D
Great tour
Very informative. Would recommend
Operator response
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you found the tour informative and appreciate you recommending it to other visitors. We hope to welcome you back to Budapest!
Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system
+4 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Price from
- $3 / person
- Location
- Budapest, Hungary
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 71 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 20
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Triptobudapest.hu - Free Budapest Walking Tours
- Meeting point
- We meet in 20 meters from Budapest Eye Ferris wheel, next to the Danubius fountain.
Description
Explore Hungary's complex past with our unique Communism tour. Led by guides who lived through this era, we offer a balanced explanation of Hungarian Communism and post-Communism. Gain personal insights into life under Communist rule and its aftermath, from everyday experiences to significant societal aspects like travel, housing, education, and more. Understand the local perspective beyond the tourist viewpoint, and unravel the undercover stories of average Hungarians. Join us for a thought-provoking journey through history and its lasting effects on Hungarian society. Join as a Traveller, leave as a Friend! The small booking fee you have paid to Viator is an administrative and marketing fee to guarantee your spot on the tour. You are encouraged to tip your guide what you feel the tour was worth at the end. Most guests tip €10 per person, some even more. Our guides work very hard for tips, and you are guaranteed to have a great tour!
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Tue and Sat
- Start times
- 3:30 PM
- Next available
- Sat, Oct 24
- Adult (ages 26–60)
- $3
- Senior (ages 61+)
- $3
- Youth (ages 17–25)
- Free
- Child (ages 6–16)
- Free
- Infant (ages 1–5)
- Free
Out at sunset: the 3:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 4:26 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 7 of the next 8 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 20.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Ferris Wheel of Budapest
Our fully licensed tour guide will meet you in 20 meters from Budapest Eye. We tell you more information about the following 2 hour tour itinerary, the major sights along the way. Your tour guide will provide a 15 minute interactive history lesson about Hungarian and Central European Communism.
You will hear stories about incoming and outgoing travelling from Hungary, see the basic travel documents and learn about the fabolous Communist car types and other means of transportation in depth.
Szent Istvan Bazilika
You will learn here about the difficulties of each denominations during the Communism and how religious life varied family by family.
District V / Inner City
We speak about housing, health care, education, media culture and propaganda, sport and the Olympic Games in Communism and post - Communism and explain you why some people have nostalgy for Communism.
Szabadsag ter
We show you both controversial monuments together with the emergency exit of F4 military nuclear bunker, some urban art guerilla statues, the second most guarded building in Budapest that gave shelter for a prominent Hungarian person over 15 years.
Hungarian Parliament Building
You will learn about 1956 uprising in depth, see the bullet holes on the facade of some residential buildings around the Parliament. You will learn about the heroes of 1956 and stories about experiencing the Revolution of 1956 and the Communism as a child.
What's included
Included
booking fee
The booking fee is directed towards administration and does not contribute to the guide's earnings
Not included
tips to your tour guide
Our guides depend entirely on your donations at the end of the tour.The amount is at your choice.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
71 reviews
How it compares in Budapest
- Starting price $3 is 95% below the typical $75 for tours of similar length in Budapest
Excurgo comparison of 1,252 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system take?
Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system cost?
Prices start at $3 per person for this Budapest experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, starting at 3:30 PM.
How much does Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system cost for children?
Children aged 6–16 pay nothing, adults from $3. Infants go free.
Does Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system sell out?
It can: 7 of the next 8 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We meet in 20 meters from Budapest Eye Ferris wheel, next to the Danubius fountain. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Lives of Hungarians Under Communist and Capitalist system offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(71)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
J
Lacks depth and insight
It was a very basic trip lacking in any real insight. Overview of communism in general. Any questions beyond that were deflected with I am not an expert and we can discuss while walking....The same company runs the overview of Pest which is much better.
