The Budapest Grand City Tour Guide was with Orsolya Morval and Tours By Locals. The cost of this tour is $550.00 USD. Tour Number is 7949. Pick up and drop off is at your hotel. This tour lasts about 8 hours and you will see Andrassy Avenue (Shopping District), State Opera House, Hero’s Square, Zoo, Circus, Amusement Park, City Park and the 1896 Centennial Buildings, Szechenyi Baths, Downtown Pest, St Stephan’s Basilica, Great Synagogue, Parliament, Castle District, Royal Palace, Mathais Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellert Hill, and the Market Square. Additional funds were needed for admissions of about $40.00 USD per person which includes lunch of about $15.00 USD. A very comfortable car was used for this tour with a driver who will drop you off right in front of the sight and pick you up when Orsolya calls him. Orsolya will be your tour guide though out the day and she is very informative and knows Budapest well. It is possible to see a great part of this city in your 8 hour tour day.
Hero’s Square
You will drive up Andrassy Avenue to Hero’s Square. Your driver will drop you off and you will be walking through Hero’s Square to City Park. Hero’s Square represents the Magyar Kings who founded the city.
City Park
Once in City Park you will stroll though the gardens to the Exibition of 1896 Centennial. The Centennial Expo Building used 7 different forms of architecture which was used in Budapest up until 1896.
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Szecheny Baths
This is one of the Thermal Baths located in Budapest. The waters are warm and thermal and enjoyed by all.
New York Cafe
The New York Cafe is located at 1073 Budapest, Ergsebet krt 9-11. The telephone number is +361-8866-167. Reservations are a must and can be booked for Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 24:00 PM. If you book this tour with Orsolya, request her to make a reservation as part of your tour for a coffee and pastry stop. The New York Cafe and Restaurant is open for breakfast lunch and dinner as well as a great tea, coffee and pastry stop.
The New York Cafe is the most beautiful cafe in the world. There is Gypsy Music playing from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The New York Cafe was bombed during WWII and re-opened in 1954 but it never took off as a place to be. It was restored in 2006 to it’s original splendor in the Italian Renissance Style. The New York Cafe is part of the Budapest Hotel and serves Afternoon Tea, Lemonades, Lattes, Hot Chocolate and has some famous Budapest Pastries. This is a must for any trip to Budapest!
Sample Ice Cream Desert
Great Synagogue
The Great Synagogue was built in the Moorish Style in 1854 -1859. It was bombed in WWII in the Seige of Budapest. The Synagogue was rebuilt in 1991 and completed it 1998. The Synagogue was the center of the Jewish Ghetto which was shelter for hundreds of Jews until 1944 when over 70,000 Jews were relocated here to the Ghetto Pest. Some died of starvation and hypothermia in the winter of 1944 and were buried in the side courtyard ajacent to the Synagogue. The Hero’s Temple was built in 1931 to memorialize the Hungarian Jews who passed in WWI. The Synagogue was built with three asiles with wooden door decorations with Torah Scrolls from synagogues which were distroyed during the holocost. The Tree of Life is behind the synogague represents the lives lost during the holocost. Family names are inscribed in the leaves. There is also a placque built into the ground of the non-Jewish people who helped protect the Jews of Ghetto Pest.
The Great Synagogue is closed on Saturday which is sabbath. It is open Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. There are shortened hours on Friday depending on sunset. It will take a couple of hours to properly see this area.
Lunch Break
The lunch break was in the Financial Center away from the tourists. It was delightful. Cocktails, beers, and great Hungarian food. Otrsola translated the menu an helped us decide what to order.
Castle Hill
Buda’s winding cobblestone streets can be accessed by Funicular from the lower level or from the parking lot below the streets. Castle Hill is a walking area.
Matthias Church
Towering above the town is the Neo-Gothic Spire of Matthias Church can be seen above the town. Notice the tile roof.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman’s Bastion was built on the site of a Medieval Fish Market and was built to help protect the city. There is a white ramparts, cloisters and lots of gargoyles. There is a separate fee to climb the ramparts but the view of the Danube and Pest is fantastic.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace was rebuilt after World War II and today houses museums and has a wonderful view of the Pest Side and the Danube.
Gellert Hill
Gellert Baths are in the Gellert Hotel at the foot of the hill. A path winds to the top of the hill or a road will take you to the Citatel which housed the German Army. Today on top of the hill is the Liberty Statue which is the statue of a woman carring a palm frond and is the only statue left standing from the Communist Regime. She is beloved by Hungarians and visable from all over Budapest. Our Ama Waterways ship would be docked on the Pest side of the river in full ciew of the Liberty Statue both day and night.
Note: In our day spent with Orsolya we had a wonderful time and learned so much about Hungary and Budapest. It was one of the best days of our trip.