Budapest is a city full of surprises and wonder, with its lively city centre, pretty parks, majestic river, tall church spires and lavish spas. One of the most exciting cities in the world, plenty of secrets to uncover, hidden spots to explore and old favourites to revisit. This is the city where being bored is not an option.
There are a million ways to explore Budapest: on foot, by bus, tram underground, on water, by bike. And what to see while you’re there? Start on the top, with the magnificent Buda Castle and Castle District. You won’t need hiking boots to climb Gellért Hill to enjoy breathtaking, in fact part of the UNESCO World Heritage, views of the city from the Citadel. Cross the river for the most grandiose building on the Pest embankment, the Parliament. For sacred wonders, visit the tallest building in the city, Saint Stephen’s Basilica, and one of the largest synagogues in the world, the Dohány Street Synagogue. Heroes’ Square will give you a peek into the romantic past of the country.
Fancy walking along a street that’s part of the World Heritage in its entirety? Andrássy Avenue is one, lined with shady streets, bike routes and amazingly beautiful buildings.
Where should you go if you’re in the mood for some classical music? Well, there’s plenty to choose from. The Opera House shows all major European operas. Its building is one of great history: many important artists were guests here, including the composers Gustav Mahler and Otto Klemperer, both working as directors at the Opera. You cannot go wrong with the Palace of Arts either. Next to the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art it is the home of the Bartók National Concert Hall, bringing the world’s top artists to your ears, whether it’s classical, world music or jazz. And the building itself is pretty amazing too, make sure to check out the organ – it’s one of the biggest in Europe.
Hungary has some important contributions to the field of classical music, no doubt about that. Franz Liszt is probably the greatest of all Hungarian composers, a piano virtuoso. His contemporaries lauded him as the greatest pianist of all time.
Founded in 1875, the Liszt Academy is the only institution bearing the name of Ferenc Liszt in which the great composer himself had an active role in establishing. The university, which has been functioning for more than 140 years, is the bastion of music teaching and musicology in Hungary. The Grand Hall boasting unparalleled acoustics is a legendary concert venue in the Art Nouveau conservatory (1907) on Liszt Ferenc Square.
Budapest is the best choice for cultural experience!
4-DAY CULTURAL PACKAGE OFFER by VIOLIN TRAVEL
Day 1.
Arrival in Budapest
Welcome by our English speaking expert guide in the Liszt Ferenc Airport
Approx. 1 hour long orientation sightseeing in Budapest. Short stop on the Gellert hill, where you can admire fascinating panorama and get the first impressions of the city.
Transfer to the hotel, Check-in
Afternoon: transfer to MÜPA Budapest (Palace of Arts) – the monumental and gorgeous cultural complex of the region
Opened to the public in March 2005, every part of the Palace is at the service of culture. It is the home of music – classical-, jazz-, world music and opera– dance and contemporary art.
The top floor of the Palace offers an exceptional panorama of Budapest, the Danube bridges and the hills surrounding the city.
The impressive dimensions of the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, situated „in the heart„ of the building, evoke the atmosphere of a gothic cathedral. The auditorium is on four levels, and can accomodate 1700 people. On its podium world famous musicians and orchestras are continually being presented to the music-loving public.
The auditorium of the Festival Theater holds 452 people. The theater is used primarly for music and dance performances.
Diversity and openness characterize the Palace of Arts. It is open everyday from morning to evening, and not only when there are concerts and performances.
It’s elegant restaurant, with a cosy atmosphere and excellent service, offers its guests Hungarian and continental cuisine.
Visit in Ludwig Museum, permanent and temporary exhibition
Dinner in Bohem Restaurant in the building of the Palace of Arts
Concert, 1st category tickets
Day 2.
Sightseeing in Pest: history, art and music
Andrássy Avenue is a boulevard in Budapest, dating back to 1872. Lined with spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses featuring fine facades and interiors, it was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 2002. It is also one of Budapest’s main shopping streets, with fine cafes, restaurants, theatres, Embassies and luxury boutiques. Among the most noticeable buildings are the State Opera, the former Ballet School, the Zoltán Kodály Memorial Museum, Ferenc Liszt Memorial Museum and the House of Terror Museum.
VIP guided tour in the building of the Liszt Academy of Music
The Liszt Academy of Music may be regarded as a European island on the map of Hungary ever since its foundation in 1875. Its founder father, the piano virtuoso, composer, conductor, teacher, author and philanthropist Franz Liszt.
The institution plays and used to play a key role in the preservation of the traditions of European classical music. Education and the concert activities embrace the past and present of music training and performing arts. The Academy of Music is one of Europe’s oldest institutions of musical higher education and Hungary’s longest standing concert venue. It offered the opportunity to the most significant European artists to perform on its stage. Pablo Casals, Yehudi Menuhin, Sviatoslav Richter. Outstanding international careers embarked from here: Béla Bartók,Ernő Dohnányi,Zoltán Kodály, Sándor Végh,George Solti, Annie Fischer, György Kurtág. Its long-awaited reconstruction began on 26 August 2011 with the aim of not only restoring the architectural monument to its original splendor.
