4 or 8 hoursBudapest, your way
The grand boulevards and the quiet corners. Castle Hill, the riverfront and the stories that connect them. We choose what matters to you and leave time to enjoy it.
Explore this tour
Private tours in Budapest & Hungary
Discover Budapest
with Peter.
Your interests. Your pace.
A warm welcome to Hungary.
A Budapest local, licensed guide and river cruise director. Let’s make your time here personal.
Private guiding from €140 per group
01 Private tours02 Flexible itineraries03 Personal attention04 River cruise expertise
A few favourite journeys
Where would you
like to begin?
A first visit or a fresh perspective. These are starting points for a day we’ll shape together.
4 or 8 hours
Half or full dayEtyek & wine country
Make space for Hungary’s wine culture, a conversation with your guide and a meal if you wish. A personal introduction rather than a hurried tasting checklist.
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Half or full dayGödöllő Royal Palace
Explore the world of Queen Elisabeth and Hungary’s royal past, with time to put the palace and its stories into context.
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Arriving by river?
Your cruise may end.
Your discovery
doesn’t have to.
After eight to nine years as a cruise director on Europe’s rivers, I know the questions that come with a day ashore: where to meet, what to do with your bags, and how much time you really have.
Let’s plan your time in Budapest around your ship, your hotel and your onward journey.
A little help for cruise guestsA comfortable way to explore
Your pace, on foot
or a little further afield.
01 / On your terms
Walk, cycle or ride
Explore on foot, arrange a bicycle outing or use public transport with a guide who helps make sense of the city. Tell me what feels comfortable.
02 / Quietly electric
Your private Kia EV3
A shale-grey, all-electric Kia EV3 for up to three guests. An optional, comfortable way to join the dots between sights. Parking and motorway charges are included in the car quotation.
03 / Room for everyone
Families & larger groups
For more space, I can arrange a Mercedes V-Class, Sprinter or coach through trusted transport providers, including groups of up to 50. Priced to suit your plans.
A clear starting point
Your time.
Your itinerary.
You pay for my time, not per person. The guiding fee is the same for your group; optional transport and activities are quoted separately.
Time to get acquainted
Half a day
€140
Up to 4 hours · per group
- A route shaped around you
- Flexible pace and meeting point
- English or Hungarian
Room to explore
A whole day
€200
Up to 8 hours · per group
- More time for your interests
- Space for a longer itinerary
- English or Hungarian
Guiding fees are per group, not per person. The Kia EV3 is optional and quoted separately; when chosen, its quotation includes parking and motorway charges. Guest admission tickets, meals, tastings, public transport and other arranged services are additional where applicable. I’m happy to help organise them.
A little about your guide
For me, this
is personal.
I was born and raised in Budapest. My mother was a guide, and I followed her path into a life in hospitality.
Guiding and working as a cruise director have taken me along Europe’s rivers. But there’s something special about welcoming people to my own city: sharing its stories, answering your questions and helping you feel at home.
Peter Koltai
More about Peter 
Peter’s journal
A little local knowledge,
before you arrive.
Practical thoughts on Budapest, exploring Hungary and life along Europe’s rivers.
Beyond Budapest
The Danube Bend by EV: a quieter way to explore beyond Budapest
How I approach a private day outside the capital, with an optional all-electric Kia EV3 and an itinerary built around you.
Read the storyRiver cruise advice
What river cruise passengers need to know about disembarking in Budapest
A cruise director’s checklist for making a comfortable plan between leaving your ship and travelling onwards.
Read the story
A cruise director’s perspective
Rhine or Danube? Start with the kind of journey you enjoy
A cruise director’s way of thinking about your next river journey, from pace and time ashore to the details worth comparing.
Read the storyBefore we meet
A few things
you might ask.
Will you be my guide?
Yes, I lead the tours by default. If I’m unavailable, I can help you find a suitable colleague. We would discuss this before any booking is agreed.
Can you adapt a tour to our pace?
Absolutely. Tell me how much walking you enjoy, whether steps are difficult and what you would like to see. We’ll discuss a comfortable route and suitable transport before you book.
Is the price per person?
No. You pay for my time: €140 per group for up to four hours, or €200 per group for up to eight hours. Group size does not change the guiding fee. Transport and any arranged services are additional where applicable.
Is the car included in the guiding fee?
No. The €140 half-day and €200 full-day rates cover my time for your group, for up to four or eight hours respectively. Group size does not change the guiding fee. The Kia EV3 is an optional extra, quoted separately. If you choose it, parking and motorway charges are included in that car quotation.
Can you help with an airport or ship transfer?
Yes. Airport transfers and hotel-to-cruise-ship transfers are available on enquiry. Send your date, pickup and destination, number of guests and luggage details so the appropriate vehicle and price can be agreed.
How do deposits and cancellations work?
A 20% booking payment secures your tour. It is refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours before the agreed start. If you cancel within 48 hours, the 20% booking payment is retained. Your payment method is agreed before booking.