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For all tours please note that since these are private tours, it's an option for you to arrange the schedule according to your demands. These are suggested schedules which are certainly based on experience and knowledge. The prices include the guiding and the transportation + parking fees, any other costs, entrance tickets have to be covered by you. Each tour starts and ends at your hotel except for other requests.
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Szentendre 'the artists town' (4 hours)
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Szentendre is an enchanting little town on the Danube with winding streets and colourful baroque houses. It is referred to as the 'artist's town' because it has been favoured by many local artists due to it's nice atmosphere and location.
Several colonies of famous painters lived here, the greatest of them have permanent exhibitions. There are so many galleries that one could spend a week visiting all of them. The town itself has lovely ambience, beautiful churches and lots of nice shops for artifects, contemporary art galleries as well.
We take a walk to the Church hill to see the nice view from there and the oldest catholic church consecrated to the patron saint of the place St. Andrew. On the main square we visit an orthodox church with an old iconostase, Szentendre has a significant Serbian minority, which has added special attractions to the town.
There are two exhibitions I certainly would recommend, the Margit Kovács ceramic collection. Her wonderful figures have worldwide reputation depicting various topics on family life, themes on Hungarian folklore, religous topics, topics from greek mythology and scenes from everday life in her special unique way with a great sense of humour and very deep delineation.
The other museum is a kind of curiosity. The Marcipan Museum ,by Mr Szabó who runs a big marcipan factory producing delightful delicacies. In this museum we can see his works of art, everything made of marcipan, scenes from fairy-tales, famous personalities of Hungarian history and several other topics. It's a small museum, quite interesting though, after the visit we can have a coffe in his coffee shop.
An optional part of the tour would be a jewelry factory on the outskirts of Szentendre, it's on the route, we can make a stop there. There is an exhibition on the history of jewelry making, a showroom, and you will see gorgeous gold and diamond jewelries. It's a tax and duty free zone. Here we stop just in case you would like to go there!
If you're more interested in contemporary artists, painters, we can see some galleries worth visiting. It's your self-tailored programme, remember! We end the tour at your hotel.
 Szentendre, orthodox church |
 Szentendre, orthodox museum |
 Szentendre, main street |
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Price: 200.- EUR (car), 240.- EUR (minivan) | Online reservation | Back to the top
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Half day 'Puszta tour' in Domony valley (4 hours)
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We drive about 30 miles northeast of Budapest to a very scenic quite area in the countryside, near Gödöllö (see below). We visit the Equestrian Park of the Lázár brothers, who have won several worldchampionships in two in a hand and four in a hand carriage riding. The Park is in a picturesque environment of six hectares.
After a welcome drink 'Pálinka' and a 'Pogácsa' (specialty) you will see a spectacular horse-show, presenting you the traditions of riding in Hungary, the special attractions of the 'csikós' the sheperds who took care of the flock and have trained the horses unique attractions you can see nowhere else in the world. The show is basically containing all elments of the 'Puszta' show which you can see on the full day tour, including the 'Puszta-five'. Additional attraction is the ride of Sissy due to the near by palace.
There is a farm with all protected animals of the Puszta region, the 'Racka sheep', the 'Mangalica pig', the 'Grey Cattle', the 'Pulis'the cute sheep dog with long curly hair, the geese, the ponies, the donkeis. We go to the stable to see the horses who have won many races. The champions breed horses on this farm (usually about 80 horses).
We will go for a carriage ride through the scenic countryside as well. (Optional lunch at the restaurant, with good cuisine)
This tour can bee combined with the Gödöllő Palace (see below) in an 8 hour full day tour by car 300.- EUR, by minivan 360.- EUR.
 Lázár Equestrian Park |
 Puszta-Five |
 Lunch |
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Price: 200.- EUR (car), 240.- EUR (minivan) + 25.- EUR / pers. (show)
Online reservation | Back to the top
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Gödöllő Summer Residence of Franz Joseph and Sissy (4 hours)
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Visit of the beautiful, completeley intact baroque palace with 10 suits of Franz Joseph and Sissy. You will see original pieces a furniture and many personal belongings of the royal couple. The palace itself is considered as the greatest and most genuine baroque building of Hungary. I take you for a guided walk through the palace, telling you a lot about the history during the monarchy times. The personality of Sissy, why people admired her so much, actually they still do, and why Gödöllő was one of her favourite places to stay. We also visit the exhibition organised to her honour for the 100 years anniversary of her assasination.
