Life Under Communism" with optional visit to the House of Terror

17 Reviews | Budapest, Hungary

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3 hours (approx.)

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Overview

For almost half of the 20th century, Russia’s Soviet leaders controlled the Hungarian government, and traces of these decades under communism are still visible throughout the capital city. Meet an experienced guide who lived during the communist era to learn what everyday life was really like in Budapest at that time, from first-hand tales of navigating Kafkaesque bureaucracy to adventurous descriptions of the black-market economy. After the introductory discussion, participants are taken on a walking tour to highlight relics of the communist era still visible around the city today.

You should book this tour if you are interested in the working of the communism and of how the Hungarian society reacted with the political, ideological and administrational changes of the country.

The three options of this tour come with different itinerary. Each booking is individually tailored based on the provided itinerary, by the chosen option and individual requests.

What's Included

Coffee or a soft drink
Entrance Ticket For Visit Options
Informative handouts
Local guide

Additional food and drink
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Entrance ticket that not listed

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Budapest
1072 Hungary

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Soviet Heroic Memorial (Pass By)

Starting in Liberty Square, we will look at the memorial to the Soviet army. This is a grandiose memorial to the Siege of Budapest, the 50-day-long encirclement by Soviet forces of the Hungarian capital of Budapest, near the end of World War II.

Szabadsag ter (Pass By)

One of the most stately squares in the city centre, Szabadság tér owes its extensive dimensions to the Habsburg era, when the Bastille-like Újépület stood here. This peacefull, spaceous grean area is great place for peace seekers to rest in delighting enviroment.

Kossuth Lajos Square (Pass By)

We will visit Kossuth Square where the Hungarian parliament stands. During the 1956 revolution, a firefight started in front of the Parliament building, and we stilldon't know exactly how many demonstrators died. The crowd at Kossuth Square consisted of mixed civilian protesters. Next to the men were women, children, the elderly. The news of the massacre played an important role in bringing the people of the country and Budapest to the brink of revolution and armed struggle.

Hungarian Parliament Building

The square, renamed in 1927 in honor of Lajos Kossuth, was previously known by several names including Parliament square. Facing the parliament building are the Museum of Ethnography, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

March 15 Square (Marcius 15 ter) (Pass By)

Petőfi Statue, and Március 15. Square, located at the foot of Erzsébet Bridge, at front of the oldest church of Budapest. Thanks to a renovation in 2011, is a very popular scene of social life - not just for tourists.

Corvin Mozi (Pass By)

On the south-east part of Budapest's city, Corvin köz was the major resistance center, where in 1956 local youngsters fought the invading Russians with Molotov cocktails and guns they stole from soldiers to fight against Soviet tanks. We will look at the reminders of the battles here and talk about the invasion of 1956 and its aftermath.

Liberty Bridge (Szabadsag hid) (Pass By)

We walk across one of Budapest's most beautiful bridges to arrive to the foot of the emblematic Gellért hill where we find our next stop.

Szent Gellert Square (Pass By)

St Gellért Square is one of the most impressive squares in Buda. The square is named after Bishop St Gellért , also called the Martyr for Hungarian Christendom. From here we have an excellent view of the Liberty statue - erected in 1947 in remembrance of the Soviet liberation of Hungary.

Memento Park

IF THIS OPTION IS CHOSENWhen Communism collapsed in Hungary in 1989, the city of Budapest was left with many public works of art that celebrated that era. In 1993, four years after the fall, the city government decided to save the statues rather than destroy them and the idea for the Memento Park was born.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

House of Terror Museum

IF THIS OPTION IS CHOSENDuring the year-long construction work, the building was fully renovated inside and out. The reconstruction plans for the House of Terror Museum were designed by architects János Sándor and Kálmán Újszászy. The reconstruction turned the exterior of the building into somewhat of a monument; the black exterior structure (consisting of the decorative entablature, the blade walls, and the granite footpath) provides a frame for the museum, making it stand out in sharp contrast to the other buildings on Andrássy Avenue. Inside the building, the Museum has a T-54 tank on display.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Life Under Communism” with optional visit to the House of Terror?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CEST). Read more Apr 2025