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Breakout 1945: The End of the Siege of Budapest
It is Feb. 1945, the Siege of Budapest is reaching its dramatic finale. One desperate act remains: The Breakout. This walk will take you to Feb. 11th 1945, with events and locations brought to life.
Up until late 1944, Budapest had remained largely unscathed. This was to change with Soviet and Axis forces fighting to the last man. Casualties in the hundreds of thousands and 20% of the City destroyed, this walk will bring to life the final days where 40,000 Axis soldiers try to break the siege.
Meeting Point
From your Hotel/Apartment/Place of Convenience
Our Trip the Buda Castle District
During our trip to the Buda Castle District, using the wonderful public transport system, I will update you on Hungarian history, to give context to the walk. Of course, any places of interest on the route will also be highlighted.
On of the attractions of this tour is that you get to see major tourist sites of Budapest, but from a different, more recent, perspective.
Holy Trinity Square, Buda Castle District
Our walk begins right in the heart of the famous Castle District, an area devastated in 1945. We will slowly walk among the many tourists but using a different lens.
We will visit:
- Fisherman's Bastion: gain an understanding of how the Siege came about, looking over the districts of Pest. Relive the moments when all the bridges were blown.
- Buda facing promenade: looking over the Buda Hills, we understand the final days as the Soviets cut off the Castle District. Soldiers fighting to the last man, casualties treated in the tunnels under where we are standing.
- Vienna Gate: We stop and reflect on the 10,000 Soldiers, Militia, women and children desperately waiting to break the siege as the shells start to fall.
- Haymarket Square: The breakout line as 40,000 try to reach German lines. And, finding out how many actually made it.
Note: By using photographs from 1945 along the way, I will bring that destruction alive, by standing in the exactly the same locations.
Haymarket Square, Buda
We conclude our walk in a beautiful park next to Haymarket Square. During the journey to the drop off location, I am available for "Ask my anything" questions. I doubt there are many foreigners in Hungary who understand this country as well as I do.
To your Hotel/Apartment/Place of Convenience/Recommended Lunch Place
Ending Point
To your Hotel/Apartment/Place of Convenience/Recommended Lunch Place
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee.
Public transport tickets.
Note:
They can be bought at any number of ticket terminals usually at busy stops. Currently USD 5 for a 24 hour ticket (other options are available),
I can also buy these for guests on my smartphone, but I cannot transfer them after the tour.
Guests can also install the same app from Google Play and the App Store (English available), Search for the app: BudapestGO.
Tour Important Information
This is a walking tour. Getting to the Castle District is via public transport. The walk can be tailored somewhat to the comfortable speed of the group. However, the distance is fixed. Clean, paid for, Public Toilets are available. Depending on the time of year, bringing water is advised.
Important message from the guide
I can guide you throughout Hungary, This can be either me traveling to you (transport costs etc. to be paid), or, guided tours with transport included.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Budapest Tour Reviews
“Personalized visit with determined themes”
Pieter is a very experienced guide with a knowledge spanning all topics of interest you may have ....and beyond. He is flexible, personable and a pleasure to be with. I can highly recommend Pieter to any visitor to Budapest
Pieter B.
(2 reviews)Thank you Laurent and Alexa, it was a pleasure to spend those hours in conversation with two people genuinely interested in Hungary and its heritage. And thankfully, the weather was great for the time of year. We covered a lot of ground both historically and physically :) Hopefully you get that chance to see the Balaton and Pécs on a future visit. Best wishes, Pieter
Steve K.
Breakout 1945: The End of the Siege of Budapest
“First class tour”
Pieter did an outstanding job guiding the Budapest 1945 siege breakout tour for my brother and I on this largely forgotten a/o inexplicably ignored topic. He had absolute command of the subject. Particularly good were the photos he downloaded from Hungarian National Archives, showing then and now vantage points. Really brought the events to life. Sprinkled the tour with survivors’ anecdotes. Highly recommend the tour for anyone interested in the topic. Well done.
