Introduction to Budapest Tour: The Pest Side

Using the main sightseeing attractions of downtown Pest as waypoints, this 3-hour introduction to Budapest walking tour is designed to give a solid overview of the city and its history. Joining a local scholar from our network, we'll cover the central zone of Pest and learn how to read the city. An eclectic mix of ancient and modern, the city is saturated with complex history, a nation that has constantly emerged from under foreign rule to assert its own identity.

Separated by the Danube, the settlements of Pest and Buda form one of the most intriguing cities in Europe: Budapest. Our time together goes all the way back to the beginning, when the area was first settled by ancient Celts and Romans. Ruins of old Roman fortifications, known as the Contra-Aquincum, give us visual evidence of these early settlements. The nearby Inner Parish Church, the oldest building in Pest, is not only an example of Gothic construction, but a testament to how modern urban planning has been used to respect the past.

After digging into the origins of Pest, the group has endless possibilities to explore. A trail along the Danube river provides not only spectacular views, but options to discuss the development of arts and literature, Art Nouveau aesthetics, or Baroque building techniques. As we wind our way north, we have the opportunity to pass through millennia of Pest's history. 

Post-communism, contemporary life will not be ignored, as Pest's urban fabric is continually changing to meet the changing political and cultural beliefs of the time. For instance, the recent renaming of Roosevelt tér, a square close to the Chain Bridge, and the ever-changing monuments in Freedom Square act as strong examples of how public spaces are shaping and being shaped by Hungarian identity. (We go into more detail about this on our Budapest Politics Tour.)

We will end our time in the vicinity of St. Stephen's Basilica, whose location near the Central European University, a symbol of new learning in post-Soviet Hungary, only reinforces the changing landscape of Pest. Continually moving toward modernization while still retaining the history of the past, this journey through the streets of Pest allows us to come away with a timeline of Budapest's history and a vision for the city's future potential.

Does this walk include the interior of the Parliament building?
As an active government building, the Parliament's interior is only accessible on their own guided visits, provided internally. Our walk takes an in-depth look at the exterior.

Are there any out-of-pocket costs? There may be nominal site entrance costs or other fees that are not included in the price of the tour. It is a good idea to have some local currency on hand for these.