Budapest Tours
This post lists the best free walking tours you can take in Budapest, including free walks with bus tours, self-guided tours, and small group tours.
- What Is a Free Tour?
- 3 Top Companies
- Self-Guided
- Small-Group Tours
- Things to Do in Budapest
- Free Tours in Other Cities
WHAT ARE FREE WALKING TOURS?
These walking tours are called ‘free tours’ but are commonly understood to run on a ‘name-your-own-price’ model or what’s called a ‘tips-only-basis’.
There is no cost to take a tour, and sometimes no booking is even required. After taking the tour, you get to decide how much you thought it was worth or what you could afford, even nothing.
According to reviews on Google and TripAdvisor, past participants seem to leave between €5-€15 per adult.
And while free walking tours are generally limited to a city centre, in Budapest there are free themed-tours, such as those focused on communism or the city’s Jewish Quarter.
Many people are drawn to these tours because they are convenient, affordable, and entertaining. Their popularity, however, also means that group sizes can get quite large.
If you want to ensure a smaller group setting to give you more time to interact with your tour guide, we suggest checking out paid small group tours.
Alternatively, you could try one of the available self-guided tours, which are completely free.
WALKING TOURS IN BUDAPEST
There are a few companies offering pay-what-you-wish tours in Budapest. We list them in the order that we find their online ratings to score.
TIP: If you are considering purchasing a hop-on-hop-off ticket while in Budapest, do note that both Big Bus as well as CitySightseeing both offer free walking tours with each ticket (no pay-what-you-wish).
Likewise, if you are considering purchasing the Budapest Card, then note that it too includes free walking tours (no pay-what-you-wish).
Trip to Budapest
Trip to Budapest provides English and Spanish-speaking visitors with entertaining tours in Budapest.
A daily 2.5-hour tour will take you through the city’s – and Hungary’s – history as well as the current culture and attractions.
They also offer a free tour that covers the city’s history of communism as well as a tour of the Jewish Quarter.
The company has also paid tours to specific locations and with themes such as food or street art on a weekly basis.
Generation Tours
Generation Tours offers 90-minute walks through Budapest with native tour guides.
The paid offers start from €24 for private and custom tours, as well as set tours with a theme – such as food tours and architectural walks to attract the foodies and architecture loving tourists.
Original Europe Tours
Original Europe Tours in Budapest focuses on taking tourists “off the beaten path.” experiences that move away from mass tourism.
The 2.5-hour tours run twice a day and focus on creating connections between the participants in the group and with the city. It also provides paid tours with a specific theme on a weekly basis.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
It’s easy to customize your own experience and be in charge of your explorations through Budapest with a self-guided or audio tour.
Start when you want, and take as much or little time as you can – it’s up to you.
Budapest by Locals
This blog offers multiple tips on what to see and do in Budapest, including this walking tour itinerary.
The walking tour comes with an interactive map on their site and has several route options, including downtown, Buda Castle, and other specific neighborhoods.
Art and History Audio Guide
This free audio guide takes you through the streets of Budapest to find street art, memorials, sculptures, and landmarks that are important to today’s culture.
If you’re interested in listening to a guide – but have the ability to pause and investigate some stops further – this audio tour is a good way to go.
Self-Guided Haunted City Game
This is an interesting alternative to the traditional walking tour, as it allows you to explore the city in search of clues to solve a puzzle while you learn about the haunted history of Budapest.
Although it’s not technically a tour and it isn’t free to take, this self-guided city exploration game is only €10, which is about what most people would tip their guide for a pay-what-you-wish walking tour.
Learn more or download this game.
FREE WALKING TOURS IN OTHER CITIES
Enjoy free walking tours in other cities around the world with Free Tours by Foot and our recommended companies.
Europe
The United States + Canada