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Day 1: Sunday, May 26, 2024
Meals included: Dinner Individual Arrivals; Meet and mingle with your fellow travelers during a Welcome Reception and Dinner at our hotel, the 4-star Radisson Blu Béke Hotel located in the heart of Budapest, close to the main shopping and cultural districts. Each room includes complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, individual climate control, in-room coffee and tea facilities, minibar, and electronic safe. |
Guest Room, Radisson Blu Béke Hotel
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Liszt Academy, stunning Art Nouveau architecture
Day 2: Monday, May 27, 2024
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
The day begins with our “Musical Heritage” walking tour. Familiarize yourself with central Budapest on this private guided walking tour that focuses on history, architecture, and legends and stories based on Budapest’s classical music heritage. We’ll have a guided tour of the spectacular Art Nouveau interiors at the Liszt Music Academy -- built in 1907 and richly embellished with Zsolnay porcelain and frescoes. This is the heart of musical life in Budapest with its magnificent orchestra and recital halls. We’ll also visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Pesti Vìgadó, another splendid example of 19th-century architecture, where Johann Strauss (both elder and younger) and Ferenc Erkel performed several times.
FREE AFTERNOON TO EXPLORE BUDAPEST ON YOUR OWN
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
The day begins with our “Musical Heritage” walking tour. Familiarize yourself with central Budapest on this private guided walking tour that focuses on history, architecture, and legends and stories based on Budapest’s classical music heritage. We’ll have a guided tour of the spectacular Art Nouveau interiors at the Liszt Music Academy -- built in 1907 and richly embellished with Zsolnay porcelain and frescoes. This is the heart of musical life in Budapest with its magnificent orchestra and recital halls. We’ll also visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Pesti Vìgadó, another splendid example of 19th-century architecture, where Johann Strauss (both elder and younger) and Ferenc Erkel performed several times.
FREE AFTERNOON TO EXPLORE BUDAPEST ON YOUR OWN
Day 3: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Full-Day Tour of Budapest's Castle District: Stroll through the cobblestone streets of the Castle District, one of the oldest sections of the city, full of baroque and gothic buildings. Visit the Matthias Church with its colorful tiled roof and brightly colored interior, the Royal Palace complex with the Hungarian National Gallery, and the Fisherman’s Bastion with its spectacular views over the city. This tour also includes a private guided tour and mini-concert at the Music History Museum as well as a 1.5-hour boat tour on the Danube River!
Lunch at the Budapest Hilton Hotel, overlooking the Danube and the Parliament Building.
Included concert: Private chamber music concert at the Music History Museum
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Full-Day Tour of Budapest's Castle District: Stroll through the cobblestone streets of the Castle District, one of the oldest sections of the city, full of baroque and gothic buildings. Visit the Matthias Church with its colorful tiled roof and brightly colored interior, the Royal Palace complex with the Hungarian National Gallery, and the Fisherman’s Bastion with its spectacular views over the city. This tour also includes a private guided tour and mini-concert at the Music History Museum as well as a 1.5-hour boat tour on the Danube River!
Lunch at the Budapest Hilton Hotel, overlooking the Danube and the Parliament Building.
Included concert: Private chamber music concert at the Music History Museum
Fisherman's Bastion, Buda Castle District
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St. Matthias Church
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EVENING: Included Orchestra Concert
Concerto Budapest at Béla Bartók National Concert Hall / 7:30 PM
András Keller, conducting / Augustin Hadelich, violin soloist
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Concerto Budapest at Béla Bartók National Concert Hall / 7:30 PM
András Keller, conducting / Augustin Hadelich, violin soloist
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Day 4: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Tour of Budapest’s Historic Jewish District: This walking tour will take us through the old streets that were the center of vibrant life for the Jewish community in Budapest. The highlight of this tour is the Dohány Synagogue and the National Jewish Museum. Built in 1859, this is the world’s second-largest synagogue (the largest in Europe) and is still in use by Budapest’s Jewish community today. The architecture has striking Byzantine and Moorish elements; the interior is vast and ornate, with two balconies and the unusual presence of an organ. The National Jewish Museum is inside the Synagogue complex – the four-room museum is devoted to the long history of Jews in Hungary. Displays include Sabbath and holiday items (including some gorgeous examples of Herend Passover plates) and ritual and everyday artifacts. We’ll also visit a number of smaller synagogues, including the Rumbach Street Synagogue, and the Orthodox Synagogue in Kazinczy Street.
