Off-Beat Budapest: The 7 Most Exciting Alternative Experiences In The Hungarian Capital

Get a little off the beaten path in Budapest. Culture Trip’s curated list of unusual tours and experiences will help you discover a different side to the Hungarian capital.

Budapest may be full of history, but that doesn’t mean the city isn’t packed with quirky, offbeat experiences and activities to discover beyond the thermal baths for which it is known. Whether it’s exploring the labyrinthine network of caves underneath the Buda Hills, learning how to bake authentic Hungarian pastries or seeing filming locations from Hollywood blockbusters up close, Budapest boasts myriad alternative experiences for those looking to uncover.

1.

Tours

Thanks to modern technology, history is closer than ever! This programme is not just a sightseeing tour; it’s a time-travelling journey. Don’t read about history! Relive it! Our programme is an audio-guided virtual reality walking tour in the Buda Castle area, where you get an insight into Budapest’s history. We will not only talk about the times and events that shaped the city; we will show them! On this tour, you’ll explore key moments in the city’s history, including the construction of the castle in the Middle Ages, the intense battles of World War II and the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Expect a truly unique tour of one of the world’s most stunning locations! Prepare yourself for a mind-bending 3D virtual reality experience, packed with action and amazing visuals!

2. Caving Under Budapest

Tours

Join us on this adventurous tour around Hungary’s largest cave. During the caving tour, you will often have to climb on walls and crawl through narrow passages. Age limit: 8-55 years.

5.

Class

The Hungarian language is widely regarded as being too difficult for a foreigner to even attempt to understand – but with our lighthearted one-hour ‘fungarian’ classes, visitors receive an easy introduction to the Magyars’ playfully poetic language. Held amid informal settings, classes are personalised to teach basics like survival phrases and polite ways to interact with locals.

6.

Tours

Spend two hours exploring the exterior of the Buda Castle district by night, as your storyteller talks you through Hungary’s bloody past. Familiarise yourself with the myths of Vlad Dracula and Elizabeth Báthory, as well the vampire stories of the 19th century. Note that Mysterium Tours does NOT do typical guided tours; these are immersive storytelling experiences about legends, histories and tales not always associated with the building we stand in front of.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.