I never truly realized how interesting Hungarian food was until we spent time in Budapest. The city is a hot pot of culture and it has a lot of interesting options as far as food is concerned. This includes traditional Hungarian food, wine, cheese, street food and so much more. While you can explore the food scene on your own or you can partake in one of the many food tours in Budapest.
The thing about the food tours in Budapest is that there are so many that it is hard to narrow down on the options available. I found it extremely confusing when I reached there and wished that I had conducted my research prior to visiting.
Needless to say, after reading numerous articles, I found that the best way to pick a tour is to segregate them based on what they offer, their specialties and obviously pick one food tours in Budapest with the highest and best reviews.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
Table of Contents
1. Wine & Food Tours In Budapest
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (25 Reviews) Price: $115 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍Meeting Point: Meet inside the main entrance of Central Market Hall Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
The most popular type of food tours in Budapest are the general tours. These tours hit all the notes and broadly take you through the food scene. These tours are great for first time visitors who have no idea about what to expect.
A local guide will take you through the historic part of the city and will explain about the different areas that are extremely popular for food. The best part is that since the guide is a local he or she will be able to give you a deeper insight into the Hungarian food culture and its evolution in Budapest.
One of the parts of the city that you will explore in detail is the Central Market Hall. Now, I’ve been here and it is by far my favorite place when it comes to buying souvenirs in Budapest because you can get a lot of stuff from local artisans and a lot of food. I took back almonds and walnuts for here that graced our table for weeks.
Anyways, I digress. The entire market is not stroller or wheelchair friendly so this isn’t one of the best tours for people with mobility issues. That is something that you really should know!
“Very informative tour with a very nice guide (Annika). You can taste a lot, from unique schnapps at the beginning, langos, different types of salami in the market hall to lunch in a typical local restaurant. Then there was coffee and various cakes in a coffee house and finally a tasting of 3 Hungarian wines. It is best to come to this tour very hungry! Clear recommendation!”
Herwig (read more reviews now!)
In this market you will be introduced to the local use of ingredients like paprika, pork fat and even goose liver that make Hungarian food so unique. You will also wander around the neighboring shops where you can check out the local spices, coffee, candy and more. At the butcher’s shop, you will even be able to sample some of the local processed meats.
You would think your tour is done by this time but no! One must always save place for dessert and a stop at a traditional patisserie is a must. Here you will sample some of the local cakes. Last but not the least comes the famed Hungarian wines. Make note of the ones you liked because you can always buy some to take back!
I like these types of food tours in Budapest because they serve as an introduction to both the food and the culture of the city. While I generally say that they are geared towards first time visitors, you will find that people who have visited the city before also enjoy the narrations by the local guides.
Pros
- It is one of the cheaper food tours in Budapest.
- It is great for first time travelers.
- It is limited to 8 participants so its a small group.
Cons
- You generally don’t know the people in the group.
- There’s a minimum of two participants per group so if not enough people sign up, the tour may be cancelled.
- You can’t book a timing per your convenience. There are predefined slots.
- Not wheelchair/stroller accessible.
Note: This tour requires a lot of walking so make sure that you wear comfortable shoes.
2. Private Food Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (101 Reviews) Price: $187 per person (changes depending on group size) Duration: 3 hours 📍Meeting Point: Central Market Hall Details: Read more on Viator!
Now not everyone likes heading out on a group tour. For many even a small group tour can feel a tad bit claustrophobic. So if you don’t mind spending a bit, book a private food tour.
One particular tour that really stands out is conducted by Nelli. She conducts this tour in both English and German so you can pick whichever language you are comfortable in. She will take you to a total of five locations.
Three of these are popular tourist spots namely the Jewish Quarter, the Central Market Hall and the ruin bar. The entire tour takes 3 hours. The best part is that you can schedule these 3 hours as per your convenience and that makes it easy to fit into a vacation schedule.
“We thoroughly enjoyed our morning exploring Hungarian food, drink and history with Nelli. Everything was delicious – even the Unicum! Nelli is enthusiastic and the perfect tour guide. Exploring the market and Jewish Quarter with her was definitely a highlight of our trip.”
Fiona (read more reviews now!)
Nelli will introduce you to some traditional Hungarian dishes like langos, goulash and Hungarian sausage. All three are considered delicacies in the city. One of the other popular dishes that you will try is the famed chimney cake. This is one of the best parts of these food tours in Budapest. Alongside this you will also get a chance to taste some of the local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Pros
- One of the absolute best things about this particular tour is that you can schedule the start of the tour as per your convenience.
- The guide is bilingual and speaks both German and English.
- Its a private tour so you know everyone in your group.
- The larger the group the cheaper the per person rate becomes for these food tours in Budapest.
