Budapest 20th Century Historical Walking Tour
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
While you will see the main attractions of downtown Budapest, this private tour focuses on their links to 20th-century history and the events that unfolded there. You will start your walk in a lively city square, then move to the historic Jewish Quarter. You will tour the site of the Jewish ghetto, visit memorial locations, see synagogues, learn about life in Budapest before and during the war and see the quarter's current modern side. At the end of WWII, Stalin “liberated” Hungary, so under Soviet occupation Hungary was compelled to build communism for 45 years. You’ll visit the last Soviet Memorial and a small exhibition at the Parliament, walk along the river passing the Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial. Communism ended in 1989, and Hungary transitioned to capitalism. You'll discuss this journey with your guide as the tour concludes in a coffee shop in downtown Pest. The tour is enriched with archived photos, personal and family memories, and a touch of sarcasm.
Inclusions
What's included
- Pick-up from centrally located accommodation
- Licensed English speaking guide
- Coffee and/or Tea
What's not
- Drop-off
Itinerary
The walk begins in downtown, near Astoria. As you stroll through a small downtown garden, you can discuss Hungary and Budapest's history up to the 20th century with the guide and see the medieval city wall.
The Jewish Quarter was once a bustling commercial center. By walking through the district's narrow streets and squares, visiting courtyards, you can learn about the political changes that have occurred before WWII
While the guide provides the historical background, you can admire the world's second-largest synagogue, the Heroes' Temple behind it, and the memorial park. Outside visit only.
Enjoy a quick photo stop and learn about the beautiful synagogue, a hidden gem in the heart of the Jewish District.
Formerly the busiest main street of downtown Pest, you will walk these streets and learn about the life of the Jewish community in the early 1900s.
Here you can learn about how politics affected the country's cultural life, how the Opera's singers and musicians lived through WWII, and later its role during communist times. When open, visitors can peek into the entrance hall but no interior visit is included.
Travelers will learn how churches responded during WWII and the Holocaust, and how they operated under communist rule—including the compromises they had to make.
In 1944, Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz saved thousands of Jewish lives. Travelers will learn about his extraordinary story.
Liberty Square is rich with 20th-century history. Visitors will learn about the Soviet War Memorial, the 1945 siege of Budapest, and the fate of statues and memorials that once glorified the "liberating" Red Army and communist leaders.
The magnificent Parliament building holds many hidden stories, and visitors can learn about the square's significance in the 1956 revolution. The square features a small exhibition commemorating these events.
60 pairs of iron shoes commemorate the tragic events of winter 1944–1945
Enjoy a coffee break during or at the end of the tour.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 51
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Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Meet Eszter, the tour guide, in front of Danubius Hotel Astoria at the arcades. If you would like a pick-up, please provide your centrally located accommodation details 24 hours before the tour.
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- mybudapeswalks
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended to children under age of 14
How it compares in Budapest
- Its from-price is 25% below the median of the 1255 experiences we list in Budapest.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 787 of 1255.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Budapest
Budapest joins hilly Buda and flat Pest across the Danube, a grand capital of thermal baths, riverside palaces and lively ruin bars.
On the Buda side, Castle Hill holds Buda Castle, the Matthias Church and the white turrets of Fishermen's Bastion, all looking down on the river. The Chain Bridge crosses to Pest, where the Hungarian Parliament Building stretches along the bank and St Stephen's Basilica rises a few streets inland. Gellért Hill and its Citadella give the widest views.
Top-ranked sights in Budapest: House of Parliament (Országház), Buda Castle (Budai Vár), Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lanchid) .
Special offers in Budapest
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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