Bike and eBike Tours
A cycling-friendly city, there are several biking tours in Budapest that can check off many of the most important landmarks in the space of a few hours.
Bike tours in Budapest vary greatly, as tour operators mix up their routes and take you to key areas like downtown Pest, Margaret Island and Buda Castle. Finding the right tour is all about checking the options and routes covered. Here, you can check out the best options and learn about which sites they cover , and (importantly) which sites the individual tours don’t cover.
Cycling in Budapest
Movements such as Critical Mass (2004-2013) popularised cycling in Budapest, and while it did have cycling lanes, there was a massive boom in the 2010s that saw mainstream development of these in the inner city. The launch of MOL Bubi (2014), a public bike-sharing company, further popularised cycling in the city. It wasn’t long before the tourism industry latched on.
Cycling in Budapest is governed by the highway code, and these are the most important points you should know.
- You must use cycling paths (where there are designated paths)
- No cycling on pavements for adults children up to 12 can ride
- No cycling in the bus lane
- Helmets are not compulsory but recommended
- Extra tip: avoid crossing tram tracks, this is where most cyclists trip (bike gets stuck in the rails)
Budapest is safe for cyclists, but you should probably take a guide if you haven’t done any city cycling or don’t feel confident cycling around Budapest (especially for first-time tourists).
Bike Tours
When comparing tours, then you must consider the length of the ride and the bike provided. Longer tours can span around 20km or more, so if you don’t cycle regularly you may want to opt for an eBike.
Pest is mostly flat, but if you pick a tour that goes up to the Castle District in Buda, then you will have to climb slopes. Again, there an eBike may be the better option if you aren’t an experienced cyclist.
Comparing Bike Tours
| Experience | Provider | Price | Bike | Length | Sites Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Sightseeing Bike Tour | Bestbike Tours | €38 | Regular | 3h (25km) | Downtown Pest, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, Heroes’ Square |
| Guided E-Bike Tour and Castle Hill | Bestbike Tours | €50 | eBike | 3h (25km) | Downtown Pest, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, Heroes’ Square |
| Guided Bike Tour of Landmarks & Hidden Corners | Budabike | €33 pp, min 2+ | Regular | 2.5h (8km) | Downtown Pest, Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park |
| Guided City Centre Electric Bike Tour | Bike Tour Kft / Bike and Relax | €54 | eBike | 3.5h (18km) | Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Parliament, Buda Castle, Buda riverfront |
| Historical E-Bike & Bike Tour with Local Guide | City Tours / Orange Fox Tours | €30 regular / €42 eBike | Regular. eBike upgrade | 2.5h (14km) | Downtown Pest, Central Market, Buda Castle, Margaret Island |
| Historic City Centre Bicycle Ride with Scenic Views | Bike Tour Kft / Bike and Relax | €22 tour only / €36 regular / €54 eBike | No bike. Regular, eBike upgrades | 3.5h (15km) | Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Parliament, Buda riverfront |
| Bike or E-Bike Tour of Historic Landmarks | City Tours / Orange Fox | €26 regular / €38 eBike | Regular. eBike upgrade | 1.5h (10km) | Downtown Pest, Parliament, Heroes’ Square, City Park |
| Budapest Bike Tour with a Certified Local Guide | Budapest Bike Breeze | €36 regular / €55 eBike | Regular. eBike upgrade | 3.5h (15km) | Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Parliament, Buda riverfront |
Best Budapest Bicycle and eBike Tours
Read on to find out about the best bike tours in depth.
#1. Grand Sightseeing Bike Tour
The Grand Sightseeing Bike Tour by Bestbike Tours covers virtually the whole city, riding up to the Castle District, to Margaret Island and then Heroes’ Square.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: €38
- Start: 10:00, 14:30 April-October. 11:00 November-March
- Distance: 25km
- Group: Open group, max 10 people
- Upgrades: N/A
- Bike: Regular
- Provider: Bestbike Tours Kft.
- Start: Budapest, Semmelweis u. 14, 1052
Sites covered: Downtown Pest, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, Heroes’ Square
Sites not covered: Jewish Quarter, Central Market
This mammoth of a tour is perfect for first-time tourists in Budapest. You start downtown and then head to the Danube Embankment, checking out the Bridges and the views of the Castle from Pest, before cycling over the Chain Bridge to head up to the Castle by bike. Then, you cycle back down to the Danube, over the Margaret Bridge to Margaret Island, before heading back to Pest, past the Parliament, up to Andrassy Avenue, and aim to reach Heroes’ Square. The only main area you don’t really explore is the Jewish Quarter.
It is an ambitious tour that covers around 20 to 25 kilometres, but the tour is pretty flexible. The live guide fills you in on all the historical facts and know-how about each site, and while it is an open group tour, the group size is limited to max 10 people so it doesn’t feel crowded.
#2. Guided E-Bike Tour and Castle Hill
This is basically the same tour as the Grand Sightseeing Bike Tour, but with an e-bike upgrade.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: €50
- Start: 10:00, 14:30 April-October. 11:00 November-March
- Distance: 25km
- Group: Open group, max 10 people
- Upgrades: N/A
- Bike: eBike
- Provider: Bestbike Tours Kft.
