Disclaimer: if you want to participate in a nice free walking tour of Budapest with a professional tour guide, DO NOT choose exploring the city with me. If you want to know who offers the best tours, feel free to contact me, I can recommend the highest-rated companies.
If you hadn’t left my website, let me talk about myself: the man who offers a chance to experience the alternative Budapest and visit both the famous spots and not that touristy areas, with a chance to make some exciting photos there.
I am not a tour guide and I do not offer tours of Budapest. I invite the bravest, curious travelers for exploration in Budapest. As it is not a typical free walking tour, there isn’t a fixed starting time and starting point- we discuss what are you interested in, and I tell you if it’s possible, and how. I do not guarantee everything will happen as we planned, because sometimes some experiences can be as new for me as for you. But as I’m curious too, it isn’t a problem for me. There aren’t any scripts, so maybe our walk can be longer than we expected. We will have plenty of time to stop taking photos and I can give ideas and hints about taking the best shots. If you think you prefer ordinary but professional tours, there are better options than adventuring in Budapest with me. (And you can explore Budapest on your own: you can find my recommendations on the DOs and DON’Ts in Budapest page. Souvenirs and must-see’s, rarely visited districts and museums, Hungarian food and drinks, trams and money, hiking and jogging- I cover many topics.)
These kinds of explorations don’t work with dozens of tourists, I limit the number of companions to 7-8 persons. On a specific date, the first person who contacts me can choose where to go, what to see, and do. Certainly, those who later want to join us on that day can have suggestions, and we will see if it’s possible to do everything during a single occasion. I’m open to any ideas– see the well-known monuments of the city center or in Buda Castle; a visit to the suburbs to see the everyday Hungarian life; spend more time in a bar discussing Hungarian history, and politics; look for spots to make some exciting photographs; see the traces of the Roman period, and there are plenty of other options.
I have an idea about good city visits. I lived in Belgium for a few months, I’ve been to Egypt and the Philippines, Guadeloupe and Sweden, Tunisia and Sri Lanka, Bali and Florida. I enjoyed good beers in Prague and spicy curries in Bangkok. I saw and learnt many things during my travels from the locals. And I’m sure I can tell you plenty of interesting, shocking or incredible stories and facts about Hungary.
But don’t forget: I’m not a tour guide.
You can call me a companion, a storyteller, a sightseeing advisor, a translator, a photographer, anything you like but a tour guide. I’m older than many of the guides, my English is far from perfect. But, anyway, I usually talk a lot. I have degrees in Engineering and Economics, I like to learn about history, and I like to take photos whenever I see something interesting. I’m especially interested in the 19th-20th century history of my country. I like to browse old documents and happily share family stories which help to understand better what happened in Hungary during WW II or in the decades of the communist ruling.
Like most Hungarians, I like dumb jokes. I know quite a few and I’m good at telling them. I’m also not afraid of discussing divisive subjects. And, certainly, I can talk about being a Hungarian or what can be interesting in Budapest. Everyone likes to mention how beautiful is the city as the river Danube separates the flat Pest side and the hills of Buda- but if you ask me, I will tell you honestly about the problems, or show some spots which aren’t often visited by tourists. The majority of visitors want to see the most famous sights of the city which is fine, but I’m sure there are plenty of people who don’t want to follow the route in the brochures.
Which groups are frowning upon each other? Are or were there any good Hungarian rock bands? Which is the most stylish train engine of the Hungarian Railways? Why it’s hard to learn foreign languages as a Hungarian? Why does a famous 19th-century Hungarian novel call Pest a “German-Jewish colony”?
What question can offend us and what can’t? What happened to the huge limestone underground labyrinth under Pest? What about fat, the comfort food of many Hungarians? Who were the most influential Hungarians in Hollywood? Is visiting a thermal bath as boring a program as it sounds? Are there any good hiking routes close to the city?
What is the difference between piros (red) and vörös (red) colors? Are there laid-back places in nature near the Danube river? Which tram lines are the best for a cheap sightseeing tour? Why soccer is a big thing in Hungary despite the national team hasn’t qualified for the World Cup finals since 1986?
Do we prefer beer or wine? How could become an Admiral in a landlocked country the governor of a kingdom which doesn’t have a king? How to pronounce the important “zsemleszínű tacskókutya” phrase?
Many exciting questions, and hopefully I can answer the majority of them!
To be curious is cool because I’m sure it’s an incredible experience to learn about a different culture. I was born in the seventies and I grew up when the communists ruled the country. So I had first-hand experience only with that kind of living. I remember the first time when they let us travel to western countries. The difference was shocking! We simply didn’t understand the other countries’ cultures, and we didn’t know anything about how the people lived there. I want you to have a chance to understand a bit more what it means to be a Hungarian and to live in this country. It’s much more than a few iconic buildings, famous persons, and typical foods. It’s a lifestyle, and I can and will tell more about that.
