Hungary Museums - Attractions

Budapest has well over sixty museums. They range from the more conventional, such as art museums, to unique exhibitions: the Underground Railway Museum or the Museum of the Ambulance Service to name just two. The majority of the museums in the city are CLOSED on Monday (there are some exceptions: Statue Park is open, as is the Budapest History Museum in the Castle, amongst others). In general the admission fees are very reasonable, and some museums are free but if you plan on visiting several then the best bet is a Budapest Card (see that entry), which gets you free entry as well as free public transport. Many of the museums are quite small and charming, and take but a few minutes to tour through. They are some of the most interesting parts of the city, too often overlooked by many visitors. If you think you don't like museums, try the Museum of Commerce and Catering on Castle Hill, or the Underground Museum at Deak Ter Metro station. You won't be dissapointed with your ten minute stop. Some of the most rewarding museums in the city are the little one's that have odd names: the Museum of Catering and Commerce is great, as is the Golden Eagle Pharmacy Museum. Be adventurous.

This museum displays various exhibits from the iron smelting and casting industry. It's housed in a building that could be straight out of a Dickens novel. The original machines and equipment used for this torturous yet necessary work are on display and the atmosphere is one of a real factory. Some of the cast-iron items are truly astounding, bringing art to functionality.

This is a fascinating little museum that is well worth a look. It shows how the modern pharmacy developed from the study of alchemy, as well as actual counter layouts and shelf displays from around a century ago. If you like unusual and interesting little bottles, containers and other such things, then this is the museum for you. Some of the working pharmacies in Budapest are also beautiful and fairly unchanged in the last century - why not pop in and take a look? If you're someone who thinks they don't like museums, this one may well suit you, as it is small and unique. It makes a very nice break from the bustle of Castle Hill.

This is an interesting museum to look around while up on Castle Hill. On display are actual room layouts from turn-of-the-century cafés, as well as from restaurant dining rooms. There's even a bedroom ensemble from the famous Gellert Hotel, as it would have looked in 1918. This museum may well present the look and feel of Budapest a hundred years ago better than any other. Once again, this is the kind of museum that makes you glad you stopped in. It's all fun to look at, and it's in a small space that needs only twenty minutes to do it justice.

Budapest boasts such a wide range of museums, so why not a sports museum too? Inside you'll find a collection of film footage of famous performances, actual medals, lots of photos and other memorabilia from glory day's of Hungary's sporting past. There is also a room dedicated to Alfred Hajos, Hungary's first-ever Olympic champion (at the first modern games in Athens in 1896). Not only did he win gold, he was also an architect and designer. A swimming pool complex is also named after him. He also personally designed another sports complex. The museum remains closed on Friday.

This museum traces the development of the Hungarian Ambulance Service. Budapest seems to have just about every other kind of museum you can think of, so why not this? And since the fire brigade has a museum, the ambulance folks couldn't be left out. Dozens of photos and historic signs and notices as well as actual equipment make up the bulk of the exhibit. Admission is HUF 60.

Located inside the magnificent Vajdahunyad Castle, the Museum of Agriculture is the largest agricultural museum in Europe. In the 5200 square meters of the ground floor, twelve permanent and some temporary exhibitions are situated. The Museum has worthwhile exhibitions in the country as well.

This museum contains a large collection of bibles in various languages. It traces the history of the bible through archaeological and other major discoveries. There is also a collection of Hungarian bibles, in which written Hungarian was used for the first time. The museum is also of interest to calligraphers, as the bibles are mainly hand-written and illustrated (and illuminated).

This small museum (once the home of the famous doctor) is beautiful from the outside as well as from the inside. Ignac Semmelweis made his name by discovering a cure for pre-natal fevers (which hinged around sanitary and aseptic conditions), thus saving the lives of many women. He became known as the "saviour of mothers". The museum houses more than just mementoes to him; there are pharmacy items, a mummified skull and other objects as well as models of dissection.

This museum's architecture alone warrants a stop, but it also played a major role in Hungary's history; Petofi recited his famous 'national song' from the steps here in 1848; there is a plaque to commemorate this famous event. The inside of the museum is also stunning, with lavish use of marble and ceremonial architecture. The displays give a thorough account of the history of the Hungarian nation.

This small museum is dedicated to displaying the life and work of Lajos Kossak, a talented and fiery avant-garde artist, writer and poet. He firmly believed in the power of the working class and lived-through choice-in a fairly rough workers' area of Budapest. The museum displays most of his work.

After visiting the adjacent synagogue, you will probably want to learn a little more about the history of Jews in Hungary. This popular museum traces their history from the early days up until modern times, with special emphasis placed on the tragic events of the Second World War. The Holocaust Memorial Room is also located inside. There is also a large collection of historical ceremonial items on display, collected from across Europe. Admission is HUF 500. From November to April, the museum closes two hours earlier than stated below.

Budapest is so full of history that it's easy to forget the Romans were here two thousand years ago. Their settlement was known as Aquincum, and the Aquincum museum brings its' history to life. A large outdoor area full of ruins gives us a clear picture of building layouts and patterns, while the museum itself houses some real treasures, including the world-famous portable water organ. This musical device clearly shows just how advanced the Romans actually were.

This museum is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have been enchanted by the beauty of Budapest and you want to learn more about it. It is housed in one of the wings of the actual palace. You will find several exhibitions retelling the city's long and turbulent history as well as sections that have been renovated to show what the palace used to look like in medieval times. There is also a fine collection of statues. Do be aware that the museum has changing opening hours and days; from mid-May to mid-September, it is open every day; during the rest of the year it is closed on Tuesdays.

This museum is unique in that it specializes in just one area and that is electricity. The wide range of historical devices on display is actually rather fascinating (especially the old lamps). The museum traces the history of electricity by examining its generation, distribution and most interestingly, its consumption. There are a variety of weird and wonderful devices, which go into action once a switch is flicked. Admission is free.