For centuries, the area of the city has been crucial for those wanting to cross the mighty Danube river. First to settle here were the Celts, then came the Romans, eventually defeated by the Hun ruler Attila. Some say it was after his brother, Buda, that the city was named. Finally, the Hungarians arrived and built their settlement on the remnants of the old, Roman structures.
The 14th and 15th centuries was Buda’s high time. Influx of people of different nationalities and backgrounds gave it a real boost for fast development. Buda was among the greatest European cities at the time and one of the centres of the Renaissance. Recognizing this, the kings of Hungary moved their seat there. But soon came the time of decline – Buda was again famous, but now mostly for its moral decay. Following came other misfortunes – the biggest among them was the Turkish invasion and internal wars. In consequence, Buda had fallen into Turkish hands for more than a century. It started to rise again after it was taken by the Habsburg empire at the end of the 17th century. 200 years later, celebrating a millennium of its existence Buda and located across the river Pest were already united into a modern, developing metropolis, with the oldest underground railway on the continent, competing with Vienna for the top spot.
Walking around Budapest you feel its ancient history but at the same time you are captivated by its fin de siècle charm and glamour and reminded of times when Europe was still unspoiled by the two world wars. Cafés, palaces, wide boulevards and parks illustrate the transformation of the city into the elegant salon of the old continent. Budapest amazes also with its excellent food and wines – the Hungarians say that there are only three cuisines that really count in the world: French, Chinese, and… their own! And if this was not enough once you are fed, watered and culturally infused Budapest offers one more treat – therapeutic hot springs, spas and Turkish baths (clear relics of the Turkish times)!
Join us to discover it all! Our tour will show you the historical, architectural, cultural and foodie aspects of the city and get you acquainted with the best Budapest has to offer!
During this 2-2,5 hour tour, you will see and learn about:
- Elisabeth square with the Budapest Eye Ferris wheel,
- Saint Stephen’s Basilica,
- Academy of Hungarian Sciences,
- Gresham Palace,
- Chain Bridge,
- Danube promenade,
- Parliament,
- Shoe Memorial
… and much, much more!
After doing the basics why not join us for other amazing tours around Budapest: the Buda castle tour, Jewish or Communist tour? Do it, you won’t regret it!
Note: the evening version of this Free Tour is shorter and lasts up to 1,5 hours, but covers mostly the same places and adds the romantic atmosphere of the lit-up Budapest by night!