E
A deep dive in Hungary's post WW2 communist period
André and his colleague were very well prepared and knowledgeable. They painted a picture of Hungary after the second world war, with key dates to mark historical periods but no unnecessary details. I liked the monument selection too. In this particular your, the group was small and more interested to the topic than those from other more general tours. At the end André gave us great recommendations for places to go to eat as well as ideas to further explore the topics he presented.
Operator response
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re glad that André and his colleague brought the history to life in a clear and engaging way, and that you found their recommendations useful. We truly appreciate your feedback!
2
Excellent tour with personal touch, grounded in history
The tour was excellent. The meeting spot was easy to find and the tour guides were very engaging from the beginning. We appreciated how they intertwined their own stories about growing up in communism with the actual history of the places we visited. This gave the tour a personal touch while keeping it grounded in historical facts. They talked very openly about their experiences and were happy to answer any questions about modern Hungarian history and politics.
Operator response
Dear Shreyv, Thank you so much for this thoughtful review! We're delighted the tour resonated with you, and that Agi and Gabor's personal stories of growing up under communism, woven together with the historical facts, gave it that grounded, personal touch. Their openness in sharing their own experiences, and their willingness to discuss modern Hungarian history and politics candidly, is something we're especially proud of — it's what sets this tour apart. Thank you also for noting how easy the meeting point was to find, that's great feedback for future guests too. We hope to welcome you back to Budapest again soon! Warm regards, Agnes and the TripToBudapest Team
Q
Communist Tour
Edith gave a superb tour! Information, facts , humour and personal reflections! The two hours flew! I would do the tour again!
Operator response
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re delighted that Edith made the two hours fly by with her mix of history, fun facts, humor, and personal insights. We’d be happy to welcome you again on another Budapest tour!
P
Worth the ride if you like history
Susan has added some personal elements and history that made the visit richer and interesting. It made me relate to my own experience as having lived under communism for some time as well.
Operator response
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted that Susan’s personal stories and historical insights made the tour richer and helped you connect the experience with your own memories. We truly appreciate you sharing this with us!
S
Great visit of Budapest!
To visit a city with personal memories is soo great, I realy appreciate!
Operator response
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted that the tour brought back personal memories and made your visit to Budapest even more special. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay!
C
Communist History Walking Tour
Ousi was a brilliant guide very informative and knowledgeable and easy to listen to.
Operator response
Dear Catherine, Thank you so much for this lovely review! We're delighted to hear Orsi's knowledge and easy-to-listen-to storytelling made our Communist History Walking Tour such an informative experience — she has a real gift for bringing that period of Hungarian history to life. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to her. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Budapest again soon! Warm regards, Agnes & the TripToBudapest Team
3
No bananas in Budapest: communist occupation
A fun, informative, whirlwind walking history lesson. Geri shared historic context and personal stories for a better understanding of Budapest and Hungary during the communist era. Highly recommend this unique tour!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear 398erini, Thank you so much for this wonderful review. Geri's communist era tour is truly one of a kind — blending historic facts with personal stories makes the whole experience so much more real and human than a typical history lesson. We're thrilled it hit the mark! This is one of our most unique Budapest walking tours and it's brilliant to see it getting the recognition it deserves. Warm regards, Agnes & the TripToBudapest Team
G
Engaging & Insighful Hungarian history in a Nutshell
Gerie (Gary) was a great tour leader giving an in depth history of Hungary & the recent history of the communist regime. He was interesting, engaging & was never boring. Not much walking involved & the tour lasted just over 2 hours. Highly recommended for history buffs.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Gayletee, "Never boring" — high praise for a history tour and so well deserved! Geri (or Gary as some call him!) has a real gift for making Hungary's communist era feel vivid and relevant — not just dates and facts, but the actual human experience of living through it. We're so glad it landed that way for you. And great point about the walking — this is definitely one for those who want to go deep on history without covering too many kilometres! A perfect 2 hours for any history buff visiting Budapest. Warm regards, Agnes & the TripToBudapest Team
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