Budapest - History School Trip

Day 1 - Arrival, Memento Park

Arrive in Budapest and board the coach, transferring directly to Memento Park. The park is an open-air museum, allowing students to explore Hungary’s communist era. It hosts preserved statues and monuments from Hungary’s socialist past, offering an authentic glimpse into the ideological symbolism and propaganda that shaped everyday life during the communist regime. Students can discuss how nations deal with controversial or oppressive pasts, opening a wider conversation into the darker chapters of history.

From here you’ll transfer to your hotel. Dine at the hotel before an evening at leisure.

Day 2 - WWII and Cold War Pest Tour

This morning, students will begin a half day tour centred on WWII and the Cold War. Cross the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and explore the Pest area with your expert TCBC guide. Start your tour at the Hungarian Parliament building before entering St Stephen’s Basilica, the greatest church in Budapest. By coach, you’ll head to Heroes Square where the Millenium Monument celebrates the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary. One of the most iconic sites in Budapest, the square commemorates Hungary’s most important historical figures, with statues of leaders from the seven chieftains of the Magyars to important kings and national heroes. This offers students insight into Hungarian national identity and the country’s perception of its historical legacy.

Heading further into City Park, you can see Vaidahunyad Castle, Széchenyi Thermal Bath and Budapest Zoo. The castle is an eclectic architectural masterpiece that was originally built as a temporary structure for the 1896 Millennium Exhibition. It combines different architectural styles including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque, representing the evolution of Hungary’s architectural heritage.

After lunch, it’s time to explore Budapest Retro Interactive Museum. This hands-on museum lets students explore daily life during Hungary’s socialist era. Students can explore exhibitions on socialist households, propaganda and media, consumer goods and their scarcity. Students consider how Hungary’s socialist past has shaped the present they are visiting now. Highlights include the Trabant cars, and quirky kitchen appliances.

As evening draws in, take a Danube Cruise. On this boat trip through Budapest you’ll learn about the two parts of the city and hear captivating stories about the buildings along the river. Stop at Margaret Island, a favourite leisure spot of the Habsburg royals as well as host to many historical ruins from Hungary’s medieval religious orders. More energetic groups can finish the day with a Retro Fun Bike excursion which will take you round the Musical Fountain, the Japanese Garden, and the famous Water Tower.

After dinner at your hotel, it’s time to relax with a game of bowling.

Day 3 - Buda tour, Guided tour exploring Hungary’s Jewish heritage

Begin the day with a guided tour of the Buda side of the city. You’ll focus on key highlights: Buda Castle, the Military Hospital, and the Nuclear Bunker. Buda Castle has withstood many invasions, from the Ottomans to the Habsburgs, and was heavily damaged during World War Two. Now restored, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding castle district (Várnegyed) is filled with medieval, baroque, and neoclassical buildings. You’ll see beautiful squares like Holy Trinity Square and Vienna Gate Square. Mary Magdalene Tower offers incredible views across the town. From here, head to the Hospital in the Rock (Sziklakórház). This underground hospital was used during World War II and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. It was also transformed into a nuclear bunker during the Cold War. The hospital has been preserved with original medical equipment, creating an evocative and haunting experience of what life was like for doctors and patients during these conflicts. The tour also touches on Hungary’s Cold War history and civil defence preparations.

This afternoon, you’ll embark on a guided tour of Hungary’s Jewish heritage. Budapest has long been a Jewish cultural hub, with Jews making up more than 20% of the city’s population before World War Two. Explore the Dohány Street Synagogue, the second largest synagogue in the world, and follow up with a visit to the Hungarian Jewish Museum housed in the same complex. During WW2, Dohány Street bordered the Budapest Ghetto. In 1993, a three-year project began to update and reconstruct the synagogue, largely funded by Hungarian Jewish immigrant Estée Lauder. From here, you’ll enter the Holocaust Memorial Centre, also known as the House of Terror Museum. Recounting Hungary’s turbulent 20th-century history under both Nazi and Communist regimes, this museum memorialises those tortured and killed in the building. Once the headquarters of the Arrow Cross Party (Hungarian Nazis) and later the ÁVH (the secret police under Hungary’s Communist regime), the main exhibition explores how resistance to the regime in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution eventually brought Hungary its freedom and independence.

Day 4 - Budapest Thermal Baths, or Waterpark

This morning, it’s time to relax at Budapest Thermal Baths, one of the largest spa complexes in Europe. Or, for those in search of thrills and spills, you could alternatively visit Aquaworld, one of the biggest indoor water theme parks in Europe. It’s so big, a family of blue whales could fit inside!

Finish your trip at the Great Market Hall, housed in a beautiful neo-Gothic building. Sample authentic Hungarian cuisine, including goulash with dumplings, at the food stalls.

From here, it’s time to transfer to the airport after an incredible history trip to Budapest.