Upcoming Tours

Join us in 2027

Posted on by Liz


Come! See for Yourself.
Anyone who’s spent time with Andrea knows she doesn’t just lead tours — she pours herself into them. And when the stars align, she’s the one guiding you through Hungary in person. With three decades in tourism under her belt, she has an insider’s feel for the country, and every group that travels with her gets the benefit of that deep well of knowledge.

I’ve made the trip to Hungary and Transylvania more times than I can count, and I still walk away having learned something new every time. Working alongside Andrea is one of the real joys of putting these tours together — if you ever see a photo of us cracking up together, that’s just what happens when we’re deep in the planning process. We genuinely have fun doing this.

Travel with Us!
There’s something that shifts in you when you stand where your ancestors once stood. If you’ve dug into your family history already, you understand exactly why that sense of place matters. And if you haven’t started digging yet, a trip to Hungary has a way of sparking the questions anyway — what made them leave? What were they hoping to find on the other side of that decision?
Our tours are built around variety. We spend most of our time in the Hungarian countryside, tracing how earlier generations actually lived day to day. Along the way, we stop at small, family-run businesses that still carry on Hungarian traditions. The regions change from year to year, so each tour brings its own local flavor — but folk artisans, traditional cooking, and hands-on food experiences are always part of the mix. Add in a castle, a palace or manor house, and a healthy dose of folk custom, and you’ve got the shape of the trip.

Spirit of Hungary Wine Country & Heritage Traditions
JUNE 2 – JUNE 12, 2027
A cultural journey through Hungary’s finest wine regions, historic cities, and hidden countryside treasures.
Budapest • Pécs • Villány • Lake Balaton • Káli Basin

Join us for 10 nights/11 days. This tour begins and ends in Budapest, Hungary. We’ll spend our time discovering the beauty of Lake Balaton and the surrounding counties, with a mix of planned excursions and free time built in. We’ll meet you at the Budapest airport when you land and see you off again for your flight home.

Typical tour size: 12–18 participants
$5,300 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement $850.
$2,000 deposit required.

Here is a brief overview of our planned excursions:
• Blue Dye Workshop
• Zwack Unicum Experience

• Szekszárd & Villány Wine Regions
• Historic Pécs
• Tihany Peninsula

• Káli Basin
• Festetics Palace

• Cooking Experience 

• Badacsony Wine Dinner

• Tapolca Lake Cave

• Herend Porcelain Factory
• Historic Veszprém

Every Tour Includes:
• Two meals each full day
• All entrance fees to activities
• Overnight accommodations
• Full-time, bilingual tour guide
• Time in the countryside
• Private bus transportation between cities
• Airport transfers in destination city
• And so much more!

Email [email protected] for the information sheet and registration form for the tour you’re interested in. Want to add a side trip to your ancestral village? Let’s talk — we can work that in too!

Tour Testimonials

Emery, Texas

Posted on by Liz

A Piece of My Heart in Transylvania

When I journeyed through Transylvania, I expected to find beauty — but I discovered something far deeper. In the heart of those mist-covered mountains and forested valleys, I met the Székely people, whose spirit is as enduring as the land itself. Their love for their homeland is not just seen, it’s felt — in their songs, their traditions, their laughter echoing through the hills.

As I stood beneath vast skies and looked across rolling meadows dotted with ancient churches and quiet villages, I felt a connection I can hardly put into words. There is a soulfulness to Transylvania — a sense that time slows, and life moves to the rhythm of the earth itself.

I left a part of myself there, among the pine-scented winds and the steadfast hearts of the Székely. To anyone who dreams of places where beauty and mystery intertwine —go. Transylvania will welcome you, touch your heart and never let you go!

Tour Testimonials

George, Mississippi

Posted on by Liz

Western Hungary & Western Slovakia – A Journey of Discovery and Connection

Traveling through Western Hungary and Western Slovakia was an immersive learning experience that blended history, culture, and personal connection in a memorable way. From the moment our group gathered in Budapest, the itinerary struck a perfect balance between expertly guided programs and the freedom to explore on our own.

The variety of tour offerings kept each day fresh and engaging. In Hungary, we wandered through the baroque streets of Győr, explored the Blue Dye factory at the Kékfestő Múzeum, and enjoyed one of the my most memorable meals at Erhardt Étterem in Sopron. The food there was spot-on fantastic and the service was flawless.

One of the most moving stops was the Paneuropean Picnic Park, a site layered with history and hope. Standing there, reflecting on its meaning, felt deeply relatable and memorable —I’m so glad we went.

Our hands-on experiences were just as unforgettable. I’m biased and a bit of an attention hot dog, but making Meggyes-Mákos Rétes (sour cherry and poppy seed strudel) was a highlight. I was proud of my creation… and yes, I ate far too much of it.

The Luka Pinczéset Winery was another gem. The owner welcomed us like old friends, sharing heartfelt stories about her award-winning pride and joy. Her whimsical frog collection made me smile, and the wine —well, let’s just say I enjoyed it generously.

Crossing into Slovakia, we explored Hrad Devin, which was majestic, steeped in incredible history (Napoleon demolished it), and offered a breathtaking view over the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. It was worth every step.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip was the camaraderie among fellow travelers. Whether sipping Pálinka, sharing a table at a beautiful Hungarian restaurant, or swapping stories on the bus, our group quickly became a close supportive group.

