Explore the beautiful city of Budapest on this private walking tour all about the turbulent political history of Hungary, from the Nazi Occupation to the rise and fall of Communism and finally the birth of democracy.
On your private tour, you will:
Considered one of Europe’s most charming cities, Budapest, an amalgamation of Buda and Pest joined up in 1873, contains an incredible array of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is split in two by the mighty River Danube, Europe’s second-longest river. The city is rich in geothermal water resources and is famous for its grand, mosaic-clad public bath-houses earning it the title of ‘World's Spa Capital.
Modern Budapest is a thriving metropolis, but it wasn’t always so, and on this private tour of the city, you will discover and explore the remnants of Nazism and Communism that still scar the soul of the town. Explore hidden backstreets, statues, and open commemorative squares as your guide tells you the stories of the people that made Budapest: from the Ottoman Empire of the 16th Century through the revolutions of the 1800s, the tragedies of World War 2, the Nazi Occupation, the Soviet Liberation, the 1956 revolution, the rise and fall of ‘Goulash Communism’ from the 1960s-80s, and the birth of modern democracy in 1989 with the fall of the Iron Curtain: all while standing in the places in which it all happened, or by the statues of those involved.
You’ll begin at Bem József Memorial Square, which saw 200,000 Hungarian students protesting against Soviet rule in 1956. (Bem József was a Polish general – a national hero of Poland and Hungary, who was one of the leaders of the 1848 Revolution). Following on from here you’ll stop by the statue of Imre Nagy, a politician and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic from 1953 to 1955, but, in 1956 he led the Revolution against the Soviet-backed government. For this, he was imprisoned and executed in 1958. He remains a heroic figure in the historic fight to topple Communism in Hungary.
Next, you’ll walk into the magnificent Kossuth Lajos square to see the impressively vast, Neo-Gothic parliament building the home of the national assembly. Stop for some spectacular photos and learn all about the emergence of contemporary Hungarian politics from 1989 onwards.
Just around the corner and not far from the river, you’ll enter Liberty Square. A beautiful, leafy green square, dotted with statues, but with a bloody and turbulent history. It is symbolic of the history and politics of the past 250 years in Hungary, and Budapest.
Formerly a site of army barracks, in which Hungarian political prisoners were tortured and executed by the Austrian armies in the fight for independence in the 1800s, the barracks were demolished and the square replaced them in 1897. Throughout the 20th century, Liberty Square was the site of protests, revolutions, and war. Today it is a living monument to the turbulent past: with statues to commemorate the Nazi Occupation, and the Soviet Liberation. It is now a symbol of freedom with a seemingly incongruous bronze statue of a very jolly-looking Ronald Reagan. The people of Hungary erected it to honour Reagan’s role in ending the Cold War, which led to the end of Soviet rule in Hungary. Since 1989, the country has truly emerged from behind the Iron Curtain and become a parliamentary republic joined NATO in 1999 and integrated with the EU in 2004.
Lastly, you will visit the House of Terror a museum with your private guide. House of Terror is a memorial to the horrors of the past, to those detained, tortured, and killed inside the building and contains exhibits from the fascist and communist regimes of 20th-century Hungary.
Explore the highlights of the beautiful Hungarian capital of Budapest, on this half-day walking tour around the city's main highlights.
On your private tour, you will:
Considered one of Europe’s most strikingly beautiful cities, Budapest contains an incredible array of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an amalgamation of two independent settlements of Buda and Pest that were joined in 1873.
Learn about Hungary’s complex political history outside the magnificent Neo-Gothic Parliament building, admire the stunning St. Stephen’s Basilica and enjoy the relaxed and famously friendly atmosphere of Trinity Square's lovely 13th Century Matthias Church.
Budapest is split by a wide sweep of the mighty River the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river (the Volga is the longest) that stretches from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. The city is rich in geothermal water resources, with thousands of subterranean pools spouting mineral-rich waters dating back over 2,000 years. Using 20 million litres of water, Budapest’s grand, mosaic-clad bath-houses are open to the public, earning it the title of ‘World's Spa Capital’! From the Ottoman Empire of the 16th Century through to the tragedies of World War 2 and the thriving modern city it is today, your guide will show you the major monuments, and the hidden gems, and tell you the many stories that have shaped the city over many centuries.
Also experience the buzz of Pest, the vibrant cultural hub on the eastern banks of the Danube. You’ll also walk around Castle Hill with its sweeping vista overlooking the city – the money shot! Your tour ends at Fisherman's Bastion terrace, to enjoy the best views of the city at your leisure!
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