Memento Park - Statues from the Communist Dictatorship

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting this hidden gem just an hour from Budapest city center. The journey was straightforward, especially by public transport, and the experience was well worth the trip. As you arrive, you’re welcomed by imposing statues of Lenin, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels at the entrance, immediately setting the stage for the park’s distinctly Soviet atmosphere. Tickets can be purchased on-site, along with a detailed guidebook explaining the significance of the statues. Additionally, there’s a selection of Soviet-style memorabilia for sale, including a humorous parody of a Soviet passport, which I found particularly entertaining. For those seeking a deeper understanding, guided tours are available, though they need to be arranged in advance. The statues themselves are striking and serve as powerful historical reminders. Near the ticket office, there’s a vintage Trabant car where visitors can hop inside and take photos—a playful nod to the era. Close to the entrance, you’ll also find a small barrack featuring an exhibition about Hungary’s communist government, which ruled until the transition to democracy in 1989. The exhibition includes a fascinating documentary said to contain footage used in espionage training for new recruits. I found it to be an especially intriguing and thought-provoking part of the visit.

Interesting place. Important.to note it is not to glorify the era but remember and educate. Interesting film on secret police + photos. Worth a visit.

Nice for a sunny day stroll It's indeed outside if the city, but public transport in Budapest ia among the best, if not the best in Europe. Got there very easily using Google maps Statues, exhibition and a Trabant car

Highly highly recommend the park and the guided tour and take some pocket money for the fab postcards and CCCP related memorabilia / I took the bus (101e) from the bus station in Budapest which was cheap and quick - spent about 2 hours at the park and the tour was worth every penny ! Note do not happen every day so check and book in advance

Bruh! This place is epic! So many authentic Soviet monuments collected in one area instead of being destroyed. There are also vintage pins and medals to purchase at the ticket office. The museum gives you great context to what you are viewing.

Super kind lady selling the tickets. It's a part of Budapest you forget was history there. Old USSR and the statues to remind you of where you are standing. It was absolutely freezing the day we went so highly recommend warm clothes. They sold coffee and other drinks that helped.

Memento Park is an open-air museum dedicated to monumental statues and sculpted plaques from Hungary's Communist period (1949–1989). There are statues of Lenin, Marx, and Engels, as well as several Hungarian Communist leaders. A quote by the architect on the project: "This park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described, built, this park is about democracy. After all, only democracy is able to give us the opportunity to let us think freely about dictatorship. Memento Park is divided into two sections, Statue Park, officially named "A Sentence About Tyranny" Park after a poem of the same name by Gyula Illyés, and laid out as six oval sections; and Witness Square (also called Neverwas Square), which lies east of the main park entrance and is visible without payment. Statue Park houses 42 of the statues and monuments that were removed from Budapest after the fall of communism. Witness Square holds a replica of Stalin's Boots which became a symbol of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, after the statue of Stalin was pulled down from its pedestal, and is flanked by two single storey timber structures housing the internal exhibition space, their design being evocative of simple internment camp buildings, and also the Bunker, which is free of charge. Worth a visit if you have a day free, Budapest card got us here and back no problem.

We arrived via an Uber on a rainy day. My wife currently has a mobility aid and the grounds are all gravel. She had to leave her aid at the admissions kiosk and use my assistance to maneuver the grounds. Lots of interesting Soviet era artwork that was transferred here to preserve. We went to the exhibition building and toured that and then sat through the very interesting video presentation. We are attempting to travel only using WiFi and there was none here. So, when it came time to depart. There is a sign across from the admissions kiosk saying that the attendant is not allowed to call for a taxi. So, I had to turn of my data and phone the top listed taxi company for a ride. Got through and was informed that there were not any cars available for a trip.... So, Uber came to the rescue again.