Day 1: 

Arrive at Budapest Liszt Airport where we meet our guide.  Transfer to the hotel.

Guided tour of the Highlights of our city: Heroes’ Square/Millenary Monument, Vajdahunyad Castle, Andrássy Boulevard, Opera House, St. Stephen’s Basilica-interior visit, House of Parliament, Castle Quarter, Matthias Church-interior visit, panorama view from the Fishermen's Bastion. (entry included) Evening cruise on the river Danube with 3 course meal on board.

Overnight in Budapest

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Day 2: 

After breakfast we travel to Hollókő (UNESCO World heritage site). Hollókő is an outstanding example of a deliberately preserved traditional settlement. This village, which developed mainly during the 17th and 18th centuries, is a living example of rural life before the agricultural revolution of the 20th century. They have only one street and about fifty houses. The first generations of families always settled on both sides of the road; the next generations built their houses at the back end. Most of the houses in the village are still inhabited today, and in one of them the village museum was established with original painted furniture and tools. We will visit the old village of Hollókő and local museum-houses (entry included) with typical „home made” lunch. In the late afternoon departure to Eger for free evening and overnight. Possibility for a walk in the city, visiting the baroque town of Eger, renowned for its buildings, churches, and the old fortification.

Overnight in Eger

Day 3: 

In the morning we drive to the Puszta starting with a sightseeing walk in the city-centre of Kecskemét. This city is fusing all the beauty and values of the Great Plain. It is an economic, educational, and cultural center of the region; gives home for several institutions of fine arts, unique collections and festivals. The name of the city originates from the world „kecske” (meaning: „goat”), and „mét” means district. The goat can be seen in its coat of arms as well above the platform with the motto of the city beneath it: „Neither height, nor depth frightens us.” Then welcome with "Pálinka" and oven made scones in Tanyacsárda. Carriage-drive into the Puszta visiting the Lippizaner stud and the Hungarian greycattles. Horse show and farm visit. Hearty lunch with wine and gipsy music. Late afternoon travel to Kiskőrös for free evening and overnight in the hotel.

        

Day 4: 

Drive to Kalocsa, which is famous for its wonderful embroidery, and it is also best known for the Hungarian paprika. It is a small Hungarian town with about 15,000 inhabitants next to the Danube on the Southeast part of the Great Hungarian Plain. It has a long historical background since it was founded at the time of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. Today, it is one of the four Hungarian Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Additionally, Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary, founded the archdiocese in 1001. In the Folk Art Centre (entry included) you can find everything in connection with Kalocsa: its unique embroidery, the particular buildings, and the inevitable paprikas. The paprika garlands hanging in front of the windows show that they are not only for eating but they also have cultural importance in Kalocsa. As a result, the embroidery and the paprika make a harmonic decoration in the house. Afternoon visit to Pécs, also covering the most remarkable sites of the city incl. Cella Septichora, Museum of the early Christian Necropolis. (entry included) Pécs is county and episcopal seat and the fifth biggest town in Hungary. It was founded by the Romans in the second century, under the name of Sophianae. We visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Museum of the early Christian Necropolis with a remarkable collection of decorated ancient tombs, from the cemetery of the Roman provincial town of Sopianae (modern Pécs) dating back to the 4th century. These are important both structurally and architecturally, since they were built as underground burial chambers with memorial chapels above the ground and are richly decorated with murals of outstanding quality depicting Christian themes. After this visit in the ancient times we visit the buildings of the 16th and 17th century Turkish occupation. The memories of the Turks can still be seen by mosqs and Turkish style buildings. Dinner in a nice local restaurant and overnight in Pécs.

                                                                     
Day 5: 

Today, the journey will continue to Lake Balaton, which is the largest fresh water lake in Central Europe and a popular tourist destination. Due to Hungary being landlocked, it is often referred to as the Hungarian Sea. We cross the Lake by ferry between Szántód and Tihany. Visit the picturesque Tihany Peninsula and the Benedictine Abbey. We take a walk at the top of the Tihany Peninsula among the nice old houses – the best place to view the Lake from. Then we drive to Herend, that is famous for its porcelain art throughout Europe. Guided visit of the manufactory and the Porcelain Museum. Lunch in Apicius Restaurant with Herend plates. Later we walk round Balatonfüred, in the nice capital of the northern Lake shore and the famous Tagore promenade. Wine tasting of the famous Balaton wines in a cellar with small bites. Free evening and overnight in the hotel in the Lake area.

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Day 6: 

This morning we visit Székesfehérvár, one of the oldest town and former Royal seat in Europe. In the time of conquest of Hungary the clan of chieftain Árpád settled here. Later coronation and burial place of the kings of Hungary. Now the former Alba Regia is an international centre of industry, a major town of education and tourists centre. The town is rich in medieval, gothic and baroque architecture and paintings. Visit the main sights as the Saint Stephen Cathedral, Saint Anna’s Chapel, Episcopal Palace, the Town Hall and the Bory Castle (entry included). The castle was built by Jenő Bory who was a sculptor and architect, a professor of sculpture at the College of Fine Arts and that of architecture at theTechnical University Budapest. He followed his own plans and imagination, and raised this special castle through 40 summers from 1920. It is a memory of his eternal love for his wife and his artistic dreams. Afternoon we return to Budapest. Hearty dinner incl. wine with gipsy music and Hungarian folklore-show. Return transfer to the hotel for overnight in Budapest.

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Day 7: 

In the morning, we drive to Gödöllő to visit the baroque Grassalkovich Palace/Museum, the former summer-residence of Queen Elisabeth (Sissi). Interior visit & Royal Garden. (entry included). Coffee break with cake in the Palace Café. Drive to Máriabesnyő visiting the Abbey and the tomb of the Grassalkovich dinasty. No entrance fee, but some donation is expected. Afternoon return to Budapest, afternoon free for shopping in the city or to visit a spa for a relax. Dinner in the downtown, in Urban Betyár Restaurant & Ethnographical Visitor Center, close to the St. Stephen’s Basilica, where we offer an extraordinary gastronomic and ethnographical experience that is one of a kind in Hungary. The breath-taking interiors and undoubtedly unique food and drink selection will ensure your evening to be on a high quality level. Dinner including visit to the museum to see our ethnographic heritage and the traditional Hungarian peasant culture.

Overnight in Budapest

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Day 8:  

After breakfast full day excursion to the Danube Bend. Esztergom, Visegrád and Szentendre are the chain of towns of archbishops, kings and artists in the Danube Bend. It is the most scenic part of Hungary as well as the heartland of the Hungarian history. Esztergom is the birthplace of the first Hungarian king of St. Stephen. The town is well-known also about its medieval Royal Residence/museum. Visit the Basilica and the Treasury. (entry included) Lunch in a hunting-style-restaurant in Visegrád. Visit the Citadel on the top of the hill. (entry included)This former Royal Palace was built in Renaissance style by King Matthias in the 15th century. There is a beautiful view to the Danube Bend where the River breaks through the hills. Szentendre is a picturesque town of artists, museums and churches built in a Mediterranean & baroque style. Visit the unique museum of the town: Kovács Margit Ceramic (entry included). Free time for shopping. In the afternoon return to Budapest, free time in the city and overnight.

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Day 9:

Transfer  to Budapest Airport for departure to home, filled with beautiful memories of Hungary and an urge to come back soon!

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