Budapest
27th September – 1st October 2027
Budapest is full of surprises – a vibrant city set against the spectacular natural landscape of the Buda Hills and curve of the River Danube. Buda and Pest were not united until 1873 and still retain their own distinct character; age-old elegance is found in Buda, whereas the city’s golden age during the late 19th century filled Pest with the exciting energy of Art Nouveau. Hungarian culture abounds with excellent opera, a lively coffee house scene, good Magyar cooking and of course, the baths. During our trip we hope to sample all.
The hotel is a smart combination of traditional and contemporary and is in a fantastic area, surrounded by coffee houses, boutique shops and restaurants.
Itinerary
Monday 27th September
First, we will check in at the hotel and drop our bags. We will spend the afternoon exploring the history of Budapest and the great ‘Szecesszio’ buildings – the Hungarian Art Nouveau movement – including the Postal Savings Bank by Hungary’s most prolific architect, Ödön Lechner. If we have the time, and the inclination, we may stop for tea at Gerbeaud, since 1858 the leading cávéház in the town. We will take in the exteriors of some wonderful buildings on our way back to the hotel, stopping into St. Stephen’s Istvan Basilica on the way. A good supper near the hotel.
Tuesday 28th September
We will spend the morning exploring the Jewish Quarter, which contains the unexpected art nouveau masterpiece, the Kazinczy Street Synagogue of 1913. We hope to also visit the Geological Institute, which is currently closed for refurbishment. Failing this, we will use this time to take in multiple astonishingly designed synagogues in the city.
After lunch there will be two options; one of the highpoints of Budapest are undoubtedly the thermal baths, and we propose a visit to one of the most spectacular, the Gellert, another art nouveau masterpiece. Alternatively, you may wish to see some other sites, which could include a couple of Pest’s older churches, the remarkable Central Market Hall or the Museum of Applied Arts, another of Lechner’s designs. We will have dinner in a relaxed atmosphere with superb food.
Wednesday 29th September
This morning, we will visit the Parliament Building, before walking along the embankments of the Danube and across the Chain Bridge, taking this opportunity to discuss the development of both engineering and politics in the 19th and 20th centuries. We will head up the ‘sikló’ or funicular to visit St Matthias, coronation church of the Kings of Hungary, before a lunch overlooking the city.
In the afternoon, we will look at the best of Hungary’s 19th and early 20th century painting in the National Gallery. Presently, the programme for the famous and beautiful Opera House in Budapest is not publicised, however, we hope that on one evening we will be able to go and then enjoy a fun post opera supper. We will keep you informed.
Thursday 30th September
We will spend the morning at the Hungarian National Museum, discussing Hungary’s fascinating history. Hungary has a unique geographical place in the history of our continent; it once stood as a frontier city between the Christian and Muslim worlds, a bridging point on the Danube, the centre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and on the doorstep of Russia. The Hungarian Museum is a very successful display of these complexities.
We will have lunch nearby before a free afternoon of exploration or shopping. Tutors will be on hand with suggestions. Supper at a good place near the hotel.
Friday 1st October
After a relaxed start, on the way to the airport, we will stop at Memento Park. This is one of the more extraordinary museums and sculpture parks of the trip. Rather than destroying the Communist sculpture that adorned the city, the new authorities, after the fall of USSR, decided to keep these monumental works and display them in a park. They are varied and magnificent and will provide a fascinating end to our trip. We will stop for lunch before heading to the airport.
Further Details
Tutors
Nicholas Ross and Edward Aspinall will lead the trip. This will be our fourth trip to Budapest and we look forward to building on the success of previous trips by showing you our new and exciting discoveries.
Hotels
We will stay in the W Budapest Hotel, housed in the beautifully renovated Drechsler Palace on the Andrássy Avenue (a UNESCO heritage site) and opposite the State Opera House. It captures the spirit of the Belle Époque with lovely communal areas and a great bar.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/budwh-w-budapest/overview/
Flights
We do not book the flights thus allowing you to travel to suit your budget, use airmiles, travel between different airports or on different dates. Not all airlines have published their flights for the end of September 2027 yet; we shall notify you as soon as soon as they do.
Transport
There will be a private coach for the airport transfer to meet the recommended flights. We will take a variety of public transport in Budapest.
Concerts
The programme for 2027 is not yet out, but we hope there will be a performance from the Hungarian State Opera at the Erkel Theatre. We will let you know as soon as we hear.
Lunches and Dinners
Lunches are a set menu of two courses to include drinks. Dinner is by no means compulsory, but we book a table for the group each night at different restaurants and divide the bill equally between everyone. Sometimes these may also need to be a set menu but we try our best to avoid this. We will adjust the bill for those not drinking alcohol.
Ability
There will be quite a lot of walking on this trip, as well as uneven cobbles. You will be able to take a taxi for the longer stretches, should you need to. As is the case for all our courses, there is a lot of standing while we discuss the works we are looking at.
Cost
The fees are £2380 which includes accommodation and breakfast, all lunches, transfers for the recommended flight, transport when connected with teaching, entrance fees, a visit to the baths, tuition, reading lists and local advice. The single room supplement is £280 (double room for single use). Please state on the form if you would be happy to share. Not included are the flights, all suppers, concert, travel insurance. The group will not exceed 16 people and we will divide into two smaller groups wherever possible.
To register
Please complete the online registration form, having read our terms and conditions and pay a deposit of £600 per person via bank transfer once you have received the confirmation email. Please note your place is not confirmed until we have received your deposit.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected] or call 01379 871800 (302)
NB you must buy your own flights.
