EXCURSIONS - countryside
Szentendre Nostalgia Tour
There is a small baroque city at the gate of the Danube Bend, at the meeting place of the river Danube and the Pilis Hills, in a beautiful natural setting. With a 25-minute drive from Budapest, we reach this picturesque Artist's Village called Szentendre. We stop at the Caprice Jewellery Manufactory, wander around the baroque settlement, built on medieval ruins and go along the narrow streets up to the panorama point. We then simply enjoy the special atmosphere of this village.
We stop at the Confectionery Museum (buildings and people made of marzipan) and invite you for a cup of coffee with a slice of Hungarian cake. Then you will have the opportunity to go for shopping or to visit the Margit Kovács Ceramic Museum. During the summer (between the 1st of May and the 30th of September) we return to Budapest on the Danube by boat.
Duration: 4,5 hours
Information & Booking: liberty@liberty-international.hu
Danube Bend Tour
The Danube Bend is the most picturesful and impressive part of the river in Hungary. In that area the Danube sharply alters its eastward course and starts flowing southwards. It is a romantic land where the twisting riverbank is surrounded by forest-covered hills of Pilis and Börzsöny. It is not only a fashionable tourist place but also a very popular resort of the citizens of Budapest.
A Danube Bend tour starts in Esztergom, which was the first capital of Hungary for more than 200 years long. The town is the centre of the Hungarian Catholic Church and seat of the Archbishop of Esztergom who is also the Primate of all Hungary. The monumental Cathedral, standing on a hill overlooking the Danube and beyond that Slovakia, dominates the skyline of the town. After looking around in the largest church of the country guests visit the Treasury, which is Hungary’s most important collection in ecclesiastical art. The cathedral’s Crypt is also open for public, where tombs including the final resting-place of Cardinal Mindszenty are situated. It depends on the time if guests can go into the Castle Museum located next to the church, where reconstructed parts of the medieval Royal Palace can be visited.
After 30-40 minutes drive group arrives in Visegrád, in the small riverside village, where the formal Royal Palace of king Matthias can be found. Winding road leads up the Citadel, where reconstructed parts of Visegrad’s Castle are waiting for a visit. It offers some exhibitions from the medieval time and a splendid panorama of the Danube and its surroundings for its visitors.
Highlight of the tour is a royal feast in the Renaissance Restaurant what evokes the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.
After lunch the tour’s last town Szentendre is coming. The little Baroque settlement lies by the Danube 20 Km to the north of Budapest. Its narrow, winding streets, small squares, Serbian and Greek orthodox churches, art collections, museums, souvenir shops, cafés and riverside walk makes it one of the most popular places to visit from the capital. Szentendre was founded by Serbian, Greek, Albanian, Dalmatian and Bosnian families who took refuge here from the Turks. The golden ages of the city were in the 18th century, when the whole settlement with its houses and churches were rebuilt in Baroque style. The centre of the town today preserved this 200 years old Mediterranean atmosphere.
Following a short orientation tour in the centre the famous Margit Kovács Ceramic or the unique Marzipan Museum can be visited. Before driving back to Budapest guests get some free time for shopping in Mecca of gift shops in Hungary. A Danube Bend tour can be combined with a cruise on the river what makes the program more varied.
Duration: 8 hours
Information & Booking: liberty@liberty-international.hu
Puszta Tour
The Hungarian Great Plain better known the Puszta stretches from the river Danube to the country’s eastern border. This completely flat area occupies more than a third of Hungary’s territory. The former, peasant, horse-breeding, cattle- and sheep-farming way of life with its folk traditions is still a charming attraction of Hungary.
After one and a half-hour drive tour starts with visit of the most typical and beautiful city of the Great Plain Kecskemét. During a sightseeing guests walk around the city centre and look at the main attractions like two exemplars of colourful Hungarian Art Nouveau Style: Town Hall and Cifrapalota (Ornamental Palace); the world famous Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music Education; the formal Synagogue and the three churches of the main square.
