramic countryside of the Danube Bend. Starting with Esztergom, the first capital of Hungary, venturing onwards to Visegrad, remnants of a 13th century fortress, and finishing off with Szentendre, a quaint baroque town. A leisure lunch and refreshments are included in this tour. From May to late September, it is possible to take a ferryboat to or from Szentendre.
• Eger - City of Wines
  The region northeast of Budapest is rich in historical and ethnographical traditions, architectural and natural beauty. The heartof the wine country is Eger, a historic city full of memories from past centuries (bastions, castle walls, underground labyrinths, Cathedraland the 18th century inner city). Eger and its surrounding areas are valued as one of the most precious wine growing areas in Hungary. Enjoythe highlights of the city and a delicious lunch with wine tasting in the Valley of the Beautiful Women. Nearby is the Lipizzaner Horse Breeding farm, and Szalajka Valley (famous for its caves, waterfall,trout-farms, and funicular train).
• Balaton - The Sea of the Magyars
  One of the largest lakes in Hungary as well as Central Europe. It is one of the most popular summer resorts in Hungary. A visit to the panoramic Tihany Peninsula and the historic Abbey (dating back to the 11th century),Balatonfured, (a popular resort town famous for its healing waters).The program includes a short ferryboat trip across the lake during summer. A rich lunch with wine and refreshments are included. In the winter time we suggest combining this program with a visit to the world famous porcelain factory - Herend.
• Multicoloured Kalocsa
  Kalocsa is a thousand year old, picturesque little town along the Danube. Its magnificent Italian baroque style monuments, colourful folk art and red gold spice paprika are known throughout the world. The folk art in the town and its environs have seen an energetic revival in recent times and an unfolding of magnificence colors. The secrets of this folk art are openly displayed to visitors by the local folk artisans.There are such a variety of programs available.