Hungary tours

• Explore Hungary’s Communist history. Following World War II, Hungary fell under Communist rule for roughly 40 years. History buffs who travel to Hungary on our Budapest, Vienna & Prague tour can learn about that turbulent period during an optional Budapest: A Walk Behind the Iron Curtain excursion.
• Visit a thermal bathing complex in Budapest. Spa culture is popular in Budapest, thanks to naturally occurring thermal springs near the Danube River. On our Budapest trips, travelers can visit a local spa whose facilities include a thermal swimming pool, sauna, and steam room.
• Explore the Tokaj wine region. Hungary is home to several distinct wine regions. The most important is Tokaj—one of seven hidden gems of Eastern Europe we love exploring. Our A Week in Eastern Europe: Prague, Krakow & Budapest tour includes a guided tour of a vineyard in the region, which is known for its noble wine, Tokaj Aszú. Louis XIV described the sweet, golden-hued wine as “King of Wines, and Wine of Kings.”
• See how Unicum, a Hungarian liqueur, is made. This bitter, herbaceous liqueur is considered a national drink of Hungary. (Sip it before dinner as an aperitif, or afterward, as a digestif.) On our Budapest, Vienna & Prague tour, travelers can learn all about its legacy during an optional excursion to the Zwack Unicum Heritage Visitors’ Centre in Budapest.
• Dine with locals in their home. Travelers on our A Week in Eastern Europe: Prague, Krakow & Budapest tour who want to experience Hungarian cuisine beyond restaurants can join a local family at home to taste homemade, traditional dishes and hear what daily life in Hungary is like.
• Visit a Christmas market. In December, when Christmas markets open for the season, cities across Europe come alive with festive music, twinkling lights, and traditional food and drinks. Travelers can get their fill of the festivities, and shop for handmade gifts, on our Christmas Markets of Budapest, Vienna & Prague tour.

Here are a few highlights you can see on our Hungary tours, either on a guided tour or during your free time.

• Hungarian Parliament Building. Constructed between 1885 and 1902 on the banks of the Danube River, Hungary’s sprawling Parliament Building is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival architecture in the world. Locals call it the Országház.
• House of Terror. This chilling museum in Budapest offers travelers a deeper understanding of the dictatorial oppression the country faced during its fascist and Communist regimes. It is a can’t-miss experience on our guided tours of Hungary.
• Castle Hill. With its tree-lined, cobblestone streets and Baroque houses, Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most beautiful spots in Budapest. It’s also home to a few of Budapest’s most important and iconic medieval structures and museums, among them Matthias Church and Buda Castle. Before you leave, be sure to snap a few panoramic photos of the city and the Danube from the terrace of Fisherman’s Bastion.
• Buda Castle. Once home to Hungarian kings, this 13th-century, UNESCO-listed palace, which sits atop Castle Hill, now houses the National Széchényi Library, the Budapest History Museum, and the Hungarian National Gallery.
• Matthias Church. Located on Castle Hill, this neo-Gothic, Roman Catholic church was constructed in the 13th century and has played host to royal coronations. It’s a can’t-miss for travelers who book one of our Hungary tour packages.
• Chain Bridge. Completed in 1849, Széchenyi Lánchíd, or the Chain Bridge, was the first bridge constructed across the Hungarian section of the Danube. During free time on our trips to Hungary, travelers can cross it by foot, or see it from below during a Danube River cruise.

Check out ways to spend 48 hours in Budapest →

With these essentials in your suitcase, you’ll be well prepared for our tours to Hungary.

• Comfortable walking shoes. No matter which of our tours of Hungary you choose, be sure to bring sturdy shoes with a good grip. They’ll keep your feet and ankles happy while walking on cobblestones, uneven streets, stairs, and other surfaces.
• A day bag. Our Hungary travel packages include a mix of walking tours and scenic coach rides. Keeping your water, wallet, sunglasses, extra layers, and other essentials handy in a small backpack, crossbody, or tote will allow you to move about easily and have everything within easy reach.
• A shawl, wrap, or cardigan. On our Hungary trips, you’ll have opportunities to step inside churches and other religious sites, where covering your shoulders might be recommended or required.
• A good camera. So you can capture Hungary’s beautiful natural landscapes and opulent architecture.
• Sun protection. Think brimmed hats, sunglasses, and SPF for any time spent outside, especially during walking tours on sunny days.
• A light rain jacket or travel umbrella. You’ll especially want to have these handy if your Hungary vacation is scheduled for May, which tends to be Hungary’s wettest month (it typically sees about nine rainy days).
• A swimsuit and sandals.  If you plan to visit a bath or spa in Budapest when you travel to Hungary, be sure to bring a bathing suit and easy-to-slip-off sandals.
• Warm layers. If you plan to travel to Hungary during winter months, you’ll want to be ready with long-sleeved shirts, a light fleece, a heavy jacket, a warm hat, and gloves or mittens. Average winter lows for the season typically range between -19°F and 27°F.
• Light, loose clothing. If you plan to visit Hungary in the summertime when temperatures can be hot and humidity can be high, pack lightweight, loose clothing that will help keep you comfortable and cool. July is usually the hottest month of the year, with highs averaging around 80°F and lows around 60°F.

When you travel on one of our Hungary tours, one thing’s for sure—you won’t go, well, hungry! Here are a few Hungarian dishes to try during your visit.

• Goulash. Somewhere between a soup and a stew, goulash (gulyás) is one of the most well-known Hungarian dishes, and one that’s deeply intertwined with the country’s history. The hearty dish is typically made with beef, carrots, potatoes, and spices, though preparations and ingredients can vary by region. Enjoy it on its own, ladled over pillowy spaetzle, or spooned on top of mashed potatoes.
• Paprika. This fiery red spice (its name translates to pepper in Hungarian) isn’t a dish on its own, but it’s likely to appear in several dishes you’ll try on our tours to Hungary. Several varieties of Hungarian paprika exist, but the most common is édesnemes. It’s bright red in color, and it has a sweet, pungent pepper flavor.
• Halászlé (fisherman’s soup). Paprika adds bold flavor to the broth of this traditional Hungarian fish soup, which is traditionally made outside over a fire.
• Chimney cakes. This sweet, cylindrically shaped bread is baked rotisserie-style on a spit, then rolled in cinnamon, sugar, cocoa, coconut flakes, or other indulgent toppings.  
• Lángos. This locally loved street food is made from deep-fried, doughy flatbread topped with cheese, sour cream, garlic butter, and other toppings of your choice. Street vendors throughout the city sell it, but one of our favorite places to enjoy it is Street Food Karavan, a courtyard filled with food trucks selling Lángos and other traditional local dishes.

If you enjoy a beer with your tour mates over lunch or dinner in a local restaurant, avoid clinking your glasses together—a gesture that’s considered a faux pas in Hungary. 

In the late 1840s, when the Hungarians lost the Revolution and War of Independence, Austrians executed 13 senior Hungarian generals and are said to have celebrated by drinking beer and clinking their mugs together. Hungarians subsequently vowed to not clink beer glasses for the next 150 years, but the rule still remains widely observed today. Note, though, that if you’re sipping wine or spirits, you can feel free to clink to your heart’s content.