Budapest Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

Here are some dos and don'ts to keep in mind while traveling to Budapest

Dos

• Do Buy Hungarian Forint at small exchange stores in the city, they often have better prices.
• Do learn a few Hungarian words, like hello, thank you, sorry, yes and no.
• Do always check the prices on the bill before paying.
• Do drink Pálinka, a strong alcohol made from ripe fruits, like apricot, pear, plum and cherry.

Don’ts

• Don’t fall victim to overcharging, pickpockets, physical intimidation or scams.
• Don’t let helpful taxi drivers or local women lure you to establishments they recommend. They generally receive a commission.
• Don’t rely on tourist buses to see all the touristy landmarks — consider a private tour instead.
• Don’t forget to validate your public transport ticket! Ticket inspectors are dressed in everyday clothes

Need more Budapest travel tips? Check out our Tourism In Budapest 2024 article 

Walking with a local is the best way to see Budapest as it truly is. Seeing as the city is compact, and you can cross into Buda or Pest easily, walking opens you up to several sites at once. Budapest is more like an open museum. Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, Chain Bridge, and St. Stephen's Basilica, are located relatively close to each other in the city center. You can ditch the “tourist” identity by creating an itinerary with a local Budapest tour guide.

Yes! Budapest has an extremely high English proficiency rating of 600 out of 700 so you will be able to speak English without any problems. 

Generally, for lower tourist crowds and ideal weather, April-May, or early June: 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F), as well as September–October: 5°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F) are considered the best times to travel to Budapest.

When planning your trip to Budapest, consider avoiding accommodation in Hős Street, the 8th district, the 5th district and the party district around 6th and 7th districts. You should also avoid nightclubs that our Budapest tour guides point out as dangerous/low safety. Avoid night spots like Fontana Club, Mamba Club and Nirvana; especially steer clear of nightclubs in Váci utca.

Many visitors find that spending around 2–3 days in Budapest allows them to see the major highlights and get a good sense of the city's culture, history, and attractions. Here’s an idea of what these 3 days can look like;

Day 1: Take On The Buda Castle District - Tour the city’s highlights including Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and Matthias Church. You can also visit the Gellért Hill for panoramic views of the city and the Danube River. End your evening with a thermal bath.

Day 2: History and Arts Mixture - Split between Budapest’s art scene with a walk on Andrássy Avenue and visits to landmarks such as the Hungarian State Opera House and St. Stephen's Basilica. End the day with an exploration of Heroes' Square and City Park, including Vajdahunyad Castle.

Day 3: Hungarian Roots - Cap off your third day with a guided private tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building, a masterpiece of architecture. You can also visit the Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe. End the day with a street tour of District VII, known for its loud street art, trendy cafés, and ruin pubs.

For even more itinerary ideas, check out our fully customizable Budapest private tours.