Best Regional Wine Tastings
In Budapest you can sample wines from all over the country, but nothing beats going out there yourself and getting the real thing.
Locateed in the centre of Hungary, you have wine regions in practically every direction, and the furthest are a good 2+ hours by car. If you want to sample these wines, plan for a day trip, you can make an entire programme with some city sightseeing or exploring the countryside lifestyle – depending on where you are going.
Hungarian Wine Regions
Technically, there are over 20 wine regions in the country, so for the true enthusiast with time and money to spare, you could arrange a full month of travel and wine tasting. But for those who can only spare a day or two, the most prominent regions are as follows.
- Tokaj (Northeast): Famous for the Tokaji Aszú sweet dessert wine, but Tokaj also produces quality whites like Dry Furmint
- Eger (Northeast): This is where you get the famous Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood) and its white counterpart, Egri Csillag (Star of Eger)
- Villány (South): Mostly famous for its Villányi Franc, this is premium red wine region
- Balaton (Southwest): Comprises multiple wine regions, such as Badacsony, Balatonfüred-Csopak, and Balatonboglár. Virtually all do Olaszrizling
The tours take you to these locations so you don’t need to worry about taking train transits, local buses in the area or trying to source taxies. Everything is prearranged, and the guides or driver-guides you can assist with translation or recommendations in buying meals or more wine.
Regional Wine Tasting Comparison
Don’t be too alarmed if wine tasting or meals are not included in the following trips. These are mostly private or small-group activities, so the providers don’t include those options to make it more flexible to the needs of the group. Also, not all groups accept solo travellers, they may require 2 or more people to book.
If you want to spend more time exploring the local areas you can, but if wine is what you are after, you can definitely reduce the sightseeing time and increase the amount of time spent exploring the historic regional wine cellars.
| Tasting | Region | Price | Duration | Includes (wine and meal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eger Private Tour to the Home of Bull’s Blood Wine | Eger | €700 (€370 pp for 2+) | 9 hours | Eger Castle entry, wine tasting and meal |
| Private Eger Countryside, Culture & Wine Tour | Eger | €485 (€255 pp for 2+) | 8 hours | N/A. Eger Castle entry included |
| Private Eger Wine Region & Old Town | Eger | €589 (€295 pp for 2+) | 9 hours | N/A |
| Mátra Hills Wine Tour | Mátra | €302 pp, min for 2+ | 5 hours | Wine tasting and snacks |
| Tokaj Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch | Tokaj | €820 (€495 pp for 2+) | 8 hours | Wine tasting, charcuterie and lunch |
| Grand Wine Tasting Tour of Eger and Tokaj | Eger and Tokaj | €484 pp, min 2+ | 10 hours | Wine tasting and snacks |
| Tokaj Private Day Tour With Wine Tasting | Tokaj | €900 (€470 pp for 2+) | 12 hours | Wine tasting and snacks |
| Villány Wineroad, Private Tour with Pécs Visit | Villány and Pécs | €815 (€435 pp for 2+) | 10 hours | Pécs Catherdral and wine tasting |
| Private Volcanic Balaton Wine Day Trip | Balaton (Badacsony) | €480 (€240 pp for 2+) | 10 hours | Wine tasting |
| Badacsony: Organic Wine Tour | Balaton (Badacsony) | €547 pp, min 2+ | 10 hours | Wine tasting and lunch |
Best Eger Region Wine Tastings
Eger Private Tour to the Home of Bull’s Blood Wine
In Eger, you can’t miss the Bull’s Blood, and this tour makes sure of that. You travel to the city and get a guided tour around the main attractions, with a stop at the famous cellars that includes wine tasting and a meal.
- Journey length 1-way: 1.5 hours
- Duration: 9 hours
- Schedule: 09:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €700 (€370 for 2+)
- Provider: Budapest Day Trips
- Includes: Wine tasting and meal
You can get the ultimate trip to Eger, complete with sightseeing, wine tasting and chauffered transfers to catch all the main attractions. Your guide will show you around the city and take you to the famous Vallery of Beautiful Women cellars, where you will taste 5 wines including the famous Bull’s Blood. This tasting, and lunch, are included in the ticket price.
A private tour, you can go solo but then you have to pay a premium price. If you travel with 2+ people then you get a much more favorable price for this tour. It is definitely worth it, and the money you save can easily go into buying Eger wines and buying local souvenirs at this famous Hungarian city.
Private Eger Countryside, Culture & Wine Tour
This tour explores the city of Eger and takes you through all the sights to see in this famous Hungarian city. During the tour, you explore the wine cellars, and while wine tasting is not included in the price, you can sample wines and buy bottles as you require.
