Take a private half-day tour of sites in Budapest that memorialize Hungary’s time behind the Iron Curtain, and learn about life during that era.

Visit the Citadella to learn about the siege of Budapest toward the end of World War II, which was the beginning of the story of the country’s occupation. Admire the Liberty Statue, or Freedom Statue, the huge monument erected in 1947 on Gellert Hill.

The Liberty Statue was originally dedicated to the Russian troops, and with a pedestal 26 meters high and the statue another 14 meters it is probably the tallest of its kind in Europe. It’s now considered a universal symbol of freedom and is an important feature in the city’s panorama.

You’ll also visit the Terror House, a museum dedicated to those who fell victim during the Communist era (audio-guide included).

Other monuments that your guide will show you include statues of famous personalities of the era, including Marx, Lenin, and Ostapenko. The Memorial of the Hungarian-Soviet Friendship, and many others erected from 1945-1989, were relocated from the city to the open-air museum of Memento Park. The collection of 42 pieces includes the 6-meter-high statue of the Liberation Army Soldier as well.

Finish the tour with a more joyful memory of the era with a ride on the Children’s Railway in the Buda hills. Originally known as the Pioneer’s Railway, it opened in 1949, operated by children aged 10-14 years.