The statue park contains many great stutues from the communist era, the likes of Lenin, Marx and Dimitrov to name but a few. Now that Europe has changed forever, these statues give a glimpse into the once dominating communist regime.

The park is situated just outside the city, roughly one hour by bus. There are numerous several buses that leave the city centre, including one that included admission (approximately 10 euros);
www.szoborpark.hu/en/en_index.php

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A museum looking at communism in Hungary and the effects of the terror caused by the Arrow Cross Party (Hungarian Nazis). It's located in a beautiful street, made to look like an American boulevard but inside this lovely neo-renaissance building lies many secrets. It was once home to the Arrow Cross Party HQ and within its labyrinth of corridors are cells, where the captured were tortured. A very sad museum but most interesting. You need to get the headset to fully appreciate all that's gone on within the walls of this eerie building (available in English and German).

Andrassy Ut, near Vorrosmarty

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Rather than simply smash up Budapest's Communist statues after the Fall of Communism, the ingenious solution was to round them all up and give them a new lease of life by creating a statue theme park in the outlying district XXII. The rather drab setting of the park just off a main road out of town seems to reflect something of the Communist era and gives the giant statues an air of poignancy. A nice ironic twist is the on-site souvenir shop selling Communist era memorabilia at capitalist prices.

To get there from Deak ter in the city centre take either a tram No 49 or a red-numbered bus no 7 to the bus station at Etele ter, then switch to a yellow Volanbusz leaving from stop No 7 or 8. There's also a direct shuttle bus from Deak ter

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Take The Scorpions' advice and follow the Moskva down to Gorky Park. Basically a big theme park, it's a bit rubbish, but there's a ferris wheel with a great view of the city. That's if you can keep your eyes open and ignore the dodgy looking Soviet engineering and the even dodgier looking guy who's operating it.

Get off the metro at Park Kultury station (Russians know it as Culture Park) and head for the impressive entry gates. After you’ve been on the wheel, go to Krimsky bridge and head for Sculpture Park, off Krimsky Val. This is where the Russian government decided to house the majority of Soviet era statues after 1991, and there are some wonderfully evocative works on show. They're all here - Lenin, Stalin, Dzerzhinsky, Brezhnev. A great place to wander, imagine or just get a few obligatory 'communism shots'. There's a small entry fee, and look out for the hideous/amazing statue of Peter the Great by the river.

Park Kultury Metro (on the brown ring / red line)

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This is the "open grave" of the great Vladimir Ulyanov himself and it lies on the magnificent Red Square where all the greats of communism have been honoured. Lenin was the original revolutionary and gigantic statues of him abound everywhere, such is his iconic, saviour-like status.

The tomb itself is protects by the old red guard: a number of sullen-looking kite-hatted soldiers who order you to stop talking and remove hands from pockets.

Vladimir was looking very poorly when I saw him, his yellowing skin glistening under the halo of a single spotlight. He wears a permanent grimace of dark intensity and his double-breasted jacket is carefully kept in place by waxy, folded hands.

I took all this in as we all filed past, non-stop, hastened in our progress by the surly, threatening troops. We were clearly not considered true devotees and Lenin wasn't just a museum piece to be gazed at by a bunch of shallow, cashed-up unbelievers.

Of course you must go and see, just for a unique taste of modern Russia's recent, imposing past.

It's on Red Square, up from St Basil's, in front of the impressive Kremlin walls. You'll have to queue, though, but it's worth it

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An enormous exhibition park, built to demonstrate the riches of the Soviet state. Filled with lots of huge Stalinist buildings, gigantic statues and grandiose water fountains. Within the park there are still sound speakers along the footpaths - probably used for pumping propaganda during communist times. Creepily, they now pump classical music.

The park is situated opposite the impressive Hotel Cosmos, built for the 1980 Olympics.

Must be seen if you want to get a feel of Stalinist Moscow.

Nearest metro: VDNKh metro station, one of the exits leads into the park

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A gigantic Soviet ‘Expo' from 1937, featuring more than 80 pavilions, lavishly constructed in the distinctive style of Stalinist neo-classicism. You can walk around the enormous site or take a ride on the monorail. Highlights include a 1960s space rocket, a triumphal arch topped with statues and the gilded Friendship of Nations fountain.

You can also take in the iconic monument to space exploration, a spectacular shard of metal topped with a B-movie space ship, which is just outside the park at the metro station.

Nearest metro: VDNKh

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Funky out-sized statues of founding fathers of Communism, looking very much like you favourite uncles when you've done something of which they're very proud, but they don't want all the praise going to your head. I defy you to see them and not want to stroke them. Surrounded by brushed metal pillars with black-and-white photos of suitably rallying Communist incidents. Gorgeous in the winter when there's snow on the ground.

Between Alexanderplatz and the Palast der Republik

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