Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Parliament exterior
- Freedom Square
Select a date
Tour Description
Culturally and geographically, Hungary can be seen as a bridge between East and West. This unique tour explores the truths and historical context of the country’s contemporary situation. In the company of a political scientist guide, you will deconstruct how and what contemporary Hungarian politics—not only in a theoretical sense but also by looking at the politics of everyday life, like in education, religion, culture, art, architecture, and urban planning.
Budapest Politics Tour
During our time together, we'll peel back the layers of Hungarian identity and social hierarchy. This can include the differences between “western” and “eastern” European democracies, as well as notions of left and right, and the different meanings of concepts such as liberalism, conservatism, and nationalism. We’ll ask how international players such as US universities, NGOs, and personalities like Hungarian-born American investor and philanthropist George Soros have influenced political developments
The Way Forward
Our journey starts at the famous Chain Bridge, a structure that symbolizes urbanization and the birth of Budapest as a modern metropolis. (For a look at this area in a broader historical context, we recommend our Introductory Budapest Walking Tour.) Through buildings, squares, bridges, churches, ruins, and invented heroes, the city-wide traces of the intense 20th-century political battle will gradually become visible to us. Some monuments are protected by police, while others have been erected with questionable legality, and both circumstances beg the question, "why?" Taking cues from the cityscape around us, we’ll discuss how Hungary deals with its past and the disagreements that arise out of this process.
Sites across Budapest will offer the chance to dig into what makes Hungary run. At the end of our time together, we’ll see Budapest as a fascinating fusion of traditional, modern and postmodern; a city constantly redefining itself as it seeks a secure sense of identity and place.
Experts
Where You'll Start
–
53 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Daniel was an excellent host. He was very well prepared, was able to explain a lot and had a lovely laid back personality.
I would love to see more of this type of tours in other cities.
Thank you
Cathy
Cathy
Oct. 5, 2024
Daniel was sensational. So energetic, informed, balanced, but yet with solid and well-supported opinions. It was all I had hoped for and more and that was a tough bar to clear. Thanks Daniel!
Steve
Sep. 25, 2024
Zsofia was very knowledgeable of Hungary’s complicated history as well as modern day politics and delivered it in an informative way.
Melanie
Jul. 28, 2024