Local Tour Guide

I’m Ildikó Kánya, mom entrepreneur, Zumba & Zumba Strong fan and a professional tour guide.

In the beginning, guiding was another hobby for me, but after a few tours I felt that this is meant for me. I got very good feedbacks right from start and after a day of guiding I always felt upbeat. I have found my vocation: I love Budapest, I love Hungary, I speak English fluently, I enjoy diversity and to present the world through my eyes and my knowledge.

It has been more than 15 years since I first got the chance to show the city for a small group of tourists. I clearly remember how nervous I was… Will I be good? Can I answer the questions? Fortunately, everything went well. Insomuch, that I still keep in touch with several people from my first group.

I love to travel and to explore other countries, so I know exactly how a tourist feels in a foreign place. I also like to look behind the show-windows, and get a taste of the life people live in that city. That’s why I love to visit the local market(s) in the morning and try various local foods.

Based on my own experiences, I’m also motivated to customize my tours for every occasion. I’m preparing for each group to set the route that best fits their interests and needs. I like to show the city in a unique way providing a special experience, so I take my guests off the beaten path.

I plan every tour to be interesting and entertaining but also comfortable. The comfort of my guests is very important to me, so I always make sure to avoid unexpected and unpleasant surprises.

I make plans ahead to see what interesting events I could include in the program for that day. I prearrange where to start, what means of transport to combine with the walk, when to take a break, and also where and what to taste.  I always take into account the weather conditions and I doublecheck where we can find public toilets during the walk.

It is my great passion to visit cake shops, so tasting some real Hungarian goodies it is a guaranteed experience with me!

Each group is a new encounter. Fortunately, the stage fright has disappeared, but there is always some excitement in me, and most of all, curiosity. I ‘m open minded and I love to get to know people, find out where they came from, and see a small piece of their own country through them. For me this is always very inspiring!

It is such a heart-warming sensation when I’m aligned with my group, when they laugh on my joke, they like my style and we can talk about everything, so basically, we speak the same language. When I can show them Budapest as a friend, not as a foreigner. It is always good to realize how similar we are, even if they live on the other side of the world.

I have had a lot of guests in the past 15 years and I have been in touch with many of them since. They contact me even today on social media platforms, thinking about returning to Budapest, Hungary, because they felt so good here. It is a pleasure that I could also contribute to their beautiful memories.

Do not hesitate to Contact Me if you want to explore this beautiful country with me!

contact@tourguideofhungary.com

Education:
VIK Vocational School – Tour Guide Diploma
Kodolányi János University of Applied Sciences – International Relations BA Degree
Corvinus University of Budapest – Intercultural Communication MA Degree

Membership:
Member of the Association of Hungarian Tourist Guides

Partnership: