Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

There simply is no way to tour Europe & not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history, dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. From soaring mountains to golden sands, Eastern & Central Europe reveals a tapestry of quaint & contemporary cultures – always with enough rough edges to keep you intrigued.

Welcome to incredible Hungary – the land of the Magyars with its stunning architecture, vital folk art, thermal spas & Europe's most exciting capital after dark are Hungary's major drawing cards.

Arrive in the capital Budapest, which has something for everyone – from dramatic history and flamboyant architecture to healing thermal waters & a nightlife that is unrivalled in Eastern & Central Europe.  

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel unless advised.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Historic Overload | Cultural Dynamism | Super Structures | Folk Culture

Straddling the Danube River, with the Buda Hills to the west and the Great Plain to the east, Budapest is a gem of a city.

Despite all the history to be explored, Budapest has a youthful, vibrant feel. It is easy to get around the city on foot or by public transit.

Budapest’s beauty is not all God given; humankind has played a role in shaping this pretty face too. Architecturally, the city is a treasure trove, with enough baroque, neoclassical, Eclectic & art nouveau buildings to satisfy everyone. Overall, though, Budapest has a fin de siecle feel to it, for it was then, during the capital’s ‘golden age' in the late 19^th century, that most of what you see today was built.

Hungarians are rightly proud of their country’s rich cultural heritage, and the capital Budapest, with its dramatic cityscape & extraordinary buildings. The city proudly spans the left & right banks of the River Danube, thereby creating the distinct Buda & Pest districts, both of which are studded with architectural landmarks & flaunt Viennese & Parisian-inspired architecture - they don’t call Budapest “Paris of the East” for nothing.

They say the past is another country, but it’s always been just around the corner in Budapest. Witness the bullet holes & shrapnel pockmarks on buildings from WWII & the 1956 Uprising. There are sad reminders like the poignant Shoes on the Danube memorial, but ones, too, of hope & reconciliation – like the 'sword' of the former secret-police building on Andrassy ut now beaten into the 'ploughshare' that is the House of Terror, with both sides of the story – left & right – told.

The 19^th century Chain Bridge connects its hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces life from Roman times onwards. Trinity Square is home to 13^th century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer sweeping views.

The city is blessed with an abundance of hot springs. As a result, ‘taking the waters’ has been a Budapest experience since the time of the Romans. The choice of bathhouses is generous - you can choose among Turkish-era, Art Nouveau & modern establishments. Some people come seeking a cure for whatever ails them, but the majority are there for fun & relaxation - though we still maintain it’s the world’s best cure for what Hungarians call a macskajaj (cat’s wail) - hangover.

There is a lot more to Hungarian food than goulash & it remains one of the most sophisticated styles of cooking in Eastern & Central Europe. Magyars may exaggerate when they say that there are 3 essential world cuisines – French, Chinese & their own. But Budapest’s reputation as a food capital dates largely from the late 19^th & the first half of the 20^th century and, despite a fallow period under Communism; the city is once again commanding attention. So, too, are Hungary's excellent wines – from Eger's complex reds & Somlo’s flinty whites to honey-sweet Tokaj.

A few days in Budapest - perhaps alongside some countryside discovery - would make for a wonderful European experience.

Later in the afternoon, you will be picked up for a 4 hour sightseeing tour of this gothic city.

Budapest is a truly exciting city, shaped by both ancient & modern history and where Eastern & Western culture meets.

First stop will be the picturesque Chain Bridge, arguably the most striking of all the bridges in Budapest.

The Szechenyi Chain Bridge is a chain bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda & Pest, the western & eastern sides and is particularly beautiful when lit up at night.

The city's oldest twin-towered Bridge, named in honour of its initiator, Istvan Szechenyi, was actually built by Scotsman Adam Clark, who enjoys one of the few places reserved for foreigners in the Hungarian panoply of heroes. The Bridge opened in 1849, was unique for 2 reasons - it was the first link between Buda & Pest and the nobility – previously exempt from all taxation – had to pay up like everybody else to use it.

The Chain Bridge was the first permanent stone-bridge connecting Pest & Buda, and only the second permanent crossing on the whole length of the river Danube. It is one of the symbolic buildings of Budapest, the most widely known bridge of the beautiful Hungarian capital.

Hop back into the car, crossing over the Danube via Margaret Bridge & drive over to Buda side where the Royal Castle is located. Make a stop in the Castle District & walk around the important sights of this area.

Get to know the Buda Castle District from the first stone set to the modern day version we see today! Through this guided tour you will learn all about the history of the Buda Castle District.

The Castle District encompasses Castle Hill (Varhegy) – nerve centre of Budapest’s history & packed with many of the capital’s most important museums & other attractions – as well as ground-level Vízivaros (Watertown). What the latter lacks in sights it makes up for in excellent restaurants, many of them around Szell Kalman ter, a major transport hub & the centre of urban Buda. Major changes are afoot, as the government aims to consolidate Castle Hill as the seat of power & the Hungarian National Gallery is eventually due to move to a purpose-built facility in City Park.

Walk through the small cobblestone streets & squares stopping at historical points feeling the medieval aspects from the first stone laid to the present day evolution and the roles it played throughout the Hungarian history.

Reminiscence how the Castle Hill was originally built & designed and how the area has been used over the centuries by many different cultures & nations. Learn how the Castle District survived & helped its inhabitants defend & live through invasions & occupations for centuries.

Walk to the Matthias Church dating back 500 years, with its stories & legends. Parts of Matthias Church, notably the carvings above the southern entrance, but essentially the church itself (named after King Matthias Corvinus who married Queen Beatrix here in 1474) are a neo-Gothic confection designed by the architect Frigyes Schulek in 1896.

Steps in the northwest corner of the Church lead up to the Royal Oratory & the Matthias Church Collection of Ecclesiastical Art (Matyas-templom Egyhazmuveszeti Gyutemenye), contain ornate monstrances, reliquaries & chalices, plus replicas of the Crown of St Stephen & other items of the coronation regalia including the coronation throne. Ascending the 200 odd steps of the steeple will bring you to the top of the Panoramic Tower (Torony Panorama) with stunning views of the city.

Organ concerts take place in the Church on certain evenings (usually Friday & Sunday at 7pm or 7.30pm), continuing a tradition dating from 1867 when Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Coronation Mass was first played here for the coronation of Franz Joseph & Elizabeth, the beloved queen affectionately known as 'Sissi'. The current 7000-pipe organ was built in 1909.

Admire the views from the famous lookout towers of Fishermen's Bastion.

The neo-Gothic bastion with a medieval masquerade offering some of the best views in Budapest was built as a viewing platform in 1905 by Frigyes Schulek, the architect behind Matthias Church. Its name was taken from the medieval guild of fishermen responsible for defending this stretch of the castle wall. The 7 gleaming white turrets represent the Magyar tribes that entered the Carpathian Basin in the late 9^th century.

Next, drive on to the Gellert Hill (Citadel) & enjoy a breathtaking view of the city on a brief stop for memorable pictures.

Standing atop Gellert Hill & proclaiming freedom throughout the city is the lovely Liberty Monument, Budapest’s most visible statue. Lady Liberty looks down on the Taban, a leafy, once very Serbian neighbourhood dating to the 17^th century. Today the greater area is home to the prestigious Budapest University of Technology & Economics (BME) & its students, which can only mean cheap eateries & a decent nightlife. The main thoroughfare, Bartok Bela ut, is fast laying claim to being the 'happening' part of south Buda – around here you will find trendy cafes, a wine bar & vegetarian / vegan eateries.

Drive back to Pest through Elisabeth Bridge & get acquainted with Pest, the Paris of the East! Discover the original charm & lively character of this inspiring part of the city as you explore the most exciting spots in Eastern Budapest, stopping ‘briefly’ to admire architectural masterpieces along with a few well-kept local secrets. You will see ‘some’ of the main sights.

See the popular Central Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) building, designed by Gustav Eiffel. Head up to the 1^st floor for Hungarian folk costumes, dolls, painted eggs, embroidered tablecloths, carved hunting knives & other souvenirs.

Completed in 1897, this is Budapest's biggest market, though it has become a tourist magnet since its renovation for the millecentenary celebrations in 1996. Still, plenty of locals come here for fruit, vegetables, deli items, fish & meat.

Gourmets will appreciate the Hungarian & other treats available here for less than they would pay in the shops on nearby Vaci utca: shrink-wrapped and potted foie gras, garlands of dried paprika, souvenir sacks & tins of paprika powder & as many kinds of honey as you would care to name.

