Robert & István Best Of Walk

The Best of Budapest Free Walking Tour is run by Robert & István and listed on GuruWalk. It meets at St Stephen's Basilica in Lipótváros, runs in English, and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Rated 5 out of 5 across 8893 GuruWalk reviews. The walk is free, pay what you want: reserve a spot on the guide's GuruWalk page and tip whatever the walk was worth.

Overview

Robert & István meet walkers in front of the main entrance of St Stephen's Basilica in Lipótváros, under a green umbrella, for a walk that runs two hours and thirty minutes in English. The tour is listed on GuruWalk and is free, pay what you want: reserving a spot costs nothing, and guests tip the guide at the end whatever they felt the walk was worth.

The walk works as a compressed history of the city, from the founding of the Hungarian nation through the medieval period, the Mongol and Ottoman invasions, and on to present day Budapest. Along the way the guides point out major sights, among them St Stephen's Basilica, Liberty Square, the Parliament, the Shoes on the Danube memorial, the Chain Bridge, Margaret Island, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, the Royal Palace and Gellért Hill, some visited up close and others seen from a distance with their stories attached.

The tone is story driven rather than dry. Expect wars, triumphs, losses and myths, plus practical pointers on where to eat and which spots to skip. The route has 12 stops in total, and the GuruWalk listing prints the first three, which centre on the Fat Policeman statue, Liberty Square and the monument to the victims of the German invasion of World War II.

Itinerary

1. Meet at St Stephen's BasilicaMeet the guide in front of the main entrance of St Stephen's Basilica in Lipótváros. Look for the green umbrella.
2. The Fat Policeman statueThe walk opens with an introduction to the genre statues and, as the GuruWalk listing puts it, the effects of a Hungarian diet.
3. Liberty SquareThe guide covers the square's most controversial statues and monuments from the last centuries, with fun facts on Hollywood, music and street art.
4. German invasion monumentThe group stops at the monument to the victims of the German invasion of World War II, where the guide deciphers the controversy behind it while covering the war years.
5. Onward through the cityThe route has 12 stops in all; the GuruWalk listing shows the first three. The remaining stops take in sights across the city, ending after two hours and thirty minutes.

What To Expect From The Tour

The GuruWalk listing gives a clear picture of what the walk involves, so there is little guesswork before you reserve a free spot on GuruWalk.

• Pace and duration. The walk lasts two hours and thirty minutes, so plan for a solid stretch on your feet. It is a walking tour by design, with 12 stops along the route.
• Language. The tour runs in English only. If you need another language, check the guide's GuruWalk page before reserving.
• Finding the guide. Meet in front of the main entrance of St Stephen's Basilica and look for the green umbrella. There is no pickup; everyone makes their own way to the meeting point in Lipótváros.
• Weather and shoes. The walk takes place outdoors across the city, so dress for the weather of the day. Comfortable shoes make two and a half hours of walking easier.
• Food tips. The guides share tips on where to find good food, including where to get the best goulash, and which places to avoid. Food itself is not part of the walk.
• Photos. Major sights come up along the route, some visited up close and others viewed from across the city. Bring a camera if you want shots of the Parliament, the Chain Bridge and the Buda side.

Common issues. No traveller reviews were available for this walk at the time of writing, so the practical limits come from the GuruWalk listing itself. The tour is outdoors and on foot for two hours and thirty minutes, which is the main demand it makes. Pickup is not included, so anyone staying far from Lipótváros must build in travel time to reach St Stephen's Basilica. The GuruWalk listing shows only the first three of the 12 route stops, so the exact second half of the route is only visible once you are on the walk.

Questions Before Reserving A Tour