During the tour we’ll have an opportunity to taste the delicious Hungarian Jewish cake called flódni made up of three or four layers filled with walnut, apple, and poppyseed – sometimes supplemented with plum jam.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Tour of Budapest’s Historic Jewish District: This walking tour will take us through the old streets that were the center of vibrant life for the Jewish community in Budapest. The highlight of this tour is the Dohány Synagogue and the National Jewish Museum. Built in 1859, this is the world’s second-largest synagogue (the largest in Europe) and is still in use by Budapest’s Jewish community today. The architecture has striking Byzantine and Moorish elements; the interior is vast and ornate, with two balconies and the unusual presence of an organ. The National Jewish Museum is inside the Synagogue complex – the four-room museum is devoted to the long history of Jews in Hungary. Displays include Sabbath and holiday items (including some gorgeous examples of Herend Passover plates) and ritual and everyday artifacts. We’ll also visit a number of smaller synagogues, including the Rumbach Street Synagogue, and the Orthodox Synagogue in Kazinczy Street.
During the tour we’ll have an opportunity to taste the delicious Hungarian Jewish cake called flódni made up of three or four layers filled with walnut, apple, and poppyseed – sometimes supplemented with plum jam.
Dohány Synagogue
After lunch: Option to relax and recharge at the famous Széchenyi Thermal Spa, a breathtakingly beautiful and historic thermal spa complex, built between 1909 and 1913. With 18 thermal pools (15 indoor and 3 outdoor; all at different temperatures) plus saunas and steam baths, it is one of the largest spas in Hungary. It's quite a sight to watch the locals playing chess on floating boards! The warm medicinal water comes from a natural source and is known for its healthy and healing effects.
Széchenyi Thermal Spa
Day 5: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Guided Visit at the Museum of Fine Arts
The origins of the museum’s collection date from 1870 when the Hungarian state bought a magnificent collection of paintings from the Esterházy family. This enormously wealthy noble family spent centuries amassing works of art. It is one of the great collections of Central Europe and contains Italian paintings from the 14th century up to the Baroque period, including works by Titian, Correggio, Tiepolo, and Tintoretto as well as works by Goya, El Greco, and Raphael. In addition, there is an extensive collection of 19th- and 20th-century French paintings.
FREE AFTERNOON TO EXPLORE BUDAPEST ON YOUR OWN
EVENING: Included - Choice of:
A) Johann Strauss: The Pygmalion Effect at Hungarian State Opera / 7:00-9:00 PM
Choreographer: Boris Eifman
-- OR --
B) Hungarian National Philharmonic at Liszt Academy, Grand Hall / 7:30 PM
Concert to Celebrate Hungarian Classical Music Day
Lajos Huszár: Silence Spoke to Me
Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 1, BB 48a
Dohnányi: Ruralia hungarica, Op. 32b
Kristóf Baráti (violin); Adrienn Miksch (soprano), Andrea Meláth (mezzo-soprano), Máté Fülep (baritone)
Conductor: Gábor Takács-Nagy
Roman Acquincum
Day 6: Friday, May 31, 2024
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Guided Tour of the Roman Aquincum Site
Aquincum was a major Roman city situated in the Pannonia province, within the current city limits of Budapest. It was founded after the Romans conquered the land from a Celtic tribe that had lived in the area since 400 B.C. The largest part of Aquincum was built between the second and third century. Visitors can stroll through the ancient city’s streets and observe the temples, shops, houses, and thermal baths. The ruins include many surprises such as a stone tile with a sewer grate built into it, an underground central heating system, mosaic-covered thermal baths, and a market-place. The Aquincum Museum features historic Celtic and Roman artifacts, including some excellent examples of statues and mosaics.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Guided Tour of the Roman Aquincum Site
Aquincum was a major Roman city situated in the Pannonia province, within the current city limits of Budapest. It was founded after the Romans conquered the land from a Celtic tribe that had lived in the area since 400 B.C. The largest part of Aquincum was built between the second and third century. Visitors can stroll through the ancient city’s streets and observe the temples, shops, houses, and thermal baths. The ruins include many surprises such as a stone tile with a sewer grate built into it, an underground central heating system, mosaic-covered thermal baths, and a market-place. The Aquincum Museum features historic Celtic and Roman artifacts, including some excellent examples of statues and mosaics.