Drive down leafy Andrassy Avenue to downtown Pest passing by the Hungarian Opera House & the impressive St Stephen’s Basilica & the largest Synagogue of Europe & Budapest’s beloved City Park.

A brief Stop at Hosok tere (Heroes' Square) the largest & most symbolic Square dominated by the Millenary Monument (Ezereves emlekmu), a 36m high pillar topped by a golden Archangel Gabriel, holding the Hungarian crown & a cross.

It was designed in 1896 to mark the 1000^th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of the Carpathian Basin. At the column's base are statues of Prince Arpad & 6 other Magyar chieftains who occupied the Carpathian Basin in the late 9^th century. The other 14 Statues in the colonnades behind, are of rulers & statesmen – from King Stephen (far left) to Lajos Kossuth (far right).

Drive by Budapest Zoo & Szechenyi Baths, the largest thermal Spa complex in Europe & probably Budapest’s most popular baths. The outdoor section is stunning, but it gets quite busy. Iconic "sparties" take place here on some Saturday nights.

Last stop will be the highlight of the day - the impressive neo-gothic architecture of House of Parliament.

Discover Hungary's largest building on this guided tour & see some of Budapest’s finest architectural achievements such as the splendid Session Room, the Great Vaulted Hall & impressive central staircase.

The magnificent Hungarian Parliament was built between 1885 & 1902 along the Danube embankment, & was for a long time the world’s largest parliamentary building. With 691 rooms & staircases stretching for more than 12 miles (20 kilometers), the building is topped by an elegant dome soaring 226 feet (69 meters) into the sky. Ornamented with white neo-gothic turrets & arches, the Budapest Parliament forms one of the city’s most outstanding landmarks

Its regal exterior has become an iconic site in the city’s panorama & the interior hosts the Holy Crown of Hungary.

The Tour-guide will lead you through the Session Room, the central staircase & the Great Vaulted Hall & you are free to ask questions as you travel from room to room & learn more about the last 1000 years of Hungarian history.

Finish with the Parliament & walk to the nearby City Centre, where the sightseeing concludes (the Tour-guide will leave you here after offering advice you need, if any).

Spend time to wander around & in time (around 05.30 pm), proceed to the Pier (on your own) to enjoy a 1 hour sightseeing cruise on the Danube. You have already visited all the sites but now get a riverside view.

The river cruise is one of the highlights here, without a doubt. A river cruise in Budapest will let you see the most fascinating sights of the historical city of Budapest, which is often called the Pearl of the Danube or the Paris of East. On a romantic cruise on the river Danube, you will marvel at the genuine grace & beauty of century old Budapest.

The evening sightseeing cruise is combined with a sound & vision show. The boat departs from the Pier in the centre of Budapest & makes a loop around the city. Live music will set the mood as you glide past the capital city’s stunning backdrop.

Admire Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage listed urban panorama & notable sights showcased along the river, and you will have a front-row seat to admire the glowing Buda Castle Quarter, the Freedom Monument & Andrassy Avenue. You will also pass the Gellert Baths, where Hungarians & visitors alike come to swim & relax, as well as the Chain Bridge - a suspension bridge that spans the river and connects Buda and Pest connects the eastern Buda & western Pest.

As you cruise along , enchanted by the illuminated sights, famous personalities from the Hungarian history, kings, queens, poets, inventors  will come alive & even the Danube tells you legendary stories about the town. Through TV screens you will be able to look behind the walls of the buildings passing by & admire the hidden interiors.

The Cruise ends and you will return to the hotel (on your own).

Balance of evening is free. Or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  

Morning, you will be met by the Tour-guide at 09:00 am & embark on a 3 hour ‘walking’ tour to explore the Jewish sites of Budapest.

You will visit some of the most important sights, such - synagogues, monuments & a cafe.

According to archaeological remains Jews have been living in historical Hungary from the 2^nd century. In the middle age some of the Hungarian kings allowed the Jews to live in towns & had important role in economic life. In the Turkish Era they had a flourishing hundred years.

Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Jews live in Hungary, making it central Europe's largest Jewish community. More than 80% of Hungarian Jews live in Budapest & smaller communities can be found in the neighboring areas of Debrecen, Miskolc, Szeged & Nyiregyhaza. The Hungarian Jewry abounded with other great minds, artists, Olympic winners, actors and writers.