- Start: Budapest, Semmelweis u. 14, 1052
Sites covered: Downtown Pest, Buda Castle, Margaret Island, Heroes’ Square
Sites not covered: Jewish Quarter, Central Market
Really, the only difference between this and the Grand Sightseeing Tour is that you are getting an eBike. The eBike and regular bicycle travellers are put in the same group, so you will have the same guide, the same route, and see all the same sights.
If you are undecided about whether or not to pick the eBike, you can always book the Grand Sightseeing Tour and then request an upgrade at the location, which you will have to pay there. However, it is cheaper if you book it in advance – plus it secures you an eBike so you don’t need to worry about BestBike Tours (for any reason) not having any left to go.
#3. Guided Bike Tour of Landmarks & Hidden Corners
Budabike’s Landmarks and Hidden Corners (also called Highlights) bike tour of Budapest is a head-first dive into the heart of Pest, riding along the Danube Embankment and heading out as far as the Szechenyi Thermal Bath.
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Price: €33 pp, min 2+ people
- Start: 10:30, 14:00
- Distance: 8km
- Group: Open, max 14 people
- Upgrades: N/A
- Bike: Regular
- Provider: Budabike
- Start: Budapest, Szent István tér 4, 1051
Sites covered: Downtown Pest, Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park
Sites not covered: Buda, Margaret Island
The bike tour starts near St. Stephen’s Basilica and delves deep into Pest. You cycle down to the Parliament area, past the shoes on the Danube Bank, and then head back up towards Andrassy Avenue and onto Heroes’ Square and Liget City Park. Between the Parliament and Heroes’ Square, Budabike’s Highlights Tour goes into Nagymezo Street, behind the Hungarian State Opera House and into the Jewish Quarter, where your guide talks you through the area’s history.
As there are no hills or slopes to cycle up, and the extended route is about 8km, this is a good option for people who don’t cycle much. The tour lasts a good 2.5 hours, which includes 10 planned stops with guided commentary about what you are looking at. It is an open group tour, with a maximum of 14 people per group, and you can only book in groups of 2 or more people.
#4. Guided City Centre Electric Bike Tour
The independent Bike Tour Kft company has a beginner-friendly guided electric bike tour across Budapest, which takes you on one massive loop around the city with a guide and photo stops.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Price: €54
- Start: 10:00
- Distance: 18km
- Group: Open group, max 10 people
- Upgrades: N/A
- Bike: eBike
- Provider: Bike Tour Kft / Bike and Relax
- Start: Budapest, Madách Imre út 12, 1075
Sites covered: Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Parliament, Buda Castle, Buda riverfront
Sites not covered: Margaret Island
You cycle on the iconic wooden framed bike-and-relax.com eBikes, starting in the Jewish Quarter and first heading up to Heroes’ Square and Liget City Park before turning back to go to the Parliament, onto the Buda Castle, along the Buda embankment near the Rudas Baths, and then back to Pest and to the starting point. You can book with English, German or French language guides, and the tour has over 15 stops so it isn’t too physically demanding.
What stands out about this tour is that you cycle on both sides of the Danube embankment, not just around the Parliament on the Pest side. It doesn’t go to Margaret Island, but it doesn’t really need to. You can see all the main attractions on both sides of the river in one time-saving circuit that makes one big loop around Budapest.
#5. Historical E-Bike & Bike Tour with Local Guide
The Historical Tour by City Tours / Orange Fox focuses heavily on downtown Pest, does a loop around Margaret Island and goes to the Fisherman’s Bastion in the Buda Castle District, all in a 2.5 hour timeframe.
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Price: €30, €42
- Start: 10:00, 10:15, 13:00, 13:15, 16:15
- Distance: 14km
- Group: Open group, max 10 people
- Upgrades: eBike upgrade, private tours for 10 or 20
- Bike: Regular
- Provider: City Tours / Orange Fox Tours
- Start: Budapest, Haris köz 4, 1052
Sites covered: Downtown Pest, Central Market, Buda Castle, Margaret Island
Sites not covered: Andrassy Avenue, Heroes’ Square, Jewish Quarter
The first thing to point out is that this bike tour doesn’t go to Heroes’ Square, so you miss out on Andrassy Avenue and the Liget City Park. Instead, you travel down winding streets in Pest, exploring the areas around the Central Market before going on to Buda, and then travelling to the Castle District. A quick stop at the Fisherman’s Bastion, and then you head down to Margaret Bridge and then onto the island, where you do a full loop. The tour then goes deep into Pest, exploring the main sights and areas around the Parliament, Opera House, and St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Upgrades Breakdown
- Open group, regular bike: €30
- Open group, eBike: €42
- Private tour up to 10 people, standard bikes: €290
- Private tour up to 20 people, standard bikes: €390
- Private tour up to 10 people, ebikes: €590
- Private tour up to 20 people, ebikes: €790
The standard price of this tour includes a regular bike, but there are eBike upgrades, and you can book this tour with private groups of up to 10 people or 20.
