After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Transfer to your ship and settle into your stateroom. During the 12th century, the first Jewish settlers arrived in Buda from neighboring German and Slavic countries. Over the next hundreds of years, the community played an important role in the cultural and economic development of Hungary. But, like elsewhere in Europe, life for Jews alternated between periods of prosperity and persecution. More than 100,000 perished during the Holocaust, and a number of Budapest’s landmarks serve as a reminder of the events that took place. One of the most poignant memorials is the 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes that line the banks of the Danube River. They represent the men, women and children who fell there at the hands of the Hungarian Nazi Arrow Cross Party.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.
Dohány Street Synagogue & Jewish Budapest
Explore Budapest’s Jewish history and heritage, including the Jewish Quarter and massive synagogue.
Gödöllö Royal Palace & Gardens
Visit one of Hungary’s most beloved monuments, built by a count in the 1760s.
Highlights of Budapest
Step inside Hungary’s grand parliament building and get a flavor for the nation’s hearty cuisine.
Videos
At Home in Budapest with Kinga & Eszter
Discover the best of Budapest with two expert Viking guides, Eszter Pozsár and Kinga Tittel, as they each highlight a different side of the Danube River with a focus on hilly Buda and majestic Pest. As someone who naturally loves to share her knowledge of the city with guests and family, Kinga has been a tour guide in and around Budapest for more than a decade, while Eszter has been working as a local guide for 30 years and has been conducting tours for Viking since we began sailing in Hungary. From Buda to Pest, learn insightful tips on how to explore this delightful city from a local perspective as Kinga and Eszter take you on a tour while answering viewers’ questions during this livestream.
Cooking with Karine: Goulash
Explore Budapest’s Great Market Hall and learn how to make goulash, Hungary’s rich, hearty dish seasoned with paprika and packed with flavor.
Shopping in Budapest
Looking for the perfect gift? Join Karine at her favorite shop in Budapest, Hungary: the venerable Café Gerbeaud, purveyors of fine chocolates.
Hungarian Language Lesson
Learn a few useful Hungarian words and phrases with Eszter, your Viking tutor. Jó napot!
Explore: Budapest
Explore the beauty of Budapest, the “Pearl of the Danube,” with Karine highlighting the city’s top attractions: Fisherman’s Bastion, Great Market Hall, Heroes’ Square and more.