Excursion Selections - Hungary 2023
Each day while you’re on your Hankinco Adventure in Hungary you’ll be invited to join the group excursions. We’ve connected with some of the best tour guides in the region and look forward to sharing all the magic of Budapest and the Tokaj wine region with you. In order to finalize our group itinerary we need to hear from each of you: which excursions would you like to join?
This page gives a brief description of the vibe, what you’ll need, and general activity level that suits each excursion. If you have questions, please reach out to the Budapest Hankinco Team directly.
Once you’ve read through all of your options carefully please submit the Hungary Excursion Selection Survey. We kindly ask that you submit this survey, along with your remaining Hungary payment by Monday June 5, 2023.
Sunday Aug 6 (Budapest)
Budapest Markets Tour
Experience the rich Hungarian traditions of shops and bazaars. We’ll start off on the edge of town at the biggest flea market in Budapest, where your scavenging skills will be put to the test. Then we’ll head over to the Weekend Market, a centrally located treasure trove of antiques and curios, before wrapping up at the Central Market Hall, a massive restored neo-Gothic building full of exotic groceries and unique souvenirs. Come join us in the hunt for unusual antiques and one-of-a-kind bargains!
What to wear / bring:
Comfortable shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Bag to carry your treasures home!
Activity level:
Relaxed
Duration: 3 hours
Street Art & Ruin Bar Budapest tour
Orient yourself to the bustling metropolis of modern-day Budapest with this tour. We’ll check out some of the coolest street art in the oldest quarters of the city and visit the ruin bars and shops in the area. Meander through the city and enjoy a free drink at a funky ruin bar.
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Activity level:
Relaxed
Duration: 3 hours
Cruise the Danube & Margaret Island
Did you know that there’s an island in the middle of the Danube inside the city limits of Budapest? Cruise the Danube in style and take in the scenic landmarks of the city from the waters of Europe’s second-longest river. Have a glass of wine aboard before stopping off on Margaret Island, one of the greenest parts of the city. Complete with gardens, ruins of a medieval monastery, and a mini-zoo, as well as tasteful visitor accommodations, Margaret Island is the perfect place for a stroll. Grab a snack or a drink on the island and enjoy all it has to offer.
What to wear / bring:
Comfortable shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Bug spray
Spending cash
Activity level:
Relaxed
Duration: 2 hours
Monday Aug 7 (Budapest)
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
Named for the 19th-century statesman István Széchenyi, the “Greatest Hungarian”, these baths, with fifteen indoor and three huge outdoor pools, are housed in an ornate Baroque palace, which also offers saunas and steam rooms. Your ticket will also include locker space to store your stuff while you’re bathing. For an extra fee, you can also take advantage of Széchenyi’s massage and facial services.
What to wear / bring:
Sunblock
Your Turkish bath towel!
Bathing suit
Sandals / Flip flops
Spending cash for extra spa services
Activity Level:
Relaxed (if you do it right)!
Duration: 4 hours
Underground Culture Walking Tour of District 8
Many of Budapest’s charms are right at the surface: Turkish baths, Roman ruins, Gothic architecture. But for other delights we must look a bit deeper. Join us as we explore some of the spots in today’s Budapest that escape the notice of the more rushed traveler. Street murals, graffiti, and other objets d’art of the contemporary underground scene await you in this walking tour.
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Activity Level:
Relaxed Walk
Duration: 3 hours
Cave Climb of Budapest
For the true adventure-seekers, we’ll explore the cave system under Budapest in more depth (no pun intended). This is an active, and challenging activity for those who want to get their blood pumping while hiking, crawling, and climbing in the caves of Budapest. We’ll also learn about the local geology from our guides.
Our cave guides will provide the required safety equipment, but please come prepared in active clothes to suit the cave environment!
What to wear / bring:
Hiking shoes
Good socks
Light jacket / second layer - it’s only about 50-55℉ inside!
Long pants
Water bottle
Activity Level:
Moderate/Challenging hike
Climbing and crawling
Un-level ground - it’s a cave!
Must be comfortable in tight spaces
Must be in good physical health
Duration: 4 hours
Tuesday Aug 8 (Budapest)
Mini Statues of Budapest Walking Tour
Sculptor Mihály Kolodko was born just over the Ukrainian border in Uzhhorod, but he has Hungarian origins and his mini statues continue to crop up in Budapest. To locate these little gems you’ll need a keen eye, perseverance – and a guide!
Join us on this stroll as we celebrate the enigmatic work of this distinctive sculptor to learn more about Hungarian history and culture.
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Activity Level:
Relaxed Walk
Duration: 3 hours
Cave Walk of Budapest
The same underground springs that give Budapest its distinctive thermal baths are also responsible for an extensive network of over 200 caves underneath the city. Come explore the geologic underbelly of Budapest in this relaxed cave walk.