#6. Historic City Centre Bicycle Ride with Scenic Views
The standard price for this extended 3.5 hours bike tour doesn’t actually include a bicycle – you can bring your own if you have one. Otherwise, you can rent a regular bike or an eBike, and then keep it after the tour until 18:00.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Price: €22, €36, €54
- Start: 10:30
- Distance: 15km
- Group: Open, max 10 people
- Upgrades: Regular bike, eBike
- Bike: No bike. Regular and eBike upgrades available
- Provider: Bike Tour Kft / Bike and Relax
- Start: Budapest, Madách Imre út 12, 1075
Sites covered: Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Parliament, Buda riverfront
Sites not covered: Margaret Island, Buda Castle
You start in Madách Square, in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, and begin by heading in the direction of Heroes’ Square. This takes you past Synagogues, the historic Andrassy Avenue, and then up to Heroes’ Square, where you have stops at the City Park Ice Rink, Liget City Park museums and the Vajdahunyad Castle. Then, heading back downtown, you go to St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament, and then cross to Buda on the Chain Bridge. In Buda, you won’t go up to the Castle District, but you will cycle past the Rudas and Gellert Baths, before heading back to Pest on the Liberty Bridge and then back to the Central Synagogue.
Upgrades Breakdown
- Tour, no bike: €22
- Tour, regular bike rental: €36
- Tour, eBike rental: €54
The standard fare for this tour is the most budget friendly option out there, but be warned it doesn’t actually include a bike. So if you don’t have one you can borrow, you have to pick one of the upgrades: Regular Bike or eBike rentals. But the good news is that you rent the bike until 18:00, so you can revisit your favourite sites. You will have to return the bike to the Bike & Relax office at Madach Square, where you start the tour.
#7. 1.5-Hour Bike or E-Bike Tour of Historic Landmarks
A shortened version of the Historical eBike and Bike tour by City Tours, you only do a 1.5 hour loop in this tour and check off all the iconic stops on the Pest side.
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Price: €26, €38
- Start: 10:00, 10:15, 13:00, 13:15, 16:15
- Distance: 10km
- Group: Open, max 15 people
- Upgrades: eBike, private tours
- Bike: Regular bike, eBike upgrade available
- Provider: City Tours / Orange Fox
- Start: Budapest, Madách Imre út 12, 1075
Sites covered: Downtown Pest, Parliament, Heroes’ Square, City Park
Sites not covered: Margaret Island, Buda side, Central Market
This is a compact tour designed for a quick but detailed exploration of historic Pest. You start at Haris Koz in Pest and ride towards the Shoes on the Danube, where you make a stop by the shoes and the Parliament. Then, you go towards St. Stephen’s Basilica, before heading up towards Andrassy Avenue and make a stop by the Opera House. The tour explores the Liget City Park area thoroughly, stopping at Heroes’ Square, the Széchenyi Baths and Vajdahunyad Castle before heading back to the starting point.
While this is a shorter tour, you do cover a good 10km and pack in a lot of sights in Pest. However, you don’t go to Buda Castle or the southern areas in Pest like the Central Market, and there aren’t as many stops (to fit into that 90 minute window). It is a bit rushed, but if that is what you are after, this is the best sped-up option.
Upgrades Breakdown
- Standard bike tour: €26
- eBike Tour: €38
- Private tour, standard bikes: €280
- Private tour, eBikes: €380
The private tours are designed for groups of up to 10 people, and you can pick between eBikes and the regular ones.
#8. Budapest Bike Tour with a Certified Local Guide
This is the Budapest bike tour for comfortable cycling, with time for photo stops and insights from young local guides. It is a medium-distance cycle, with plenty of time to take photos and travel at a leisurely pace.
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Price: €36, €55
- Start: 10:00
- Distance: 15km
- Group: Open, max 12 people
- Upgrades: eBike
- Bike: Regular
- Provider: Budapest Bike Breeze
- Start: Budapest, Rumbach Sebestyén u. 10, 1075
Sites covered: Jewish Quarter, Heroes’ Square, City Park, Parliament, Buda riverfront
Sites not covered: Margaret Island, Jewish Quarter, Castle District
The tour starts in the Jewish Quarter, near the Rumbach Synagogue, but it immediately heads off towards Andrassy Avenue, so this area isn’t explored as thoroughly as other tours. Nonetheless, you travel up the history Avenue and then get to Heroes’ Square and the Vajdahunyad Castle. Then, you go further, exploring the Szechenyi Thermal Baths and the House of Music in the Liget City Park. The tour then heads back to downtown Pest, going past St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament, and then across the Danube to Buda. There, you won’t ride up to the Buda Castle, but pass by it, checking out the Castle Garden and then heading back across the Elisabeth Bridge back to Pest and the starting point.
Upgrades Breakdown
- Tour, regular bike: €36
- Tour, eBike: €55
There is an eBike upgrade for this tour should you require it. Though as pointed out, you are going a medium distance (15km), have 3.5 hours to cover this ground and there are 15 stops to break up the cycling. This is a great option for families or noncyclers who want the grand tour but would rather not push themselves for a 20+ km tour or cycle up the hilly roads of the Caslte District.