We did the Downtown Pest tour with Andras a few days ago. He is extremely articulate and knowledgeable. And very flexible–he will tailor the tour to your particular interests. This was a great introduction to Budapest, its history and politics. Andras even took us on the metro for part of the tour and taught us how to get a pass, etc. If you like scholarly, in-depth tours, then you will like Insight Cities tours. Highly recommend Andras and Insight Cities tours.
PhD & MA-Level Guides
Private & Small-Group Guided Tours
Customized Travel Experiences & Trip Planning
Expert-Led Walking Tours in Budapest
for Travelers who Like to Learn
Bisected by the mighty river Danube, Budapest’s two sides conjure distinct eras. Buda Hill’s Castle District recalls the Magyar Kings, Turkish Pashas, and Habsburg Diets who ruled from here, while lively Pest below – with its extravagant Parliament and Stock Exchange – evokes the political and financial power of the modern Hungarian nation.
On Insight Budapest private tours and small-group tours, we explore the many faces of Hungary’s capital, from the city’s profound Jewish heritage, fabulous Art Nouveau architecture, grand cafés, and complex Cold War legacy, to the Ruin Bars and UNESCO-cited design scene that infuse Budapest today with new cosmopolitanism and creativity.
For those looking for a special gift for their loved ones, all our Budapest tours are available for our gift cards.
Downtown Pest: The New Imperial Capital 1867-1914
Buda Castle: a Kingdom of Many Nations
Budapest’s Art Nouveau
A Journey Through Jewish Budapest
Communist Budapest: “The Happiest Barrack” in the Soviet Bloc
Café Wandering: An Excursion through Budapest’s Belle Epoque
Ruin Bars and Alternative Communities in Budapest’s 7th & 8th Districts
Custom Budapest, Szentendre, Vac, Danube Bend
Our Budapest Experts
Our Budapest tour guides are professors, grad students, art critics, and historians who are passionate about sharing Hungary’s capital with curious travelers from all over the world. Every year, we help thousands of visitors grasp Budapest’s extravagant architecture and complex political history, rich cuisine and local customs, 20th-century tragedies and modern renewal on a deeper level. We promise to surprise you with intriguing sites easy to miss without us and to help you explore in vivid ways. With expertise across diverse backgrounds, our brainy guides make sure that you use your time in Budapest to enjoy an unforgettable experience of this glamorous city on the Danube, a cosmopolitan enclave often at odds with the political trend of the Hungarian nation today.
In the News
“They really explain the city and its history in an informed way,” says Mark Baker from Lonely Planet, mentioning the operator’s Beer and Baroque and totalitarian-themed tour options.”
“On this guided walk you’ll visit hotels, bars, restaurants, and train stations notable for their elaborate facades, ginkgo Biloba leaves, and elegant light fittings, as you discover Prague’s history.”
“Dr. Bonita Rhoads, a bubbly New Yorker and founder of Insight Cities, a company specialising in architectural tours in Central European and American cities.”
“Insight Cities’ Prague Art Nouveau tour, helps make sense of a place that only emerged from behind the Iron Curtain in 1991, and widely agreed to be as beautiful as Paris.”
“Insight Prague guides come with impressive academic credentials and extensive knowledge in their areas of expertise. The company promises ‘truly informed tours for travelers who like to learn.”
“Vadim Erent runs Insight Cities, a tour company that promises to give visitors a deeper perspective on the cultural and political histories of more than half a dozen cities.”
See What Our Guests are Saying
The best way to see and get immersed in the culture and history of this city is with a local historical guide that lives here.
Veronika was amazing! This was the second tour we took with Veronika (she also gave us a tour of Communist Budapest), and on both occasions she was extremely knowledgable, kind and well informed . She shared tremendous insight and knowledge about Budapest’s history, was very well organized, thoughtful and even took us to fascinating places like an archeological dig or gallery we would not have found on our own. We were so grateful to have taken these tours with Veronika. They were the highlight of our trip!
After engaging Insight Cities for unforgettable tours in Vienna and Prague, we ended our trip with 2 more from the company. After 5 tours, we can easily recommend this company. The guides are superb. Hope to see them in more cities in the future.
We took the “Downtown Pest: The New Imperial Capital” tour with Andras, who was very knowledgeable and full of wonderful anecdotes about his experiences growing up in Budapest. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who is interested in actually learning about the city from a local who is full of knowledge and insight. Definitely bring your camera and your curiosity!