In supplier order. Some entries may cover multiple days; optional experiences are described by the supplier.
Arrive in Budapest
Meet your tour manager at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Dependent upon your arrival time, you may wish to head out and enjoy a first exploration of the ‘twin city’ that straddles the Danube. There are a host of bars, cafés and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets, all exuding traditional Christmastime warmth and welcome.
Dinner will then be served back at the hotel’s restaurant this evening.
Christmas Eve – Included city tour of Budapest and dinner at a local restaurant
After breakfast, you’ll join your tour manager for a guided city tour of Budapest by coach and foot. This introduction will bring to life the major sights, including Buda’s Castle Hill, home to the former Royal Palace, the Castle district’s maze of winding streets, Mátyás church, and the Fisherman’s Bastion, with its views across to Pest on the opposite shore.
Bustling, stylish Pest, with its sweeping boulevards, elegant stores, and the Belváros old town, is a hive of designer stores, coffee houses, patisseries, and restaurants, many found along Váci utca, the pedestrianised main shopping street.
Lunch can be enjoyed at your leisure with some free time afterwards to traverse the traditional Christmas markets on Vörösmarty tér, the central square, and in front of St Stephen’s Basilica. Wooden pavilions offer handcrafted gifts, and the aromas of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and traditional Hungarian pastries hang in the air.
In the evening, you’ll have a festive dinner at a local restaurant.
Christmas Day – Morning at leisure, included Danube Cruise with Christmas lunch and dinner at the hotel
Merry Christmas! Embrace a free morning after breakfast at your own pace, perhaps soaking up the joyous atmosphere by taking a leisurely stroll in City Park or Heroes’ Square, close to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you’ll gain a different perspective of the city by taking to the Danube for a river cruise. You’ll make the short walk from the hotel to the boat, then sit back and enjoy the ride along one of Europe’s most iconic waterways. A very memorable Christmas feast will be served onboard as you pass by some of Budapest’s best-known sights, including the imposing Gothic Revival-style parliament and Castle Hill.
Later in the day, you’ll relax back on land, with the option of returning to Vörösmarty tér to take in the scents and delights of Budapest’s Christmas markets while picking up a final souvenir.
A Christmas dinner will then be enjoyed back at the hotel alongside your fellow travellers.
Boxing Day – Day at leisure or optional visit to Szentendre and Zwack Unicum Museum tour
Have breakfast and another day at leisure or join an optional visit to Szentendre, a town located just north of Budapest on the Danube River. Striking baroque architecture, multi-coloured houses, and cobbled streets make this pretty town, with an artistic community, a delightful place to visit. You can wander around its main square, Fő Tér, and the numerous art galleries, museums, and workshops. Towards the end of this morning's Szentendre tour, stop at a traditional local bakery for a cake-making demonstration and your chance to try an authentic Hungarian chimney cake.
After some free time exploring and lunch, you’ll return to Budapest and visit the Zwack Unicum Museum, which showcases the vibrant history and modern production of one of Budapest's most renowned herbal liqueurs. Starting with an introductory film, outlining the origins of this family-run distillery, you'll then get a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the alcohol's production with a guided tour of the old distillery. Head down into the barrel cellar where you'll enjoy four Unicum tastings and have exclusive access to the Trezor XO branch, which houses the distillery's bespoke French wine liqueur barrels. At the end of your tour, why not pick up a bottle of the famous spirit from the museum's gift shop?
This evening will be at your leisure, and you can find somewhere for dinner.
Day at leisure in Budapest
Make the most of your final day in the glorious Hungarian capital with time to take in its charming shopping areas, historic landmarks and vibrant cultures under your own steam. If you haven't already, why not peruse the various stalls at Central Market Hall or take a dip in the city's famous thermal baths?
Fly back to the UK
Once you’ve had breakfast, bid farewell to Budapest, transferring to the airport for your return flight at the end of a special getaway.