Budapest Beyond Sightseeing offers guided walking tours in the once slummy 8th district of Budapest, the neighborhood that tourists were always advised to stay away from. Although district 8 has changed a lot in recent years, much of it has gone unnoticed. The tours bring alive a district of diversity, art, music and architecture. Budapest Beyond Sightseeing uses creative tools to illustrate the past and arranges face-to-face meetings with residents to understand the present. You can walk through a 100-year-old blacksmith workshop; visit the home of a musician gypsy family; discover Jewish treasures; tour the district’s palace neighborhood and witness Hungarian contemporary art in the making. In addition to the various walking tours in district 8, Budapest Beyond Sightseeing also offers a unique Inner City walking tour in district 5.
Budapest Beyond Sightseeing was founded in 2007 by two social studies graduates to create awareness and bring sustainable tourism to Budapest’s 8th district. Since its inception, Budapest Beyond Sightseeing has received numerous recognitions for its creative walking tours. In 2008 they were awarded the 'Most Promising Youth Enterprise' award, in 2009 they received the 'Good Practice - European Year of Creativity and Innovation' by the European Commission, and in 2010 they were awarded the 'Józsefváros Díj' a prize by the municipal government given for outstanding initiatives.
Budapest Beyond Sightseeing Tours
Budapest Beyond Sightseeing offers themed walking tours that are personal, interactive and creative. Their aim is to inspire openness and optimism. Pre-registration is required for all of their tours and we have made it easy to reserve your spot using the form below.
Socio-cultural Walking Tour
This tour features both the diversity and the contrasts Budapest's 8th district is known for: luxurious palaces and time-worn backstreets, former aristocratic residences and slummy neighborhoods. As part of the Socio-cultural Walking Tour, Budapest Beyond Sightseeing will take you to the home of a musician gipsy family, a hundred-year old blacksmith workshop and an authentic pastry shop. Battle scarred buildings from WWII and bullet holes left behind by the 1956 Revolution are also part of the tour, along with interesting tales and original stories from the locals. It's an interactive experience that gives a unique insight into the district's diversity and daily life.
Duration: 3 hours
Meeting Point: at the stairs of the Hungarian National Museum (Múzeum körút 14-16, District 8)
Price per tour: join a scheduled tour for HUF 5,500 or request a private tour for HUF 17,000 (1 person), HUF 20,000 (2 people), HUF 23,000 (3 people), HUF 26,000 (4 people) and HUF 29,000 (5 people). For groups of 6 and more: contact Budapest Beyond Sightseeing via the form below to get a quote.
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The Juice of the 8th District - The Hidden Jewish District of Budapest
This tour features the many hidden Jewish treasures of Budapest's district 8. The tour starts with an illustrated introduction to Hungarian Jewish culture, with special focus on the Jews of the 8th district. You will hear interesting stories, legends and gossip that are all part of the district's Jewish heritage. Budapest Beyond Sightseeing will take you to hidden backyards, shabby markets and a magic living room synagogue. As you discover the Jewish Solomon seals one by one, the district's Jewish subculture emerges and the life and history of the Jewish community takes shape. Budapest Beyond Sightseeing uses creative and interactive tools to give you a better understanding of the past, the present and the adventurous life of the Jews of the 8th district.
Duration: 2-2,5 hours
Meeting point: at the playground of Gutenberg tér (District 8)
Price per tour: join a scheduled tour for HUF 5,500 or request a private tour for HUF 17,000 (1 person), HUF 20,000 (2 people), HUF 23,000 (3 people), HUF 26,000 (4 people) and HUF 29,000 (5 people). For groups of 6 and more: contact Budapest Beyond Sightseeing via the form below to get a quote.
Note: This tour requires a 72-hour advance registration and the tour is not available on Saturdays.
Select The Juice of the 8th District Tour
Budapest Palace Quarter Tour
This tour starts in the garden of the Hungarian National Museum and will guide you through beautiful 19th century palaces, former noble residences and inner courtyards open exclusively to Budapest Beyond Sightseeing. You will explore the Palace Quarter, the former aristocratic neighborhood of Budapest that was once the cultural, political and economical center of the city. The residences will come alive as you pass by and listen to interesting legends and stories, learn about unusual love affairs, luxurious lifestyles and crazy hobbies. You will also learn about the 'Reform Age', an important 19th century period in Hungary's history, explore beautiful art and architecture and discover many hidden gems along the tour. In addition to discovery games and fun tasks, this tour also includes a glass of vintage Hungarian wine.
Duration: 1,5-2 hours
Meeting Point: at the stairs of the Hungarian National Museum (Múzeum körút 14-16, District 8)
Price per tour: join a scheduled tour for HUF 5,000 or request a private tour for HUF 16,000 (1 person), HUF 19,000 (2 people), HUF 22,000 (3 people), HUF 25,000 (4 people) and HUF 28,000 (5 people). For groups of 6 and more: contact Budapest Beyond Sightseeing via the form below to get a quote.
Select Budapest Palace Quarter Tour
Secret Sights - Budapest Downtown Tour
This downtown discovery tour leads through the streets of old Pest, today's Inner City. Middle Age city walls, romantic palaces, cozy courtyards, communist mementos, passage ways, secret short cuts, deserted buildings, a visit to a contemporary cultural & architectural center and the famous Vaci Street - from a very different angle, are all featured in this unique walking tour. Buildings visited along the tour include, a once romantic palace by Miklós Ybl, the famous Hungarian architect, the Unger House and the Wagner House, a Communist memento that was once the Pioneers’ Department Store. As with all other Budapest Beyond Sightseeing tours, art, history and interactive games are all part of the experience.
Duration: 1,5-2 hours
Meeting Point: Egyetem tér (District 5)
Price per tour: join a scheduled tour for HUF 5,000 or request a private tour for HUF 16,000 (1 person), HUF 19,000 (2 people), HUF 22,000 (3 people), HUF 25,000 (4 people) and HUF 28,000 (5 people). For groups of 6 and more: contact Budapest Beyond Sightseeing via the form below to get a quote.
Select Secret Sights - Budapest Downtown Tour
Reserve Your Budapest Beyond Sightseeing Tour
We have partnered with Budapest Beyond Sightseeing to make it easy to reserve a spot in one of their award winning tours. Simply fill out the form below and Budapest Beyond Sightseeing will respond directly with confirmation of availability and further details. All tours are held in English.
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