- Journey length 1-way: 1.5 hours
- Duration: 8 hours
- Schedule: 08:30, 9:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €485 (€255 pp for 2+)
- Provider: BudapestPrivate
- Includes: Guide, Eger Castle entry, water
The tour takes you into the city of Eger and includes entry into Eger Castle. While wine tasting is not included in the price, there is a stop at the Eger wine cellars where you can sample some of the local wines and the guides are there to help you out. The groups are intentionally kept smaller so they feel more personal. Though this is a private tour, and so while you can travel solo, it is better to go in groups of 2 or more to get better value for money.
Private Eger Wine Region & Old Town Day Tour
An impromptu adventure in Eger, this tour takes you through all the historic spots in Eger that your group wants to see, with a driver guide who can personalize the stops and provide recommendations.
- Journey length 1-way: 1.5 hours
- Duration: 9 hours
- Schedule: Every hour from 08:00 to 11:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €589 (€295 pp for 2+)
- Provider: Welcome Pickups
- Includes: Driver-guide, water and snacks
Your driver doubles as a guide who can show you around. Though for the most part, you are left to your own devices and throw yourself into the winding streets and fascinating sights in Eger. This trip does not include meals, wine tasting or entry to any of Eger’s main attractions.
The driver can take you to the local cellars and assist with fixing up tastings or buying bottles, but for obvious reasons, they won’t sample any of the local wines with you. So it is really best for groups who like to take matters into their own hands, and create their own programmes.
Mátra Hills Wine Tour
Wine The Gap’s Mátra Hills wine tour takes you to 2 local wineries, one of which holds the coveted Hungarian Winemaker of the Year award.
- Journey length 1-way: 1 hour
- Duration: 5 hours
- Schedule: 08:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €302 pp, min 2+
- Provider: Wine The Gap Kft.
- Includes: Guide, wine tasting
This is one of the rare tours that explores Mátra, a region that is around halfway between Budapest and Eger. The wine here is mostly white, but there are some distinct reds as well, and you sample 4 wines at each location. The sampling is conducted by your live guide, and you have nibbles to enjoy next to the wines.
While you don’t explore much of the region, which is a bit of a shame considering this is where Hungary’s highest mountain is located, you do get a very comprehensive guide to the local wines. This is a region that is not as famous as Eger or Tokaj (to the north) or Balaton (to the south), and has very distinct profiles. For the ultimate wine enthusiast, this is a must-try wine tasting.
Best Tokaj Region Wine Tastings
Tokaj Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch
This Tokaj wine tour takes you into one of Hungary’s most famous wine cities and features a visit to a winery, a presenation by wine makers and then you get lunch at a traditional restaurant.
- Journey length 1-way: 2 hours
- Duration: 8 hours
- Schedule: Every 15 minutes from 08:00 to 10:45
- Transport: Varies by group size
- Price: €820 (€495 pp for 2+)
- Provider: TransferMe / Urban Walks
- Includes: Driver-guide, wine tasting and lunch
You have time to explore the city and soak up the atmosphere, and then there is the wine sampling experience. This is not just a quick tasting, but the winemakers share the history and tradition of winemaking in Tokaj, while you sip on the local wines and tuck into charcuterie. Included in the price you also get lunch at a traditional Hungarian restaurant, and your driver-guide takes you to all the major atractions.
A private tour, this experience is designed for groups of 2+. While you can do the trip solo, you will pay a high price to reserve the car and the wine sampling for yourself, it becomes far better value for money if you go in groups of 2 or more. If you go in groups of 3-6 then a minivan will come to pick you up, and in the largest group size (7-19 people) you get a minibus.
Grand Wine Tasting Tour of Eger and Tokaj
You can check off two cities in one day with this tour, heading northeast to Eger, and then further to Tokaj to taste a myriad of classic Hungarian wines.
- Journey length 1-way: 2.5 - 3 hours (with both stops)
- Duration: 10 hours
- Schedule: 09:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €484 pp, min 2+
- Provider: Instol Ltd
- Includes: Wine tasting and snacks
The first stop is in Eger, where you get a good 2 hours to explore the city and enjoy the wine tasting. Then, you head on to Tokaj, where you will be hosted by local winemakers and learn more about their winemaking traditions. Both legs of the tour last around 2 hours, so it is really a brief immersion into the cities rather than a full, comfortable sightseeing + wine sampling experience. Also, going on what people have said about this private tour, you have the freedom to personalize the trip, adding in any extra stops in Eger or Tokaj.
