On Friday, several historic locations across Budapest welcome the public to observe the legacy of the Magyars’ struggle against Soviet rule 59 years ago, in the exact places where the revolution occurred – from the Parliament House to the Magyar Rádió headquarters to the House of Terror. During the October 23rd national holiday, visitors are welcome at all these places and more free of charge, where diverse programs and displays commemorate the nation’s 1956 uprising against Soviet occupation.

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Parliament House

After a somber 10am flag-raising ceremony followed by official speeches on Kossuth Square right in front of Hungary’s neo-Gothic Parliament House, visitors can sign up for guided group tours inside this ornate government palace between 11am and 5pm to view some of its key sites, including the artistic Grand Stairway, the central Dome Hall, and the millennium-old Holy Crown of Hungary. Beginning at 11am, traditional folk-dance performances entertain the public in the open air of Kossuth Square.

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Magyar Rádió

In Budapest’s District VIII at Bródy Sándor Street 5-7, nearby the Hungarian National Museum, the public can visit Magyar Rádió headquarters – where the first shots of the 1956 Revolution were fired on October 23rd – from 9am to 5pm; the tour takes visitors past historic photographs and archive audio records, all aiming to demonstrate the rebellion’s outbreak, including specific incidents that went down throughout the fateful day. Distinct locations of the revolution are highlighted in the exhibition, all with links to the Magyar Rádió.

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House of Terror Museum

Located along prominent Andrássy Avenue within the former secret police headquarters of the State Security Office, the House of Terror Museum offers free entrance to anyone willing to witness its unsettling scenes and learn more about the atrocities that occurred in Hungary under the 20th-century communist regime. The interactive showcase commemorates victims of oppression who were detained, interrogated, tortured, and killed in the building. The exhibition is open from 10am to 6pm.

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Museum of Military History

Visitors can encounter a range of weapons, battle scenes, and Hungarian army uniforms at the Museum of Military History within the Castle District. Outside of the building on Kapisztrán Square, a small piece of fence from the actual Iron Curtain is on display, encircled by displays of military technology and weaponry, including robust steel-plated vehicles and colossal cannons, while a period-costume show and handicraft workshops entertain the public from 10 am to 4 pm.

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Vintage tram rides

Intriguing installations mark the track of tram 6 from Széna Square to Móricz Zsigmond Circus, and at the Kossuth Square and Március 15 Square stops of tram 2. Passengers can hop aboard a retro ride along the two lines to sightsee around Budapest on a vintage vehicle while experiencing the city’s bygone era. The timber-framed tram cars feature unconventional historic exhibitions to provide unforgettable educational journeys, running during October 23-25 and October 30 through November 1.