We are going to be in Budapest for the 4 days in mid September and would like to take 2 days trips, one around the bend of the Danube (Melk, Sztendre, etc.) and the second to Eger (with tour of winery). There are a few companies running the first one but have only found the Centrum tour company running the 2nd one on Thursdays. Comments from anyone who has taken one of these tours would be greatly appreciated. We would like to be comfortable on the trip and have an enthusiastic/informative guide. Any comments on guided walking tours offered in Budapest would also be very helpful.<BR><BR>thanks<BR>Mark.M.<BR>Kingston, ON, Canada <BR>

The "Danube Bend" tour takes you on a bus (or minibus/van depending on how many passengers) past Aqvincum and Szentendre to Visegrad and the castle there, then on to Esztergom for the cathedral and lunch, and back to Szentendre, from which you'll get a ferry to Budapest. Off-season, the return from Szentendre is by bus. We used Cityrama with good results for this and other tours, as well as referring others. Usually it works out quite well, but sometimes the guide just isn't what you think they should be. We had that happen to us with another tour company in Prague, but they made good with a compensatory tour escorted by a truly superb guide. I'd use Cityrama again, even though I have read of one disappointment. Whichever company you choose, be sure they use live multi-lingual guides, not just recorded tapes.<BR><BR>I think Eger is a truly marvelous city, but doubt I'd enjoy it as much as I did had I gone as a day trip ... but it can be done. The library and camera obscura are true jewels. However, please consider that you likely would miss far more in Budapest than Eger would provide, unless of course you have some particular objective there, and/or you've been to Budapest before.<BR><BR>I've not tried any of the walking tours in Budapest, so can't comment. If you don't get any more-helpful responses, you might contact Vista Travel Service's "Incoming" department. (web site is www.vista.hu) Vista is one of the largest agencies there, and is responsible. When we used them, their recommendations (for travel in and outside the country) proved just fine. I'd guess they would be in a good position to make sound arrangements.<BR><BR>Also, if you look at some of the other "threads", or perhaps do a search, you will find one or two local guides who might well be ones first choice for personal attention.<BR><BR>Rod<BR><BR>You are more likely to wind up in wine cellars in the "Valley of the Beautiful Women" in Eger than to be in any actual wineries -- though they once were wineries, and I believe a couple are still there. Certainly, some are in the area. It is another nice place, but don't expect great displays of wine processing.

Rod <BR>Many thanks for your thoughts on Budapest and our side trip to Eger. As you suggested we would be giving up a day that we could be spending in Budapest. I think I will leave it open and decide on the Eger trip once we are there.<BR>cheers<BR>Mark

Actually you can do a half-day [morning & lunch for eg.] to Szentendre on the HEV [suburban train] from Bathyanyi Ter metro stop on the red line. It takes 45 minutes. Szent. is the end of the line so no hassle. The handicrafts are the same as you see everywhere in Hungary, but the town is charming and there are art galleries as well as small museums. Here are some of my pictures of Szentendre: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.137511/article/1140/27/?s=M<BR>Feel free to email me [minus the xx] for any further info!

There is a pamphlet written by a Dr Fleps (my host on a former trip) "Twelve walks in Budapest" that gives excellent directions to sites, one or more paragraphs of history of each site and some restaurant recommendations. You can get it in several bookstores. That way you won't be rushed and you can do it all on your own.<BR>Also of interest (at least to me) is an open park Szobor park a short bus ride outside of the central city. Here is the link to it.<BR><BR>http://www.szoborpark.hu/<BR><BR>A beautiful city, enjoy yourself.<BR>Regards<BR>