Budapest Museums
Something for All Interests

If you come to the Hungarian capital for more than 1-2 days make sure you visit some of the interesting exhibitions the nearly 100 Budapest museums offer all the year round.

Budapest has some big museums offering large-scale exhibitions but there are a good number of smaller, more intimate museums, too.

Admission to Budapest Museums:

As of 1st January 2008 you have to pay entrance fee to visit the permanent exhibitions of state owned Hungarian museums. Before 2008 you have to pay admission only to temporary exhibitions.

Tickets to most Budapest museums are cheap, varying between 800-1500 HUF/adult.

Most museums offer certain discounts, e.g. by buying a ticket to a temporary exhibitions.

Further discounts to museums: those between the age of 62 and 70 pay half of the entry fee, above the age of 70 admission is free

Admission is also free for children up to the age of 6, for the disabled and their escorts. 

You get large discounts to many museums with the Budapest Card which you can buy it online here. Read more about which museums, sights, attractions you can visit at discount price with your Budapest Card.

Most museums in Budapest are closed either on Mondays or on Tuesdays (see the Opening Hours at the entry of each listed museum).

NOTE: Always check the official site of the museums for up-to-date information on opening hours and ticket prices. Always enquire about the entrance fees before your visit because discounts offered by museums may vary.

Largest Museums in Budapest
Smaller but Unique Museums
Budapest Museums for Families and Kids
Events in Budapest Related to Museums

Most Popular Budapest Museums

Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum)

Address: Múzeum körút 14-16., VIII. district, M3 (blue) metro, Ferenciek tere station
Tel: (+36 1) 338-2122, (+36 1) 327-7749
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun: 10.00-18.00
Admission: permanent exhibitions are free

Read what other travelers say about the Hungarian National Museum at TripAdvisor.

Hungary's largest museum occupies 8000 square metres.

The impressive building houses several permanent exhibitions including the Crown of St Stephen, first king of Hungary and the Coronation Jewels, History of Hungary from St Stephen to the Millennium and History of Hungary in the 20th century.

Make sure you devote a couple of hours to this museum.

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Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum)

Address: Dózsa György út 41., Heroes' Square, XIV. district, M1 (yellow) line, Heroes' Square station
Tel: (+36 1) 469 7100
Opening Hours: Tue–Sun 10–17:30 (cashier: 16.30), Closed: Monday
On Thursdays permanent collections are closed during Museum + events (18.00-22.00 pm), only select rooms can be visited with guided tours announced in advance. (admission from 17.00, only with tickets purchased for the Museum+ events). Cashier until 21.00
Temporary exhibits: varies
Admission: permanent exhibitions: 1600 HUF/adult 800 HUF6students (6-26 years old) and pensioners (62-70 years old) 10% discount with Budapest card.

Free Admission For Every Exhibition

Free Admission for the Permanent Exhibition (only for the Citizens of European Economic Area)  

Website: www.szepmuveszeti.hu

The Spanish collection, one of the largest outside Spain, and the Italian collection (Titian, Giogioni, some works by Leonardo) are must-see exhibitions. Other highlights are the Egyptian, Greek and Roman displays.

Address: Üllői út 33-37., IX. district, M3 (blue) metro/trams 4 and 6: Ferenc körút station
Tel: (+36 1) 456 5100
Opening Hours:Tue 14.00–18.00, Wed 10.00–18.00, Thu 10.00–22.00, Fri–Sun 10.00–18.00, Closed: Monday
Admission: see ticket prices on the museum's website.

Besides its rich collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics and woodworks the Museum of Applied Arts is worth a visit for its stunning architecture.

Budapest History Museum (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum)

Address: Szt. György tér 2., Castle District, Buda, Royal Palace, section E
Tel: (+36 1) 487 8801
Opening Hours:

If you want to learn about Budapest's turbulent history this museum is for you. You can see reconstructed part of the medieval Royal Palace and some Gothic statues. The exhibitions provide a glimpse into the city's history from the the first settlers to modern Budapest.

