Communist past tour
What to expect?
On our Communist Past tour you can understand a lot of what communism was in reality, how it influenced people’s lives then and now. Why was Hungary called the most cheerful barack of the Russian block? And a lot more…
Duration:
4 hours minivan tour
Cost:**
minivan tour up to 4 people: 260 EUR + entrance fees
(for a group of more than 4 people please contact me for a quotation)
Highlights visited on the tour:
Is this the perfect tour for you?
My tours are always tailored to your needs and interest so do not hesitate to let me know your special request when you contact me.
Detailed description
Communist Past ? It was my childhood. I have some personal stories to tell you and I really would like to give a historic overview of what was life like behind the iron curtain. Fortunately, it is over now, but does it still have an effect on today’s life? From certain points of view, yes…
In 1945 Hungary was liberated from the occupation of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Army. Soon turned out that this “liberation” was indeed another occupation and the Soviets implemented communist dictatorship in the country.
- Where did the uprising start and what happened in 1956?
- How life changed after the revolution?
- What was the life behind the iron curtain like?
- How people lived during communism?
I will answer all these questions while we are visiting the mementoes of the communist past.
In the tour we visit Memento Park where you will see statues removed from squares and streets of Budapest after the fall of the regime. Do not assume that it is just a collection of enormous sculptures! It is a very cleverly thought concept. With my explanation about the symbolism of the exhibition you will understand a lot about this period called: communist past. The whole atmosphere of the place is a real travel back to the past.
If you feel like you can try how comfortable the iconic Trabant, the two-cylinder East-German made car was. It didn’t become rusty. Why? Discover the secret.
As part of the exhibition, in the cinema “The Life of an Agent” is a documentary which gives an insight into communist secret service operation, its methods for collecting information and its network of informers.
After coming back from Memento Park to the city center we will visit the places, squares which played an important role in history, the square at the Parliament where the Uprising started in 1956, the statue of Imre Nagy who was the leader of the uprising and was executed later by communists. On Liberty Square wee will see the only Soviet Memorial remaining in town after the change of the regime.
We can finish the tour at a retro bar decorated with reliquaries of this period or at the House of Terror Museum (note: it’s closed on Monday!) where you can continue learning about the communist past.
Are you interested in this trip?
Make your booking
About me
My name is Magdi Pelech. I am a licenced Budapest tour guide. Would you like to have a unique private tour experience? Do you feel like having a Budapest sightseeing tour with an entusiastic guide?
“A friend and I visited Budapest in May of 2015 when we were there for a conference. We took a couple of extra days at the beginning to see Budapest, so looked for a tour guide and found Magdi. Her profile was intriguing and we booked a private tour with her. Magdi was sensational!! She picked us up at the hotel and we spent 8 hours each of the next 2 days seeing first the Buda side of the river and then the Pest side. Her personal experience growing up, being educated in and working in Budapest was shared with us as we visited so many, many sites. It was though she knew us and was so in tune with what we liked and wanted to see, we simply walked along with her and enjoyed her vast knowledge of the city, the country and it’s complex history. She has enormous energy, exudes a lively spirit and we learned while having fun. Magdi took us to local places and knew exactly where to go and what to do to see everything. We rode buses and trams and underground trams and the Metro. My friend and I both have rheumatoid arthritis and without saying anything to her she slowed our pace or picked it up and always made sure we were on firm footing while we walked. Anyone considering a trip to Budapest will get so much more out of the visit if they see Budapest with Magdi. You will never regret it and you will have wonderful memories. We’ve since done other tours, and no one can hold a candle to what Magdi offers, because she gives of herself. Budapest will always have a place in my heart because of her!!”
“Magdi Pelech provided us with 2 Excellent tours in Budapest in June, 2014, The first in Buda and the second in Pest. She was very personable,,knowledgeable, passionate, patient and very interesting. I would recommend her strongly to those traveling to Hungary.”