Budapest is best explored on foot—especially when the city itself becomes the story. Imagine runs guaranteed-date themed walking tours on both sides of the Danube, from the grand boulevards of Pest to the cobbled slopes of Buda. Expect deep dives into architecture, playful storytelling, food-focused walks, and access to extraordinary interiors usually closed to the public. It’s city love for locals and a discovery hit for visitors, with family-friendly options and programs that double perfectly as team-building experiences. Below is a snapshot of the packed winter schedule, with highlights running through January into early February 2026.
Hidden Lives, Golden Halls, and Sweet Tooth Trails
On January 8 at 17:30, step into Párizsi Udvar (Parisian Court) with Dream in Luxury Mode, a deep look at the lavish Art Nouveau arcade’s rebirth and fin-de-siècle glamour. The next night, January 9 at 18:00, The Big Gundel Story serves up the ingredients of hospitality at one of Hungary’s most storied culinary names. January 10 is all in: at 10:00, Adria Palace: Atlantis Above Ground explores a newly revived downtown landmark; at 10:30, Sweet Life is a dessert-chasing gastro walk across confectionery legends; and at 12:30, B as in Ballet, W as in W Budapest charts the rebirth of an iconic Andrássy út (Andrássy Avenue) palace into a modern hotel. Stick around for 14:30’s Gilded Budapest in Festive Mood, a city bath in lights and holiday sparkle.
Anatomy of a City, Room by Room
January 11 is stacked: 09:00 opens the doors to From Stock Exchange Palace to TV Headquarters at Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) 17, a rare interior visit with big-history vibes. Throughout the day, tours repeat and rotate—multiple slots for B as in Ballet and Adria Palace, plus City Codebreaking: Palace Stories of Andrássy út (Andrássy Avenue) at 10:00. Párizsi Udvar returns at 11:00, 15:00, and 16:30. At 16:00, Once Upon a Yellow House revisits the poignant history of the National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. This day, and many others, shows Imagine’s knack for combining architecture with personal stories that stick.
Intimate Women’s Histories and Legendary Hotels
On January 6 and again on January 13 at 18:00, Intimate Secrets at the Turn of the Century dives into women’s everyday lives in old Budapest—private worlds, public expectations, and the city’s social fabric. January 14 at 18:00 brings Diva and Nightingale: What Is a Woman Worth?, a sharp, culture-rich look at female fame and voice. On January 15 at 18:00, the Legendary Gellért unpacks tales from the hotel and baths’ glorious past, blending spa culture with elegant hospitality lore.
Csekonics Palace: A Noble Life on Display
January 17 is a Csekonics Palace (Csekonics-palota) takeover. From morning through late afternoon, Visit to Csekonics Palace: Aristocratic Lifestyle on the Table runs in tight waves, letting small groups experience the refined rhythms of noble living: dining rituals, interiors, and etiquette. Slotted among those, crime buffs can join The City Is Talking… at 10:00 for Budapest’s crime tales and gossip. The stock-exchange-to-TV tour also repeats several times, and the W Budapest and Párizsi Udvar programs punctuate the day. At 15:00, the Gellért returns with more hotel-and-bath storytelling.
Synagogue Triangle, Literary Bites, and Quiz Night
January 18 spreads out across the city. Stories from the Synagogue Triangle at 10:00 traces Jewish Quarter history in the Pest labyrinth. Literary Gastro Walk on the Lágymányos Pampas at 14:00 pairs neighborhood eateries with writerly legends—literally not just food for thought. Párizsi Udvar features multiple slots again, and the Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) 17 interiors continue to open in short time windows. On January 22 at 18:00, Budapest Quiz Station invites you to a live quiz night—local knowledge encouraged, curiosity mandatory.
Return to the Landmarks
Late January doubles down on greatest hits. Adria Palace, W Budapest, and Párizsi Udvar anchor the January 24–25 weekend with brisk sequences of tours, interlaced with Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) 17 interior visits. January 25 at 15:00 reprises The Big Gundel Story. On January 20 and 31 at 16:00, Once Upon a Millennium with historian Csaba Katona offers a storytelling session spanning Budapest’s modern birth and national milestones—one for history lovers.
Psychiatry’s Lost House and Andrássy’s Codes
January 21 and 28 at 18:00, Once Upon a Yellow House returns, revisiting the former psychiatric institute’s rise and closure, medical breakthroughs, and the building’s footprint in the city’s memory. January 31 at 10:00, City Codebreaking comes back to Andrássy út (Andrássy Avenue), threading palace façades, aristocratic ambitions, and street-level clues. Sweet Life pops up again at 10:30 for sugar enthusiasts with a historian’s palate.
February Kicks Off Inside the Icons
On February 1, the Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) 17 tour keeps its morning rhythm with 09:00 and 10:30 entries—concise windows into stock-exchange grandeur turned media-era functionalism. It’s the essence of Imagine: layer upon layer of Budapest, walked at human speed.
Good to Know
– All programs run in Budapest with guaranteed dates; many have multiple daily slots to fit your schedule.
– Family-friendly walks are available across routes; team-building inquiries welcome.
– Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs. With 311 listings and counting, more dates load as the season progresses.
Budapest’s stories are endless. These walks just happen to unlock the doors—and the details—you’ve always wanted to peek behind.
