Budapest Walking Tour: Parliament and Shoes Memorial

Your day starts at St. Stephen’s Basilica. It is the biggest church in town and home to a rather famous mummified hand. Don't worry, you'll hear the story. From there, you'll dodge the crowds in Lipótváros. You'll cross Erzsébet Square to see the Budapest Eye and pass the legendary Café Gerbeaud on Vörösmarty Square. It's classic Austro-Hungarian elegance. But the vibe shifts at the Danube Promenade. You'll get a clear shot of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the castle looming over the water. Look for the 'Little Princess' statue on the railings. She's a local favorite. The mood turns somber as you reach the Shoes on the Danube Bank. Sixty pairs of iron shoes sit on the stone to honor Jews killed by the Arrow Cross during WWII. It is quiet. It is powerful. Finally, you'll end at Kossuth Lajos Square to stand beneath the massive Neo-Gothic spires of the Hungarian Parliament Building.

Wear real shoes. You're covering about 2.5 kilometers of pavement and cobblestones. It's flat but your feet will feel it after two hours. If it's July, bring water and a hat because the riverbank is a sun trap. If it's November, the wind off the Danube will bite, so pack an extra layer. This is a free city walking tour budapest style, meaning it's pay-what-you-wish. Some sites charge a small booking fee to hold your spot, but you should tip your guide at the end. Carry some Forint or Euros for this. It's just good form. You won't go inside the Basilica or the Parliament on this walk. Book those tickets weeks in advance if you want to see the crown jewels. To get to the start, take the M3 metro to Arany János utca or the M1 to Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út. Aim to arrive 10 minutes early. The meeting point behind the Basilica gets busy.