Budapest is a city that perfectly melds tradition and history with modern influences and techniques, creating an evolving culture that’s quite interesting to be a part of.
This applies to the local culinary scene, as well, with plenty of hearty, meaty dishes, unique flavors, and plenty of interesting takes that have made it one of the biggest foodie hot spots in the world!
This was unbeknownst to me when I first arrived here, and now I find myself constantly craving some of the amazing food I tried in Budapest. The thing is, there is so much to try, that I recommend going on one of the 5 top Budapest food tours, so you get to try the best of the best. Let’s get started!
Be sure to see our reviews of Budapest Dinner Cruises, Budapest City Tours and Wine Tours.
Best Food Tours in Budapest
Budapest: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Food and Drinks | Budapest Street Food Tour with Local Snacks, Dessert and Beer | Budapest Culinary & Wine Walk | |
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Location: | Budapest, Kazinczy u. 29-31, 1075 | Hungarian State Opera, Budapest, Andrássy út 22, 1061 | Central Market Hall, Budapest, 1093 |
Start: | 1:00 PM or 5:00 PM | 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM | 9:30 AM or 3:00 PM |
Duration: | 2.5 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours |
Includes: | Wine, beer, soft drinks, many different traditional Hungarian dishes, walking tour | Various stops for local street food specialties, beer, walking tour | Visit Central Market Hall & 4 additional tasting locations, lunch, beer & wine, snacks, bottled water |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Budapest Food Tours For 2024
- Budapest: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Food and Drinks
- Budapest Street Food Tour with Local Snacks, Dessert and Beer
- Budapest Culinary & Wine Walk
- The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Budapest: 6 or 10 Tastings
- Budapest Food Tour & Wine Tasting 2024 by Foodapest
Budapest Food Tour Reviews
1. Budapest: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Food and Drinks
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Departure: Budapest, Kazinczy u. 29-31, 1075
- Departure Time: 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM
- Includes: Wine, beer, soft drinks, many different traditional Hungarian dishes, walking tour
When I first got to Budapest, I was a bit overwhelmed by so much to do and see! Everything looked so beautiful and I had a list of many of the landmarks I wanted to check out, however, I also really wanted to experience the “real” local food scene.
I luckily found just what I was looking for and so much more in the Budapest: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Food and Drinks. This 2.5-hour experience was the perfect way for me to immerse myself in the local culture, with a small-group setting that allowed for a more intimate and personalized tour.
We met up at the Policeman statue, which I learned also is steeped in folklore (I won’t spoil the story for you), with our guide radiating passion for his city and welcoming us. He did a great job of regaling us with interesting stories about the local culture and history, taking us to plenty of different foodie spots.
I learned about different Budapest food trends over the years, while we stopped at 4 different places off the beaten tourist path. The food was all delicious, focusing on different traditional Hungarian dishes, with expertly-paired wine.
I loved the pace of the tour, never feeling like we were being rushed nor lagging at any point during the few hours. What I really loved was that I visited places I probably never would have known about, had it not been for our guide.
It really felt like I was seeing a new, more “authentic” side to Budapest that really captured the unique spirit and most flavorful offerings. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time in this city, I know you’ll love this tour as much as I did.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Budapest Street Food Tour with Local Snacks, Dessert and Beer
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Hungarian State Opera, Budapest, Andrássy út 22, 1061
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM
- Includes: Various stops for local street food specialties, beer, walking tour
In a city renowned for its rich culinary scene, Budapest’s street food is the perfect balance of traditional Hungarian comfort and modern edginess.
The Budapest Street Food Tour with Local Snacks, Dessert and Beer is the perfect way to jump off the deep end into the delicious chaos that I was fortunate enough to experience.
Aside from tasty food and beer, you can also expect to learn about the city’s culinary evolution, altered by the historical happenings over time. This 3-hour tour was quite interesting to me, as it not only covered a good portion of Hungarian dishes, but also included Turkish and Greek places for some variety!
I’ll admit that I did get sucked into a few “tourist trap” eateries when I first arrived to Budapest, and not that they weren’t great, but they just felt like something I could get at any Hungarian food place at home.
This tour, though, was completely different, showing us dishes that represent not only the more “traditional” Budapest fare but the city’s immigrant communities, as well. We met our guide at the Hungarian State Opera, which was easy to access – not to mention, beautiful to look at!
We wasted no time, visiting all kinds of different stops to try some little bites, samples, and dishes that will fill you up fast! I appreciated the little strolls in between the stops so we had time to digest while sightseeing and learning.
We learned quite a bit about Budapest’s ethnic minorities, including how they came to arrive here, what kinds of flavors and traditions they brought with them, and how those were translated to their cuisine.
While I know they only do this if there’s extra time at the end, we got to try an amazing Transylvanian dessert that I am thoroughly addicted to now! I highly recommend this tour if you’re a history buff just as much as a foodie!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Budapest Culinary & Wine Walk
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Central Market Hall, Budapest, 1093
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM or 3:00 PM
- Includes: Expert guide, visits to Central Market Hall and 4 additional tasting locations, lunch, alcoholic beverages, snacks, bottled water, 10% discount on wine purchases at Tasting Table Budapest
So, you want to experience Budapest’s fantastic food culture beyond the touristy cliches that most visitors encounter – I have just the one for you.
