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House of Terror

House of Terror: Our most recommended tours and activities

Budapest: Grand Sightseeing Bike Tour

1. Budapest: Grand Sightseeing Bike Tour

Tour Budapest by bike on this guided sightseeing tour. See the city's landmarks as you ride along the banks of the Danube River. Enjoy the view from the Castle District in Buda and see Neo-renaissance down Andrássy Avenue. Meet your guide at the activity provider's office and hop on your bike to being your sightseeing tour. Ride down Duna Corso to the Chain Bridge and climb the Castle District in Buda to take in the stunning view of Pest. Descend to the Danube to ride along the river, chill out on the Margaret Island, and visit the House of Parliament, Freedom Square, and St. Stephen’s Basilica. After a ride on the UNESCO-listed Andrássy avenue to pass the Opera house and the House of Terror, reach Heroes' Square and the City Park, before going back to the activity provider's office.

Budapest: E-Bike Guided Tour and Castle Hill

2. Budapest: E-Bike Guided Tour and Castle Hill

Explore the beautiful city of Budapest in the most relaxed way possible, by E-bike. Follow your local, enthusiastic guide to some of the most famous sights in the city and learn interesting facts about each location.  Ride your bike to the Chain Bridge and climb up to the stunning Castle Hill, where you can experience incredible views over the city. Descend back down to the Danube and journey alongside the famous river. Spend some time on Margaret Island, before you visit the Hungarian Parliament Building. Travel to Freedom Square and admire St. Stephen's Basilica. Venture down Andrassy Avenue and view the Hungarian State Opera House and the House of Terror on the way. End your tour at Hősök tere, one of the major squares in Budapest, and spend some time in City Park before you return to the office. 

Budapest: Communist History Tour with House of Terror Option

3. Budapest: Communist History Tour with House of Terror Option

Travel back in time to the 45-year long Communist period in Hungary under Soviet military occupation with one of these two exciting guided tour options. Choose the walking tour option to go on a guided walking tour of the Budapest city center and visit the Budapest Retro Museum. Enhance your experience by choosing the option of the House of Terror. Meet your guide and begin a historical walk from the Parliament to the Budapest City Center. Start from the magnificent Hungarian Parliament, where you will see dramatic monuments, including the one commemorating the many victims of the red dictatorship.  Continue to Liberty Square, where you will find the Soviet Liberation Memorial, the last Communist monument of the city in its original place. Hear about and see sites from the Hungarian anti-Soviet revolution of 1956.  See the famous windows of Budapest, where Hungary's anti-Communist Catholic Church leader Cardinal Mindszenty spent the many years of his exile. Explore the ventilation channels of a secret underground nuclear bunker built in the years of the Cold War. After the walk, be invited to a 1-hour guided visit in Budapest Retro Museum. This unique collection displays street views, typical vehicles, the astronauts of the Soviet-Hungarian space flight, real interior home designs, and thousands of objects from the period of the 1960-1980. The museum is arranged over 3 floors in a fun and interactive way. Dress as a Communist comrade, or you can try to be a TV news presenter of the time. Choose the option of the House of Terror and uncover the secrets of the former seat of AVO State Protection Police (the local version of the Soviet KGB) as you visit the site on your own. See how it was faithfully restored to commemorate the many victims of the most brutal period of Communist dictatorship of the 1940s and 50s.  Follow your guide to learn about Hungary from WWII through Nazi rule to Soviet Communist occupation. Among others, you will see many documents of the life and economy of the 1950s, interrogation and torture rooms, the office room of the dreaded director, and the "Justice room" of political show trials. Head to the basement, where a part of the original prison cells were faithfully restored. View the various special rooms, a "wet cell", a "foxhole," a detention cell, a torture chamber and an execution room with gallows.  The last part of the exhibition shows the 1956 revolution against Soviet occupation and Communist rule, and its consequences, the retaliation and mass emigration. Finally, visit the Hall of Tears commemorating the victims, the Perpetrators' Wall, and the memorial of Soviet troops leaving Hungary.

