Hungarian National Museum

About the museum

Founded in 1802 from the collections of Count Ferenc Széchényi, the museum holds the national collection of archaeology and Hungarian history. Its permanent galleries run from the earliest peoples of the Carpathian Basin to the end of communist rule in 1990.

The neoclassical palace on Múzeum körút was designed by Mihály Pollack and built between 1837 and 1847. Its steps and portico are bound up with the history of the 1848 Revolution, and the building is as much part of the visit as the displays inside.

Opening hours

Tickets & prices

Full price

3,500 HUF

Discounted adult

1,750 HUF

Discounted youth

1,750 HUF

Full-price group

3,000 HUF

Youth group

1,200 HUF

Family ticket

7,200 HUF

Eligible free admission

Free

Budapest Card

Permanent exhibitions free; temporary exhibitions 20% discount.

Third Saturday of the month

Free

National holidays

Free

Check official prices (opens in a new tab)

What to see

• On the Border Between East and West

  The museum’s archaeological exhibition follows the peoples of present-day Hungary from approximately 400,000 BC to 804 AD, across ten rooms covering prehistory, the Bronze and Iron Ages, Roman Pannonia, the Huns, Avars and the period leading to the Hungarian Conquest.

• History of Hungary — Part I

  The first part of the historical galleries covers Hungary from the foundation of the state to 1703, including the Árpád dynasty, Angevin rulers, King Matthias, Ottoman rule, Transylvania and Royal Hungary.

• History of Hungary — Part II

  The second part continues from 1703 to 1990, covering the Rákóczi War of Independence, the Reform Era, the 1848–49 Revolution, Dualism, Trianon, the world-war period and the rise and fall of communism.

Current exhibitions

• The Treasures of King Louis I (the Great) of Hungary

  5 March 2026 – 31 December 2026 · Medieval Lapidary

  A cabinet exhibition marking the 700th anniversary of King Louis I’s birth, presenting surviving objects and archaeological finds connected with fourteenth-century Hungary and the royal court.

• We Came from America…

  4 July 2026 – 1 October 2026 · Museum Garden

  An outdoor photo-panel exhibition in the Museum Garden exploring American–Hungarian relations from the late nineteenth century through Hungary’s transition to democracy.

• The American Dream – Hungarians in the United States 1776–2026

  30 July 2026 – 1 November 2026

  A temporary exhibition exploring more than two centuries of Hungarian migration, diaspora life and cultural connections between Hungary and the United States.

• Treasure of the Month | A Thaler Hoard at the Foot of Somló Hill

  31 August 2026 – 18 October 2026

  A display centred on a hoard of 27 silver thalers discovered near Borszörcsök in June 2026 during the Hungarian National Museum’s community-archaeology work around Somló Hill.

• Souls/Alive

  3 September 2026 – 4 October 2026

  An exhibition of 195 drawings by children from across the Carpathian Basin who have experienced cancer and treatment, focusing on their worlds, creativity, strength and hope.

Practical information

Accessibility

Step-free access available via Bródy Sándor utca.

The accessible entrance is on the left side of the museum from Bródy Sándor utca. Staff can assist visitors with orientation and access to exhibitions. Accessible toilets are available, lift use is available with staff assistance, and tactile objects are provided throughout the permanent exhibition for blind and partially sighted visitors.

Photography

Private photography and video permitted with restrictions.

Current House Rules permit private photography and video without flash, tripods or selfie sticks. Photography is prohibited in the Coronation Mantle exhibition room. Commercial use requires prior permission.

Bags & cloakroom

Cloakroom or lockers mandatory.

Only handbags up to 30 × 25 × 15 cm may be taken into exhibition spaces. Lockers are free to use but require a refundable coin deposit.

Families

Family facilities available.

Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under two may enter exhibitions in a stroller or front-mounted carrier. Baby-changing facilities are available, and the museum provides family maps, family programmes and explorer activities.

Food & drink

Two museum cafés; no food or drink in exhibition spaces.

The Museum Café and Lapidarium Café are open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:45. Food and beverages may not be consumed in exhibition spaces.

Toilets

Available.

Restrooms are available on the ground floor near the café and on the mezzanine between the first and second floors. Accessible toilets are available along the accessible route.

Languages & guided tours

Foreign-language guided tours available.

The museum lists guided tours in English, German, Italian and French by advance request, normally at least one week before the visit. No current general audio guide is confirmed.

Shop

Museum Gift Shop.

Open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00.

Contact

+36 30 811 4794 · info@mnm.hu

General visitor information line and email, as listed on the official contact page.

Getting there

Address

1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 14–16.

Area

Palace Quarter

Nearest transport

Kálvin tér / Astoria

• Kálvin tér — M3 / M4 metro
• Astoria — M2 metro

The museum has no public visitor car park. The official access page recommends the underground garage at Pollack Mihály tér. Trams 47, 48 and 49 also stop at Kálvin tér, along with several bus and trolleybus connections.

Directions