Christmas in Budapest

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To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA

Christmas on the Pearl of the Danube

Join us for a wonderful Christmas in the heart of Hungary’s beautiful capital. The stunning, romantic Pearl of the Danube is a festive delight, with its traditional markets, the largest and oldest of which takes place in Pest’s central Vörösmarty tér, incorporating an ice rink and laser show, adding to the atmosphere of one of Europe’s most appealing cities.

Holiday Highlights

Enjoy four nights in stylish Budapest
Explore both sides of the city, Buda and Pest
Take in the city from the River Danube on a magical river cruise
Free time to explore Budapest and its Christmas markets under your own steam

What's Included

Four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the four-star Hotel Lion’s Garden, Budapest
Included city tour of Buda and Pest
Included river cruise on the Danube
Christmas Eve dinner in a local restaurant
Traditional three-course Christmas Dinner at a local restaurant
Return flights to Budapest
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
One piece of hold luggage per person

Itinerary

Day 1

Meet your tour manager at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Dependent upon your arrival time, you may wish to head out and enjoy a first exploration of the ‘twin city’ that straddles the Danube. There are a host of bars, cafés and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets, all exuding traditional Christmastime warmth and welcome. Dinner will then be served back at the hotel’s restaurant this evening.

Day 2

After breakfast, you’ll join your tour manager for a guided city tour of Budapest by coach and foot. This introduction will bring to life the major sights, including Buda’s Castle Hill, home to the former Royal Palace, the Castle district’s maze of winding streets, Mátyás church, and the Fisherman’s Bastion, with its views across to Pest on the opposite shore. Bustling, stylish Pest, with its sweeping boulevards, elegant stores, and the Belváros old town, is a hive of designer stores, coffee houses, patisseries, and restaurants, many found along Váci utca, the pedestrianised main shopping street. Lunch can be enjoyed at your leisure with some free time to traverse the traditional Christmas markets on Vörösmarty tér, the central square, and in front of St Stephen’s Basilica. Wooden pavilions offer handcrafted gifts, and the aromas of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and traditional Hungarian pastries hang in the air. You’ll also have the choice of setting off on an optional excursion to the Pálinka Museum. Inside, an interactive display showcases the history of this Hungarian fruit brandy, which you can sample for yourself during the visit. In the evening, you can seek out dinner in one of the nearby restaurants.

Day 3

Following breakfast, you’ll have a free day in the city to do as little or as much as you like. Perhaps return to the Christmas markets to soak up the cheer and do some last-minute gift buying or take advantage of the hotel’s on-site spa. This evening, you’ll kick-start your celebrations with dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4

Merry Christmas! Embrace a free morning after breakfast at your own pace, perhaps soaking up the joyous atmosphere by taking a leisurely stroll in City Park or Heroes’ Square, close to your hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll gain a different perspective of the city by taking to the Danube for a river cruise. You’ll make the short walk from the hotel to the boat, then sit back and enjoy the ride along one of Europe’s most iconic waterways. A very memorable Christmas feast will be served onboard as you pass by some of Budapest’s best-known sights, including the imposing Gothic Revival-style parliament and Castle Hill. Later in the day, you’ll relax back on land, with the option of returning to Vörösmarty tér to take in the scents and delights of Budapest’s Christmas markets while picking up a final souvenir. A Christmas dinner will then be enjoyed back at the hotel alongside your fellow travellers.

Day 5

Once you’ve had breakfast, bid farewell to Budapest, transferring to the airport for your return flight at the end of a special getaway.

Hotel Lion’s Garden, Budapest

This hotel is located in Budapest's peaceful diplomatic quarter opposite a 100-year-old Dominican church, on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

Facilities at the hotel include a recently renovated spa with indoor pool, and a welcoming bar.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 40 minutes.

European closing times

Shops in Europe will generally close from early afternoon on Christmas Eve until 27th December. Included tours and excursions have been chosen for their scenic or historic value.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Commencing in 2023, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.

Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.

Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information.

You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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