Budapest Food Tours

It is very likely that what has made you visit the Hungarian capital is its extensive cultural heritage. You are probably planning what to see and do in Budapest before your trip, but I recommend that you don't lose sight of the other facets that the city has to offer to all its visitors. The best example is, without a doubt, its gastronomic culture.

To find out how and what people eat in Budapest, there is nothing better than taking one of the gastronomic tours on offer there. Not only will you be able to taste its most traditional dishes and wines, but they are also a great way to get into its streets and markets to witness the Hungarians' relationship with their food and, in a way, be a part of it.

To start getting to know Budapest' s gastronomy, there is nothing better than this tour that takes you through one of its most iconic places: the Central Market. Although today it is largely focused on tourism, this market has always been the place where the best chefs of the capital went to buy what they needed for their creations.

Accompanied by a guide, you will be able to get to know some of the country's most typical products, from paprika to mangalica pork. Of course, during the tour you can taste some of the traditional Hungarian dishes while the guide explains their history and relates them to the city.

You can't miss an explanation of the country's wines, which together with the food form a substantial part of Hungarian culture.

General information

• Where is it located: This tour focuses mainly on the Central Market of Budapest.
• How much does it cost?: from about 30 Euros
• How long does it take?: about 1 hour and 30 minutes
• What's included: a tour of the market while the guide explains the most important ingredients of the country's cuisine. During the tour you will be able to taste some of the most typical dishes.
• Recommended for: those looking for a short introduction to the country's gastronomy in an emblematic place.

One of the best tours in Budapest is the one dedicated to traditional Hungarian food. Not only will you discover its most classic flavours and wines, but you will also visit some of its most interesting corners and enter the most fashionable shops in the culinary sector.

Naturally, this type of tour starts at the Central Market, where the guide will introduce you to the great variety of ingredients that characterise the country's cuisine. In addition, you will receive interesting information about the building itself, which is part of the history of the Hungarian capital.

Still inside the market, when you have learned something about drinking and eating in Budapest, you can taste some snacks that are part of the culture of the city,

. After leaving the Central Market you will walk through some of the streets of the city centre and make several stops in some gastronomic establishments. On this itinerary you will not miss tasting some of the typical cakes, as well as the famous chocolate so traditional if you go to Budapest at Christmas.

To complete the tour we usually proceed to the tasting of some local wines accompanied by artisan cheeses.

General information

• Which area is it in: it usually starts at the Budapest Central Market and stops at four or five other places in the city centre.
• How much does it cost: about 92 €.
• How long does it take: about 4 hours.
• What's included: The price includes about 5 stops at various gastronomic venues in Budapest. Lunch, a wine tasting and a discount for purchases in a wine shop are also included.
• Recommended for: those who want to taste some of the specialities of Hungarian food in a small group.

One of the most interesting excursions you can do in Budapest is the one through the Jewish Quarter. If you add to this the opportunity to taste the food that is served there, the experience is even more recommendable. To make this tour even better, the groups are always small, so that each of the activities can be enjoyed at close quarters.

The Jewish Quarter is noted for the rich culture and gastronomy of the Jewish community. Nowadays, this neighbourhood is located in the Seventh District of the city and in recent years it has been transformed into one of the most modern and lively areas of the Hungarian capital. In fact, it is one of the best areas if you want to enjoy the nightlife in Budapest.

The tour I propose usually takes you through the district accompanied by a guide who will tell you about the history of the Jewish community up to the Second World War. As in so many other countries, the conflict created a ghetto that imprisoned its inhabitants. In addition, many of them were victims of the Nazi horrors.

In its streets you will be able to see old houses and some neoclassical synagogues, as well as entering several restaurants to try traditional Jewish specialities. On this gastronomic tour you will be able to try dishes such as flodni, turos taska, cracklings and sausages.

The tour also includes a lunch consisting of traditional Jewish food, as well as a kosher palinka tasting in a local ruin bar.

General information about the tour

• Where is the area: The tour takes you through the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, in the 7th District of the city.
• How much does it cost: The price is around 110 €.
• How long does it take: The tour usually lasts about 4 hours.
• What's included: In addition to an expert guide, the tour includes several food tastings, lunch with wine, palinka tasting and entrance to a synagogue.
• Recommended for: For those who prefer small groups and want to experience a gastronomy with its own character in Budapest.

As well as helping you get to know Hungary's food, food tours of the capital are also aimed at learning a little about its wine production. These, virtually unknown abroad, can be tasted in many of the city's wine shops, restaurants and bars.

In this case, the itinerary leads to one of the shops specialising in this sector. There, a wine expert will lead a wine tasting in which you can try up to 8 different variants selected to get an overview of the Hungarian wine production.

