Private Walking Tour: Budapest Communist History Including Memento Park
Budapest, Hungary
Rating: 
Trip Type: Private Sightseeing Tours
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
This private tour takes you through Hungary’s fascinating and turbulent communist history filled with victories, failures and struggles, from the rule of Big Brother to the fall of the Iron Curtain and everything in between. You'll get an in-depth historical overview of Budapest as you tour Memento Park (formerly Statue Park) and visit other famous historic sites including the Hungarian Parliament. Hear stories about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, WWI and WII, and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Iron Curtain. At the end of the tour you'll visit a private exhibition hall to witness what life was like for Hungarians living under communist propaganda. This private tour ensures an intimate experience of Budapest and personalized attention from your guide.
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This private tour takes you through Hungary’s fascinating and turbulent communist history filled with victories, failures and struggles, from the rule of Big Brother to the fall of the Iron Curtain and everything in between. You'll get an in-depth historical overview of Budapest as you tour Memento Park (formerly Statue Park) and visit other famous historic sites including the Hungarian Parliament. Hear stories about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, WWI and WII, and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Iron Curtain. At the end of the tour you'll visit a private exhibition hall to witness what life was like for Hungarians living under communist propaganda. This private tour ensures an intimate experience of Budapest and personalized attention from your guide.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you by private vehicle to Memento Park, located outside of the city. Along the way, you'll receive an overview of Hungary's communist years and the political history of Budapest and Hungary as a whole.
When you arrive at the open-air museum, view massive monumental statues from Hungary's Communist period, from 1949 to 1989. You'll see statues of famous leaders including Lenin, Marx, Engels and Béla Kun on your guided tour of the park, and your guide will teach you about the symbolism of the statues and explain why they were placed here. You'll also visit some communist exhibitions displaying things like the iconic Trabant car, which became a popular family car throughout Hungary.
After Memento Park, drive back to the city center to explore Budapest's major areas tied to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 -- the culmination of the Hungarian quest for freedom against the government's Soviet policies. Learn about the events leading up to the revolution, including WWI, WWII, the War of Independence and the Great Compromise, and see first-hand where the protests, marches and speeches took place, including the area around the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Hear stories about times when Big Brother watched over everyone's every move. Your guide will illustrate what life was like behind the Iron Curtain – how children were raised, how families lived, how and where people traveled, how long it took to get a passport and many other interesting experiences, from black markets to banana lines.
Stop at Liberty Square, discover the city’s last remaining tribute to the Soviet Union, and hear about the role of Hungarian communist politician Imre Nagy, who defied the Soviet leaders in Moscow and was executed for treason after the revolution.
Finally, head to a private exhibition hall to become immersed in the history you’ve just learned about. Discover the features of Hungarian home life as you observe a series of artifacts and furniture displays, and discover an extensive collection of communist-related artifacts and relics such as red and blue passports, party member’s registration book, pins, medals, currency and huge placards. All of these relics will help you understand the propaganda Hungarians once lived under.
By the end of the tour, you’ll have a grasp of the last 100 years of contemporary Hungarian history and understand how these years have shaped modern-day Hungary. Your tour ends near the Opera House, where your guide will be happy to give you recommendations and directions for what to do or see next.
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