Budapest Culinary & Wine Walk—Budapest's Signature Food Tour

Our epic food, wine, and culture walk begins at The Central Market Hall—Budapest's cathedral of food and one of Europe's largest and most spectacular indoor markets —and continues through several of its most charming neighborhoods. We'll explore the Ferencváros neighborhood, the Palace Quarter (a vibrant university area known for its splendid old palaces, where aristocrats built their palatial homes in the 19th and early 20th centuries), and the Újlipótváros area (almost like a village within the city, with café-lined streets, art deco buildings, spacious parks, and cute shops). The second market hall is off the beaten tourist track, with an great selection of vendors, and a local clientele. Many chefs shop there daily, sharing our opinion that this is the city's best food market.

At the two market halls we'll introduce you to Hungarian cuisine through the great variety and abundance of ingredients on display. We'll discuss the spectacular buildings, the market shopping habits of Budapesters, the culture of eating and drinking, the ingredients, the dishes commonly made from them … and just what it is that Hungarian cooks do with all of that pork and goose fat, paprika, and goose liver. As we walk the market aisles we'll taste a selection of foods. Taste Hungary's tour guides (who are all experts in Hungarian gastronomy, as well as history) are enthusiastic storytellers, and are eager to share their passion and knowledge as you stroll through the city with them, filling your mind (and belly) with good things.

We'll take you to all of our favorite local spots, which are away from the crowds of the city center. We'll visit small specialty shops stocking local cheese, honey products, chocolate, paprika, and more; tiny buffets making fresh lángos, sausages, and more; family-run pastry shops where we will taste the famous local cakes such as Dobos torta and Pozsonyi kifli, which Hungarian bakers are renowned for; a tiny shop specializing in strudel, where we'll taste how Hungarian strudel differs from its Austrian counterpart; an eatery at the market owned by a farm (serving all of their own sausages, meat, and products); and a restaurant where we'll stop for a soup (perhaps a gulyás or a matzo ball soup).

We'll also have some drinks along the way: a coffee to keep us going when we have cake, spritzer (fröccs), and an Unicum (Hungary's quintessential bitter liquor). A highlight will be the sommelier led wine tasting (with cheese pairings) at The Tasting Table, where a wine expert serves 3 wines (including Tokaj sweet wine) while introducing us to the wine regions, varietals, and styles, helping you put Hungarian wine in context.

The day includes a local experience that is part of daily life for Budapesters, a tram ride along an iconic route, running parallel to the Danube, where you can take in the entire Buda Castle, the parliament building, and some of the city's most spectacular sights (part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site).