We take a walk in the huge park, see the marble stable of Sissy and then have a coffe and a cake in the nice coffee shop with special ambience.
 Gödöllő, Royal Palace |
 Gödöllő, Royal Palace |
 Gödöllő, Royal Palace |
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Price: 200.- EUR (car), 240.- EUR (minivan) | Online reservation | Back to the top
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Eger the scenic town with the famous wine growing Region (8 hours)
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One of the oldest towns of Hungary with a history of one thoused years. Eger was among the first ecclesiastical centers founded by King Stephen in the early 11th Ctr. The town has wonderful baroque architecture, the most beautiful wrought iron gates, several churches, a lovely old town centre, and the 2nd largest church of Hungary a Basilica in neoclassical style.
This town is famous for having defended itself successfully from the Ottomans for the longest time in Hungary. We can visit the mediaevel castle which is completely intact with the Catacombs. The Lyceum with an old library and a fascinating fresco as well as the 'Eye of Eger' the camera obscura a special astronomic device from the 18th Ctr. which still reflects all the sights of the town in a dark room.
After the guided walk we drive to the nearby 'Valley of Beautiful Women' the famous wine growing region, where the heavy dry red wine 'Bulls Blood' is grown. Here I will invite you to a wine tasting of 3 local wines in a nice cellar.
 Eger, Cathedral |
 Eger, Castle |
 Eger, Wine cellar |
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Price: 300.- EUR (car), 360.- EUR (minivan) | Online reservation | Back to the top
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Danube-Bend Tour (8 hours)
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One of the Danube's most beautiful regions is the area between Budapest and Esztergom. The river bends here in the shape of a horseshoe over a 7 miles run. The whole landscape is dominated by the Danube and it's scenic banks, the hills of the Pilis region, a protected National Park with huge forests. It's a popular place for holidays and hunting. Driving through small settlements along the river you can see typical countryside houses aside with elegant villas and weekend houses. It's truly a very peaceful region, you can enjoy the scenic sights and relax meanwhile. There are three places of special interest which give you an opportunity to learn about our history.
We start our tour with driving about 60 miles all the way to Esztergom the first capital of Hungary. This town is located on the border of Hungary and Slovakia. We visit Esztergom Basilica, the biggest church of Hungary, completed 1856 in neoclasssical style. Theres is however a much older part within the church the 'Bakócz Chapel' a wonderful work from Renessaince times which has been dismantled and placed from the previous site to it's present place. It's a breathtaking experience to enter the Basilica, to see all the wonderful works of excellent painters and sculptors.
In recent years it has become a place of pilgrimage, Cardinal Mindszenthy's mortal reimains were brought home after the fall of communism and now he is burried in the crypt.
We take a walk to see the gorgeous statue depicting the scene when our first king Stephen was crowned in the year 1000 in Esztergom. The site is also an excellent place for a scenic view over the river.
We continue our tour to Visegrád located right in the middle of the Bend and drive up to the top of the hill to visit a mediaeval castle. This is the peak of attractions to see the view from here while we take a walk through the castle.
There is however also an option to take a walk to the outlook place if you don't fancy too much excercise. Then we go to an oustanding restaurant which has been organised as if we were in Renessaince times. The ambience, the stain-glass windows, even the dishes are authentic. The waiter's are dressed in the style of those times. We'll have a wonderful lunch there. A welcome drink, the famous Hungarian brandy 'Pálinka'. An excellent venison ragout soup with gnoccis, crispy leg of the turkey baked in oven, pork and potatoes with stewed red cabbage. The dessert is a Hungarian specialty - chestnut puree with berries and whipped cream.There is a nice option with fish and vegetables for vegetarian.
They serve red and white wines, both of them very good, a Bull' Blood and a Risling + mineral water. There is no limit, nor in food, neither in the drinks.
We'll have a good coffee and drive to the lovely town of Szentendre (named after it's patron saint St. Andrew) it's often referred to as 'the town of art and artist' In fact the old town has attracted famous artists to move there. Well known colonies of painters have lived and worked here. The greatest have permanent galleries, it's a place where you could stay several days to see all exhibitions. Also very important! It has maintained it's character, excellent contemporary artists still live here. You can see and buy if you wish their work displayed in contemporary art galleries.
