I’ve read quite a lot about this massive structure and it’s respective history and was genuinely excited by the prospect of touring the inside. I had zero expectations of seeing everything due to its massive size, however after finally securing tickets, I was hopeful to see at least the highlights of the structure and learn some interesting details that I hadn’t already read about. Sadly, none of this happened.

We were told to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to our scheduled tour, only to stand in the blazing sun for almost 50 minutes before being greeted and welcomed. Once inside, similar to airport security, you must remove watches, belts, phones, cameras, etc for X-ray scanning then once completed, you gather within your tour group and wait for the tour to begin.

I have been on many, many, many guided tours though out the world and I can say with 100% confidence; this tour was the worst I’ve ever experienced. The tour began and then continued through several massive, marble lined rooms that amplified and echoed ALL sounds, including the one voice that was the guide. No one and I mean literally no one, was able to hear a single word from our tour guides mouth as she made ZERO efforts to speak louder or request everyone’s attention. We quickly wondered from one massive room to the next (absolutely stunning from the little we did see) and heard nothing but a distant, monotone, mumbling voice of the guide speaking, none of which was loud enough to be comprehensible. Everyone in our group (about 20-25 people) were all looking at one another and shrugging, or smiling and shaking their head as clearly I wasn’t the only one filled with confusion and disappointment. The tour was so rushed that you literally needed to take photos as you walked as you would have been quickly left behind otherwise. The guide walked our group through four or five massive rooms, then returned everyone to the same security checkpoint where we first started, all within about 50 minutes and leaving everyone including myself very disappointed and frustrated. What a waste of time and money!!

You could say that it was our tour guides fault for this low review and that certainly is part of the reason, but the reality is that I’m guessing all of the guides take the same predetermined route and approximately the same amount of time, leaving everyone who tours this structure feeling rushed and disappointed on how little you actually get to see, be forewarned.

An interesting side note, the guide allowed everyone to ask questions at the end of the tour and I took this opportunity to inquire about something I had read. According to several sources, only about 30% of the structure is being used and 70% of the Palace of Parliament remains unused and in an unfinished state. The tour guide quickly answered that this was absolutely untrue and that 100% of the structure is fully complete and currently being used. Once I exited the building, I looked through several of the windows of the building only to see raw concrete walls and crumbling ceilings, various raw materials scattered thorough out the rooms and what looked like mold on the interior walls, clearly unfinished and unused! Don’t take my word, have a peek for yourself. There are about 15 to 20 exterior window that run parallel to the sidewalk, you can easily look inside and see for yourself. Clearly this is not something that the guides want you to know about and hide the facts, although I’m not sure why.

Hopefully this review was enlightened, I wish I had read a similar review like this prior to wasting my time and money, hopefully it will help you save some of yours.