The trip ended with the Esztergom Basilica — a perfect bookend to my visit. On my own, at the very start, I had toured the Dohány Street Synagogue. Both were stunning, steeped in history, and essential to understanding Hungary’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

By the end, I felt I had not only seen two beautiful regions but truly experienced them—through their history, flavors, landscapes, and the warmth of the people I met along the way.

Tour Testimonials

 András és Kathleen

Posted on by Liz

It was a lifetime wish to visit the land my grandfather left over a hundred years ago, a wish I thought would never come true. But circumstances changed and in  2018 we had the opportunity to take the Fall Wine and Culinary Tour operated by Magyar Marketing. Liz Szabo-Vos, the amazing owner of Magyar Marketing, organized and conducted a tour that took us to ancient wineries and fine restaurants,  new wineries and beautiful churches,  large wineries and  palaces, and small wineries and old factories producing cloth and porcelain with time tested methods.  It was a smorgasbord of history and culture. Despite a full schedule, the pace was leisurely with ample opportunity to sit in the park or shop in the numerous quaint shops and markets.  The transportation was always comfortable, the accommodations were very nice, and the local guides were simply great. It was all so well done.

Liz goes above and beyond the call of duty.  Learning that we were also planning to search for relatives, she volunteered to arrange a driver/guide/interpreter to assist us.  As a result, we were able to return to the small village my grandfather left a century ago. We found the house he lived in, the church he attended, and the old cemetery with the names of my ancestors on the headstones. By sheer good fortune we also found my cousin, Bandi, the same age as I, and a complete stranger for 75 years. We are now in regular contact by mail, and we were able to attend his 50th wedding anniversary last October. We have found a whole new family!

András és Kathleen, Virginia

Travel Tips for Hungary

Basic Travel Tips for Hungary

Posted on by Liz

 

I am often asked about important tips to consider when traveling to Hungary. Here are a few of the ones I’ve found most useful:

  • If you will have a smartphone along and you will have an international plan during your travel, be sure to understand how it works. Be informed because it is easy to run up a crazy high bill when traveling. Most of the hotels have Wi-Fi so even if you don’t have an international plan you can still communicate with friends and family back home –just always leave your phone in airplane mode! Also, don’t be so preoccupied with photos and videos that you forget to be where you are. It’s ok to just enjoy the moment and hold onto memories and not have digital documentation of everything! I always like to keep a paper journal – it is a nice keepsake too.
  • Always keep 150-200 HUF with you when you travel in Hungary. While coffee shops and restaurants are required to have restrooms (WC) for their patrons there are many places where there is a fee to use the WC.
  • Bring along a travel pack of tissues and have it on your person at all times. There are times when there is no toilet paper in the restroom stalls! You will thank me for this tip! My daughter also likes to carry a small container of hand sanitizer or liquid hand soap with her.
  • Start getting in better shape now! There is a lot of walking to be done in Hungary. There are cobblestone streets, and the castles are not handicap accessible. When visiting historic buildings they likely will not have an elevator. You may want a special pair of shoes for a special night out, but comfortable shoes for walking are a must. Do what you can to add more and more walking (and even stairs) to your routine as soon as you know you are going on a trip. It’s good for you even if you aren’t traveling. Be sure to check with your doctor if you have some special considerations.
  • If you use anything electrical, you will need an adapter or converter for Europe. Definitely limit the electrical items you bring along because otherwise you become a slave to the charger. If you have a used up plastic gift card, bring it along. Many hotels in Hungary have an energy saving feature. You insert your room key into a slot to turn the power on. When you leave you take the key with you which shuts down the power. A “spent” gift card is often a good substitute for a room key and will keep the power on so you can keep your device charging even while you’re out of the room.
  • Save a little money by washing your own socks and undergarments and hanging them out to dry in your room. The hotels we stay at typically offer laundry service but I have been to some places where there isn’t any. You can send off your pants and shirts to be done if you need to but it adds up quickly. It may be worth it to you; it all depends on how you prefer to travel! Irons are not common, so I always try to bring low-maintenance clothes.
  • Bring your own washcloth or body scrubber! Many Hungarian hotels only have a bath towel and a hand towel and no washcloth. If you buy a pack of inexpensive, colored washcloths you can choose to bring them back home with you or leave them behind in the hotel room. Just don’t bring white ones as room towels are generally white and they will be scooped up when your room is cleaned.
  • Soap and shampoo are often combined as one product and hair conditioner is not a common offering. Keep that in mind and if you have particular products you like to use be sure to bring them along. Hair dryers are commonly found in hotel rooms.
  • Pack one complete change of clothes in your carry-on. If your luggage gets lost you will have at least one back up outfit! Also, if you are traveling with someone else you might want a back up set of clothes in the other person’s suitcase so if your luggage gets lost you have another outfit until it (hopefully) gets returned to you.
  • Limit your use of strong scents. When traveling in close quarters on the planes and buses it is nice to only have neutral aromas floating around. While you likely love your favorite scent it isn’t guaranteed that everyone will!
  • If you think you will bring back fragile things, bring along some bubble wrap and some plastic bags to wrap those items well. You can always wrap things up in dirty clothes but I would still put them in cloth or plastic bags in case TSA starts rooting through your bags. It also helps you remember that there is something fragile when you get home after a long traveling day.

Reprinted with permission from Hungarian Living.