Visit to the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center
A new and modern visual arts institute, the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center was opened in Budapest in 2013. Among the tasks of the new visual institute are the organization of national and international exhibitions; the foundation of a prestigious photography award; the presentation of national and international photographers and photography workshops.
Light lunch in Szamos café – next to the Parliament building
Parliament visit- 45 minute guided tour by official local guide
In the evening: 3-hour Danube cruise. Dinner with candle light on a charter boat
- welcome coctail on the deck
- unforgettable panorama of the historic architecture and landmarks of Budapest in sunset
- entertainment possibility: authentic folk music concert performed by young musicians of the Folk Music Department of the Liszt Academy of Music
Day 3.
After breakfast transfer to Buda up to the Buda Castle:
„In the footsteps of Franz Liszt” Guided tour and thematic walk in the Castle district
Visit in the Matthias church, Fisherman’s Bastion and the Music History Museum.
Walk in the Castle Garden.
The Castle Garden is Budapest’s unique jewelry box where art and nature complement each other. It is a distinctive work of architecture capable of offering an experience of history, culture and nature al lat the same time, which makes itt he perfect venue for entertainment, leasure and cultural events.
Lunch In the Castle district- Pierrot or Pest-Buda Restaurant
Afternoon: Budapest’s Jewish heritage walking tour
Budapest has the biggest Jewish community in Middle – Eastern Europe, with an active religious, artistic and historical heritage. Through centuries the Hungarian and Jewish history has been so interwoven that it is almost inseparable. Jews played and play an important role in the country’s economical, cultural and political life. The walk at the Jewish Quarter includes a guided tour in the largest Synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world, built between 1854 and 1859 in Moorish Revival style. The synagogue is still used by Budapest’s Jewish community. The buildings and the courtyards of the Synagogue include the Jewish Museum, the Heroes’ Temple, the Jewish Cemetery and the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park with the Holocaust Memorial, a weeping willow tree (by Imre Varga) with the names of Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust inscribed on each leaf
After visiting the Dohany synagogue the tour continues with a walk in the Jewish district, where visitors can learn about Jewish memorials, the history of the Budapest ghetto and the Hungarian holocaust. Guests will experience the unique, special atmosphere of this multicultural district of Budapest.
Evening program:
Opera performance in the word famous Hungarian State Opera or at the Erkel Theatre.
In the intermission enjoy a glass of chilled champagne, a snack or some dessert at an elegant and smart venue.
The venue A.: The Opera House
The Opera House is not only one of the most significant art relic of Budapest, but the symbol of the Hungarian operatic tradition of more than three hundred years as well. The long-awaited moment in Hungarian opera life arrived on September 27, 1884, when, in the presence of Franz Joseph I. the Opera House was opened amid great pomp and ceremony. The event, however, erupted into a small scandal – the curious crowd broke into the entrance hall and overran the security guards in order to catch a glimpse of the splendid Palace on Sugar út. Designed by Mikós Ybl, a major figure of 19th century Hungarian architecture, the construction lived up to the highest expectations. Ornamentation included paintings and sculptures by leading figures of Hungarian art of the time: Károly Lotz, Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Alajos Stróbl. The great bronze chandelier from Mainz and the stage machinery moda by the Asphaleia company of Vienna were both considered as cutting-edge technology at that time. Many important artists were guests here including Gustav Mahler, the composer who was director in Budapest from 1887 to 1891. He founded the international prestige of the institution, performing Wagner operas as well as Magcagni’ Cavalleria Rusticana.
The venue B.: Erkel Theater
The Erkel Theatre opened its gates as the Peoples’ Opera on 7 December 1911. Designed by Dezső Jakab, Marcell Komor and Géza Márkus, only traces of the original construction can be seen today. The redevelopment works the building has gone through over the years are worthy of an academic study. This ill-fated theatre has been the Hungarian State Opera’s second performance venue since 1951. The Opera House building is closed for a renovation almost until the end of 2018, during this time Erkel Theatre is the venue for opera and ballet performances.
Day 4.
Breakfast and check-out
Inner city walk
Discover Budapest’s downtown venues and dazzling architecture. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic local guide will lead the tour from, sharing tales of the city’s history, architecture, and legends. The tour includes admission to the Pesti Vigadó Concert Hall, where Johann Strauss, Richard Wagner, Ferenc Liszt have performed many times.
Highlight: short concert by an incredible talent of young musicans of the Liszt Academy of Music
At the end: champagne on the balcony of the Vigado (Redoute) where a breathtaking view opens up to the Buda hills. Farewell from the Danube, Gellert hill, Castle Garden, Chain bridge and the Buda Castle…
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PACKAGE PRICE:
850 USD (net) per person
For ASTA Members 10% off from the package price
Package includes all the programmes and meals mentioned above, but doesn’t include accomodation. All prices are net. Our special offer is valid until 31st of December 2017.
Minimum number of participants: 15 persons
For more ideas, please visit our website: www.violintravel.com, or ask for our tailor-made offer.