Cons
- The tour is more pricey than the small group tours mentioned above and is not something budget travelers will consider easily.
Note: Make sure to mention any dietary restrictions that you have at the time of the booking so that the guide can plan out the activity in advance and you don’t lose out on the experience!
3. Wine, Cheese And Charcuterie Tasting
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (266 Reviews) Price: $50 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍Meeting Point: The Tasting Table Budapest Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Wine, cheese and meats is something that Hungary is famous for. You will find that the capital city has a lot of these on offer and they come from all over the country. This means that if you are a charcuterie lover then you have arrived in paradise. Now if you want to heighten your experience beyond the head into a store and buy food souvenirs, try taking one of the more specific food tours in Budapest. This one focuses on wine, cheese and charcuterie tasting.
Here a sommelier will be your guide. You will get to try 5 different Hungarian wines. One of the wines is a little different from the rest and is a sweet wine from Tokaj. These wines will be paired with cheese from different regions and a charcuterie board along with bread and artisan spreads.
While you are enjoying your food and drink, your guide aka the sommelier will talk to you about the different regions in Hungary, the grapes it produces and the difference in the wines made.
This is really interesting because many of the techniques and the local styles in wine production are not found elsewhere. This means that the wines found in these regions are really unique.
A good example is what happened to us. Shawn fell in love with a couple of the wines and brought them back to them to the Netherlands. When his supply ran dry, he tried to get the similar brands in the local stores here and unfortunately could not.
“We arrived a bit earlier from our day exploring Budapest and stopped in their retail store where we met the owner and got to know more about him and the business and it was so lovely. The actual tasting session was also amazing and the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Budapest. You truly get a lot for your money and get to learn more about the history of Budapest specifically how wine plays an intricate part in their history and economy.
The charcuterie boards were fabulous treats that really enhanced the experience. We also met some friendly people and all shared our opinions on our favorite wines. We enjoyed it so much that we ended up buying meat, cheese and wine at the retail shop across the street!”
Quinasha (read more reviews now!)
Another thing that you should note about this particular tour is that the cheese and charcuterie are locally sourced and come directly from the producers in the region. A couple of unique things that you will taste here include the Mangalica pork sausages, free range water buffalo salami, smoked duck breast and grey beef sausage. Sounds like one of the best food tours in Budapest, doesn’t it?
Pros
- It is an amazing experience with lots of information about the local wine production and is geared towards wine and charcuterie lovers.
Cons
- It is a very specific food experience and you will not get to taste the local dishes like goulash, langos etc. This is not necessary a con. It is just something to keep in mind.
4. Ruin Bar Pub Crawl
⭐️ Rating: 4.2/5 (271 Reviews) Price: $30 per person Duration: 5 hours 📍Meeting Point: Sark 2 Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
If you have been researching the nightlife in the city, you’ve surely come across the ruin bars.
For those of you who are not familiar with the concept, the ruin bars are bars that are located with the shells of abandoned buildings.
They actually started out as an experiment to bring life back into those parts of town but as the atmosphere changed, these bars really took off.
Today, you will find that the ruin bars have a pretty trendy vibe, are always full and are one of the most popular places in Budapest when the sun sets. You can explore it on your own or you can take one of the food tours in Budapest.
Despite the fact that we had toddlers with us, we decided to just stroll through the neighborhood and we had the fortune to arrive here on Halloween. The whole place was decorated with a lot of cool décor and the kids loved spotting the floating witches, pumpkins and cobwebs.
Now the ruin bars in itself may feel intimidating because how can you possibly know which is the best especially if you are in the city for just a short duration.
This makes the ruin bars food tours in Budapest extremely popular.
Your local guide will take you through the well known local hub spots and make recommendations when it comes to the sheer variety of cocktails and drinks on the menu. So if you love to to try different types of alcohol, then this us one of the food tours in Budapest that you should consider.
“Mark was an so friendly and accommodating. I really recommend this tour to any small traveler groups. We joined it as a party of two and had the best time, can’t give enough credit to he guide mark he was absolutely brilliant and so friendly. The guide mark made everyone feel welcome even the non English speakers, I cannot recommend this tour enough the guides are brilliant and the pubs are just as good. If I return to Budapest it will be the first thing I do again.”
Osin (read more reviews now!)
Once you’ve taken in the surroundings and are ready to move on, you will get to visit one of the hottest nightclubs in the city and you won’t have to stand in a queue. It’s a great way to spend the night and it’s an interesting insight into the city’s nightlife.
Pros
- It is a great way to meet like minded travelers especially if you are a solo traveler.
- The tour is a high energy kinda thing. So you know you are going to be hopping about, taking in the sights and partying through the night. Definitely a perk for many people.
