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This is the website of Julianna Ramotsa,
jewish guide in Budapest, Hungary
The site was made by the TDS Ltd.
All rights reserved, 2009-2011
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Walking Tours in Budapest
The greatest chance to feel the atmosphere of a city is walking. The best way to explore architecture of magnificent buildings, museums, churches, markets. Tours begin at your hotel guide picks you up and you are going to discover the city on foot and with public transportation.
Castle District (3 hours)
Cross over the Chain Bridge to Buda, take the funicular to the top of the Castle Hill. Visiting the formal Royal Palace, houses the Hungarian National Galery and its attendent buildings were severly damaged during WW II. Leaving th Royal section walking to the civil part, to visit the over-700 year old Matthias Church and Fishermen's Bastion. To take a stroll along Lord's Street gives a picture about the historic Buda. In the end of the tour enjoy coffee and cake in the famous Ruszwurm pastry shop.
Downtown (3 hours)
The Beginning and the End Vörösmarthy Square the heart of Pest city. Strolling along Váci utca the pedestrian street shopping area leads to the Central Market Hall, the most impressive of the Budapest five market halls. Visiting inside gives a great attraction for visitors. Coming back to Vörösmarthy Square on the Danube Promenade a splended view can be seen from the riverside. The end of the tour will be at Gerbeaud Café became famous both as a meeting place and for the quality of its cakes.
Jewish Quarter (3 hours)
Start your day at the Jewish Triangle on the Pest side of the Danube. First stop will be the Synagogue of the former "Status Quo" Community in Rumbach Street which was built in a Moorish style according to the plan of Otto Wagner the Viennese architect. Opened in 1872. It is currently being renovated and newly opened for visitors. On the way to the Orthodox Synagogue passing Carl Lutz Memorial the Swiss diplomat.
Special Tours
Architectural Tour (8 hours)
Dominating style of Budapest is Eclecticism mainly on the Pest side, this architectural style belongs the second half of the 19th century. It coincides with that, Pest became a city from a market town. Tour begins on the Andrássy Blvd according an English travaller the most impressive eclectic architectural ensemble in Central Europe. Drop into the Opera you can admire of its elegant architecture and rich painting deocoration. Tour will be continued in Saint Stephen's Basilica the largest Roman Catholic church in the city. Next you see the the beautiful Parlament building inside, to enjoy a viewing of the Crown Jewels. Visit takes approx 45 minutes. On the opposite of the Parlament stands the other imposing building formerly the Supreme Court, today houses the Etnographical Museum it is worth to visit the huge and richly decorated hall. The permanent exhibition on 19C folk tradition is attractive and very well displayed with English subtitles. The tour will be continued to visit Bedő House from the outside. One of the peaks achievement of Hungarian art noveau art. In the house there is the small museum of Hungarian session. Museum visit will be finished in its café. After it you visit the real jewel of Hungarian Art Nouveau this is wildly ornate and colorful Post Office Saving's Bank. Designed by Ödön Lechner integrating Hungarian folk motives, and Eastern influences in his unique architecture. The tour will be finished visiting the neo-Baroque building of Municipal Library the rich interior is worth viewing. You are invited for a coffee in its café.
Full Day Jewish Tour
The Jewish walking tour will be enlarged with visiting Új-Lipótváros, the residential place for the upper middle class Jewish from the turn of the century. Situated on the Pest bank of the Danube, opposite Margaret Island. Új-Lipótváros that indeed was designed and constracted by Jewish engineers and the citizens are more or less Jewish. In 1944 this part of the city became a so called "international ghetto" with protected houses, these were under the protection of the country to which it belonged. There were "star marked"-houses too, functioning as forced dwelling-places for Jewish citizens. Here in the Szent István Park the bronze statue of Raoul Wallenberg was set up who saved thousands of Jewish lives. Afterwards you will be taken into the Glass House one of the most famous protected house gave shelter for 3.000 persecuted Jews. At present it works as a memorial museum of Carl Lutz the Swiss consul, one of the rightous gentiles saved many Jewish lives. Then take a drive to the Danube bank visiting the Shoes Memorial created by Gyula Pauer for the 60th anniversary of the Holocaust to commemorate those victims they were shot into the river by the Hungarian fasicts. Next place to visit is the recently opened Holocaust Museum and Documentation Center. It has a permanent exhibition shows the fate of Hungarian Jewish: from Deprivation of Rights to Genocide. The last place to see is on the Buda side one of the oldest cemeteries in Budapest preserved in its original state. There have been no burials since 1961.
The hidden face of the city (8 hours)
Your special tour begins to take a drive to a hidden gem in the inner Józsefváros on the Pest side is Mikszáth Kálmán tér named after one of greatest 19th century novelist, who spent the last years of his life here. His statue can be seen here. The square has a unique atmosphere with cafés. Next place to visit is the elegant neo-Baroque Weinkheim mansion from 1889 works as a Municipal Library, worth to see its rich inside decoration. Near by with a short walk you find the great palace quarter with sumptous facades. Leaving pest side your tour will be continued on the Buda side visiting Gül Baba Tomb's, The 'Father of Roses', was a Muslim Dervis who took part in the capture of Buda in 1541,and shortly after he died. Behind his tomb the very elegant residential part Rose Hill is named after him. Afterwards you will enjoy the Lukács Garden and get a glance to the spa. One of the most popular place among journalists, artists. On the wall of the old building those cured here have placed thanksgiving tablets to express their gratitude. The last hidden point of this tour will be the cobblestoned square Fő tér old restored houses lend a special atmosphere. On the north-east corner there is an attractive statue composition of three girls with umbrellas the work of Imre Varga the most popular contemporary Hungarian sculptor. After the tour you will be taken back to your hotel.
