Alternative Budapest Walking Tour
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Budapest, Hungary
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover a behind-the-scenes look at Budapest’s art culture on this walking tour. Explore the architecture, graffiti, and street art with a local guide for a more intimate experience of this vibrant capital city. Along the way, make additional stops at cool coffee shops, street art galleries, and bars and take a jaunt through the Jewish Quarter to spot hidden synagogues.
- Introduction to Budapest’s established and expanding alternative culture
- Visit a local artist’s studio and gallery
- Learn about Budapest’s street art and graffiti scene
- Explore districts rarely visited by tourists
What's Included
- English speaking guide
- Entry fees to sights and museums
- Pick-up and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Budapest, Deák Ferenc tér 4, 1052 Hungary
In front of the Lutheran Church (pale yellow), on the church steps
End point
- Budapest, Józsefváros, Hungary
Tour ends in downtown close to transport links
Operating hours.3:00 pm
Itinerary
Shy away from the usual tourist stops on this walking experience with a local guide, and get an inside look at Budapest’s alternative culture. First scout out the synagogues in the Jewish Quarter, hidden slightly from view. Next, head to some of Budapest’s most impressive street art galleries to immerse yourself in the underground art scene, before making a quick stop at a cool coffeehouse (own expense) and photo gallery.
Then travel to the place where the underground scene started, the former working-class districts that have since become the pulse of arts and culture. Learn the stories of how the art world kept alive under communist leadership.
Please note: In an effort to visit the most up-to-date and exciting artistic venues, the itinerary details are subject to change.
Then travel to the place where the underground scene started, the former working-class districts that have since become the pulse of arts and culture. Learn the stories of how the art world kept alive under communist leadership.
Please note: In an effort to visit the most up-to-date and exciting artistic venues, the itinerary details are subject to change.
1
Alternative Budapest
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Rumbach Street Synagogue
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Budapest's Jewish Quarter
1 hour 40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Józsefváros
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- You will need to be fit for light continuous walking, for up to 2.5 hours
- Tour goes in all weather conditions so please dress appropriately.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 53 reviews
Catherine_B, Feb 2024
Loved this tour. Our guide was a fabulous young woman (whose name escapes me). She was both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her subject matter. The tour was completely unique. She brought us to an amazing Ruin bar, showed us moving and emotive sites, showed us around craft shops, introduced us to murals, and advised us where to dine. You must do this tour is you want the inside scoop on Budapest
Amie_R, Feb 2020
Absolutely fantastic tour. We learned so much and it gave us some great insights on places to go. We really recommend it
Response from Host, Jul 2020
Thank you for joining us on this walk and share your review on the platform. Hope to see you again. All the best, Eszter
Simon C, Aug 2017
Great walking tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and very engaging. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to see some of the local art and learn things about the city that you won't find in a conventional guide book.
Jacqueline K, Mar 2017
A very interesting and worthwhile tour. A great opportunity to learn about street art, design, politics and local history as you walk through the 7th district. Our guide Anita Kurti, was excellent, knowledgeable and open to answering the many questions that came up as we went along. I learned a lot, met some interesting people and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning how art, history and politics intersect here in Budapest. A huge thank you to Anita!
Susan_M, Jan 2017
Not really what expected. Not enough content on subject.
BettyJean_S, Nov 2016
Awesome tour. We were so lucky to be the only ones on the tour with Darius. We saw things that would have been difficult to do on our own. So informative and fun. Thanks Darius for sharing your knowledge of culture and art in Budapest and for the amazing conversations. Best tour I've ever taken anywhere. Very highly recommended.
David N, Oct 2016
Loved this tour and tour leader was great. Off the beaten tourist circuit and maybe not for everyone but we really enjoyed it.
Jason N, Jul 2016
Awesome tour, our guide was really experienced and happy to share many personal stories as well about the culture and history of the city. I loved in Budapest for a while years earlier and I found myself exploring parts I had never seen before.
Isabella W, Jul 2016
I liked how relaxing and informal the tour was. Very interesting in some interesting neighborhoods:
Lesley S, Mar 2016
Fabulous tour with charming Bogata who is knowledgeable on all Budapest street art and funky venues offering a stylish insight of evolving Budapest contemporary culture. I loved the visit to Massolit book store and cafe, the visit to Corvina and fab trendy cafe enjoying great company.
Thankyou Bogata, wishing you well in future ventures.
Lesley
Portsmouth. UK
Mr R C M, Feb 2016
Informative, entertaining and relaxed from the start, this tour was exactly the combination of artsy insights into today's city life and welcoming orientation exercise on new and exotic streets I was looking for. And my guide, media designer Dareios brought massive charm, wry humour and jaw-droopingly good English to the mix. His smart commentary added an authentic, young-local-artist perspective to the more official line about contemporary culture and its commercial successes, and as I was lucky enough to be the only customer on the freezing January afternoon I took the tour, he asked how he could tailor it my interests, and even invited me for an excellent Hungarian craft beer afterwards in a deeply cool bar in District 8 I'll probably never be able to find again. 11 out of 10 for customer service and canny chat. Thanks D.
Caroline P, Jan 2016
I think calling calling this tour 'Art and Culture' is misleading. It certainly gives you an insight into an emerging and edgy side of the city and you'll see examples of graffiti and learn about how young Hungarians view their present leader. I was however expecting more culture as the title suggests. We did visit two small galleries, but I was disappointed not to see more established galleries and exhibitions.I also felt that the tone of the tour was geared to a younger audience which was a shame.