Budapest: Festive & Jewish Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour

4. Budapest: Festive & Jewish Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour

Discover at your own pace the old Jewish quarter of Budapest, known today as the festive but also cultural and artistic district of the city! The only thing you need to explore for 1 hour? Your smartphone! The voice of a local guide will guide you throughout the visit and the stories will be triggered automatically as you go along. Start your tour whenever you want, alone or with friends, far from tourist groups... During this 1h30 audio-guided tour, start your walk on the elegant Andrassy Avenue. Sometimes called the "Champs Élysées" of Budapest, it’s been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2002. Then discover the communist period of Budapest by passing in front of the House of Terror. You will then continue on your way along Andrassy Avenue where many must-see places, stories and anecdotes await you. You will pass the first Budapest Department Store, admire the magnificent City Opera House and walk along the Hollywood Boulevard of Budapest. Continue your journey by entering the Jewish quarter of Budapest to discover the largest Synagogue in Europe! You will understand why this district has nowadays lost part of its identity... You will pass by buildings such as the Monument of the Righteous or the Memorial Park which bear witness to the tragic history of the Jews in Budapest. You will then discover why today this district is especially known as a place for festivities and artistic and cultural events. You will learn for example the history of the famous ruin bars in Budapest! Many anecdotes will enrich your walk in the city. A short stop at a terrace or a shop, a small craving? Resume the visit when you want, right where you paused. It's impossible to get lost. The guide provides clear audio directions and a map indicates clear directions to follow in real time. And if you take a wrong turn, the integrated geo-localization feature will get you back on track in no time! customize your itinerary as you wish, relax and enjoy a fun and entertaining tour of Castle district, at your own pace. As all good things must come to an end, you will finish your visit with the most famous ruin bar of the city: the Szimpla Kert. A unique place to discover absolutely if you come in the district.

Budapest: Haunted City Exploration Game

5. Budapest: Haunted City Exploration Game

Follow the clues in the app and discover Dracula’s Castle, the House of Terror, the Haunted House, and many other haunted landmarks around Budapest. Read fascinating stories about the different destinations you are led to and uncover events that took place in them, as well as the people who used to live or work there. The quest can be played at any hour but it is recommended that you try it at night, for the full haunted experience. It will take between 1 and 2 hours to complete but there is no time limit so you can finish it at your own pace.  Each clue will lead you from one place to another, giving you exact directions so you will not need a map or GPS. When you get the correct answer, the secret story of that place is unlocked. You will not need a guide, just download the app, go to the starting point, and you are ready to go on a haunted adventure. For larger groups, one person can purchase access for the entire group by selecting the number of people in the group. All group members will be able to play the city game on their smartphone. Alternatively, each person can purchase their own voucher. You can play as a group and solve the clues together as you walk, or you can split into smaller groups/teams and compete against the others. Each person can also play on their own, separate from the group, and meet the group at the end.

Budapest: Guided Downtown Electric Bike Tour

6. Budapest: Guided Downtown Electric Bike Tour

Explore Budapest, the so-called "Paris of the East," on a comfortable on a brand new e-bike from the leading German manufacturer, Kalkhoff. First up, take in the full-length of the Andrássy Avenue passing the Hungarian State Opera House, the House of Terror, and arrive at Heroes' Square. You can be sure your guide will have all the stories along the way. From Heroes' Square, continue into City Park where you’ll be surprised by a fake castle and the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, the largest and most popular in the city. The trip continues with highlights like the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and the Jewish Quarter before diving into the downtown area.  See and learn about St. Stephen's Basilica, largest church in Budapest. In the heart of the financial district lies Liberty Square with a bloody history and a disputed Holocaust memorial. From here it is not far to the Hungarian Parliament Building, a landmark in Budapest. Next, reach the Danube River with a breathtaking view on the Buda side of the city. Cross Margaret Bridge using a nice bicycle lane and arrive at Buda and EuroVelo 6, an international bicycle way along the Danube River. Ride down to Batthyany-Square, take a picture of the parliament across the river, and continue to Széchenyi Chain Bridge, from where you will start to climb Castle Hill. Here the electric support of your bike will show its strength. Admire Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion before returning to the Shoes on the Danube Bank and passing the historical Rudas Bath. At Gellért Hill, see the famous Gellért Thermal Bath cross back to Pest via Liberty Bridge, the most popular bridge in Budapest. Do not miss the Central Market Hall and the Hungarian National Museum before you reach the Dohány Street Synagogue, the final stop on the tour before you return to the starting point of the tour.

