Budapest Getaway April 18-24, 2020

Location  U.S. and Hungary

Departure from the USA; overnight flight to Hungary.

Location   Budapest, Hungary

Upon arrival, proceed through customs and collect your luggage. A Jet Vacations professional guide will personally greet you. You will transfer to your hotel, centrally located in Budapest. Depending on arrival time of all participants, your tour manager will be pleased to escort you to a brief orientation tour around the hotel. Welcome aperitifs and dinner with drinks at the hotel or nearby. Overnight in Budapest. (D)

Location  Budapest, Hungary

Breakfast and a one-hour morning lecture at the hotel before departure by coach on your full day tour of Budapest.

First, stop by the UNESCO World Heritage “Heroes' square” and discover the intriguing statues and the surrounding historical buildings. Continue by coach down to Andrássy Avenue. Enjoy a stunning outside view of the Opera House and St. Stephen's Basilica and stop by the Hungarian Parliament for an interior visit. This Gothic revival style building is the largest of its kind in Budapest and is located on the bank of the Danube. The idea for the construction of the Budapest Parliament House - or Orszaghaz - came in 1873 when the three cities that made up Budapest were united. A competition was held and won by Imre Steindl. His design of mixed Gothic, Medieval and Baroque elements was not finished until 1902, by which time Steindl was blind. The grand building contains many items of interest, including frescoes; the Hungarian Coronation Regalia with its Renaissance sword; mythical eagles and an impressive staircase.

Enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant with wine and water (included). After lunch, cross the Danube to delve into the gothic history of Buda Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on an explorative walking tour of the historic monument from Budapest. Castle Hill, or as we call it “Castle Mountain” has been a witness to many of the most important historical events of Hungary. Therefore, it preserves memories and sites from ancient stones and underground labyrinths to lovely medieval houses and hidden gardens. During the tour you will not only have a nice stroll over the area, but an entertaining guiding to the history and culture of the city of Buda and Medieval Hungary. Explore the ancient buildings that line Buda’s promenade; ascend the steep steps of Castle Garden to reach the resplendent Royal Palace; and gaze at panoramic vistas of the glittering riverside from a vertiginous vantage point atop Castle Mountain.

Return to the hotel. Evening on your own and overnight in Budapest. (B, L)

Location   Budapest, Hungary

After breakfast and our second lecture at the hotel at 8:15 a.m., depart with our guide for a day dedicated to museum visits! A “Budapest Card” will be given to all group members to enjoy several included museums and attractions throughout the city.

We will start our morning with a guided tour of the Hungarian National Gallery. Located near the Buda Castle, the museum is the country’s premier fine-art gallery, housed in the vast, colonnaded former Royal Palace, a restored Renaissance building of massive proportions. Enjoy some free time for lunch after the visit.

In the afternoon, proceed to the Budapest History Museum for a guided tour. Located in sight of the Chain Bridge on the Buda side of the Danube River, Budapest History Museum forms one wing of the Royal Palace, sharing space with the more extensive Hungarian National Gallery. The museum relates the turbulent 2,000-year history of the three towns that form Budapest – Buda, Pest and the often-overlooked Óbuda. The ruins in the basement are worth a visit as they are a mix of staircases, cellars and corridors from previous castles on the site.

Later, the group will convene for a refreshment at the famous Café Gerbeaud (or similar), one of the greatest and most traditional coffee houses in Europe. The Café looks back to more than 150 years of history. Gerbeaud’s specialties include famous cakes, such as Esterházy and Dobos cakes, as well as all kinds of cream cakes and extravagant baked goods. We’ll take some time here for a nice treat while “people watching” from the terrace.

Evening on your own. Overnight in Budapest. (B, refreshment/coffee and cake)

Location   Budapest, Hungary
LocationLocati

Following breakfast in the hotel, enjoy this day at leisure to visit any of the wonderful museums and attractions with your “Budapest Card” or take advantage of the city’s popular baths and spas.

Overnight in Budapest. (B)

Location  Budapest, Esztergom, Visegrad and Szentendre, Hungary

After breakfast at the hotel, depart to Esztergom for an interior visit of the town's famous basilica, the largest building in Hungary, dedicated to the Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Adalbert. It was built by Stephen I of Hungary between 1001–1010 as the original Saint Adalbert Church. In 1820, the Archbishop Sándor Rudnay restored Esztergom's status as the mother church of the country. The church maintains the relics of Catholic martyr and Saint Marko Krizin.

Continue with a stop in the town of Visegrad, known best for its medieval citadel that was originally built to protect the valley of the Danube. From the outside you’ll also have the chance to admire the ruins of the former royal residence, with construction dating back as far as 1323 before we enter the fortress for a short-guided tour (entrance included). Following the tour, travel 500 years back in time and experience a Medieval feast in the Renaissance restaurant!

After lunch, you’ll head to Szentendre where your guide will lead you on a walk-through town. There, you can marvel at the pieces on display while learning about the manufacturing process OR Visit the Margit Kovác Ceramic Museum and discover an extensive collection of Margit Kovacs' ceramic works featuring a unique synthesis of folk and Byzantine motifs.

Return to the hotel. Overnight in Budapest. (B, L)

Location   Hungary and U.S.
LocationLocati

Breakfast in Hotel. Check-out and transfer by private coach with our assistant to the airport for homeward bound flights. (B)

Viszlát!