View the giant monuments of communist times and learn about life behind the “Iron Curtain” during the communist dictatorship in Hungary!
During this exciting journey back in time, you will view the giant monuments of communist times and you will learn about life behind the „Iron Curtain” during the communist dictatorship in Hungary. You will visit the Liberty Statue on top of Gellert Hill which was originally erected as the Liberation Monument commemorating the Soviet liberation of Hungary in WWII and also marking the beginning of the communist rule in the country. You will drive to the outskirts of Budapest and enjoy a guided tour of Memento Park showcasing 42 original giant statues among them Red Army soldiers, Marx, Engels, and Lenin once stood in the city during communist times, and you will learn about life behind the “Iron Curtain”, how the infamous state security police worked and you can also experience what it is like to sit in a Trabant the cheapest car in the former East bloc. You will visit the last standing Soviet War Memorial on Liberty Square and learn about the 1956 Revolution by viewing the memorials on Kossuth Square near the Parliament Building.
Tour Highlights
- Enjoy a guided tour in Memento Park showcasing 42 giant statues of the communist times and learn about the life behind the Iron Curtain during the communist dictatorship in Hungary.
- View the last standing Soviet monuments in Budapest the Liberation Monument on Gellert Hill and the Soviet War Memorial on Liberty Square
- Learn about the 1956 Revolution by visiting the memorials on Kossuth Square
Admission tickets are not included in the tour price
Admission to Memento Park: 3000 HUF / 8 EUR
Tour Specs
Tour duration: 4 hours
Driving distance: 30 km
Difficulty level: medium
Tour type: private tour with an English-speaking guide
Schedule
1 APR-29 OCT / 10 AM & 2.30 PM
Check-in 15 minutes before the published tour departure time
Meeting Point
Budapest Scooter Tour 1053 Budapest Vámház körút 10 (the office is located inside the house courtyard) Hotline: +36 309845100
Tour map
Budapest Scooter Tour
All our tours start and finish at Budapest Scooter Tour office at 1053 Budapest Vámház körút 10. The office is inside the courtyard of the building.
Liberty bridge
Originally named after Emperor Franz Joseph today called Liberty Bridge (Szabadság híd) was built between 1894 and 1896. Opened in the year of the Millennium and was officially completed when Emperor Franz Joseph inserted the last silver rivet into its iron structure. The top of each of the bridge’s pillars is decorated with a 'Turul' bird, the mythical bird of Hungary.
Gellért Hill
Gellert Hill (Gellért-hegy) offers some of the best panoramic views of Budapest. The hill was named after bishop Gellért (Gerald), who was thrown to death from the hill by pagans in the fight against Christianity in 1046.
Liberty statue
Liberty Statue (Szabadság Szobor) stands on top of the hill, and she can be seen from all parts of the city. The statue was erected in 1947 during the Communist era. As Liberty had already become a symbol of the city, she was not removed unlike other Communist icons, such as the Red Army soldier who used to stand at her feet, allowing us to see her in her original surroundings.
Citadel
The Citadel (Citadella), the fortress on the top of Gellert Hill was built by the Habsburgs after defeating Hungary's War of Independence in 1849. It was a prime, strategic site for shelling both Buda and Pest in the event of a future rebellion.
Memento Park
Memento Park located on the outskirts of Budapest was established after the collapse of the communist regime in 1992. It showcases 42 original giant statutes among them Red Army soldiers, Marx, Engels, and Lenin that stood in the city during the communist times. In this particular place, you can take an exciting journey back in time in the communist dictatorship and learn about the communist dictatorship, the life behind the iron curtain, the 1956 revolution, how the infamous state security police worked and you can also experience what it is like to sit in a Trabant the cheapest car in the former East Bloc.
The Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the world. With its dome rising to 96 m, it is the tallest building in Budapest. The 691-room palace is the largest building in Hungary and the third-largest parliament building in the world.
Soviet War Memorial
The Soviet War Memorial was erected in 1945 to commemorate the fallen Red Army soldiers in Hungary during WWII, and to celebrate the victory of the communist Soviet rule in Hungary and across Eastern Europe, which ultimately collapsed in 1989.
Monument of National Martyrs
The monument is dedicated to the martyrs of the communist Red Terror during the period of the Republic of Councils in Hungary, a short-lived communist state in 1919. The Communist party’s military detachments known as the Lenin Boys executed more than 500 people without trial during the 133-day existence of the communist state. The original monument had been erected in 1934 and was demolished after WWII in 1945. It has been reconstructed via contemporary photos and documents.
Bloody Thursday Memorial
The symbolic bullets on the wall commemorate the victims of the 25 October 1956 massacre, also known as the Bloody Thursday, when over 300 civilians were killed by the Soviet tanks and the State Security Police, who were shooting at the unarmed crowd from the roof of the building.
25 October 1956 Memorial and Exhibition
The memorial located in the former ventilation tunnel of the Parliament is dedicated to the victims of the massacre of 25 October 1956 on Kossuth square, when over 300 civilians were killed in the shooting by the State Security Police and the Soviet tanks. The memorial can be visited free of charge.
What's included
- 50 cc gas scooter (passenger on 50 cc scooter is not allowed by law, 125 cc scooter eligible to carry a passenger for a surcharge and subject to availability)
- Safety helmet, gas, 3-rd party liability insurance, Intercom radio with a headset
- English-speaking tour guide
Exclusions:
The tour does not include meals, drinks, and admission tickets only if explicitly specified.
Requirements
Valid driver's license
50cc scooter: Car license or Moped license
125cc: Motorcycle license EU A1 category or international equivalent
Liability
The tour participant drives the scooter at his/her own risk. The driver is liable for damages caused to the scooter at his/her fault up to a maximum of 500 EUR/ 200.000 HUF