Budapest might have only been Hungary‘s capital for the last two centuries, but its history goes back thousands of years. On this walking tour, you‘ll hear its long and fascinating story, find out about the cultures that shaped it, and the people who have left their mark on the city. Starting from Danubius Hotel Astoria in downtown Pest, you‘ll wander down lesser-known streets and through Károlyi Garden before crossing the Danube River via Erzsébet Bridge to the Buda side. Along the way, you‘ll see some awesome architecture including the honeybee motifs at Párisi Passage (a bank turned restaurant) and the almost 1,000-year-old Budapest Inner-City Mother Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. While you‘re enjoying a view of Pest and Buda from Erzsébet and, later, Liberty Bridge, I‘ll tell you about some of the city‘s hated and beloved historical figures, and share some personal experiences from the communist era that you won‘t find in guidebooks. By the time we get to Central Market Hall where our tour ends, you‘ll have an overview of the historical ups and downs that have transformed Budapest into the captivating city you see today. Along the way, you‘ll have a chance to: • Take in the calming atmosphere of Károlyi Kert, the public garden which two centuries ago was at the edge of the town • See a reconstructed piece of the medieval town wall • Pass by Centrál Grand Cafe & Bar, one of the few remaining coffee houses dating back to Budapest‘s golden era, before WWI • Gaze upon Buda Castle and the St Gerard Sagredo statue which honours Saint Gellert, Hungary‘s first Christian martyr • Hear how Gellért Hill was used as a secret meeting spot for witches, and as the location of the monastery for the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit • Discover two famous hot pools, Rudas Baths and Gellért Thermal Bath • Find out why Franz Joseph Bridge, named after the Hungarian King, was later renamed Liberty Bridge in the mid-1900s • Spot Gellért Hill, once home to Ivan the hermit before it was transformed into a place of worship known as the Rock Chapel By the end of this 40-minute tour, you‘ll have a greater appreciation for Budapest‘s long history, its quirky stories, and the people who shaped it.