1st March-31st October: 10.00-18.00, closed on Mondays
1st November-28th February: 10.00-16.00, closed on Mondays

Admission:

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Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria)

Address: Dísz tér 17., Castle District Buda, I. district, bus 16, 16A, 116
Tel: (+36) 20 4397 325 or +36 20 4397 331
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00
Admission: permanent exhibitions: 900 HUF, temporary exhib.: 1900 HUF, with Budapest Card: permanent exhibitions: 700 HUF, temporary exhib.: 1400 HUF, box office is in Wing A and C

The national musuem of Hungarian fine arts.

House of Terror (Terror Háza Múzeum)

Address: Andrássy út 60., VI. district, M1 (yellow) metro, Vörösmarty station
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 10.00-18.00, Sat-Sun: 10.00-19.30
Admission: 1800 HUF for adults, 900 HUF for students (6-26 years old) and pensioners (62-70 years old), free for disabled people and their caretakers, for visitors 70 and over (EU citizens), temporary exhibitions ticket price: 800 HUF

Audio guide is avaiable in English or in German for 1300 HUF.

You can learn about the Nazi and Communist regime in Hungary, though some rooms convey a highly symbolic meaning that might not be clear to non-Hungarians.

Informative leaflets in several languages are available at the entrance to each room or you can buy an audio guide at the ticket desk.

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Museum of Ethnography - one of Europe's largest museum of its kind

Address: Kossuth Lajos tér 12., V. district, opposite the Budapest Parliament, tram 2, M2 Kossuth tér, bus 15, trolley-bus 70, 78
Tel: (+36) 473 2400
Opening Hours: 10.00-18.00, closed on Mondays
Admission: adults: 1000 HUF, students (6-26 years old): 500 HUF, pensioners (62-70 years old): 500 HUF, family ticket: 2100 HUF, 20% discount with Budapest card.

If you want to find out more about Hungary's rich folk culture visit the museum's permanent exhibition titled Traditional Culture of the Hungarians.

The display introduces village and farm life, folk customs and folk art. You'll find English texts at each display.

The building's architecture in itself is worth a visit to this museum.

Hungarian Natural History Museum (Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum)

Address: Ludovika tér 2-6.,VIII. district , M3 (blue) metro, either Klinikák or Nagyvárad tér stop
Tel: (+36 1) 210 1085
Opening Hours: 10.00-18.00, closed on Tuesdays (ticket office closes at 17.00)
Admission: permanent exhibitions: adult: 1000 HUF, student (6-26 years old), pensioner (62-70 years old): 500 HUF, family ticket (2 adults 32 children): 2900 HUF, 20% discount with Budapest card.

This is the largest natural history museum in Hungary.

Its permamnent exhibition titled Man and Nature in Hungary introduces the development of nature and man in the Carpathian basin.

Usually there are many interactive displays and models to enetertain kids.

Read more on the Hungarian Natural History Museum.

Aquincum Museum - Ruins of Settlement from the Roman Era

The indoor and outdoor exhibits include the ruins of Aquincum, a Roman settlement and military camp, wall paintings and mosaics of the governor’s palace, utensils and ornaments, and the internationally reputed water organ.

Address: Szentendrei út 135., III.district, Óbuda by Suburban railway (HÉV) form Bathhyány tér get off at Aquincum stop, Bus 34, 134, 106 from Óbuda Szentlélek tér (get off at Aquincum stop)

Opening Hours: 15.–30. April, 1.–31. October: ruins: 9.00–17.00, exhibitions: 10.00-17.00, May–30. September: ruins: 9.00–18.00, exhibitions: 10.00-18.00, 1. November–14. April: exhibitions only: 10.00–16.00, closed on Mondays

Admission:

• summer season (ruin garden is open): 1300 HUF/adult, 650/student (6-26 years old) and pensioners (62-70 years old), family ticket: 2100 HUF, photo ticket: 600 HUF
  
  
• winter season (ruin garden is closed): 850 HUF/adult, 450/student (6-26 years old) and pensioners (62-70 years old), family ticket: 1700 HUF, photo ticket: 600 HUF
  

Discount with Budapest card: 20%

Budapest Memento (Statue) Park - Glance behind the iron curtain, gigantic monuments from the communist regime Address: corner of Balatoni út and Szabadkai utca in XXII. district Tel: (+36) 1 425 7500 Opening Hours: every day from 10.00 till sunset Admission: 1500 HUF/adult, 1000 HUF/student - 30% discount with Budapest Card

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Smaller But Unique Budapest Museums

Budapest boasts a couple of smaller museums often within unusual settings and with intriguing exhibitions.

