Budapest Hammer and Sickle Communist Times Tour

Descripción

We invite you to join us on a comprehensive overview of Hungary's communist era behind the Iron Curtain—from how children were raised to family life, travel restrictions, black markets, and banana lines.

Your tour begins in the city center, passing St. Stephen's Basilica, where your guide will explain how churches operated and whether people could practice their faith in a faithless regime. You'll discover Liberty Square and learn about the secret Cold War bunker beneath it, along with the last remaining Soviet liberation monument in Budapest—a tribute to the heroes of the Red Army. You'll explore the dark years of the Stalinist era and the communist government appointed after World War II, whose policies sparked the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

The journey continues to the Hungarian Parliament, where on the second day of the uprising, a volley of shots that killed several people triggered the revolution, inspiring more citizens to join the fight against the occupying Soviets. When open, you'll visit an exhibition of related archives.
A scenic walk along the Danube path offers fascinating views of the Buda side and Margaret Bridge. Along the way, your guide will show you statues of lesser-known politicians who resisted the regime and share their stories and the challenges they faced.

You'll pass the Hungarian "White House," which served as the headquarters of the State Defence Unit from the fifties and later, until the transition, housed the Communist Party.
Near Margaret Bridge stands the statue of Prime Minister Imre Nagy, who led Hungary during the 1956 revolution. He was captured and imprisoned, and in 1958, he stood trial alongside hundreds of others and was executed as part of the reprisals that followed the revolution. His reburial in 1989 was an important moment marking the end of communism in Hungary.

Your guide will take you on a tram ride along the scenic Danube bank to the Chain Bridge, and the tour concludes with a relaxing coffee break in a retro bar.