podtour
Along the Danube, from Bridge to Bridge
Walk beside the Danube with Buda Castle across the water. This riverbank tells how three cities became Budapest.
Gellért Hill and the Tabán: audio walk in Budapest
Downhill all the way from the summit: the fourteen-metre woman the sculptor found at a tram stop, the fortress a law gave to the city on condition it was demolished, the witches of the trials, the bishop of 1046 and his legend, the dervish who gave the hill its Ottoman name, the statue of Sisi that spent thirty years in storage, and the neighbourhood that was taken apart.
What this walk is about
You start at the top, beside the Liberty Statue, with the whole of Budapest at your feet and a question: who is that woman, and what do people say about her that isn't true? The Citadel was built by the Austrian army to keep watch over the town, and a law of 1894 handed it to the city on a condition nobody ever met. On the way down the slope come the witches of the trials, Bishop Gerard and the legend of his death, which isn't the one the guidebooks tell, and the hill as an Ottoman traveller saw it, with its bath of the green column. At the bottom, Sisi looks across to Pest from the wrong bank, the Tabán is a park where a whole neighbourhood once stood, and in a corner house the doctor who asked for hands to be washed was born. You finish at the foot of the Castle, in front of the bazaar below the gardens where the queen used to walk.
- Start
- The Woman with the Palm and the Horthy Rumour
- Finish
- The Queen's Gardens
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about Legends and mystery and viewpoints.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in level. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The Woman with the Palm and the Horthy Rumour
- 2
A Fortress the Law Ordered Demolished
- 3
An Observatory Caught Between Two Fires
- 4
The Witches of Gellért Hill
- 5
A Venetian Bishop in the Revolt of 1046
- 6
A Cart, Not a Barrel
- 7
The Hill of Gürz Ilyás
- 8
The Baths with the Green Column
- 9
Sissi on the Wrong Bank
- 10
The Neighbourhood Taken Apart
- 11
The Boy of the White Elephant
- 12
The Queen's Gardens
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Budapest, before you go
A view can seem close while lying across a bridge. Keep each walk within a sensible area and save some energy for simply stopping beside the Danube.
More walks nearby
Pest and the Revolution of 1848
A revolution survives among the cafés, printing shops and theatres of central Pest. Follow 15 March 1848 through the streets where it unfolded.
Andrássy Avenue: Palaces, Music and Cafés
Budapest's grand avenue began with big ambitions and difficult sums. Follow its palaces, cafés and stages to Liszt's home.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.