Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum

About the museum

The hospital was built into existing tunnels of the cave system between 1941 and 1943 and opened on 20 February 1944 with three wards and a modern operating theatre. It came into intensive use after the air raids of May 1944 and treated both civilians and soldiers during the Siege of Budapest.

The facility was reopened during the 1956 Revolution, then converted between 1958 and 1962 into a bunker intended to withstand nuclear and chemical emergencies. It remained secret until 2002, opened partially to visitors in 2007, and has operated continuously as an exhibition facility since 11 March 2008.

The route covers more than 2,000 square metres of underground space and can only be seen with a guide. Alongside the hospital wards and machinery, it takes in exhibitions on military medical instruments, the Friedrich Born memorial room, the wartime air-raid alarm centre, the Siege of Budapest and nuclear civil defence.

Opening hours

Tickets & prices

Adult — English programme

€30

Family — English programme

€30

Senior / Student — English programme

€22

Child — English programme

€15

Eligible free admission

Free

Hungarian-language programme

9,500 HUF

Hungarian senior / student

7,000 HUF

Hungarian child

4,800 HUF

Check official prices (opens in a new tab)

What to see

• The Wartime Hospital

  Walk through the surviving underground wards and operating spaces of the emergency hospital that opened in February 1944 and treated soldiers and civilians during the Siege of Budapest.

• The 1956 Revolutionary Hospital

  The facility was reopened during the 1956 Revolution, when doctors and nurses again treated wounded civilians and combatants inside the protected underground hospital.

• Cold War Nuclear Bunker and Machinery

  Between 1958 and 1962 the hospital was expanded for nuclear and chemical emergencies. The surviving machinery section includes the systems intended to keep the underground facility operational during a crisis.

Current exhibitions

No temporary exhibitions currently listed.

How long should I spend here?

Guided visit

60 minutes

Practical information

Visit format

Guided tour required

The museum cannot be visited independently. Admission includes a guided tour through the underground facility, and the standard visit lasts approximately 60 minutes. Regular groups are limited to 25 people. Exact departure times and availability should be checked in the official online ticket system.

Tickets

Online timed tickets available

Dated, timed tickets can be bought online, and online booking normally closes 30 minutes before the programme begins. Remaining places may then be sold at the museum in order of arrival. Capacity is limited, so advance booking is sensible during busy periods. Under the museum's stated policy, online tickets bought for a given date and time cannot normally be withdrawn afterwards.

Languages

English and Hungarian live tours

Live guided tours are given in English and Hungarian. Free audio-guide tools are listed in English, Hungarian, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese. Tours in German, French, Italian or Spanish may be arranged for groups by advance request, currently at 5,500 HUF per group. Not every language is available at every departure time.

Photography

Photography and recording prohibited

Photography, video recording and audio recording are not permitted during the museum tour.

Children

Minimum age 6

Children under 6 are not permitted to visit. The museum does not recommend the exhibition for children under 12 because of explicit depictions of blood, injury and suffering. Children aged 6–11 may visit only with parental or adult supervision and responsibility.

Accessibility

Partially wheelchair accessible

The historic hospital section can be visited using a wheelchair or other mobility aid. The machinery and bunker section has numerous steps, narrow doors and winding corridors and is not wheelchair accessible; the museum states that visitors with mobility disabilities can access approximately three-quarters of the exhibition. The inaccessible machinery section forms roughly the final 15 minutes of the normal tour.

Animals

Guide dogs permitted

Animals are not allowed in the underground museum, with the exception of guide dogs.

Temperature

15–18°C year-round

The underground museum stays at approximately 15–18°C throughout the year and can feel cool even in summer, so an extra layer is useful. Coats and capes can also be borrowed on site free of charge.

Mobile signal

No mobile signal underground

The museum lies around 15 metres underground behind substantial concrete structures, and the museum states that mobile reception is unavailable inside.

Shop

Souvenir shop available

The ticket office and souvenir shop are open 10:00–18:00 daily when the museum is operating. The museum also runs an online shop.

Groups

Advance booking required from 10 people

Groups of 10–14 must reserve in advance, normally at least 2 days before the visit, and can join the regular tours. Groups of 15 or more must register in advance, normally at least 2 working days ahead, and receive a 10% discount on the service fee for group members together with a separate appointment. A regular guided group holds a maximum of 25 people, so larger groups may be divided.

Private tours

Private guided tour available

A private guided tour is available for groups of up to 14 visitors for a supplement of 100 EUR above standard museum admission, by default in Hungarian or English. Other languages may be arranged by advance request. Exclusive use of the museum cannot be requested.

Payment

Card payment; museum is cashless

The museum is cashless: payment at the vending machines is by card, and at the ticket counter by SZÉP card for the Simple Museum Visit programme under its current conditions. The museum states that all card types are accepted except American Express and Diners Club.

Contact

+36 70 7 01 01 01 · info@hospitalintherock.com

Customer service is available Monday to Friday, 10:00–17:00.

Getting there

Address

1012 Budapest, Lovas út 4/C.

Area

Buda Castle / Castle Hill

Directions