Not being a professional tour guide means I’m free to do what I like. I’m a blogger, journalist, photographer, website builder, advisor, translator, and whatever my partners need. As a freelancer I have time, but my main income is not from guiding tours, and my boss won’t be angry after I get a bad Tripadvisor review. (In fact, he would be happy with that because that would mean I had a Tripadvisor page.) So I try to organize explorations which are fun and interesting for all of us. If at the end of our day you felt you got a special experience, we made some great pics, and if you feel to honor me with some tips, I would be grateful. But I’m prepared for anything, and I think you should be prepared too- Budapest is an exciting place, and joining me lets you discover it in an unexpected way.
Frequently asked but basically unanswered questions
Do I really need a guide to explore Budapest?
Well, Budapest is a good place for independent travelers. You can visit most of the popular spots on your own, you can find good restaurants and bars, and have a nice time at the river Danube. If you would like to do that, check out my DOs and DON’Ts in Budapest page where I share a lot of advices and recommendations. My walks are a bit different because as a Hungarian I can share a lot of facts and stories that can be interesting for you if you’re really interested in the country, And also we will concentrate on taking photos of the city.
Who should join this walk?
I don’t know. It can be an exciting experience for anyone who is interested in a unique Budapest experience, where we don’t follow scripts while you can learn a lot about Hungary and the Hungarians. Simply we explore the city together!
Where will we meet?
I don’t know. Depending on your interests we can start the tour anywhere in Budapest. I’ll send you the exact location after we discuss what would you like to see.
When will we start the walk?
I don’t know. It can be in the morning or in the afternoon, maybe in the evening. Write me about what is best for you!
How long will it be?
I don’t know. It won’t be shorter than 2-2,5 hours but if we have a great time, and during exploring, we find spots where we spend more time, it can be longer. I happily walk and see more in Budapest!
What will we see?
I don’t know. Anyone can have ideas, about which spots should we visit. Maybe it’s possible, maybe it isn’t. If I know more about your interests, I can plan an itinerary. Certainly, we will stop at the well-known spots and places in the city, but I will recommend visiting some of the secret jewels of Budapest. In the slider gallery above you can the photos that I took in the last few years in different parts of the city- yes, they’re all taken in Budapest.
How much will it cost?
I don’t know. Basically, it’s a free walk with me. Certainly, if you feel that was more than a simple walk (and I try to do my best!), and give me tips at the end of our Budapest experience, I won’t be offended. But there aren’t fixed prices. And there may be some costs, if we choose to use the public transportation, have to pay an entry fee or stop somewhere to have a drink.
What does a walk look like?
As an example, here is the schedule of my last Budapest walk. I met the group at their apartment, and we visited some highlights of Pest: St Stephens Basilica, Shoes on the Danube, and Parliament. We even visited a supermarket to show them some of the Hungarian specialties. We crossed the Danube by metro, had a short walk in the Buda Castle to see the best views and we went back to their accommodation. It lasted a bit more than 4 hours with a lot of photo stops, I take some shots and give them hints. Certainly, I told a lot about Hungary, the city, the history, and what means to be a Hungarian. We had an awesome time together!
How can I contact you?
Well, that’s easy: write an email, or fill out the contact form. I need your email to contact you, and the possible dates are important too. If you have specific interests, you can mention them as well. Later we need to clarify how many people would join me, if too much walking is tiring for you, and so on. I don’t collect either email addresses or phone numbers, I do not make a newsletter or mailing list to sell anything.
Are these explorations really that unique?
OK, you got me. I can’t guarantee this is the absolute most special and unique program in Budapest, as there are many experienced professionals who offer great tours and trips. And certainly, everyone promises the best experience, it’s the nature of this business. Yeah, I don’t call myself a tour guide, because maybe I could be the worst tour guide in the city.
But I can guarantee an exploration with me will be different than a typical tour, as I do these walks following my way. I’m not afraid to tell if I don’t know something about Budapest, or if I need to look for info on Wikipedia. I understand if you’re careful and choose a reliable tour operator instead of my unpredictable urban wanderings. It’s a good idea! Anyway, you can’t say I wasn’t honest from the beginning. Look, I wasn’t even born in Budapest, so sometimes I need to check Google Maps where am I. Who wants to join someone like me for an exploration walk in Budapest who is a professional Hungarian- and that’s his main skill?
Well, maybe you. First of all, you need to answer my questions: what do you want to do and see in Budapest, are you interested in the city, its inhabitants or both, how much time do you have for that, are you ready for unexpected adventures?
So, it’s up to you. I will be here and wait for your message!
You can send me an email to the walk@spiritofbudapest.com address, or you can use the contact form below: