Private Budapest: New York Times Journeys - Trends and Flavors of Bohemian Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Office phone number: +36 30 714 2551
Private Budapest: New York Times Journeys - Trends and Flavors of Bohemian Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
The old-world grandeur of Budapest has always drawn a crowd, its architecture and historic credentials never failing to impress. These days the city can also boast about its flourishing food scene (there’s more Michelin-starred restaurants here than in any other city in Eastern Europe), and a glut of new locally led concept store openings. This four-hour Budapest adventure concentrates on Pest with its shabby chic boulevards, home to edgy local artists, designers, great food, cocktails and beer. Join us as we take an exclusive peek into an artists’ club that’s usually off-limits to the public, taste a Hungarian cocktail, and try the award-winning meat of the world-renowned Mangalica hog, and see Budapest through the eyes of a local, in partnership with The New York Times.
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Highlights
- Find out why the Mangalica hog is so special and try products made from its prized meat
- Learn about the craft beer scene in Budapest and sample a few of our favorite brews
- See the streets through the eyes of revered photographers like Robert Capa and Andre Kertesz, who both honed their crafts here
- Cocktail in hand, enjoy a captivating bird’s-eye view of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities
New York Times Exclusives:
- Behind-the-Scenes Access: Visit the 100-year-old Feszek Klub, a private club that’s not usually open to the public, to see where famous Hungarian artists, singers, actors and musicians have flocked to discuss politics and philosophy for over a century, away from prying eyes and ears
- Hands-on Element: Take a photo with our Polaroid camera at your favorite Budapest spot and take your photo home as a souvenir
- Local Interactions: Meet local artists, designers and craft beer makers and find out more about their work
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
In Front of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, Liszt Ferenc tér 8, 1061 Budapest.
GPS coordinates of the meeting point: 47° 30' 11.456'' E 19° 3' 51.75''.
- Starting time: Various
- Ending point:
St Andrea Wine & Gourmet bar; 1052 Budapest, Deák Ferenc u. 5.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, samples of products made of Mangalica meat, sampling of local craft beers, public transport ticket for the Old Underground, one cocktail at a rooftop bar.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
The Mangalica breed of hog is the oldest in Hungary and it tastes so good that it is now frequently exported to Spain to make serrano ham. The name means ‘lots of lard, which translates as plenty of flavor. Together we will visit the Mangalica Menyorszag eatery at a local market hall where you will taste various products made from Mangalica hog (vegetarian options are available.) Then we will head to the Feszek Klub, which is usually closed to the public, for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience in an old artists’ club. This three-storey building is an historical landmark, where artists, sculptors, musicians and actors have gathered since 1901 to exchange creative ideas and discuss politics, away from the prying eyes and ears of the state. In this time capsule, we’ll meet with the locals and hear their stories about life in Budapest, old and new.
Budapest has a robust craft beer scene and at Hopaholic, you’ll have a chance to learn about its inception and methods as you taste different varieties, including a sip of Brew Dog, the country’s most successful craft beer. Next up, we’ll hit Café Analog, but not for the food. This trendy spot specializes in old film cameras and vinyl records. Budapest was the birthplace of Robert Capa, one of the world’s best known and accomplished war photographers. With a Polaroid in hand, get a photo of the colorful local street art and walk in the footsteps of such greats as Capa and Andre Kertesz.
Shopping is next on our Budapest agenda. Printa stocks environmentally conscious local designs and is home to a gallery dedicated to contemporary artists. Their ‘zero waste’ boutique offers unusual t-shirts, maps, rare prints and simple home furnishings. Find apparel and accessories at Punch, a tiny store launched in 2017 by a consortium of up-and-coming local designers. Here you will meet and talk with one of the founders of the shop and learn more about Hungarian fashion and textiles, browsing the shelves for quirky hats and pretty handbags!
Hungary has the proud honor of being the first country in Europe to have an electrified underground railroad, operating continuously since 1896. We’ll take a short ride along the tracks, conjuring up visions of early 20th-century rail travel as we journey into the heart of old Budapest, Vorosmarty Square. Here we’ll admire the art nouveau and modernist architecture intertwining as the statue of Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty watches over the shoppers, explorers and coffee drinkers going about their day. Then we will head up to the St. Andrea Sky Bar where we’ll end our tour in style with dazzling views of the city and a cocktail in hand. Choose a classic option or continue your discovery of our city with a very Hungarian cocktail, made with Palinka, a traditional Hungarian fruit brandy.
New York Times Reading List:
- What to Pack for a Trip to Budapest
- Behind the Iron Curtain: Intimate Views of Life in Communist Hungary
- A Hungarian Artist Comes Into His Own
- Ghosts, Literal and Figurative, Haunt Magda Szabo’s Novel
- The Fresher the Spice, the Better the Chicken Paprikash
- Tokaji Aszu Wines Are a Taste of Hungarian Sweetness
- A New Fashion Hub? Eastern Europe
- 52 Places to Go in 2017
A City Tour gift certificate is the perfect present for any occasion. Select a specific tour and date, or choose the value and let the lucky recipient decide how to redeem it.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, samples of products made of Mangalica meat, sampling of local craft beers, public transport ticket for the Old Underground, one cocktail at a rooftop bar.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please wear comfortable shoes for walking.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Travellers under 16 years of age are not permitted to join this tour.
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@budapesturbanadventures.com.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +36 30 714 2551
Email address: info@budapesturbanadventures.com
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