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3:00 PM - Tour and Tastings at Budapest’s Central Market Hall
This two-hour market and food tour at Budapest’s largest and oldest market is a guided stroll through all three levels of the Central Market Hall and includes sampling the gastronomic delights of Hungary. Taste a mouth-watering array of foods such as lángos, Hungarian stew, potato paprikash, chocolate, and strudel. We'll also visit the section of the market which showcases the rich Hungarian heritage and culture through embroidery, porcelain, clothing, and artisan crafts. This tour feels like a pleasant walk with friends, tasting delicious foods and learning about the local culture from our professional guide. With the opera starting at 6:00 PM, this tour assures that you will make it through War & Peace without getting hungry! |
Spices at the Central Market Hall
Strudel at the Central Market Hall
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EVENING: Included - Choice of:
A) Prokofiev: War and Peace at Hungarian State Opera / 6:00-10:00 PM
In Russian with Hungarian and English subtitles. For more details, click here.
-- OR --
B) MAV Symphony Orchestra at Liszt Academy, Grand Hall / 7:00 PM
A Tribute to Cellist Miklós Perényi
Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor, RV 531
Kodály: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
Erkel: Festival Overture
Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Péter Csaba (violin), Miklós Perényi, Máté Tomasz (cello); Conductor: Péter Csaba
Day 7: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
FREE DAY FOR YOU TO EXPLORE BUDAPEST ON YOUR OWN
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
FREE DAY FOR YOU TO EXPLORE BUDAPEST ON YOUR OWN
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OPTIONAL TOURS - Additional Fees Apply
Tour of the Danube Bend (full-day) The Danube Bend is a particularly scenic part of the river and its banks are home to a number of charming villages and several impressive fortresses, courtesy of the many invaders who valued the Danube as a trade and transport artery in Europe. Our full-day tour will include visiting the medieval Royal Palace and Castle Museum in Esztergom, with breath-taking views over the river. A visit to Visegrad castle, once a Roman stronghold (the Roman Citadel is still well-preserved) and a popular haunt for Hungarian royalty in the 14th and 15th centuries. We’ll finish up the day with a walking tour of Szentendre, an old market town that is one of the most beautiful villages in the region, with meandering cobbled lanes, brightly painted buildings, and charming Orthodox churches. Duration = 8.5 hours / from 8:30 am - 5 pm |
Esztergom Castle
Village of Szentendre
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Wine Tasting Tour in Etyek
Located just 30 minutes from Budapest, Etyek is the youngest and fastest developing wine region of Hungary. Visit three family-run cellars to sample wines and to learn about local grape varietals and the history behind their production. A unique experience in the Hungarian countryside! Includes a traditional Hungarian lunch inside a wine cellar or outside in summer shade. Duration = 6 hours / from 10:30 am - 4:30 pm |
Vineyards in Etyek Wine Region
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EVENING: 7:30 PM - Farewell Dinner at Parisi Udvar/ Parisi Passage
Budapest's first modern department store opened in the Párisi courtyard, which was already the center of bustling social life in the early 20th century. This atmosphere is now evoked once again at the Párisi Passage. 
Glass Domed Ceiling in Parisi Passage
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Parisi Passage
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