Budapest Bike Tours

When it comes to touring the city, Budapest has a number of different ways to facilitate the mobility of its citizens and to make the experience more enjoyable for tourists. Despite the many options, one of my favourites will always be the traditional bike tour, and exploring Budapest by bike is incredibly easy.

Would you like to know the options of tours for travellers that you will find in the city? Here's an introduction to each of them, and as you'll see once you've read the article, there's an experience for every type of traveller and every budget. Let's get started!

When you arrive in Budapest for the first time or if you are visiting the city for a few days, a classic bike tour is a quick and fun way to see the best of the city.

You will find many companies offering this service, and while it is true that the itinerary may vary depending on the company you choose, it is also true that most of them usually include stops to see or pass through the following destinations: large green areas such as Margaret Island and the City Park; important monuments such as the Parliament building, St. Stephen's Basilica and the Great Synagogue; areas of great tourist interest such as the Castle District, Heroes' Square, Andrássy Avenue and the Chain Bridge.

What do these tours include?

This type of sightseeing tour starts from a central point in the city and takes a group of tourists through the most important sights of Budapest. In addition to the guide accompanying you throughout the tour, the experience includes a bicycle suitable for the height of the participant, refreshing drinks such as mineral water and the necessary safety equipment.

Variants When researching city bike tours you may find alternatives similar to this tour that are done on electric bikes; some even include one at a major café in the city. These added services add a few euros to the price.

Useful information

• Price: From around €25
• Duration of tour: You should allow 3 to 3.5 hours for this tour.
• Recommended if... You're looking for an affordable and fun alternative way to see the best of Budapest. This tour is especially charming if you are visiting the city for the first time and want to quickly fall in love with its appeal.

If you are a curious explorer and your interest is not only to explore the city but to really learn about its history and customs, a private tour is the perfect option for you. Although the guide in charge of the tour will offer you an itinerary designed to show you the most important places in the city, you will always have the option of customising it and negotiating the integration of any stops that are of particular interest to you.

The pre-designed tour can include one or more of the following places of interest: Hereoes Square and the City Park; Andrassy Avenue with its beautiful buildings such as the Hungarian Opera House; the Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge and Margaret Island; you will explore the Castle District and also the Budapest Parliament building.

What do these tours include?

The most interesting thing about this type of experience is the inclusion of an expert guide entirely focused on giving you the best possible experience; this includes answering any questions you may have.

The bike and safety equipment needed for the tour is included in the price and in most cases a coffee and cake stop at a nice place in the area is stipulated; the location is chosen by the company you hire.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience usually costs around €85 per person.
• Duration of tour: You will need to set aside about 4 hours for the tour. Rest stops are included.
• Recommended if... You want to avoid the crowds and experience a tour of Budapest in a more personalised and flexible format. It is also recommended if you have visited the city on other occasions and are now interested in getting to know it in more depth.

On the outskirts of Budapest, just 30 minutes from the centre of the capital, lies a small and charming town known as Szentendre, characterised by its Mediterranean atmosphere, it is well worth a day trip to see its beautiful medieval baroque architecture, Hungarian folklore shops and traditional art scene.

From the centre of Budapest you will find excursions whose programme of activities includes cycling from the centre of Budapest all the way along the Danube to Szentendre. The tour takes about two hours because of the stops to see interesting places. In the village you can explore the area, learn about the history and eat a delicious traditional Hungarian lunch. The way back is done aboard an energy-saving cruise on the Danube.

What does this tour include?

This tour takes place in small groups in order to guarantee the personalised treatment and care of the travellers by the guide who accompanies them. The chosen route is car-free and especially suitable for cycling. In addition to the accompaniment of the guide, the boat ticket back to Budapest, the bicycle with the necessary safety equipment and lunch in the village of Szentendre are included in the price.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is usually available from €75 per traveller.
• Duration of tour: This is an 8 hour experience so you will need to book a full day of your itinerary.
• Recommended if... If your travel plans include a long stay in the city such as 5 days in Budapest or more. Otherwise you might miss out on more interesting destinations.

