Things to do in

Tokaj

Enjoy the convenience of being picked up at your hotel in either Tokaj or Tarcal. Arrive at the Hímesudvar Wine Estate and meet the winemaker and his family as they welcome you to the vineyard. Take a stroll through the vineyard with the winemaker. Learn about the history of the Tokaj, as well as the local terroir, and how the winemaker creates exquisite wines while harmonizing with nature. Take in scenic views of Tokaj’s landscape and the Bodrog river. Chill out, embrace the moment and sample 8 different wines ranging from dry to sweet, including the sweetest wine in the world, Tokaj Eszencia. Along with your wines, snack on cheese bread and olives. After your tasting, you’ll be dropped off at either your accommodations or the train station.

Travel out of Budapest on a private, full-day tour. Explore the northeast region of Hungary with visits to the Tokaj wine region and charming historical town ofSárospatak. Tokaj is a historical wine region, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Its fame long predated this distinction because it is the origin of Tokaji aszú wine, the world's oldest botrytized wine. While there, you will learn about Hungarian wines as you tour a local cellar. Then enjoy a 5-series tasting accompanied by snacks. After your tasting, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to Sárospatak. This historical city is a jewel among the historic towns of Hungary, and you will tour its many unique and extravagant rooms while learning about the notable people who once owned the castle.

You will begin your full-day wine tour with pick-up from your central Budapest hotel, where you'll meet your guide before heading to the picturesque Tokaj region. This region is the world’s oldest classified wine area. As you travel, you will learn about this UNESCO-listed region, whose volcanic hills and warm climate are perfect for viticulture and growing "noble rot", a mold that enriches the fabled local dessert wine, Tokaji Aszú. You will learn in detail how wine making began here thousands of years ago, and hear about Tokaj’s old wine cellars that were carved from volcanic rock. Next, pass through Tokaj's villages and vineyards, and after around 2.5 hours, you will arrive at the first winery. This winery will be the first of three chosen to provide a balanced picture of the region's traditional, modern and experimental wines. Here you will meet with your winemaker host, and continue to sample between 5-8 wines, discussing the flavors and learning about the local furmint and hárslevelu grapes. Throughout the rest of the day, you will visit two other wineries and sample some of Tokaj's newer dry whites and Aszú varieties. Taste 5-8 wines at each stop, and tour a cellar system and vineyard to discover more about local wine making. About halfway through your tour, you will visit a local restaurant for a tasty 3-course lunch. Venues and menus may change, but your meal will typically include Hungarian classics such as broths or stews, plus a dessert such as strudel. At the last winery, pair your tastings with cold local snacks such as cured meat and artisanal cheese, before returning to Budapest where your tour will end with a hotel drop-off.