Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Free Walking Tour

Join our Budapest Historical Walking Tour to explore Pest and Buda’s rich history. Small groups, professional historians, and 50 points of historical interest. Book now!

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Kalvin Square - Meet your guide at 12 Kalvin ter. Our guides are easily recognizable in yellow attire. The square is named after the French Protestant Reformer John Calvin. The area offers seating and shelter from the weather.
  • Hungarian National Museum - Stand in the gardens of the National Museum:
    -See the statue of the mythical turul bird.
    -Learn about the museum, its collections, and its founder.
    -Hear about the 1948 uprising.
    -Discover the secrets of the notorious viii district, once home to grand palaces.
  • Unger’s House - Stand in the courtyard of Miklós Ybl’s unique creation, which blends Byzantine, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance, and Romantic elements, showcasing the glory of this fading palace.
  • Danubius Hotel Astoria - Pass by this grand building in a French Empire style. Elegant both inside and out, the Astoria Budapest, with its cosmopolitan atmosphere, attracted numerous international stars and cinematic productions, including the Josephine Baker Story, directed by Brian Gibson.
  • Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga) - See the largest Synagogue on the continent!
  • Mini Statue of Theodor Herzl, by Kolodko - See the miniature statue of the founder of the Zionist movement, Theodor Herzl.
    -Hear about Kolodko’s miniature artworks.
  • Jewish Quarter - The tour travels through the Jewish quarter, allowing participants to learn about the history of the district. From being home to a vibrant Jewish community to becoming a ghetto during the Second World War, it has recently become a hub for artists, students, and bustling tourist areas filled with independent shops, designers, and bars.
  • Sissi Statue - Stop by the statue of Princess Sissi holding her beautiful parasol, and learn how she was not only a stunning and fashionable beauty but also a clever diplomat.
  • Elizabeth Square - See the Budapest Eye, learn about the history of the square, and discover some of Budapest’s coolest bars and nightlife.
  • St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika) - Stand outside this magnificent building and learn why it is named after Hungary’s first king!
  • Szabadsag ter - Spend some time at Szabadság tér/Liberty Square and see the communist memorial!
  • Stock Exchange Palace - The 50,000 m2 palace is the largest privately owned historic landmark in Budapest.
  • Ronald Reagan Statue - Find out why Reagan is walking away from the parliament looking so happy, and also discover why Bush (statue) is standing waiting for him.
  • Hungarian Parliament Building - Stand outside the building and be amazed by the eclectic/neo-gothic historical architecture and the beautiful view of the Danube!

Learn about other important buildings on the square, including the chocolate museum, the former Ministry of Justice, and the agricultural museum.

  • Fisherman’s Bastion - See the castle and Fisherman’s Bastion from the Pest side of the river. Learn about the area’s history. See St. Matthias Church with its stunning colored tiled roof and the Hungarian National Palace from afar on the Pest side of the river.

See St. Margaret’s Island and Gellert Hill from afar on the Pest side and discover their history.

  • Szechenyi Lanchid - See the Chain Bridge, learn about its history and reconstruction.
  • Shoes on the Danube Bank - See this incredibly simple and haunting monument of 60 pairs of shoes dedicated to the Holocaust victims who were lined up and shot on the banks.
What's Included
  • Guided tour with an in-person guide
What's Not Included
  • Tea and coffee
  • Cost of using a public toilet. 100huf to 500huf
  • Tips for the guides.
  • Guides are not able to carry guest luggage or equipment
Additional Information

This walking tour covers all the major historical sites and attractions of Budapest. Explore and gain a historical understanding which covers 50 points of historical interest.

The tour will give you the chance to view, explore, and gain a historical and cultural understanding of the country. The tour covers 50 points of interest. The tour gives an introduction to the arrival of the first Magyar tribes, the Ottomans, the Hapsburg Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, WW1, WW2, The Soviet Occupation, and life in current-day Hungary. Complete with recommendations for the best bars, restaurants, spas, and cultural spots in the city.

You can tip the guides as little or much as you wish depending on the experience. There is a booking fee payable to trip adviser.

Our tours are fast-moving and our guides are professional historians. We also keep our tour groups small, below 25 people, to allow you to hear and see the guide easily and to have plenty of time to ask questions.

  • Not recommended for travelers whom are unable to walk 3 miles.
  • We suggets bringing water to drink and sunscreen, umbrellas or warm jackets depending on the weather.
  • The tour is best enjoyed by adults and children over the age of 12 years. Younger children are welcome.
  • Dogs are not permitted on this tour. However guide dogs are permitted the owner must carry the dogs offical papers with them.
  • Metro and bus to Kalvin ter have wheelchair access.
  • Please inform us in advance if you need wheelchair access, the guide needs to make 2 slight adjustments to their route to accommodate you.
  • We do not offer a hearing induction loop.
Location
Kálvin tér M
You'll find us outside of the OTP bank/the chemist, 12 Kalvin ter. Use metro exit b look for our guides holding yellow umbrellas!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(783 Ratings)
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Amninder_p
Aug 30, 2024
Brilliant tour, must do - Piotr, our guide was an absolute star. He was very thorough with his knowledge and history of Budapest. He kept us interested and was mindful of the heat and directed us to area of shade (it was 35 degrees and very sticky). Word count restricts me from writing too much.. But would recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Nancy_k
Aug 26, 2024
Our guide was very... - Our guide was very helpful, well informed, communicated clearly and generous with his knowledge and time. I learned so much and appreciate my visit to this beautiful city more because of the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Jessiep199
Aug 23, 2024
Excellent knowledge and a friendly guide. - We were contacted before the start time by Attila who told us exactly where he would be and how to find him. We arrived in good time along with the majority of the other people in our group. Attila was a very good and knowledgeable guide, he was also very friendly and wanted to get to know us more too. He told us lots about the history of Hungary and how Budapest had changed over the years. He was also very kind and waited for 2 couples who both arrived late. Personally, I would have left them, it was a free tour after all.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leon_g
Aug 23, 2024
Start your Budapest stay with this - A very informative and interesting tour. Victoria was very knowledgeable and included history and anecdotal information. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
799ellied
Aug 21, 2024
Incredible tour - Incredible tour with so much history. Victoria was an amazing tour guide who answered all my questions. She beautifully explained the pain of Hungary’s past and made sense of its current situation. Budapest is a beautiful city with such a complicated history. Tour was worth way more than you paid. Would absolutely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hayley_b
Aug 20, 2024
Victoria was an excellent... - Victoria was an excellent tour guide who provided us with a great insight into the main sites of Budapest
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_g
Aug 19, 2024
A great experience in Budapest - Atilla was a fabulous guide! He was very knowledgeable and chose to highlight some of the most interesting and poignant facts about Hungarian history. I learned more in 2 hours than I ever would have by reading a tour book.
Review provided by Viator
Jmfriend
Aug 19, 2024
Excellent tour. - Victoria was excellent. Very knowledgeable on the history and architect, confident in answering questions. A good route taking in lots of interesting places that you wouldn’t usually get to see. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Srijan_r
Aug 18, 2024
Excellent walkthrough of the gems of Budapest - Our guide Attila was wonderful. He diligently guided us through the historical landmarks of the city and was kind enough to ensure all of us were hydrated throughout. He had an in-depth knowledge of not only Hungary but also history in general so it was great to learn about the expansive history of Budapest
Review provided by Viator
Michalis_t
Aug 11, 2024
A great experience - An excellent experience l! Our guide Attila was really professional and knowledgeable we had a lot of fun while learning about the city. We really recommend it
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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