3 hours
E-voucher
English
Overview
Explore the highlights of the UNESCO-listed Buda Castle District in Budapest on this small-group walking tour. With an historian guide, stroll around cobbled Castle Hill, Budapest’s oldest quarter, as you learn about its occupation by different nations and invaders down the centuries. Visit the Castle complex and Matthias Church; admire baroque and Gothic townhouses and churches; and enjoy panoramic views from the Fisherman’s Bastion. Morning and afternoon departures available, with entrance fees at own expense.
Operated by
Insight Cities
Ratings & Reviews
Average Rating
4.87
/ 5
31 traveller ratings
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Wonderful, wonderful tour
Nanci_K, May 2025
Absolutely terrific. Judith was above wonderful . Friendly, knowledgeable and even helped us figure out the public transportation system. She went above and beyond. Thank you Viacom Tor sending her to us.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks for the warm feedback. That makes our day. And thanks for recommending Insight Cities tour to your friends traveling to Prague, Berlin, Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg. Safe travels!
Budapest castle walking tour
Andrew_M, May 2025
Gergely (Gregory), our Buda Castle tour guide was fantastic! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the castle, the history of Budapest and his home country, Hungary, as well as about the world and life in general. He was thoughtful about making the tour fit our needs and interests. My wife and I would highly recommend this tour and especially Gregory.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for taking the time to review. We're proud to work with such terrific guides. Hope to see you again on Insight Cities tours in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg. Please tell your friends!
Great tour! Good value!
mcheungca, Nov 2024
Absolutely loved this tour with our tour guide, Kata! She did an amazing job showing us many interesting aspects of the Buda Castle district. This was by far one of the best tours that we took in Budapest! We got great value for our money. Greatly recommend this tour and especially Kata as the tour guide!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for taking the time to review. We're proud to work with such terrific guides. Hope to see you again on Insight Cities tours in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg. Please tell your friends!
I don't recommend this particular tour.
lindamD4241JM, Jun 2024
Super disappointed with this tour. Really didn't learn much at all, and didn't seem like our tour guide, Valeria was very passionate for what she was doing. She would point to things and more/less say you can go visit these places later. We could hardly hear what she was saying and that's standing close to her. She used a little speaker thing that hung around her neck, but again really couldn't hear. Seems like she also always stopped at places that were noisy to talk (ie, a band playing loudly in the background, church bells going off. Would have been better if she stood elsewhere to deliver what ever she had to say). I felt it was a total waste of our time, and I have been on free walking tours before that have been wonderful. PS. the 2nd sentence out of her mouth when we met her is how we should tip, that was a turn off to address right out of the shoot.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
While we're sorry to read of your bad experience, we need to inform you that did not tour with our company. You mention in your review that you took a free walking tour. Our tours are not free but prepaid. We don't have any guide named Valeria on our team and none of our guides would ever ask for tips! You have left a review for the wrong company. We only wish that you had booked with us since we are proud of the consistent, excellent, deeply insightly and knowledgeable tours we offer. Best -- Insight Cities Team
Itinerary
Buda Castle
Two buildings stand out on Castle Hill, the oldest part of Budapest, known for its narrow and cobbled streets and its baroque and Gothic facades: the massive and imposing palace on the southern tip of the hill and the colored roof of Matthias Church in the middle, with its rank steeple pointing towards the heavens.
2 hoursWe start our tour at the palace, the ancient seat of royal power. It was rebuilt, extended, changed, burned down and rebuilt again several times over and it got its current eclectic appearances only after World War II. The first to build on Castle Hill was King Béla IV. He erected a fortress on this spot around 1250 after a devastating invasion by Mongolian hordes. In the Renaissance period, King Matthias made it into the most famous court in Europe at the end of the 15th century. Then came the Turkish pashas who ruled the country for over 150 years, followed by a succession of Hapsburg emperors.
15 minutesNational Dance Theatre
Discuss the changing function of the building throughout its history.
Sandor Palace
The Sándor Palace is the official residence of the President of Hungary, and the seat of the Office of the President. It has served as both since 2003. The original palace was build in Neoclassical style in 1806. It was commissioned by Count Vincent Sándor, an aristocrat and a philosopher of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
5 minutesMatthias Church
A highlight of the tour is Matthias Church with its abundantly decorated roof and amazing interior. The church is a very finely executed Neogothic reconstruction fantasy from the end of the 19th century and it is a strikingly beautiful building.
20 minutesFisherman's Bastion is an architectural fantasy in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles designed and built between 1895 and 1902. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin at the end of the 9th c. The terrace provides one of the most famous panoramic views of the Danube, Margaret Island, Pest and the Gellért Hill.
20 minutesOur tour ends at the Vienna Gate, from where you can see all the way to Obuda (Old Buda), where the Romans founded the city then called Aquincum.
10 minutes
Experience
Highlights
Inclusions
- Professional guide
- 3-hour guided walk
Exclusions
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Buda Castle, Matthias Church & Fisherman's Bastion tickets
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A maximum of 6 people per booking
Guide Languages
English
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.