Excursions in the Countryside
Szentendre (4 hours)
You will be taken to the small Baroque town Szentendre 12 miles north of Budapest. This town is the home of arts, musems and galleries. Its remarkable Mediterranean atmosphere Comes from the 18th century Serbian, Dalmatian, Greek settlers fleeing from the Turks. Among the 22 museums you can visit the Outdoor Village Museum, Margit Kovács Ceramic Museum. You will enjoy to stroll on the cobble-stone street. In the end of of tour you are invited to the Marcipán Cáfé for a coffee and cake. After wards you will be transferred back to Budapest to your hotel.
Danube Bend tour (8 hours)
You will enjoy a full day excursion one of the most streches in the river's 3000-kilometre Course. Here the Danube widens and turns sharply south into a narrow valley between the Börzsöny and Pilis hills. Tour begins in Esztergom the first capital of Hungary. Esztergom is the birthplace of the first Christian ruler St Stephen. He was crowned here in AD 1000. You see the largest Roman Catholic Catedral consecrated in 1856. After visiting the catedral you have a sigtseeing, and a short tour to Slovakia through Maria Valéria bridge. Next stop will be Visegrád 30 minute drive. Visegrád, the royal seat in medieval times you visit the imposing fortress on the top of the hills. You will enjoy the particular beauty of the Danube Bend from Visegrád. Tour will be finished in tte charming baroque town Szentendre.
Gödöllő Royal Mansion & Lázár Equistrian Park tour (8 hours)
You will be taken to Gödöllö 30 km northeast from Budapest. This used to be the summer residence of Queen Elisabeth the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, between 1867-i916 and for Governor Horthy between 1920-1944. After WWII Russian troops were stationed in the outbuilding. In the main building, home for aged was established. This unworthy use of it led to the deterioration, for almost fifty years. As a result of the great reconstruction work the main wing was re-opened, and today 26 rooms are opened for the public, and recently the Baroque Theater was opened. After visiting the exhibition you got a historical outlook on the period. Tour will be continued in the Lázár Equestrian Park close to the Gödöllö Royal Mansion. It was established in 1991 by Lázár brothers the driving world champion owners. After a welcome drink you are invited to a spectacular horse show based on the ancient Hungarian tradition. After it you can enjoy horse riding, carriage riding, and visiting farmyards, stables and the Championship Hall. The tour ends at hotel.
Herend and Lake Balaton tour (8 hours)
Herend the little village (3500 pop.) nesting in the Bakony Hills 1.5 hour drive from Budapest. Herend is synonymous with porcelains. The factory was opened in 1839. It became world famous after the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 to win first prize and Queen Victoria ordered one set. It came be known as Victoria set. A new visitor centre the Porcelanium, organises tours in English with films and demonstrations of handpainting. In Porcelain Museum the finest pieces of the factory are on display. In the factory shop wide range of Herend porcelain can be bought. Tour will be continued to the lake Balaton, one of the largest lake in Europe. The lake and its Region turned into a genuine holiday centre in the last twenty-five years. On the southern part the beaches and the bed of the lake are sandy and the water is shallow, particularly safe for children. On the northen shore the water deepens relatively quickly the bottm of the lake stony and mudy. You will have a stop at Tihany with the greatest historical significance on the lakeside. It is on a peninsula of the same name, juts to 5 km into the Balaton. Taking an inside visit of the richly decorated baroque Abbey Church. The visit is then followed by lunch in a local restaurant. Before leaving you visit on the hilltop one of the most charming village in the Balaton region. Return to your hotel in Budapest after your tour.
In the Footsteps of the Miraculous Rabbis of Eastern Hungary (8 hours)
This special route takes you to the graves and towns of the most famous Hasidic Rabbis in the Zemplén and Tokajhegyalja Region. This part of Hungary has marvellous landscape, traditional sights historical environment. The picturesque rural areas left mostly untouched. Most of the jewish peop settled down here came from Poland in the early 18th century and dealt with wine trade.
Mád: The ancient settlement is situated in Tokajhegyalja wine region,in a picturesque surrounding with 3000 inhabitants.the synagogue among our native historic buildings is unique one with its baroque style built in 1795, rises on a hill along with the L- shaped rabbi's house and yeshivah standing next to it. The restoration completed in 2004 funding and money were partially given by the World Monument Fund in the frame of a Jewish Heritage Program. Jewish community numbered about 800 all were deported to Auschwitz.
Olaszliszka: Twenty minute drive from Mád, the small village is located on the right bank of the river Bodrog with its 1945 inhabitants no Jews. In the 19 th century 191Jews lived here the were Wine traders. All of them were taken to Auschwitz. It was the center of Hungarian Hassidism. Reb Friedmann Hirsch the great personality was had of the congregation. Today the former synagogue's ruins can only be found here today. In the old cemetery is kept up by believers living and coming from the US. Nearby the gate the Ohel (name of the tomb of rabbi) can be found.
Tokaj: Tokaj the attractive small town with winding narrow street, baroque architecture, lots of wine cellars, is lying at the foot of Zemplén Hills,by the confluence of Bodrog and Tisza rivers.Inspite of it small population 4500 far from Budapest, Tokaj is known throughout the world because of its wine. Tokaj wine is the "king of wines and wine of kings." Wine production in Tokaj Region dates back nearly a thousand years. Jews began to settle down here in the 18th century and they were involved into wine business. All were deported in 1944. The largest ornately decorated synagogue of Tokaj Region was nearly decayed, in 1944 Germans used as a stable in the 1960s worked as a warehouse. It got back its original beauty. Restoration was completed in 2006 with EU money.
All the prices are valid until 31.12.2009. Prices are per tour not per person. Entrance fees, public transportation are not included.
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(click on the thumbnails to zoom the pictures)
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Price: € 60 / $ 85 | 