The town has colourful baroque buildings. It's nice to take a walk to the (not too steep!) Church Hill to see the St. Andrew's Church built in the 13th Ctr. and the view to the Danube, the red tiles on the roofs of the old buildings. There are two museums I certainly would recommend to visit, one is the Ceramic Collection of Margit Kovács, a world famous artist from Hungary. Her ceramic figures depict scenes on Hungarian Folklore traditions, on family life, biblical scenes and topics from mythology. You have to see her art, I'm sure you won't regret it, she was one of our greatest artists!
The other museum is a curiosity - the Marcipan Museum - where you can see works of art which principally would all be edible, since they are all made of delicious marcipan. Important personalities of Hungarian History and Culture are depicted, scenes from fairy-tales, but you can also see a life size Michael Jackson figure. It's certainly interesting and unique. Next to the Museum there's the coffee-house and marcipan shop of Mr. Szabó the artist.
Szentendre is also an outstanding place for shopping, there is a very big selection of reliable, good quality handicrafts as the beautiful embroidaries, we are famous for, pottery, porcelain from Herend or Hollóháza. You'll see wonderful woodcarvings and leatherworks and crystal as well.
As an option we can stop on the way back to Budapest at a Diamond factory where you can see an exhibition on the history of jewelry making and a show-room. It's a tax and duty free zone, prices are reasonable. This is really just an option for those who have interest for it!
The proposed programme can be covered in a full day tour. You have to let me know about your interests, on a private tour we are flexible and can focus always on what you prefer to do the most. If you wish to make any changes e.g. a snack instead the lunch or you would like to skip something and spend more time elsewhere we will adjust the programme to that.
 Esztergom, Cathedral |
 Visegrád, Castle |
Szentendre, Main Street |
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Price: 300.- EUR (car), 360.- EUR (minivan) + 20.- EUR / pers. (lunch)
Online reservation | Back to the top
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Puszta Tour (8 hours)
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Many visitors may be familiar with the word Puszta (the Hungarian name for Great Plain). This area covering 2/3rd of our country's territory, is Europe's largest grass plain with most extensive lakes and marshes which conceal treasures that can be seen nowhere else. The Puszta is a home to many legends and also to many legendary sights. It's divided into three National Parks.
About an hour drive from Budapest is a scenic section between the rivers Danube and Tisza. We start the tour with a sightseeing walk in the cultural centre of this region - Kecskemét, 'the town of Museums' - as it is often referrred to, and the town of unique buildings of Art Nouveau. We take a walk to see the wonderful Town Hall a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture and four churches, all of them in different style, from different times on the main town square. Kecskemét is well known for being the birthplace of Zoltán Kodály the world famous composer who did a lot of research in the field of Hungarian folk music, he recorded many melodies the people were singing and integrated them partly in his own music. The Solfa method was his invention, which is studied by music experts from all over the world in the Kodály Institute of Kecskemét. After a nice walk (30 minutes), having visited the major attractions of the city as the 'Ornamented Palace' another gorgeous Art Nouveau building, we make a little brake in a nice coffee-house where they have excellent ice-cream and pastries.
We continue our tour driving to the plains to a huge horse-farm nearby. After a welcome drink - the famous apricot brandy from that area with a nice Hungarian salty cheesecake 'Pogácsa' we will go for a lovely carriage ride to enjoy the scenic sight of the Puszta. After the ride you will see a performance of the 'Csikós' Hungarian horseman who will show you all their traditions and attractions which have been kept alive for centuries. You'll certainly be impressed by their skill of riding without a saddle and by the unique attractions they perform - making the horses sit and lie down - or the 'Puszta-Five' (one man riding five horses at one time)- and will be amused by the games they play. We will see the protected animals of the Puszta region as the Grey Cattle, or the Racka Sheep with twisted horns and the 'Mangalica' pig with curly hair. There is the possibility for you tor ride (not a must!).
At this farm they also breed horses (alltogether usually about a hundred horses). We will go through the stable, you can touch the little foals, if you'd like to. They are adorable! - We will see another special attraction. - The unridden wild horses will be driven out into the countryside.- It's a great experience, you should grasp with your camera so that you can show it at home!
