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One of the most impressive statues in Budapest is the King Matthias Fountain, located in the Royal Palace of the Buda Castle District. Monumental, theatrical, and rich in symbolism, it portrays King Matthias — Hungary’s great Renaissance ruler — in a moment of triumph and drama.

This fountain is part of my ongoing Statues of Budapest series, which explores how monuments tell stories far beyond what first meets the eye.

A king on the hunt

At the centre of the composition stands King Matthias, depicted during a hunt. It is a traditional symbol of royal power, leadership, and control over nature. Surrounded by courtiers and hunting dogs, the scene feels almost cinematic, carved in stone against the walls of the palace.

The statue reflects how Matthias wished to be remembered: strong, charismatic, and unquestionably king.

A hidden love story

Look more closely, and the fountain reveals a second narrative. At the lower level of the composition stands a young woman, often identified as Ilonka, a figure from Hungarian folklore. According to legend, she fell in love with the king without knowing his true identity.

This quiet, almost melancholic detail adds emotional depth to the monument. It transforms the fountain from a celebration of power into a layered story of love. It’s about longing, and human vulnerability — a reminder that even great kings were not untouched by romance.

Where history and storytelling meet

Set within the Buda Castle complex, the Matthias Fountain is impossible to ignore, yet many visitors miss its deeper meaning. It perfectly represents how Budapest uses public art to combine history, legend, and national identity in a single visual narrative.

If you’d like to uncover more stories like this — including the legends behind the statues and the lives of the people they depict — this fountain is one of the highlights I often discuss on my Buda Castle walk, where history becomes personal and alive.

Explore more: King Matthias is featured in my broader Statues of Budapest collection, showcasing the city’s most meaningful monuments and hidden details.

With over 100,000 Hungarian and international artworks spanning from ancient civilisations to the end of the 18th century, the Museum of Fine Arts is the largest and most comprehensive art museum in Budapest — and an absolute must for culture lovers visiting the city.

Opened in 1906, the museum’s Classical Revival building is a work of art in itself. From the outside, it resembles an ancient Greek temple — and that’s no coincidence. The tympanum on the main façade is an exact replica of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, giving the building a timeless, monumental presence on Heroes’ Square.

After being closed for almost four years of renovation, the museum has fully regained its original splendour. The restored interiors are just as breathtaking as the collections they house. Wandering through the building truly feels like stepping back in time.

My personal favourites are the Romanesque Hall and the Renaissance Hall — spaces so atmospheric that even visitors who don’t usually consider themselves “museum people” are often left speechless. Exploring the museum is not just about viewing artworks; it’s a journey through centuries of European and ancient history.

The Museum of Fine Arts collections at a glance

The Museum of Fine Arts is divided into six main departments:

• Egyptian Antiquities

• Classical Antiquities

• Old Master Paintings

• Sculptures

• Prints and Drawings

• Old Hungarian Collection

Thanks to this wide range, the museum works equally well for first-time visitors, returning travellers, and families with older children.

Visiting tips

The Museum of Fine Arts is located right at Heroes’ Square, making it easy to combine with a walk through City Park, a visit to Vajdahunyad Castle, or even a relaxing stop at Széchenyi Thermal Bath afterwards.

I often recommend it as an extra stop during a custom Budapest walking tour, especially for guests interested in art, architecture, or classical history.

    %For up-to-date opening hours and current exhibitions, I always suggest checking the museum’s official website before your visit.

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We were lucky enough to visit the Tokaj wine region last week, this is one of my favourite tours. We were able to sample some truly amazing wine in Tokaj and Mád, visited the fairytale castle of Boldogkő, saw a beautiful rainbow over the vineyards and had also the chance to see the Mád synagogue.

This was a tour to remember, I hope I can show more and more travellers this beautiful part of Hungary.

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Few statues in Budapest carry as much symbolic weight as the Turul bird statue. More than a decorative monument, the Turul is one of Hungary’s most important national symbols, deeply rooted in legend, origin stories, and identity.

This statue is part of my ongoing Statues of Budapest series, which explores how public sculptures reflect the layers of history and mythology that shape the city.

The legend of the Turul

According to Hungarian tradition, the Turul — a powerful, mythical falcon — guided the ancestors of the Hungarians to the Carpathian Basin in 896, the year associated with the founding of the Hungarian homeland.

