My name is Andrea Makkay, I am a licensed, private guide in Budapest, Hungary.
  I arrange private tours to give all those details you can not read in a book! If you would like to learn a lot about Budapest, the history, the culture, the traditions and everyday life of Hungarians the best is to come with me on a private tour and get a more in depth experience! It is always difficult to get to know a city or a country, especially if you have limited amount of time. The great advantage of hiring a private guide is that you do not have to follow anybody else's itinerary you can just focus on what you are really interested in. I will shape the tour according to what you would like to see. If you are not really sure what that is I will make recommendations about what to include.
  To see the beautiful buildings and sights is one part of the picture but to learn about the people and about how they live will make you understand the culture and the history much more.  
Budapest is a glamorous city with a fascinating history. Would you like to wander on the cobblestones of the old castle district, enjoy breath-taking views from the Fishermen's Bastion, cross the blue Danube on the beautiful Chain bridge, visit the incredible halls of the Parliament or the State Opera House, feel tiny while standing on gigantic Heroes' Square, relax in Gellert Bath or sit in a coffee house to watch how the sun goes down behind the majestic Royal Palace?
You will find all these in Budapest and much more :.  
  My recommendation is to do a walking tour as that is the best way to discover the city. In this case the tour is a combination of a walking tour and using some public transportation. 
  Budapest - this truly beautiful city - is often referred to as the "Paris of the East" or the "Pearl of the Danube". The city has a fantastic location as it is divided into two different parts by the river Danube.
  The Buda side is the smaller side which has some hills and slopes and has historical buildings in the castle district area dating back to the 17th - 18th century (the reason for not having older monuments is the stormy history of Hungary, full of fights and occupations and the damage of World War II.) The castle district area is under the protection of UNESCO's World Heritage Foundation comprising such buildings as Matthias Church, Fishermen's Bastion and the Royal Palace.
  The Pest side mainly dates back to the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century when Hungary had a golden age and belonged to the great Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The present day look of the Pest side is a reminder of the period when Hungary was flourishing and was a very powerful European nation. Such splendid and magnificent buildings as the Parliament building, the State Opera House, St. Stephen Basilica, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Great Synagogue any many others date back this time period. After the World Wars Hungary became a communist country and was forgotten together with the rest of the communist countries. Now Hungary faces great revival and prosperity! It is a truly modern and vivid European capital which provides a great combination of 21st century modern lifestyle and the rich historical background!

You will find all of these in a city that is full of life - BUDAPEST!