What to wear / bring:
Hiking shoes
Light jacket / second layer - it’s only about 50-55℉ inside!
Long pants
Water bottle
Activity Level:
Moderate Walk (total distance is fairly short but walk is primarily underground)
Un-level Ground - it’s a cave!
Duration: 3 hours
Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
District VII is sometimes known as the Party District of Budapest, but it also happens to be home to Europe’s largest synagogue and the historical home of thousands of Budapest Jews. This tour covers both the modern history of the district and impact of WWII and the Soviet Period on the Jewish community of Budapest.
Join us as we explore this revitalized corner of the city, replete with shops, cafés, and the famous “ruin bars”, including a trip inside the famous Dohány Street Synagogue.
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Activity Level:
Relaxed Walk
Duration: 3 hours
add-on EVENING Excursion: Mysteries of the Castle Hill Tour
*UPGRADE EXCURSION* ($25 extra to participate)
Ooh, a night tour in the narrow streets of the Buda Castle District! Explore the darker and more mysterious side of Budapest as you hear tales of seady and notorious characters from a bygone era. Beware the ghosts of Vlad Drac and other undesirables as you dive into legends of vampires and other dark stories on a walk around the grounds of Buda Castle. Learn about the local history and folklore from your guide (they’ll be in 19th century period costume).
What to wear / bring: Walking shoes, jacket, spending cash, spooky vibes
Activity Level: Relaxed walk: uneven ground / dim lighting
Duration: 2 hours
Wednesday Aug 9 (Budapest)
Gellért Thermal Baths
The waters from the underground springs at the Gellért baths have been used for medicinal purposes for over 800 years. Situated right by the Danube river, the modern bath has been open since 1918 and offers excellent healing waters and ultimate relaxation.
What to wear / bring:
Sunblock
Your Turkish bath towel!
Bathing suit
Spending cash for extra spa services
Activity Level:
Relaxed (if you do it right)!
Duration: 4 hours
Children’s Railway & Budapest Wilderness Hike
Toot toot! All aboard! Welcome to Hűvösvölgy! Travel the rails, under the guidance of small Hungarian children ages 10-14. This communist-area relic employs scores of budding young entrepreneurial Hungarian youth who operate (almost) all aspects of an operational railroad.
On this journey to the highest point in Budapest, you’ll ride the train through a beautiful forest before investigating a lookout tower, enjoy a hike and then descending back to town in a breathtaking fashion that features old-school open chairs in a ski lift back to Earth.
What to wear / bring:
Hiking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Bug spray
Spending cash
Activity level:
Moderate hike, partly uphill
Comfort with heights and open-chair vehicles
Duration: 4 hrs.
Communist History Walking Tour
After World War II, Hungary fell behind the Iron Curtain for the next forty years. The Stalinist days are over, but they have left behind a residue that forms a part of the contemporary scene. And Budapest, as the capital, was and still is home to some impressive monuments and artworks from that time. Many such objects have been moved or damaged; others are left standing as a kind of joke – or perhaps a warning – for future generations. Come learn about the Communist history of the country through the curious but powerful remnants of those days, which celebrate themes such as labor, family, and agricultural harvest.
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Activity Level:
Relaxed Walk
Duration: 3 hours
Thursday Aug 10 (Eger)
Upon departure from Budapest (Aug 10), we’ll break up our three-hour ride in two by stopping off, on our way to the Tokaj region, in the quaint medieval town of Eger. We’ll be traveling in style in crossover SUVs. The town of Eger has a fascinating history and is known for: its castle, the northernmost Ottoman minaret in Europe, an extensive underground tunnel/cave system, and some of the country’s oldest vineyards, the latter featuring Egri Bikavér, Hungary’s legendary “bull’s blood” red wine. Legend has it that during the siege of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Eger troops stained their beards and armor with Egri Bikaver which led the enemies to believe that they had drunk the blood of bulls.
In 1552, some 2000 Eger residents, fighting from within the castle, held the line against approximately 50000 invading Ottomans, who were armed With 2000 camels and heavy cannons. After a 38-day siege the Turks retreated in defeat.
While in Eger you’ll have a choice of three activities: 1) learn more about this exciting piece of history and tour the castle; 2) explore the underground tunnel/cave system; 3) visit the nearby Valley of Beautiful Women and sample the world-class wines of the region, choosing from over 40 wine cellars built into the hillside. From there we’ll continue deeper into the countryside (beware the musical highway!) before reaching our final destination of Gróf Degenfeld in the Tokaj region.
Tour Eger Castle
Work began on this stunning castle somewhere around 1200, and by 1400 it was mostly complete. Because of near-constant assault, however, repairs were often underway. Most famously, the castle is the site of a miraculous stand by the Hungarians against a numerically far-superior army of invading Ottoman Turks in 1552.