But be warned that with such tight schedules in both cities, you will either have to hurry or limit the extra sightseeing activities. You can travel in groups of up to 6, and while you can book this private tour alone, it will be extremely expensive. Ideally, if you travel in a group of 4 then the tour becomes very good value for money, at around €180 per head. You will spend quite a lot of time in the car, but these can comfortably seat up to 6 passengers and your driver guide can make extra stops if you need.
Tokaj Private Day Tour With Wine Tasting
Designed with the wine enthusiasts in mind, this private day tour lasts a full half day and goes beyond city sightseeing, exploring the local vineyards and delving into the Tokaj wine cellars.
- Journey length 1-way: 2 hours
- Duration: 12 hours
- Schedule: 08:00, 19:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €900 (€470 pp for 2+)
- Provider: Budapest Day Trips
- Includes: Guide, wine tasting
With this tour you see renowned local vineyards such as Mád and Bodrogkeresztúr, and then venture into the Hercegkut wine cellars. There, you taste wines with snacks, learning about the local wine traditions. This is really a two for one tour, as you get to see Tokaj and the surrounding vineyards, most prominently the Bodrogkeresztúralja and Hercegkut village vineyards.
Lunch is not included, but your guide can make recommendations and help you if you need translations. It is also worth noting that given the lengthy span of time you spend at Tokaj, you have time to add extra activities and make the most of the day. If you contact the guide in advance, you can make tweaks or ask for specific changes to your trip.
Best Villány Region Wine Tastings
Villány Wineroad, Private Tour with Pécs Visit
One of the rare private tours that takes you from Budapest to Villány and Pécs, you get access to the historic Pécs Cathedral and also get to sample the region’s local wines.
- Journey length 1-way: 2.5 hours (with both stops)
- Duration: 10 hours
- Schedule: 07:30, 08:00 (seasonal)
- Transport: Car
- Price: €815 (€435 pp for 2+)
- Provider: Budapest Day Trips
- Includes: Pécs Catherdral and wine tasting
This is a seasonal tour that is only availabled from July to October, and you make a series of stops in Hungary’s historic south regions. The first is at Pécs, where you can visit the Pécs Cathedral and Mosque of Pasha Gazi Kassim. There are other free museums to explore in the area like the National Theatre of Pécs, but be careful with your time. Because afterwards you will travel to Villány for the wine tasting, and then you head on to the Palkonya village to explore more wine cellars.
Only the sampling in Villány is included, and there is no lunch included in the fare, but you can easily arrange lunch in Villány and get a second wine tasting in the village. The guide is there to show you around and assist you where needed. This private tour can be personalised to focus on specifics that you want to explore, as much as is possible given the time restrictions of making the stops at both cities and the village. With the early start, you can make the most of your day and travel to a region of Hungary that most tourists haven’t discovered.
Best Balaton Region Wine Tastings
Private Volcanic Balaton Wine Day Trip
Head to the northern side of Lake Balaton, famous for its volcanic profile wines, in this tour. You also get to step into the historic Salföld Manor and climb up the Szigliget Fortress for panoramic views of the lake.
- Journey length 1-way: 2 hours
- Duration: 10 hours
- Schedule: 08:00, 09:00 only weekends
- Transport: Car
- Price: €480 (€240 pp for 2+)
- Provider: Guidealist
- Includes: Guide
The schedule is very well designed, you get to sample the historic countryside lifestyle in the manor and visit a family winery in the Badacsony region, famous for its distinct wines. Then, the tour finishes with a stop at the Szigliget Fortress. You can personalise this trip as required, asking your guide to make alternative stops or spend more time at any of the recommended stops as you like.
The fees for the manor, fortress, and the wine sampling and food is not included in the price. You are just paying for the transport and the guide, and some places may not accept cards, so it is recommended to bring cash. This is really the perfect day tour if you want to sample wines and get a feel for rural life in Hungary. At the end of the tour, you will get a special surprise gift to take home.
Badacsony: Organic Wine Tour
Wine The Gap’s Badacsony tour pays homage to the local wines of the region, taking you to local winemakers and sampling their best produce. You also eat lunch at one of the wineries, and there is a stop at Tihany where you can take in the views of Lake Balaton.
- Journey length 1-way: 2 hours
- Duration: 10 hours
- Schedule: 08:00
- Transport: Car
- Price: €547 pp, min 2+
- Provider: Wine The Gap Kft.
- Includes: Guide, wine tasting, lunch
This tour has a curated list of stops at respected local winemakers where you can learn about their trades and their organic wines. You sample the wines with their producers, and at one of the stops you also eat lunch.
It is not all just wines either, as you also explore the hilly northern side of Lake Balaton at Tihany. This tour is designed for groups, you can only book for groups of a minimum of 2 people.