As part of the activity, tips on how to pair wine with different foods, from fresh bread to the so-called "hidegtál", a variety of cold cuts and cheeses typical of the country, are also offered.

One of the advantages of this tour is the limited number of places in the group. The maximum group size is 14 people, which ensures a much more personalised service from the expert guiding the activity.

General information

• What area is it in?: it normally takes place in one of the main wine shops located in the historic centre of the city.
• How much does it cost?: from around 53 €.
• How long does it take?: The whole session lasts around 2 hours.
• What's included: Accompanied by a sommelier, a tasting of 8 different wines paired with the country's traditional aperitifs.
• Recommended for: all those who want to get to know one of the lesser known areas of Hungarian gastronomy, its wines.

To enjoy Hungarian food and drink, you can also take an excursion to the area around Budapest. Specifically, for five hours you can visit the region of Etyek, famous for its wine production and cheese.

This excursion usually begins with an interesting tasting of another of the most famous products of the area, chocolate. This takes place in an artisan workshop, as well as the cheese tasting that you can choose instead.

The most interesting part of the tour is undoubtedly the visit to a local wine cellar. Here you will be able to taste various types of wine so that you can learn about the different varieties produced in the area. Finally, the excursion ends with a great 2-course meal with a selection of the most traditional dishes of the country.

General information

• Where is the area: Etyek is located just over 30 minutes drive from the centre of Budapest.
• How much does it cost: the whole activity costs around 100 €.
• How long does it take: The tour lasts almost 5 hours.
• What's included: Chocolate or cheese tasting, visit to a family-run winery with a small tasting and traditional lunch
• Recommended for: those who want to get out of the city and taste the fabulous wines of the Etyek region.

Although this is not a gastronomic tour per se, I can't recommend you enough to take this night cruise on the Danube which includes a great dinner and will also be useful to get to know the culinary culture of the country.

During the trip on the river you can enjoy great views of the city. You can see, for example, the fantastic Buda Castle, the Parliament or the Chain Bridge while live music plays on the boat.

The buffet dinner is not lacking in some of the most delicious specialities of Hungarian gastronomy. Typical dishes include goulash, traditional crackling cream, delicious chicken with paprika or strudel for dessert.

General information about the city

• Where is it located: Cruises usually depart from the city centre, from a pier located between the Parliament and the Chain Bridge.
• How much does it cost: from €27
• How long does it take: The duration usually ranges from 1.5 to 2 hours.
• What's included: An extraordinary tour of the city centre, buffet dinner and live music.
• Recommended for: Those looking for the most romantic tour of Budapest while sampling the delicious food.

Many of Budapest's food tours start (or pass) at the city's Central Market. There is no doubt that this grand building has become one of the best places to experience Hungarian food and is a must-see during a stay in the capital.

The history of this market is rather convulsive. It was built at the end of the 19th century, when five markets were erected throughout the city. The Central Market was the largest of them all, but many citizens of Budapest protested against it as they felt it had caused food prices to rise.

The building was badly damaged at the end of the Second World War and became less and less important in the following years. In fact, in 1991 it was declared a ruin and closed to the public. Fortunately, a few years later it began to be restored to what it is today.

The Central Market is open every day of the week except Sundays. The building houses some 180 shops of all kinds, from food to souvenirs for tourists, restaurants and drinking establishments.

Despite its popularity as a tourist attraction, the market has not lost its status as a place for Budapest residents to shop. Hungarians and visitors alike can be found in its eating establishments in search of traditional dishes such as goulash. Also of note are its pastry shops, where you will be able to discover the sweetest side of the country's gastronomy.

If the gastronomic tours of Budapest are going to be of any use to you, it is to get to know a cuisine that is not too widespread in the rest of the continent. To give you a small idea of what you will taste, here are four examples of traditional dishes.

• Goulash: although you can find it all year round, if you go to Budapest in winter there is no food more appropriate for warming up than goulash. It is a thick soup (or a stew with a lot of broth, if you prefer) with vegetables, beef and paprika.
• Csirkepaprikás: The main problem you'll have finding this dish in Budapest is knowing how to pronounce its name. In short, it is a recipe for chicken stewed with paprika, sour cream and various vegetables.
• Lángos: This dish can be seen as Hungarian cuisine's contribution to fast food. Lángos, hot fried bread topped with various ingredients (like a kind of fried toast) can be found in many streets of the city or at the stalls of the Central Market.
• Kolbász: this name actually refers to several varieties of sausages made in Hungary. The recipe varies according to the area of the country and you can find them boiled, smoked or dried.