Budapest’s traditional Jewish Quarter located in District VII flourishes with an active religious, artistic & historical heritage & within it are several Jewish historical sites.

The city's many religious institutions include a historic mikvah (ritual bath) & the area also has over 10 kosher butcher shops, bakeries, a variety of kosher restaurants & even a matza factory.

Each year, Budapest hosts several Jewish social & cultural events. The Jewish Summer Festival puts on a variety of shows including concerts, dance performances & films.

Since the fall of Communism, there has been a revival of Jewish religious life in Budapest. As of the beginning of the 21^st century, there are as many as 20 Synagogues throughout the city, representing a variety of movements including Orthodox, Chabad Lubavitch, Neolog (similar to the Conservative Movement) & Liberal. Budapest boasts many Jewish kindergartens, elementary schools & high schools.

Budapest is rich with culture & history, and is home to several buildings, monuments & cultural centers, including several points of Jewish interest.

First stop will be at the Dohany Street Synagogue inaugurated in 1659 & designed in a Moorish style, is the largest in Europe & the 3^rd largest in the world.

Move on to the Hungarian Jewish Museum & Archives, which is the largest in Europe &  has an important & unique collection of Jewish heritage art pieces from Hungary & Eastern Europe illustrating the  rich tradition of Judaism, its holidays & everyday life. A separate room commemorates the Hungarian Holocaust. In 1942, two employees hid valuable museum artifacts in the cellar of Budapest's National Museum. During the German occupation, the building served as an escape passage as its gate was situated outside the borders of the ghetto. Additionally, Theodor Herzl (founder of the Zionist movement) was born in the building which once stood at the present site of the museum.

Still serving the Jewish community of Budapest is the Kozma Street Holocaust Cemetery where thousands were buried during the Second World War. It is the largest Jewish cemetery in Budapest & among the largest in Europe. Its unique monuments & mausoleums have drawn many visitors since it opened in 1891.

Continue on to the adjacent Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park, which honors Wallenberg & others who protected many of Budapest's Jewish community from deportation during WWII. It encompasses one of the most significant Jewish cultural sites in Budapest - the Emanuel Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial sculpture commemorating those who perished in the war Engraved on the thirty thousand leaves are the names of Jews who were killed or had disappeared during the Holocaust. Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who saved many Jewish lives by helping them escape deportation.

Make your way to Heroes’ Temple, memorializing those who gave their lives during the First World War.

Then - to understand the present - we walk through the gate on Madach Square, of the WWII ghetto to enter the newly rejuvenated Jewish Quarter. Here, see the  Carl Lutz Memorial -  a tribute to the man credited with saving thousands of Jewish lives during the Holocaust & who is also known as ”Hungary’s Schindler”.

Explore the interior of the orthodox Kazinczy Street Synagogue - which is one of the largest operating orthodox synagogues in Europe, built in art-nouveau style. Walk through the beautifully restored Gozsdu Courtyard, now filled with shops & kosher restaurants that are popular with locals & visitors alike.

The Tour of the Jewish Quarter ends & you return to the hotel (on your own).

Shortly after around 01:00 pm, you will be met by another Tour-guide & proceed for a 3 hour excursion to the lovely town of Szentendre - the ethnographic museum of the real village life of the Hungarians.

Szentendre, a beautiful little town with its Old Town, well-preserved colorful houses on narrow cobble-stoned streets, charming Squares, Serb temples & Baroque architecture, is the southern gateway to the Danube Bend but has none of the imperial history or drama of Visegrad or Esztergom. 

The location was largely uninhabited until the arrival of Hungarians in the X century, but had been entirely depopulated during the Ottoman conquest of Hungary in the 17^th century. During the Great Turkish War (1683-1699), Serbs have participated in the war on the Christian side, alongside Germans & Austrians, but the aftermath of the war did not provide liberation for the Serbs, and many have been forced to flee from Kosovo & southern regions of Serbia in fear of Turkish revenge.

Home to the Serbs who fled from the Turks & settled here during the 14^th - 17^th centuries when Austrian emperor Leopold I allowed Serbian refugees to cross the Danube.

Szentendre thus became the religious, cultural & political centre of Serbs in Hungary. 7 church towers rise high in the sky & 4 of them belong to the Orthodox Church. Icons, works of gold & silversmiths & other treasures are found in the 18^th century Serb Greek Orthodox Blagovestenska Church & Museum with its elaborate decor & an ornate partition screen. The 14^th century Roman Catholic Parish Church stands on the Castle Hill with a centuries old sun-dial on its wall telling the time.