Because of this legend, the Turul represents origin, protection, strength, and destiny. It appears frequently in Hungarian art, literature, and monuments, always carrying a meaning that goes far beyond its physical form.

Where can you see the Turul statue?

One of the best-known Turul statues in Budapest stands at the upper station of the Buda Castle Funicular, near the entrance to the Castle District. With its wings spread wide above the city, the bird overlooks the Danube and Pest — a fitting position for a symbol meant to watch over the nation.

Many visitors pass beneath it on their way into Buda Castle without realizing its significance, yet once you know the story, the statue becomes impossible to ignore.

Why the Turul still matters

The Turul bird is not tied to a single historical figure or event. Instead, it represents continuity — the connection between myth, history, and modern Hungary.

Standing beneath it, you’re reminded that Budapest is not only a city of architecture and monuments, but also a place shaped by stories passed down for more than a thousand years.

Explore more: The Turul bird is featured in my Statues of Budapest collection, where famous monuments and symbolic figures reveal the deeper identity of the city.

At first glance, the 0 km Stone is easy to miss. Modest in size and quietly placed near one of Budapest’s busiest areas, it doesn’t compete for attention — yet symbolically, it represents the very center of the country.

This monument is part of my ongoing Statues of Budapest series, which explores how meaning in this city is often hidden in plain sight.

What does the 0 km Stone represent?

The 0 km Stone marks the point from which all road distances in Hungary are officially measured. Every kilometer sign pointing toward Budapest begins here, making this small monument a geographic and symbolic reference point for the entire country.

It is less about spectacle and more about orientation — a reminder of how Budapest has long functioned as Hungary’s political, cultural, and infrastructural heart.

Where can you find it?

The statue is located on the Buda side of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, close to the Buda Castle Funicular. Thousands of people pass by daily on their way to the Castle District, often without realizing the significance of the stone beneath their feet.

Once you know what it represents, it becomes one of those details you can never quite ignore again.

Why the 0 km Stone matters

Unlike statues that commemorate people or events, the 0 km Stone symbolizes connection and movement. It quietly links every town, village, and road back to Budapest — and by extension, to one another.

It’s a simple monument, but one that reflects how geography, history, and everyday life intersect in the city.

Explore more: The 0 km Stone is featured in my Statues of Budapest collection, where famous monuments and easily overlooked details reveal the deeper structure of the city.

Ok, the timing might not be ideal. But. I originally created a Facebook profile for my tour guiding services some 5 years ago but I never really had time to take care of it and to publish enough interesting content. Now that I only deliver virtual tours obviously I have more time to work on my tours and profiles and uploaded some pictures and information.

I’ll try to post as often as I can so that you can learn more on my beautiful city and country:

• Facebook

Please like, share, comment, send me messages, so that I can see that you’re checking back on what’s new in Beautiful Budapest!

The golden age of Budapest’s famous coffeehouses was at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Today, we are once again seeing a renaissance of coffeehouse culture — and Budapest remains a city where cafés are deeply connected to everyday life, culture, and history.

Hungarians have always loved their coffee, but cafés here have traditionally been much more than places to drink it. I explore this unique relationship in more detail in my main article, We Love Our Coffee – And Our Coffeehouses, Too, which looks at why coffeehouses have played such an important role in Budapest for generations.

On my Budapest Foodie Tour, we usually visit different historic cafés, giving travelers the chance to enjoy Hungarian coffee and cakes while discovering the stories behind these iconic places.

About the Book Café Budapest

Book Café has always been one of the most special and memorable café spaces in Budapest. Hidden inside a 20th-century department store on Andrássy Avenue, it surprised visitors with a breathtaking historic interior — high ceilings, ornate frescoes, and a grand atmosphere that felt more like a palace than a café.

Sitting in Book Café was an experience in itself. It was the kind of place where you could easily forget time, surrounded by books, elegant architecture, and the quiet hum of conversation. For many visitors, it was one of the most unexpected highlights of Budapest’s café scene.

Unfortunately, both the building and the café are currently closed, and at the moment there is no confirmed reopening date. Although it cannot be visited right now, Book Café remains one of the most talked-about historic café interiors in Budapest and an important part of the city’s coffeehouse heritage.