Budapest: Guided Bike Tour

7. Budapest: Guided Bike Tour

There is no easier way to explore Budapest than this guided English bicycle tour. Ride down to Duna Corso, the Chain Bridge and climb the Castle District to enjoy the view and travel back in time. Descend to the Danube to ride along the river and chill out on the Margaret Island before visiting the House of Parliament, Freedom Square and St. Stephen’s Basilica. After a trip on Andrássy avenue, seeing the Opera house and the House of Terror on the way, the tour reaches the Heroes square and City Park before returning back to the office.

Budapest Half-Day Tour: Life Behind the Iron Curtain

8. Budapest Half-Day Tour: Life Behind the Iron Curtain

Take a private full-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.

Budapest Private Guided 3-Hour City Tour by Bus

9. Budapest Private Guided 3-Hour City Tour by Bus

See the main sights on both parts of the river in Budapest. Walk around the Castle District, enjoy the view from the Citadel, drive along the Andrássy Avenue to Heroes’ Square, passing by many of the sights of the city. Your tour starts after pick-up from your hotel. On the Buda side, stop in the Castle District and during a short walk you will see the main attractions of the area. Walk to the Matthias Church and to the Fisherman’s Bastion. The Gellért Hill (Citadel) provides the most spectacular view of Budapest. On the Pest side, you can see Parliament, St. Stephens Basilica and many other sights. On the way to the Heroes’ Square you can see Adrássy Avenue with the Opera House, the House of Terror and many luxury shops. After that, the drive continues to the City Park. You will pass by the Vajdahunyad Castle, Europe’s largest thermal spa (Széchenyi Bath) and the Budapest Zoo and the Once Upon a Time Park.

Communist Budapest: 3-Hour Walk with a Historian

10. Communist Budapest: 3-Hour Walk with a Historian

The 3-hour Communist Budapest tour takes you to the sites of crucial events during the strange decades of oppression as well as progress. You’ll get a glimpse into daily life during this era. Start at Bem József Square, where the first large demonstration of the 1956 uprising was held. See a coffeehouse that has retained its original interior from the 1960s. From there, you’ll take the metro to Kossuth Square, and in front of Parliament see the monuments that bear witness to the political and armed conflicts that took place during the 1956 revolution. Take a short walk to Freedom Square, where the Cold War is symbolized by 4 stone structures: the U.S. embassy, a monument to the Soviet army, a statue of President Ronald Reagan, and the entrance to a secret atomic shelter. The metro will take you to one of the 1970s housing estates at the edge of the city center. The housing blocks may seem drab and grey today, but at the time young Hungarian families were overjoyed to be awarded an apartment here, for the elevators and modern conveniences unknown in Budapest’s older constructions. Drop by the former People’s Stadium (now Puskas Soccer Stadium), one of the few places in town where you can see typical Socialist Realist statues of heroic workers, soldiers, and intellectuals, pointing the way towards a bright future. Take a short ride in one of Stalin’s trolley buses to Dozsa György Street, the broad boulevard used for May Day parades. Your guide will use an iPad and old photos to show you the contrast between the city’s present appearance and how it looked during the time of Stalin. Around the corner you’ll find the House of Terror, a museum housed in the former headquarters of the secret services. It commemorates the crimes of communism, especially during the Stalinist years. In front of the building is a slab of the Berlin Wall.

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What people are saying about House of Terror

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 600 reviews

Great way to see Budapest! Tour guides are knowledgable and have good advice for discovering the city. At 159cm with short limbs, I was too short to use the bike they had prepared but managed to use a smaller one - it still had gears and was more than sufficient for the tour. Plenty of bike lanes so safe for those who aren’t seasoned cyclists.

Very nice guide, who takes you through the history of Budapest. Ideal, everything can be done within cycling distance in Budapest. That means that you also get to see as much as possible with a unique story. Time to take pictures and rest

Just the two of us in the end so Andy turned into our private guide for a fascinating history lesson all about Budapest. Deffo take the e-bikes. Loved it

Amazing tour. Fun and informative. Very enjoyable way to see Budapest :D Tour guide was excellent. Katie

Wonderful guide, with great knowledge and great fun.