Ferenc Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Art (Hopp Ferenc Kelet-ázsiai Múzeum)

Address: Andrássy út 103., VI. district
Tel: (+36 1) 456-5110
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00, closed on Mondays
Admission: adults: 400 HUF, students (student ID is required): 200 HUF, pensioners under 65: 200 HUF, adult holders of Budapest card: 320 HUF, student and pensioner holders of Budapest Card: 160 HUF

Ferenc Hopp a a businessman and world-traveller collected artworks from India and the Far East during his journeys in the 19th century.

Highlights: Buddhist art form the 9th-10th century, Indian and Tibetan-Nepalese works of art.

Kiscell Museum

Address: Kiscelli utca 108. III. district, tram 17, bus 60, 165, Kiscelli utca stop
Tel: (+36 1) 388 7817
Opening Hours: 1st Apr-31st Oct: 10.00-18.00, 1st Nov-31st March: 10.00-16.00
Admission: adult: 800 HUF , students: 400 HUF, 20% discount with Budapest card

The museum is part of the Budapest History Museum and it's housed in a former Trinitarian monastery built in the 18th century. It was transformed into a Baroque mansion later.

Exhibitions cover the history of Budapest in modern times. Downstairs you can see printing equipment from the 17th-19th centuries including more than 30 old print-presses. There is a hall with Baroque statues.

The museum also has a great collection of paintings and graphic art. There is a selection of 20th-century paintings from the city's municipal gallery. The collection of artistic, old trade signs are also worth looking at.

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Béla Bartók Memorial House (Bartók Béla Emlékház)

Address: Csalán utca 29., II. district, bus 5 (departs from Március 15. tér), get off at the last stop (Pasaréti tér)
Tel: (+36 1) 394 2100
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun: 10.00-17.00 , closed on Mondays
Admission: 1000 HUF, 50% discount with Budapest card

The museum is in the final Hungarian home of the world-famous Hungarian composer Béla Bartók (1881-1945).

The interior reflects the time and atmosphere in which the composer lived. The house often hosts concerts.

Nagytétény Castle Museum (Nagytétény Kastély Múzeum)

Address: Kastélypark utca 9., XXII. district
Tel: (+36 1) 207 0005
Opening Hours: 10.00-18.00, closed on Mondays
Admission: the permanent exhibition is free, other events: adults 600 HUF, students: 300 HUF, 20% discount with Budapest card

This charming Baroque palace houses The Furniture Art from Gothic to Biedermeier Exhibition – from the 15th to the mid-19th century, displaying more than 300 items.

Bath Museum (Fürdő Múzeum)

Address: Flórián tér 3-5. underpass, III. district, Óbuda, Bus 86, 106, 34
Tel: (+36 1) 250 1650
Opening Hours: 15.–30. April, 1.–31. October: 10–17, 1. May–30. September: 10.00–18.00, 1. November–14. April: 10–16* Closed: Monday ,*depends on weather
Admission: free

This busy underpass gives home to an 2000-year old bath from the Roman era.

Read more about sights in Óbuda (Old Buda).

Underground Railway Museum (Földalatti Vasúti Múzeum)

Address: Deák Ferenc metro underground pass V. district
Tel: (+36 1)
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun: 10.00-17.00, closed on Mondays

This small museum in the metro station underpass demonstrates the history of the Millennium Underground (M1, yellow line), the first railcar-driven metro line in continental Europe.

Original carriages of the line can be seen in the section of the tunnel from 1896.
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Tomb of Gül Baba (Gül Baba Sírja) Address: Mecset utca 14., II. district The Turks occupied Buda in 1541. Güll baba, a poet, died during the celebration of the Turkish victory. The sacred tomb is a muslim pilgrimage site (it is the northest one in the world). See more sights in Buda.