I sincerely hope that this beautiful space will reopen in the future. Until then, Book Café lives on in memories — and in stories I love to share when talking about Budapest’s rich and ever-evolving coffeehouse culture.

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The Buda Castle District – truly beautiful rain or shine.

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I’m delighted to see how many people explore my beautiful Budapest as part of their river cruise. I know that while on a cruise travellers have very limited time to discover each place.

That’s the reason why I offer Shore Excursions, fully customisable driving and walking tours, so that each and every visitor can make the most of their time in Budapest. I know what the cruise companies offer on their tours, and I’ll make sure I see you much more when you decide to book a private tour with me. The tours include driving and walking tours in both Budapest and the beautiful Hungarian countryside.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me for further details or to book a tailor-made tour!

This is the end of the month of April, this time of the year I’m usually very busy with tours as Budapest is magnificent in the spring months. This year is different, I can only deliver virtual tours, I can only show you my beautiful Budapest on the screen of your laptop or tablet. 

As of today the situation in Hungary is still much better than in other European countries. There are 2583 registered cases (probably more but testing here is not as good as in other countries) and 280 people died. We’re in self isolation and can only go out to work, to do grocery shopping or to help relatives. This is the 7th week of self isolation.

I cannot tell you how much I miss travellers and the busy streets of Budapest. I’m devastated to see the deserted streets, cafés and restaurants. But as for now, it’s safer to stay home.

However, I think that summer months will bring us relief and there is light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that with social distancing we’ll be able to deliver some tours. I know that group touring will not possible but that’s maybe a good time for all travellers to try private tours. I’ll offer some special tours once it’s safe to do so, and people who visit my beautiful city will definitely have the most amazing Budapest experience.

I hope to see you soon!!

These are the empty streets of my beautiful Budapest:

Actually, this tour was suggested by one of my travellers, he and his family were mostly interested in our communist history. I customized a 1-hour online tour for them with the virtual visit of the House of Terror Museum and they liked it very much, so this tour is now available on my website.

This tour gives you a comprehensive overview of the Hungarian history in the second half of the 20th century. With a lot of footage and photos from the archives you get a better understanding of our life under Communism. Also, visiting virtually several exhibition halls of the House of Terror Museum makes it a full online experience.

Just like all of my other tours, this one is live and private too, and is fully customizable. Feel free to ask me for more details, or book online!

This has always been one of my most popular tours. I understand that it’s still very important for a lot of people to find out more about their family and ancestry.

As many people have to cancel their trips to Hungary, I have cancellations for ancestry tours, too. But I’ve collected a lot of information the last few years so I thought I’d still offer the online version of the tour.

Feel free to contact me for further details or send me all available information so that I can put together your family tree and all additional information that might give you an idea about how and where your relatives lived hundreds of years ago.

To be honest, this is my favourite tour these days. I know that it’s difficult to break the monotony of self isolation, all I can offer is an in-depth visit of a specific neighbourhood of Budapest, great stories, and a truly private tour.

You see through my camera what I see: my beautiful Budapest. From the comfort of your armchair you can take a virtual walk around the Parliament building on the Pest side of the Danube river or the magnificent Royal Palace in Buda. You see on your screen all the major attractions and can ask any question you’d like to, as if you were really touring with me around the city that I love the most and I know the best.

You can book 1 or 2 hours and see as much as possible. While you’re on a tour, you’re also supporting Budapest tourism industry devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feel free to contact me for further details or book online! I promise to deliver a special tour customised according to your interests and preferences.

When I delivered this tour for the first time, I was afraid that technology might trick me or the virtual tour will not be as enjoyable as the real tours. I wasn’t right.

There are so many ways to present my beautiful Budapest to travellers! I have a lot of amazing stories and great pictures and videos to share with you. We usually use Google Street View to take a virtual walk around the city and that helps travellers to have a better understanding of my city.

All the virtual tours are private tours, for you and your family or friends, only. This is a great opportunity to ask all the questions you have, to see all the attractions you’d like to and to enjoy sightseeing from the comfort of your armchair.