As an art colony turned lucrative tourist centre, Szentendre strikes many travellers as a little too 'cute' & hosts a vibrant collection of artists & a large selection of contemporary art galleries & museums have formed there, as a result. A nearby artists’ quarter houses many of the great minds behind the works on display. The main square, Fo Ter, & the alleyways around it are lined with art galleries, museums & shops.

Most of those who survived First & Second World Wars have migrated back to Serbia. There are now less than a hundred Serbs inhabiting the city & the connection with Serbian culture has, unfortunately, practically disappeared. Today the town's best-known inhabitants are artists & small galleries that can be found on every street corner.

Most of the fun of visiting Szentendre is wandering around the streets & visiting the little shops & galleries, but there is still something to see around town. There are many beautiful baroque churches, &  a few interesting museums. Out of seven churches in Szentendre, only one was historically Roman Catholic, and all the others were built by Orthodox Serbs

On arrival, enjoy lunch at Rab Raby, a well-known restaurant is popular with tourists. The attractive interior is decorated like a Hungarian farmhouse & the food is quite good. Gulyas soup is what the restaurant is most famous for & it is served in a funky manner.

Spend some time with your Guide, strolling at a relaxed pace through town, perhaps picking up a few Hungarian souvenirs as you go.

Post lunch, go inside one of the most visited museum of Hungary - Margit Kovacs Museum - a tiny jewel-box. Housed in a baroque merchant house, it features charming ceramic works representing a combination of traditional folk life with a modern touch, visions of goodness, beauty & humanity. Margit Kovacs was born in 1902 & originally wished to become a graphic artist but later became interested in ceramics. In her 20s, she went to study in Vienna with a very famous Austrian ceramic artist. Then, she studied clay modelling in Munich & mastered the art of modelling with chamotte clay to make figurines.

Drive back to Budapest.

Reach the hotel & relax for a couple of hours.

Evening at 07.00 pm, meet the Journeys Rep / Driver & proceed to the breathtaking theatre hall of the Neo-Baroque styled Danube Palace, located in heart of the city centre to see a traditional Hungarian Folklore Show.

The impact of folk heritage on Hungary’s culture from Music to Performing Arts, Architecture & Fine Arts is particularly unique to the land.

There is no better way to discover a country’s soul than learning about its authentic dance & music traditions. Hungary is a country known for its passion for the art of folk dances & it is one of only a few countries in the world where folk dances are taught at the University level. There are 4 internationally acclaimed professional folk dance groups.

The 90 minute Folk Show is organised in the breathtaking theatre hall of the Neo-Baroque styled Danube Palace, located in heart of the city centre.

The Performance starts at 08.00 pm & consists of two 45 -minute sessions with a break in between. The Show is brought to you by the best professional Hungarian folk groups whose aim is to collect & play authentic folk music & dances and to preserve Hungarian traditions dating back centuries.

These world famous artists in colourful authentic traditional costumes will drive you through hundreds of years of Hungarian traditions with singular Hungarian attitude.

You will discover a large variety of traditional dances as the Group perform a diverse selection of themes, from war to celebratory & romantic dances. The choreographies are all based on original dances, some of which were collected from isolated villages with folk elements dating back hundreds of years.

Let yourself be amazed by the expertise of the talented performers & enchanted by the traditional music. Folk instruments are used & the dancers often sing while dancing. Dances from many areas of Hungary & beyond its present borders are performed in the traditional dress representing each of these regions. You will also have the chance to see firsthand virtuoso artists playing an original Hungarian instrument, the cimbalom accompanied by several string artists.

After the Show, proceed to a restaurant for a traditional Hungarian meal.

Transfer back to the hotel by 10.30 pm.

Overnight.  B L D 

Morning at 09:00 am, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a 8 hour excursion to visit Godollo Royal Palace & a Farm.

Godollo Palace - the former summer residence of Queen Elisabeth & Francis Joseph - is an imperial palace located in the municipality of Godollo in Pest county. It was opened to the public in 1996.