In modern times the castle has benefited greatly from national and international money to rebuild and restore it as a destination for historically-minded travelers. Today the castle boasts an impressive collection of historical artifacts, including folk and fine art, as well as a library and a museum. With an armory, a dungeon, and ruins on the castle grounds to explore, this is a must for the history lover!
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Sunblock
Hat
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Spending cash
Activity Level:
Relaxed Walk
Unlevel Ground - it’s a castle!
Duration: 3 hours
Wine Tasting in the Valley of Beautiful Women
The Northeast of Hungary is home to what are arguably the country’s finest wines - certainly the most famous red wines. And, in the Valley of Beautiful Women in Eger, there are some 200 wine cellars ready to serve you!
Because of the surrounding geography, many cellars are simply cut right into the hillside to create perfect wine-storing conditions. And there are plenty of snacks and souvenirs around, too. Come for a relaxing stop at Hungary’s “Wine Disneyland”!
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Wine tasting palate
Fancy adjectives to describe the flavors and textures of wine to your friends
Spending cash
Activity Level:
Relaxed
Short Walk
Duration: 3 hours
Explore Eger’s Underground Labyrinth
What happens when you build a palace by mining the ground underneath for a particular rock that will serve in its construction? You get a giant rock basement for free! Because of mining and wine cellar building since ancient times, Eger is home to an impressive network of caves under the city.
These tunnels and cellars offer a glimpse like no other into the history of the region. We’ll tour Eger’s underground labyrinth with a local guide and get to know the city’s folklore and urban-legends. Come explore the town from the bottom up!
What to wear / bring:
Walking shoes
Light jacket / second layer
Long pants
Water bottle
Activity Level:
Relaxed Walk
Unlevel Ground - it’s an underground labyrinth!
Duration: 3 hours
Friday Aug 11 (Tokaj Region)
After or stop in Eger, we’ll retreat to the Eastern countryside and take up residence in the beautiful Gróf Degenfeld Wine Estate and Castle Hotel. “Gróf” means count – and indeed the hotel is owned, and has been recently renovated, by a noble family that includes Countess Degenfeld. We’ll spend a relaxing three days at this chateau-style estate in the UNESCO World Heritage Region of Tokaj (“TO-kigh”), featuring some of the best wines that Hungary has to offer. While in residence, your suites will all be outfitted with antique furniture, elegant armchairs, old paintings, and Venetian chandeliers, all of which will serve to remind you of your temporary home in a 19th-century estate.
While encamped at Degenfeld, we’ll be offering two wine-tasting dinners, accompanied by a sommelier who will give us a tour of the winery. Respect the mold! (You will come to understand the ecosystem that pervades this wine region, which is unique to Tokaj and certain wine-growing areas of Paris.)
We have amazing excursions planned for both days in the Tokaj region! Alternatively, guests are welcome to stay on site and enjoy the hotel amenities: outdoor heated pool, tennis courts, reading rooms, sauna, walking/running paths, chapel, pétanque court, etc. The hotel has equipment available for tennis and pétanque — so all you need is your tennis shoes!
Gin & Vinegar Tasting at Seven Hills Distillery
The Tokaj region has much more to share than just wine — there are some local distilleries producing excellent gin and vinegar as well! Seven Hills Distillery is a craft distillery in Tokaj-Hegyalja, where they make our premium series spirits using locally sourced ingredients. Come ready to learn about the distillation process and taste the local product.
What to wear / bring: spending cash and tasting palate
Activity level: relaxed, limited walking
Duration: 2-3 hours
Canoe or Kayak the Tisa River
The Tisa River is one of the major rivers in Eastern Europe and flows right through Tokaj. Enjoy a relaxing day out on the water paddling, swimming, and taking in the natural beauty of the region. This is a no brainer for water fans looking to have some fun outdoors. Life jackets, paddles, and boat drop off/pick up provided.
What to wear / bring: swimsuit, hat, sunglasses, sunblock, bug spray, towel, spending cash, clothes you don’t mind getting wet, sandals or water shoes
Activity level: moderate, it’s a day out on the water paddling / swimming so the pace is up to you!
Duration: 3-4 hours
Birding on the Bodrog River
Who doesn’t love White Storks? These beauties have their breeding grounds in Hungary during the spring/summer and return anywhere from the African Savannah to Cape Province in South Africa in the autumn. They also happen to be the national bird of Hungary.
During our birding we’ll will see Bee-eaters on the walls of the hill behind Tokaj and White Storks nesting in the town. Likely we’ll spot Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, and Grey-headed Woodpecker. From a boat in the Bodrog River we have also chance to spot River Warbler as well. In the early afternoon we will also visit some places where raptors usually appear.
