This is my third time in Budapest, and I still haven't made it to House of Terror.
I've heard it might be physically difficult - narrow spaces - and I am walking with a cane after a fall.
1) Do you know if there's a way to leave early if you need to or want to, or is it a long prescribed one way route?
2) For anyone that's been, did you find it excellent or just good? (I've went to Auschwitz-Birkenau a few days ago, so might have my share of terror)
Thanks for any insights
When I went, it was full but not packed and I would think getting around with a cane would work. I recall a prescribed route. While I can't say for certain, I suspect there ways to cut short your visit.
I enjoyed the museum but I will confess to be bothered by it. In the first room in English there was a narration that included the line that the Hungarians were the first victims of the Nazis. The reason that I took such exception to that was the founder of the company I worked for was a Hungarian jew. He and I travelled back to Hungary and we setup an office in Budapest. While most of his relatives had perished in the holocaust, he still had a couple living cousins there. I spent a fair amount of time there and had lots of lively discussions. In any case, Tom and his cousins made this point to me over and over which was essentially that the Hungarians were not victims of the nazis. They weren't anti-nazis -- rather they joined them. Tom-- who has since died-- would have rolled over in his grave if he had heard this line in the House of Terror.
Anyway, after visiting the museum a couple years ago (it was during free time of a RS tour), I talked about this with our RS tour guide (Peter) who Hungarian. Outstanding guide by the way. He said -- and I'm paraphrasing-- "that's Orban's doing at the House of Terror. He's rewritten history."
But aside from that, I thought it was a decent museum. I'd say it's a 2nd tier site for Budapest though.
Happy travels
I was there earlier this year. I found it to be excellent and very worthwhile, although of course this is subjective. It was a one way route but you walk at your own pace. To start you're directed from the ticket area/lobby to an elevator but I can't remember if there were elevators/stairs on each floor. Maybe you can email the museum and ask for more specifics? https://www.terrorhaza.hu/en/contact
Edit: Oh, really interesting insight, David!
I found it much more interesting than I had expected. It had not been a high priority for me, but I was nearby with time to kill on a rainy day and the line to get in was moving fast so I went in. This was in 2016. I felt it had. a very different vibe than Holocaust sites I have visited. It struck me as less somber, more like a house of horrors scary place to visit but as a result perhaps more accessible to a broader audience. There seemed to be families with kids and young couples maybe on dates. I'm curious if anyone else had this impression. The other thing that struck me was that there was a great deal of audio and video material that a visitor could choose to sit down and immerse yourself with as much as you wanted, or you could choose to move through more quicly. I also found David's comments very interesting.
I think it's excellent. I think you will do fine with a cane. I would start at opening time in the morning because it can get full. The WWII history is complicated. While nothing on this subject can be said to be perfect, the Hungarians have done a pretty good job of coming to honest terms with their participation.
If the Jewish history interests you, send me a PM, and I can make some suggestions that are off the tourist trails, fascinating, and moving (positive and negative).
I googled "viktor orban comments regarding WW2 and nazis"
The response is long-- here is the first bit:
"AI Overview
Viktor Orbán's comments on World War II, the Nazi regime, and related themes have repeatedly sparked controversy and accusations of historical revisionism, antisemitism, and downplaying Hungary's role in the Holocaust. While Orbán has made statements that acknowledge Hungary's collaboration with the Nazis during the Holocaust, his rhetoric and actions have frequently drawn strong condemnation from Jewish organizations, political opponents, and European officials. "
Tom, my Hungarian friend, would have been far less charitable. Coming to terms with one's past is difficult for many countries. Right now our museums in Washington DC are being altered so who are we to judge I suppose.
I agree the House of Terror is a decent place to visit. I just minded some of the recent revisions.
Happy Travels