One of the most important & largest monuments of Hungarian Palace architecture, the Palace is the largest baroque manor house in Hungary, designed by Antal Mayerhoffer for Count Antal Grassalkovich (1694 - 1771), a confidante of Empress Maria Theresa & was completed in the 1760s.

It was enlarged as a summer retreat for & gifted to Emperor Franz Joseph in the 1870s and soon became the favoured residence of his consort, the much-loved Habsburg empress & Hungarian queen Elizabeth (1837–98), affectionately known as Sissi who specially loved staying here

Between the two world wars the regent, Admiral Miklos Horthy, also used it as a summer residence, but after the Communists came to power, part of the mansion was used as a barracks for Soviet & Hungarian troops & later as an old people’s home.

Partial renovation of the Palace began in the mid-1980s & it reopened to public a decade later. Today 32 rooms can be visited on the ground & 1^st floors. They have been restored & replicated to the period when the imperial couple was in residence and Franz Joseph’s suites (done up in mainly deep red) & Sissi’s private apartments on the 1^st floor adorned in her favorite lavender colour, are impressive. Initially the estate of the Grassalkovich Counts in the 18^th century, the Castle was later owned by the Habsburg kings.

Your Guide will narrate the history behind the building, along with the juicer tales of the couple’s secret lovers & hidden doorways. You will experience the stunning Baroque architecture & learn the history behind its walls & its residents. You will also learn about the Queen’s ardent equestrian interests. 

Check out the Grand Ornamental Hall, all gold tracery, stucco & chandeliers, where chamber-music concerts are held throughout the year. Also see the Queen’s Reception Room, with a Secessionist-style oil painting of Sissi patriotically repairing the coronation robe of King Stephen with needle & thread; the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Exhibit, which looks at the queen's assassination by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni, who stabbed her to death with a needle file & the Grassalkovich Era Exhibition, which offers a glance at the Palace during its 1^st century. The Chapel & its Oratory are also impressive.

You can also visit the permanent exhibition in the splendid Baroque Theatre as well as the WWII vintage Horthy's Bunker, on an Audio-guided tour (3 – 5 departures a day at specific times)

Afterward, tour of the exterior landscape & explore the Royal Stables, stroll through the gardens or enjoy some Hungarian pastries in the Palace Cafe.

From there, you will proceed for another interesting experience at a traditional functional Hungarian Farm.

Travel through the idyllic countryside to Lazar Equestrian Park - nestling among the picturesque lakes of the Godollo Hills, where you will be welcomed with a glass of Hungary’s famous plum brandy, palinka, as well as pogacsa, delicious savory scones traditional to the region.

Lunch at the Farm.

Later, you will be treated to an impressive equestrian show, filled with fearless tricks & high-speed carriage races.

The Csikos is the mounted horse-herdsman of Hungary with exceptional skills. This tradition still lives & you can be part of it if you watch this fascinating horse show near Budapest where the nature is unspoilt & beautiful.

The horse show includes: four-in-hand driving, pony carriage driving, horsemen, display of nomad warrior archery - archery on horseback, throwing a spear, showing the skills of the horsemen, competition between the horsemen, riding in a side-saddle with hussars, 'Puszta-five’

At the end of the program you will be invited to take part in a pleasant horse-drawn carriage ride through the woods to view the surrounding trails & fields of the property or if with children for a ride on the ponies to see some traditional Hungarian animals.

Return to your hotel by early evening.

In time, you will be picked up again for transfer to an elegant restaurant of Budapest with ’million dollar view’ to the River Danube.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight.  B L D 

Today, you have the full day at leisure for independent explorations. Or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

You have a lot to discover in Budapest. From a vibrant & eclectic nightlife (check out the ruin pubs, housed in formerly abandoned buildings) to great shopping & plenty of architectural landmarks to visit

Overnight.  B 

Alas, the experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye to the region’s warm hospitality & heritage and go home.

Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

No more Iron Curtain. Hungary is a place is where the East meets West, North meets South – literally & lyrically A beautiful country where you can see influences of different cultures intertwine. With roughly100 Castles & Gardens & Churches & ancient mystical Town Centers and of course, the 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, you will have a difficult time to choose.

You have seen a glimpse of stunning Budapest but there is so much more that we are sure will entice you to come back.

“When you leave Hungary, as the plane lifts, you feel that more than leaving a country, you are leaving a state of mind. Whatever awaits you at the other end of your journey will be of a different order of existence” – Anonymous

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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