The Budapest Culinary & Wine Walk tour immerses you in the local neighborhoods, featuring hidden gems that you likely wouldn’t get to see with other tours. Miss the standard eateries and instead enjoy the family-run shops, authentic markets, and unassuming cafes that locals regularly frequent.
What I really love about this tour is that the guide doesn’t just have you follow them around, checking boxes off off & certain dishes to try. Rather, they focus on food as a narrative, with the opportunity to learn about the cultural significance behind each dish and how they came to be.
As a history nerd and foodie, this was the perfect melding of subjects for me, as historical background is part of why I love food and wine so much!
Unlike the bigger, more commercialized tours, this walk offers a personal touch rarely found in tours of this caliber. We had the chance to ask any questions we had, interact with the local eatery owners, and even learn how the traditional recipes have evolved over time.
Ultimately, you’ll get to connect with Budapest in a way that feels more intimate and authentic, moving at a calm pace that encourages exploration rather than going through the paces.
If that weren’t fun enough, you’ll also try samples of 3 of the most well-known Hungarian wines – one of which was a rare local wine that is nearly impossible to find anywhere else! With food being served quickly, great organization, and attention to detail, you’re sure to have a great time
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Budapest: 6 or 10 Tastings
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Budapest, Vámház krt. 1-3, 1093
- Departure Time: Between 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM
- Includes: Completely private tour – only you and your local, 6 or 10 food & drinks tastings of high quality local products – depends on the option you book, vegetarian alternatives – please message your host to advise of any dietary requirements, sustainable carbon neutral experience (B-Corp), multilingual local foodie guide
This next tour is one of the most thorough food tours I’ve experienced in any city, offering the perfect balance of history, viticulture, and local cuisine.
The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Budapest: 6 or 10 Tastings is customizable, ensuring it’s tailored around you and your group’s specific interests. There’s no need to worry about getting yourself into an activity you’re not interested in, nor staying too long/too short at places of interest!
You get to decide if you’d like to do the completely private tour, or save some money and elect the small-group tour. The small-group tour is definitely not a bad option as it caps out at a mere 8 participants, though if you want your guide all to yourself, it’s not that much more.
There are various meet-up points you can choose from, ensuring everything is convenient for you. This tour showed me plenty of places I hadn’t seen on other tours, such as a fabulous 19th-century coffee house where I had one of the best espressos of my life, accompanied by traditional Hungarian cakes.
After that, we paid a visit to the thriving Central Market Hall where I sampled tons of different foods and dishes while learning about the culinary culture from our local guide.
Between each of our stops, we strolled around as our guide led us past many different points of interest and regaled us with captivating anecdotes and historical background, bringing the past to life.
Our last stop of the tour was the Tasting Table Budapest, where we partook in a thorough wine and cheese tasting with a professional sommelier who taught us about the different national wine regions, varietals, and styles.
I had no idea the Hungarian wine scene was so rich, but after the different tastings, I could see why. If you have a few hours to spare, please do yourself a favor and check this tour out!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Budapest Food Tour & Wine Tasting by Foodapest
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Central Market Hall, Budapest, 1093 Hungary
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM
- Includes: Alcoholic beverages, snacks, lunch, brunch, all fees and taxes, local guide
If you’re looking to go to a restaurant for lunch but want to try something new, I have the perfect alternative for you.
The Budapest Food Tour & Wine Tasting 2024 by Foodapest is one of the top options for newbies to the city or those who simply want to learn more about Hungarian astronomy and history. It’s also the best option if you’re on a tight budget but still want to experience the best food the city has to offer!
Clocking in at just 3 hours and 30 minutes, it’s a great choice if you don’t have any plans until the late afternoon and want to get out there and explore.
We met up at the famous Central Market Hall at 11 am, which is known for its striking neo-Gothic architecture as well as the 3 different floors that offer food, local handicrafts, textiles, and souvenirs (great spot to grab some gifts!).
It was here that we met our friendly local guide, who felt like a friend I’d known all my life. She shared with us insight into plenty of different local traditions and history about Budapest, intertwining the stories into the different dishes we sampled.
We got to try plenty of amazing dishes like the hearty goulash, chimney cake (my favorite), the famous langos topped with sour cream and cheese, amongst others. It all felt very authentic and like we were stepping into the “real” Budapest – the one that may be a bit more gritty and raw, but more vibrant and honestly, tasty.
Another highlight of the tour for me was the cold cut tasting along with the tastings of local wines and spirits, which were all delicious. The value of this tour is incomparable, and it was hard to believe we got to try so much for such an affordable price. Don’t take my word for it, though, check it out yourself!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Foods Tasted
Tour Guides
Value
The Budapest: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Food and Drinks is our Editors Choice for the best Budapest food tour