Following the orientation tour in Kecskemét group get into the bus and drive to the Kiskunság (Little Cumania) area, where the Kiskunság National Park lies, too. The well-known attraction the Horse Show is performed on a Tanya (farm) located in that land.
Guests arriving at the farm are welcomed with home-made fruit brandy and pogácsa (scones). Before starting the program group get on some horse-carriages and drive around the place. During the horse show csikós boys (Hungarian cowboys) present their skills on Hungarian half-blooded horses. The highlight is the gallop of the " puszta" five-in-hand. At the end of the 30-40 minutes program guests are invited to seat on the horses and visit the stable and other farm-buildings.
After the horse show guests seat down in the csárda (typical Hungarian restaurant) and taste some specialities of the world famous Hungarian cuisine. During the lunch gipsy band entertain the guests. The Puszta tour end at around 3-4 PM and group drives back to Budapest.
Duration: 6-7 hours
Information & Booking: liberty@liberty-international.hu
Gödöllö Tour
The Royal Palace of Gödöllo is 30km / 30 minutes far east from Budapest. It is the largest baroque palace in Hungary and with its 17000 sqm, one of the largest one in Europe. The palace was built in the 1700's, in a special so-called " Gödöllo" baroque style. During its 250 year-history it played a very important role in Hungarian history and for a period, it was the summer residence of the Habsburg Royal Family during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. It was Queen Elisabeth’s ( Sissi’s ) favourite place, too. After the royal time, it became the residence of the Hungarian governor, during which the palace witnessed many great and sad historical events, and has seen the cream of European aristocracy and leading politicians.
The palace’s newly renovated main wing was re-opened in 1996. It is the house of the Queen Elisabeth memorial exhibition, what presents the every-day life of the Royal Family in Gödöllo. It nice baroque building is surrounded by a 28-hectare English style landscape park what multiply the beauty of the Gödöllo Palace.
There are more combinations for a half-day program in Gödöllo. Lets see some of them:
- In addition to guided tour in the palace visit of non-reconstructed historical wings are also available.
- After tasting Sissi cocktail as welcome drink group takes guided tour in the building and look at thenon-renovated parts, too. At the end of the program guess have some cake and coffee in the café.
- Guided tour can be combined with a 30 minutes concert in the Ceremonial Hall or in the Elisabeth Saloon.
- Lunch and gala dinner can be connected with guided tour and concert, too.
- An attractive and romantic program is the nostalgia travel by steam-locomotive to the Royal Palaceof Gödöllo. After a welcome cocktail in the Royal Waiting Hall of Western Railway Station in Budapest group travel by old fashion steam-locomotive to Gödöllo. Train arrives at the Royal Waiting Hall and elegant horse-carriages or old-timer taxi cars transfer the guests to the palace.
- Lady Riding Show in period dresses with music of Strauss recalls a real 19th century atmosphere and can be organised for special request. Just like the Hussar Carousel program.
Duration: 4 hours
Information & Booking: liberty@liberty-international.hu
Herend, Lake Balaton Tour
Herend, world-famous town of Porcelain – after a guided tour through the world largest porcelain manufactury, (founded in 1826), coffee at the ’Porcelanium’ – possibility for shopping, – afterwards we drive to the Peninsula Tihany, , the famous nature reserve, (interior visit of the Abbey, founded in 1051) – then lunch in a traditional Csárda, (3-course menu with wine) – drive to the oldest spa, Balatonfüred, (Promenade) – return to Budapest – tour ends at the hotel.
Duration: 8 hours
Information & Booking: liberty@liberty-international.hu
Etyek Wine Tour
Wine tasting – we drive to the Haraszthy Vallejo Cellar (Etyek) – enjoy the wiew on Etyek Buda Hill in the wonderful surrounding – tasty wines from the best wine-growing areas – meanwhile wine-snacks are served – after wine-tasting you have the possibility to purchase a bottle from the tasted wines – return to Budapest, tour ends.
Duration: 4 hours
Information & Booking: liberty@liberty-international.hu
