Our tour starts at Rákóczi Square, the heart of the once- neglected 8th District – now one of the most unique areas in Budapest. Our first stop will be Rákóczi Square Market Hall where your local guide will delve into the history of the neighbourhood and the reasons why it’s so wonderful and unique.  You’ll also be able to get a sense of the district’s truly local vibe, as you wander around snacking on traditional street food.   

From the market, we’ll meander down the small streets of this fascinating neighbourhood and walk amongst the hauntingly beautiful, crumbling facades on route to Horváth Mihály Square, which is the starting point of the whole story of the 8th District.  Here we’ll get to see one of the oldest and most remarkable Baroque churches in the city with a stunning interior that we’ll explore together. 

As we walk towards our next stop we’ll see how old and new exist shoulder to shoulder, forming the identity of the neighbourhood, and telling the story of Budapest itself. 

Mátyás Square is next on the agenda, a small square on the brink of regaining its original charm without losing all the wacky personality it’s always been known for. The square’s whimsical vibe is mainly due to the so-called ‘gypsy musicians’ whose presence is as normal here as it is in any classic restaurants you’ll find in the city centre. We’ll visit their memorial to get to know the most iconic members of this community, and learn about their historic role in Hungarian society. Then we will have the opportunity to stop for a drink at a very special café with a charitable mission. 

Towards the end of the tour we’ll see two completely different but equally important parts of the district: the communist-era prefabricated housing of Szigony Street, and the relatively new Corvin Alley. The former dramatically changed the face of the whole country, and the story of the latter is just as exciting. Before we part ways, we’ll stop by a small bar for a drink among locals to cap off our tour of one of Budapest’s coolest and most interesting ‘hoods. 

In Focus: By booking this tour, you will be directly helping the operation and existence of two great local organizations; the Oltalom Charity Society is one of the oldest organisations that exist in Hungary, with a focus on helping the homeless, elderly, children in danger and refugees. The charity, amongst other things provides shelter, health services, and food or clothing for those who are in need. 

The other association is Nem Adom Fel (meaning ‘Never Give Up’), which operates one of the cafés that we will visit. Their goal is much more direct: helping and employing people with disabilities and raising awareness about their situation. 

A proportion of money from each tour will help both of these organizations to continue doing their good work in the city and beyond.