After all these, we will have a Hungarian meal at the local 'csárda' - traditional Hungarian restaurant - with gipsy music - they have excellent musicians - and a three course menu with local wine, a nice Hungarian goulash soup, a mixed plate with different kinds of meat, garnishes and salad, as a dessert a specialty - pencakes with apricot marmalade - and finally a good coffee. After the programme and the lunch we make our way home and arrive in Budapest 5-6 p.m.
 Gray Cattle |
 Hungarian Horsemen |
 Lovely carriage ride |
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Price: 300.- EUR (car), 360.- EUR (minivan) + 30.- EUR (lunch, horseshow)
Online reservation | Back to the top
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Hollókő the village of Palóc people, World Heritage Site (6 hours)
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A scenic village with lovely old thach-roofed houses, lying in the valley of the Cserhát mountains, surrounded by a nature conservation area of forests.
We go for a village walk, visit a typical House of the countryside, with original items of furniture, old house-hold devices, beautiful linen and paintings on the wall. The House of the weavers, where two ladies are weaving on old machines. There is a nice shop selling local embroideries for really reasonable prices.
The Catholic Church, the Doll Museum which gives a detailed overview on the local folklore traditions. The Palóc people wear the most richly decorated outfits, different according to the occasion.
Hollókő Castle rises on the peak of the hill above the village, you will hear the legend on it due to which the village is called 'raven-stone'.
There is a very nice local restaurant, we can have lunch there. It's an option, or recommendation rather. You will see much of our beautiful countryside, meet nice people and learn a lot about our folklore traditons.
 Hollókő, Main Street |
 Hollókő, Folklore |
 Hollókő, Castle |
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Price: 250.- EUR (car), 300.- EUR (minivan) | Online reservation | Back to the top
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Lake Balaton 'The Hungarian Sea' (8-9 hours)
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Hungary has no seaside but we are proud of having the largest warm water lake of Europe on our country. We drive to the western part of the country, see the countryside meanwhile. First we drive to the northern slopes above the lake to the penninsula of Tihany. There is a lovely old town on the hill with thatch-roof houses, the Tihany Abbey from the 11th Ctr. with baroque works of art. Here we have the nicest view on the whole lake. After the sightseeing in Tihany we make a stop at a nice restaurant with a wonderful view (optional). Then we drive to Balatonfüred, a town with a famous health resort, nice old town centre and take a walk along the lake.
If you wish to include the Herend Manufactory where the world famous is porcelain is made we drive there as well. Visit the manufactory, the show room, the museum and the shop. This will take 1 more hour, so please calculate with a (9 hour tour) 350,- Euros by car and 420,- Euros by minivan for the price.
 Tihany, Abbey |
 Balatonfüred, at the Lake |
 Herend, Porcelan Manufacture |
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Price: 300.- EUR (car), 360.- EUR (minivan) | Online reservation | Back to the top
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Győr 'city of encounters' and the Abbey of Pannonhalma (8-9 hours)
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Győr is one of the most beautiful towns of Hungary liyng on three rivers. It was a roman settlement long before the Hungarians arrived here. Győr was among the first episcopal sees, our first king St. Stephen founded, in the 11th Ctr.
We take a walk through the Old Town. Major attractions we see: Basilica with St. Ladilaus' Herm, one of the most outstanding masterpieces of mediaevel Hungarian goldsmith craft as well as the Maria Icon brought from Ireland.
Bishop's Castle with countless architectural and historical values. Synagogue in neo-Roman style. Carmelite Church from early 18th Ctr. City Hall demonstrating architectural elements of eclectic style.
You will certainly impressed by the beauty and prosperity of this city. At lunch time we make a stop at a lovely local restaurant (optional).
Then we drive to the hills near the city to the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, where our tour will be booked in advance. The Archabbey and it's surroundings were officially declared World Heritage in 1996.
The Abbey has a history of more than a thousand years, we visit tha Chapel of our Lady, The Botanical Garden and the Old Library. It's an active monastery, with wonderful treasures and an endless piecefulness, the buildings with genuine beauty and art treasures are heralds carrying their message from various times in history.
 Győr, City Hall |
 Pannonhalma, Abbey |
 Pannonhalma, Abbey (inside) |
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Price: 300.- EUR (car), 360.- EUR (minivan) | Online reservation | Back to the top
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