If you are one of those people who are looking for the full travel experience, including art, history and gastronomy, this type of tour is perfect for you. This type of tour is a group-type excursion that involves a traditional bike tour of Budapest with a stop for a meal and, best of all, it usually only costs a few extra euros.

Generally the city tour includes the most interesting tourist, historical and cultural sights; this involves several of the following: the beautiful Andrássy Avenue to see the architecture and the Opera House, the Heroes' Square, the City Park and the beautiful buildings there, crossing the Chain Bridge, visiting Margaret Island, cycling along the banks of the Danube to see the Parliament and much more.

What do these excursions include?

The group of travellers is accompanied by an expert local guide who takes them through the highlights of the city. The transport vehicle (bicycle) and the necessary safety equipment for your protection are always included; additionally the traveller is given a refreshing drink during the trip. This Budapest gastronomic experience includes a lunch and drink at a venue previously selected by the tour company; however I recommend those offering traditional dishes such as Hungarian Goulash.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from €28 per participant.
• Duration of tour: The minimum tour time is at least 5 hours; you should reserve half a day of your itinerary for this experience.
• Recommended if... You want more than the traditional sightseeing tour. This tour is ideal for people looking to save money on their trip as the price difference with traditional tours is really minimal.

If you want to enjoy panoramic views and fresh air, the elevated Normafac Park in the Buda Hills is a must-see place in Budapest. The area is home to all kinds of activities for the adventurous traveller: cycling, ice skating during the winter in Budapest, hiking during the spring and summer in Budapest and many other activities.

Although the itinerary may be modified depending on the company you hire, generally a tour of this type begins with a city adventure to see the most important historical monuments and other sites of interest such as the Hungarian Opera House, St. Stephen's Basilica and the Budapest Parliament building, then crosses the Danube over one of its most important bridges to lead the group of travellers to Castle Hill.

From here you drive to Városmajor and then to the János-hegy Cable Car Station, which takes you uphill for about 20 minutes. After a walk in the forest, the route back to the city starts.

What do these excursions include?

The main thing is a specialised travelling guide who leads the group not only on the historical tour but also on the mountain tour; the tour is usually conducted in small groups of no more than 10 people, to ensure personalised attention.

The necessary equipment is provided including a specialised mountain bike with gears, protective gear, a ticket for the cable car and refreshing drinks along the route.

Useful information

• Price: From 50€ per person.
• Duration of tour: Book at least 5 hours for this exciting adventure through Budapest and its nearby forests.
• Recommended if... You are a lover of nature, cycling and outdoor excursions. Highly recommended if you are in Budapest for several days and want an adventure off the beaten tourist track.

If the pearl of the Danube seems a beautiful city during the day, Budapest at night will seem spectacular thanks to the night illumination of its most important monuments. This type of tour is designed so that you can enjoy this spectacle by cycling around each of the city's most important buildings and sights.

The route may be slightly modified depending on the company you hire for the tour, but in general it usually includes one or more of the following destinations: A panoramic view of the city from Fisherman's Bastion; you will see the illuminated Buda Castle, the city's bridges and the beautiful Parliament Building; finally you may be taken to see some cosy alleys with older architecture.

What do these tours include?

The best thing about this experience is the possibility of being able to enjoy it in small groups, which allows the accompanying guide to spend time explaining in detail the doubts of each traveller.

The groups are usually a maximum of 6 or 7 people. In addition to the guide, we provide the bike for the tour, the necessary safety equipment and a refreshing drink for each participant. If the tour takes place in autumn or the months close to cold weather, a hot drink such as a traditional Hungarian tea can be included.

Useful information

• Price: Approximately €45 per person.
• Duration of tour: 2 hours.
• Recommended if... you are attracted by the idea of an evening stroll through the city and are looking for a quick tour that you can complete in a few hours. This is one of the shortest cycling experiences you will find in Budapest.