It’d be great if I could show you everything live. But, in the meantime, feel free to book this tour, again, you’re not just helping me but you’re also supporting my colleagues in the Budapest tourism industry. I know sometimes self isolation is depressing, try to find some fun and try to find some time to see places you’ve never seen before, like my very beautiful Budapest.

Stay home, stay safe and I hope to see you virtually very soon!!

I’ve started offering virtual tours over a week ago and I’m very grateful for all the support and kind messages I got the last few days. I know this situation with COVID-19 is difficult for most of us but I didn’t expect to see that there are so many fantastic people around the world who would like to help us. I’m grateful and I hope I can give each one of you a real big hug in the very near future.

As far as I can see the most popular virtual tour I’m offering is the cooking class. We’ve made Lángos, Pogácsa, Goulash soup and Chicken paprikás together and I also delivered a general foodie tour. I think it really is a great experience and I hope you all loved the food we made together.

I’m continuously reviewing and editing the list of available dishes, this is the actual list, but feel free to ask for a special dish you always wanted to prepare:

• Cold fruit soups
• Hungarian tomato and pepper ratatouille
• Egg spaetzle
• Layered potatoes
• Potato paprikás with sausage and frankfurter
• Vegetable pottage dish (a very thick vegetable soup eaten as main dish in Hungary, can be made of green peas, beans, potatoes or any other vegetable)
• Potato pancakes
• Pogacsa – potatoe bread snacks
• Pancakes/crepes
• Smarni, Kaiserschmarrn: the Kaiser’s Crumble
• Cottage cheese dumplings
• Goulash soup
• Chicken paprikas and beef stew
• Langos – fried bread

Please book a tour online or contact me for further details, I promise to deliver a very special Budapest Foodie tour for you!

Our industry has so badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, most of my friends, colleagues and partners aren’t just worried about the pandemic, they are also worried for the future of their business.

I created the new Virtual Tours to support all my partners and friends as all the donations will be shared among those who need it the most. Please book a virtual tour with me and maybe if we stand together our businesses will survive, too.

I know this is a very difficult situation for all of us and difficult times call for difficult measures.

Thank you!

I’ve been very hesitant about publishing this post but I’m getting so many worrying messages and cancellations that I think the time has come to publish what I think and what I, as a private Budapest tour guide can do to reassure you. This post is written on the 9th of March so all the information in it is from today, although things are changing very rapidly.

As for now there are 9 cases in Hungary. I’m checking the updates of country specific COVID-19 Information of the US Department of State. According to the updates Hungary is not listed among countries to where travelling is not recommended:

https://hu.usembassy.gov/covid-19/

I’m also monitoring WHO’s dashboard on the COVID-19 situation in Europe:

https://who.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ead3c6475654481ca51c248d52ab9c61

These are the facts. I know that personal sentiments and concerns are different from the facts and that many of you are worried. To be honest, I’m worried, too. Not because of the virus, as I’m sure we’ll be over it very soon, now I’m more concerned about my business and the business of my tour guide friends and colleagues in different countries of the world and I’m also worried about my partners, drivers, tour operators and travel agents. We are in trouble and can’t even calculate our losses yet.

What I can do for you taking into consideration saving my business is that from now on all the tour requests have to go through my website and only tours booked on my website are confirmed. As you know the deposit is only EUR 30, which is probably not a big amount of money in your travel budget but it gives me some reassurance about your travel plans. The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel the tour within 30 days of the actual tour date. If you decide to cancel the tour because you’re concerned about COVID-19 and book a tour with me within the next 12 months, I’ll deduct it from the tour price. Please note that future bookings are subject to my availability!

Again, this policy is only valid until the situation changes, I’ll of course re-evaluate it when necessary. I hope this is acceptable for all my dear travellers and that we’ll have amazing tours together the next couple of months and later in 2020!

The last few years I’ve been receiving a lot of inquiries for tours including the visit of the magnificent Houses of Parliament. I decided to create a customised tour including the visit of the Parliament.

The iconic building of the Parliament is one of the most visited attractions of Budapest and the interior is so beautiful, it’s highly recommended to all travellers.

Although I have a contract with the Parliament Visitor Centre and can very often get last minute tickets for the visits, there is no guarantee I can book tickets for the requested dates, so please always get in touch with me prior to booking the tour.