What to wear / bring: hat, sunglasses, sunblock, bug spray, spending cash, walking shoes
Activity level: relaxed, limited walking.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Wine tasting at Dobogó Winery
Want to sample some new Tokaj wines? The Dobogó Winery was founded in 1995 by the Zwack family.Their vineyards are located in a total area of 5 hectares in the heart of Tokaj-Hegyalja, in the most famous historic vineyards of Mád. Their main goal is to showcase the fresh and vibrant aszús, but also dry wines, while remaining faithful to the traditions of the Tokaj wine region dating back hundreds of years.
What to wear / bring: spending cash and tasting palate
Activity level: relaxed, limited walking
Duration: 2-3 hours
Cross-Country Horseback Riding in Tiszavasvári
*UPGRADE EXCURSION* ($65 extra to participate)
How did the Mongols, the Ottomans, and the Magyars get to Hungary? On horseback, of course! Horses have been a part of Hungarian history from the very beginning, and there are excellent opportunities for riding in the Tokaj region! Explore the Hungarian countryside in the coolest of old-school ways – high in the saddle
We’re excited to partner with the owner of a stable in Tiszavasvári for this unique excursion. Helmet and riding boots will be provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own.
Note: all guests who select this upgrade activity must be experienced riders. This is not a guided trail ride and is not suitable for beginners.
What to wear / bring: long pants suitable for riding, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle
Activity level: moderate, riding experience required
Duration: 3-4 hours (riding time is ~90 min)
Saturday Aug 12 (Tokaj Region)
Guests will have the option of new excursions on Aug 12 in addition to repeating several of the activities from Aug 11. Alternatively, guests are welcome to stay on site and enjoy the hotel amenities: outdoor heated pool, tennis courts, reading rooms, sauna, walking/running paths, chapel, pétanque court, etc.
Explore Boldogkő Castle (~1200)
Ringed by scenic rows of apricot trees, this medieval fortress sits on a steep cliff and overlooks the rolling hills of the Zemplén Mountain and the charming village of Boldogkőváralja. A narrow wooden path juts out from the fortress and leads to a popular lookout point. Spend a couple of hours wandering through the upper and lower castle grounds. There are archaeological, military history, coin, coats of arms and flags exhibitions, the smithy and the castle prison take visitors back to the Middle Ages.
When you’re done exploring the castle you can enjoy a drink or snack while taking in the view at the medieval restaurant/bar on site.
What to wear / bring: Walking shoes, Sunblock, Hat, Water bottle, Sunglasses, Spending cash
Activity Level: relaxed, however walk includes inclines, stairs, and uneven ground (it's a castle!)
Duration: 3 hours
Bicycling in the Hungarian Countryside
The Tokaj region features a number of gorgeous bike paths, some of which are brand new as of 2023! So hop on and explore the area with us as we pedal around and see some of the more hidden gems of Tarcal and the surrounding protected nature areas. This will be a very open-ended excursion: you’ll be free to explore the villages and towns as we go.
What to wear / bring: closed-toed shoes, Sunblock, Hat, Water bottle, Sunglasses, spending cash
Activity Level: easy/moderate — go at your own pace, mostly flat.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Wine tasting at Basilicus Winery
Can’t get enough of the Tokaj regional wines? Join for the tasting at Basilicus Winery in nearby Tarcal. You’ll enjoy a cellar tour and taste the full range of wines from dry furmint to aszu produced by Basilicus.
What to wear / bring: spending cash and tasting palate
Activity level: relaxed, limited walking
Duration: 2-3 hours
Canoe or Kayak the Tisa River
The Tisa River is one of the major rivers in Eastern Europe and flows right through Tokaj. Enjoy a relaxing day out on the water paddling, swimming, and taking in the natural beauty of the region. This is a no brainer for water fans looking to have some fun outdoors. Life jackets, paddles, and boat drop off/pick up provided.
What to wear / bring: swimsuit, hat, sunglasses, sunblock, bug spray, towel, spending cash, clothes you don’t mind getting wet, sandals or water shoes
Activity level: moderate, it’s a day out on the water paddling / swimming so the pace is up to you!
Duration: 4 hours
Cross-Country Horseback Riding in Tiszavasvári
*UPGRADE EXCURSION* ($65 extra to participate)
How did the Mongols, the Ottomans, and the Magyars get to Hungary? On horseback, of course! Horses have been a part of Hungarian history from the very beginning, and there are excellent opportunities for riding in the Tokaj region! Explore the Hungarian countryside in the coolest of old-school ways – high in the saddle
We’re excited to partner with the owner of a stable in Tiszavasvári for this unique excursion. Helmet and riding boots will be provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own.
Note: all guests who select this upgrade activity must be experienced riders. This is not a guided trail ride and is not suitable for beginners.
What to wear / bring: long pants suitable for riding, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle
Activity level: moderate, riding experience required
Duration: 3-4 hours (riding time is ~90 min)