Jewish Museum (Zsidó Múzeum)

Address: Dohány utca 2., VII. district, behind the Great Synagogue, M2 (red) metro Astoria station, buses 7, 7A
Tel: (+36 1) 413 5531
Opening Hours: Mon–Thu 10.00–18.00, Fri 10.00–15.00, Sun 10.00–19.00,
1. Nov–28. Feb: Mon–Thu 10.00–16.00, Fri 10.00–14.00, Sun 10.00–14.00
Admission:

Single ticket, museum only:
   - adult: 1 600 HUF (1350 HUF with Budapest card)
   - student, pensioner: 750 HUF (650 with Budapest card)

Single ticket, with guide:
- adult: 2 250 HUF
- student, pensioner: 1850 HUF
- with Budapest card: 1800 HUF

Group ticket (above 10 persons), with guidance:
- adult: 1900 HUF
- student, pensioner: 1 500 HUF
- with Budapest card: 1300 HUF

The museum commemorates the culture of Budapest's Jewish community with photos, artworks, religious objects.

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Museums for Families and Children

Children's Railway Museum (Gyermekvasút Múzeum)

Address: Children's Railway Hűvösvölgy stop, II. district
Tel: (+36 1) 397 5392

The Children's Railway was built between 1948-1950 and it connected Hűvösvölgy and Széchenyi Hill.

At that time, in the communist regime it was called Pioneer's Railway (Úttörővasút). The raliway line's Hűvösvölgyi station building houses a museum with a collections of relics from the Pioneer's Railway.

Transport Múzeum (Közlekedési Múzeum)

Address: Városligeti körút 11.. XIV. district, M1 (yellow) metro Széchenyi fürdő stop, 72-74 trolleis, tram 1 Ajtósi Dürer sor stop
Tel: (+36 1) 273 3840
Opening Hours: 1. Oct–30. April 10.00–16.00 Sat–Sun 10.00–17.00,
1. May–30. Sep 10.00–17.00 Sat–Sun 10.00–18.00, Closed: Monday
Admission: permanent exhibitions are free, temporary exhib.: adult: 1000 HUF, students (6-26 years old): 500 HUF, pensioners (62-70 years old): 500 HUF, family ticket (2 adults +2 kids): 1900 HUF

This is a realy exciting museum for boys. Old cars, motorcycle, tram and ship models show the development of transportation in Hungary.

Its railway model system is unique in the world.

TIP: include visiting the Transport Museum in a whole day excursion to Budapest City Park.

Hungarian Railway Museum (Magyar Vasúttörténeti Park)

Address: Tatai út 75., XIV. district
Getting there: by vintage railcar shuttle from from Nyugati Train Station (M3 metro, trams 4-6) between 3rd Apr-24th Oct.
Tel: (+36 1) 238 0558

Opening Hours:

Although this museum is a bit out of the city centre it's worth visiting especially for families with kids.

Visitors can drive the locomotives themselves. Don't miss the elegant restaurant car of the famous Orient express from 1912.

Read more about the Hungarian Raiway Museum.

Fire Brigade Museum

Address: Martinovics tér 12., X. district, buses 9, 32, 62, Trams 13, 28
Tel: (+36 1) 261 3586
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat: 9.00-16.00, Sun: 9.00-13.00

History of fire-fighting and fire-protection in Budapest from the Roman ages till modern times. You can see a horse-drawn fire engine from the 19th century and the first motorised firefighting vehicle brought form England.

Museum of Trade and Tourism (Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum)

Address: Szt. István tér 15., V. district, next to St. Stephen's Basilica, M3 (blue) metro, Arany János utca station, M2 (red) metro, Deák tér station
Tel: (+361) 375 6249
Opening Hours: Exhibitions – daily (except Tuesdays): 11.00 a.m.- 07.00  
Admission: permanent exhibitions are free, temporary exhibitions: adult: 600 HUF, students-pensioners: 300 HUF, family (2 adults + children) 1200 HUF, 20% discount with Budapest card.

The Labyrinth of Caves in Buda Castle and Waxwork Exhibition is an exciting attraction for kids.

TIP: see other top sights and attractions of Budapest.

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Events Related to Museums in Budapest

Museum Festival Mayday of Museums, 15th-16th May, 2010

Hungarian National Museum and its neighbourhood, Múzeum körút 14-16. VIII. district, M3 (blue) metro Kálvin tér station

You can visit around 100 museums in Budapest and get an insight into their works, exhibitions and treasures. Admission is free.

The Night of Museums, 19thJune, 2010

Museums in Budapest and in other Hungarian cities are open till late on Midsummer Night.

Buses will circulate the city to help visitors to get from one museum to another. Spectacular exhibitions and programs make this event a very nice summer night entertianment.

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