Miriam S, Dec 2015
My tour guide became a friend, ended up going to one of her gigs. highly recommended
Bader A, Aug 2015
Clear stories, very good languages and funny presenter with full knowledge of Budapest
Desiree G, Aug 2015
I really enjoyed this tour. Agnes was a very charming and knowledgeable guide. I liked that the stops showed various aspects of Budapest culture, providing us with places to revisit at a later date (which I did!). If you want to get a taste of cool places to see in Budapest then this is the tour!
Shaun W, Jun 2015
It was a fascinating look at the alternative art scene in Budapest. Although the tour itself was pretty disorganized, I would still recommend this tour to explore the non-touristy parts of Budapest.
Maram A, Jun 2015
Very nice. Guide was friendly and new her information. Very lovely lady and beautiful sites.
Macarena W, Mar 2015
My boyfreind and I booked this a mere 24hours before and we received our confirmation quickly.
Antonia was our guide and is very much a local who doesn't only know Budapest art and culture, it is her lifestyle. You know this as during the tour she'll acknowledge local acquaintances and discus how she herself discovered the things she will show you.
I really wouldn't of understood/ noticed the significance of the things pointed out and really aren't in any guide books Trust me I bought 3 before my trip. The tour is based mostly in 7th district, the modern young hub of the city with a complex past.It is a walking tour and you'll stop for a drink on route which allows you a little time to explore the venue alone at your pace.
You must be into arts in some form to enjoy it,history and politics of course plays a part of the tour but you don't need to be well versed in it as she explains well and it is only really discussed in context of what is being shown. If you are interested in 'Hungarians opinion about ...' she's happy to oblige you. Her english is fantastic and was well understood by all the nationalities on the tour. The tone is friendly, relaxed and light hearted. Expect hipster havens, peeping in on local artists at work and the products of community projects. At the end of the tour she was very accommodating in offering us tips during our stay of events going on and places we might like based on our tastes.
The Tour will take your afternoon but you leave the guide with a feeling of understanding the modern Budapest and its arty inhabitants. More than worth the time and money.
Antonia Vai is also a fantastic musician and we were fortunate to be able to pop in on a gig which we thoroughly enjoyed.
- Mac
Rachele P, Dec 2014
A really interesting tour, with a very welcoming and knowledgeable guide who clearly loved the city and wanted us, as visitors, to know more about its recent artistic history. A couple of pit-stops for coffee and mulled cider were much appreciated on a cold November afternoon! Would highly recommend.
Patricia L, Jun 2014
Great guide. Took her time to explain the street art we saw and really enjoyed our stop at a ruin bar and coffee shop. In addition, our guide made many suggestions for restaurants and other sights we might be interested in.
Penny S, Apr 2014
This tour was wonderful and our guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We saw a part of the city that we would never have seen on our own. She took us to places that only a local would know about. Truly worthwhile. We had a very small group and they still honored the commitment.
Emilie B, Nov 2013
Disappointed. We only saw a couple of street art and visited 3 designs/art stores (that was the main part of the tour). We saw three walls with street art on it -not even local artists. The tour was restricted to a limited area. I would not recommend. Too long for what we saw. The guide was very friendly and profesionnal but it's the tour itself that wasn't interested and way too expensive for what we did and saw.
Mary H, Nov 2013
This is NOT an Art and Culture Walking Tour - this title is very misleading as it turned out to be an "alternative Budapest" tour, consisting of looking at lots of graffiti. Very nice if you're into looking at that sort of thing but needless to say I'm not. Viator, you have this description SO wrong - please re-name it "alternative Budapest" so that people know what they are getting. Most disappointing.
Atousa M, Oct 2013
Not too bad a tour i think it was a bit too focused on graffiti
Thomas K, Oct 2013
A different sort of walking tour andone that we thoroughly enjoyed. It showed us parts of Budapest we would not have seen otherwise, and the street art and design focus made it particularly interesting. The guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
John A, Sep 2013
This is a must if you are at all interested in the arts and culture. The tour guides are knowledgeable and friendly.
David P, Sep 2013
Very enjoyable walking tour. The guide knew a lot about street art and was easy to understand. I also enjoyed seeing Szimpla and the A-38 ship. Both unique to Pest.
I look at graffiti and street art differently after taking the tour and learning some of the methods that the artists use.
I will definitely take the Berlin Tour if I get there next year.
Winfried L, Aug 2013
Nice experience despite the hot weather. We saw places we would never have visited without the excellent guide. The following days, we were still checking grafitti all over Budapest. Great fun, strongly recommended, even for elderly people like us. We were not so much interested in the music ship at the end (made the trip a bit long) but that might have been a question of age.
Annette L, Jul 2013
Interesting and informative. Antonia clearly has a passion for art and performance and I lived seeing budapest through a different lens than your typical site seeing tour. I was the oldest in the group by decades but felt very comfortable. A grat experience.
RAJESH_C, Jul 2013
Maybe it was me... maybe I don't understand the struggle and angst of today's Hungarian youth.... maybe I was too old for this tour..... maybe I should have stuck to the tourist sights especially since my time in Budapest was short.....I don't know. But walking the wet and dirty side-streets looking at "street art" (few and far between) and dropping into out - of - the- way quaint galleries was not what I expected. The walk ended at Szimpla Pub - a funky eclectic mix of kitsch and trash, top-rated on other sites as "the" Budapest hotspot (a bit slow on this midweek afternoon). Full marks to the young guide for her enthusiasm but this tour was a bit off the mark!
From $86.33
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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