West Kent Medico-Chirurgical Society Trip to Budapest

Budapest straddles the Danube River, with the Buda Hills to the west and the Great Plain to the east. Its stunning natural setting is complemented by an architectural heritage that includes Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles, giving the city its distinctive fin de-siècle character.

See the Danube spectacularly illuminated on an evening river cruise as it neatly divides stately Buda from bohemian Pest. Experience each side’s distinct identity and the shared cultural influences that combine to create Budapest’s simmering goulash of a personality.

Visit fascinating museums that reveal Hungary’s unique medical history, from medieval alchemy to Semmelweis and the secret military hospital hidden deep beneath Buda Castle. Learn about the time-honoured healing traditions of Budapest’s thermal baths before relaxing in their restorative waters.

You will enjoy comfortable accommodation on Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, and sample traditional flavours throughout, including on a visit to Etyek, the“Vineyard of Budapest”.

Take the option to extend your journey with two nights in Bratislava, tracing the Danube through Visegrád and Esztergom to Slovakia’s capital, a city layered with Roman roots, centuries of Hungarian history, Baroque charm, and Eastern Bloc Brutalism alongside Viennese cafés.

Please note that this tour is exclusively open to members of the West Kent Medico-Chirurgical Society.

Price (sharing a room)

per person

Price (room to yourself)

per person

Reference:

HUN0527-1

At a glance

What you need to know

Type of tour

Professional

Profession

Medicine

Nights

Countries

Tour grade

Moderate

Remaining places

Dates and places

Itinerary at a glance

Budapest

Thursday

May

Arrive in magnificent Budapest, the undisputed ‘Queen of the Danube’, and transfer to the Hotel Oktogon in the vibrant heart of the city. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Budapest

Friday

May

Spend the day discovering the Pest side of the city, with its endless boulevards, elegant squares, and classic architecture. Enjoy a guided tour encompassing The Grand Parliament, St Stephens Basilica and Heroes’ Square. At leisure, before dinner cruise along the Danube River to see Budapest gloriously lit up.

Budapest

Saturday

May

Discover Buda, see magnificent Buda Castle, the fairy-tale towers of Fisherman’s Bastion, and the historic Matthias Church. Visit the Semmelweis Museum, the Golden Eagle Pharmacy Museum, a medieval alchemy laboratory, and the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum. Once a secret hospital and nuclear bunker, it is now a museum showcasing a unique medical and military history.

Budapest

Sunday

May

Specialist-led visit to one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths. Learn about the therapeutic benefits of thermal water and its role in rehabilitation, before experiencing the restorative baths for yourself. Continue to Etyek, a quaint village renowned for its white wines and premium sparkling wine production. Enjoy a tasting accompanied by a light lunch.

Budapest

Monday

May

Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport or join the post-tour extension.

What to expect

Tour highlights

Discover the ‘Pest’ side of the city

Pest

Explore its grand avenues, elegant squares, and classic architecture and home to some of the city’s most iconic sights. Tour includes The Grand Parliament, St Stephens Basilica and Heroes Square.

Discover the ‘Buda’ side of the city

Buda

Famous for its royal history, panoramic viewpoints, and natural thermal baths. See the grand Buda Castle, the fairy-tale towers of Fisherman's Bastion, and the historic Matthias Church.