Cons
- It is definitely not one of the family friendly food tours in Budapest.
- If you are one of the people who likes to get into one bar or restaurant and enjoy yourself, this is of one of the food tours in Budapest that may not fit you.
5. Street Food Tours In Budapest
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (7 Reviews) Price: $154 per person Duration: 3 hours📍Meeting Point: Hotel pickup Details: Read more on Viator!
One of the things that became obvious from the very first day that we stayed in Budapest is that there is a lot of street food. In fact, we stayed right in the center of the city and there were a number of stalls that were set up right in front of our apartment. It became a ritual to buy food here at the end of the day and take it home to eat.
If you love street food but don’t know where to start in the city then the street food tours in Budapest will serve as a great introduction. Here you will have a local guide who will take you to the local hangouts where you can sample typical Hungarian street food fare which includes food found both in the Turkish and the Greek food stalls. Yes! There are other cultural influences in play here too.
Pros
- Great way to find all the local haunts when it comes to streetfood.
- It is interesting to learn about all the history that is related to the street food in Budapest. Many of the popular dishes do not have Hungarian origins. I found this fascinating.
Cons
- Street food tasting is always a high energy activity with a lot of walking and sometimes little place to sit and eat. It is part of the joys of eating but for many this could be a deterrent.
Bonus: You will even get to try the local beers. Just note that you have to be above 18 for this.
6. Jewish Cuisine And Culture Walk
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (15 Reviews) Price: $110 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍Meeting Point: Madách Imre Tér Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Did you know that Budapest has its own Jewish district? Well currently it is well known as the seventh district but before World War II it housed a large Jewish community here. Today it is home to some of the hippest and trendiest spots in town. There is a lot of culture to be seen if you know just what to look for.
The Jewish cuisine and culture walk takes you through this district. A local guide will explain to you how the Jewish history evolved here. A special focus is given to the local Jewish food which is one of the specialties here. Some of the popular dishes that you will get to taste have a mixture of both Hungarian and Jewish influences. These include sausages matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, Jewish eggs, roasted goose and more.
“Endre gave us an excellent tour combining modern and historic Jewish history and heritage. Also incorporating the traditional Jewish food made for a wonderful fast moving 4 hours. We finished full of food and knowledge.”
Jon (read more reviews now!)
One thing that you really need to keep in mind is that you need to head out for this tour with an empty stomach and a voracious appetite. The amount of food that you get to taste is staggering and you will learn a little more about the Jewish history between every bite. You can see why this one of the unique food tours in Budapest.
7. Budapest Dinner Cruise
⭐️ Rating: 4.2/5 (1,581 Reviews) Price: $86.50 per person Duration: 📍Meeting Point: Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Now there are many different types of food tours in Budapest but if you really want to taste Hungarian food with some ambiance, then you should consider checking out the dinner cruises on the Danube. This is incredibly popular with the tourists because it is one of the most scenic ways to explore the city and it is a great way to spend the night.
Shawn and I actually considered the dinner cruise because it seemed like a pretty romantic thing to do especially since the kids were exhausted and asleep by end of day. Unfortunately for us, we had not booked our tickets in advance so we had to forfeit this activity.
The dinner cruise takes about 2 hours and you cruise along the city where you can see iconic monuments like the Hungarian Parliament, Margaret bridge, Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion and more.
“Lovely experience. Food was excellent. Service super attentive. We paid for guaranteed window seats. Highly recommended. Folk music and dancing lovely. Some other cruises we looked at were plain ordinary boats, our was luxurious All in all a fabulous time. Well done everyone and thanks.”
Martin (read more reviews now!)
While you are taking in the sights you will have the opportunity to listen to live music and partake in a Hungarian meal. It is served as a buffet so you get a chance to taste a little of everything. Some of the things on the menu includes Goulash, vegetable cream soup, turkey fillet, beef stew with red wine, traditional stuffed cabbage and more. You will even get to try some variations of the strudel and somloi galuska triffle.
Did I mention that there are also alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages that are included. There is a cap at one per item though but you can always order more at an additional cost. You can see why this is one of the cool food tours in Budapest.
As you can see, there are loads of different food tours in Budapest. Each one of them offers a different experience and a different perspective to the city. I personally love the wine and cheese tours, The street food tours in Budapest are also great. What’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
Other Posts That You Will Enjoy
- Interesting captions and quotes about Budapest
- Is Budapest worth visiting?
- Restaurants in Szeged that you should try
- Things to do in Szeged for every traveler
- Cool things to do in Eger + A City guide
- Visegrad: Everything you need to know before you visit
Don’t Forget To Pin This Article
