Buda Castle Museum Budapest History Exhibitions Tickets Entry Lions Court
Buda Castle Museum Budapest

Buda Castle History Museum

The exhibitions in the Budapest History Museum focus on the turbulent history of the 2000 years of the city now known as Budapest: what the once separate towns of Buda, Pest and Obuda were like.

Budapest History Museum exhibits
Budapest History Museum exhibits

Opening Times

Mondays: 10 am- 6pm (St Stephen’s Hall is open)
Tuesdays: 10 am- 6pm
Wednesdays: 10 am- 6pm
Thursday: 10 am- 6pm
Friday: 10 am- 6pm
Saturday: 10 am- 6pm
Sunday: 10 am- 6pm

Historical Budapest

Step back in time to discover life before 1873, when Buda and Pest stood as separate cities, and experience the changing tides of history—from the rule of Austrian noblemen during the Habsburg Monarchy to the newfound balance of power brought by the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. Though many exhibits were lost in World War II, the remaining treasures still offer a glimpse into the grandeur and opulence of the Castle’s past, allowing you to immerse yourself in its fascinating legacy.

Budapest History Museum Exhibits
Budapest History Museum Exhibits

The exhibits range from photographs, furniture, everyday tools, clothing, books, and artwork, each offering a unique window into the evolving life and styles of Buda and Pest—now Budapest—through the ages.

If you’re a history enthusiast or simply love Budapest, the Budapest History Museum (Budapest Történeti Múzeum) is a must-visit in Buda Castle on Castle Hill, where the past comes to life in an unforgettable setting.

Buda Castle History Middle Ages
Buda Castle History Middle Ages

The museum is now open every day, including Mondays, though some older sources may still mention a previous Monday closure. On festival days—such as the Hungarian Crafts Festival or Budapest Wine Festival—a special festival ticket is required for entry. This ticket may or may not include access to the museum, with prices typically aligning with standard museum admission. Please check the festival admission and museum entry policy for the given festival.

Buda Castle Wedding Chapel Budapest History Museum Event Venue Rental
Buda Castle Wedding Chapel Budapest History Museum Events

A tablet-based audio guide is available in multiple languages for the Royal Hall of St. Stephen’s Hall, located within the recently restored, interactive museum wings of the Buda Castle Museum, but requiring its own special entry. Unlike the regular Castle History Museum wing, the older exhibitions, the Royal St Stephen’s Hall requires pre-registration for a timed entry slot, with a maximum of 20 guests per session—so advance booking is highly recommended to secure your spot in the newer wing.

Opening Hours

Mon – Sun: 10 am – 6 pm
(all year round)

Christmas Opening Hours
Recommended from 6+
Free admission on national holidays
(15 March, 20 Aug, 23 Oct)
and for ICOM card holders

While the museum allows flexible
entry during opening hours with
a valid ticket, access to
St. Stephen’s Hall is strictly
by pre-scheduled admission.
Weekends and holidays are fully booked up normally.

Tickets Museum only

Adults: HUF 3,800 HUF
Students 6-26: HUF 1900
Seniors 65-70: HUF 1900

Tickets Museum 2 in 1

Incl. St Stephen’s Hall Royal Palace

Adults: HUF 4,500
Students 6-26: HUF 2,250
Seniors 65-70: HUF 2,250

Please note that admission prices may be adjusted throughout the year due to inflation. Entry fees, by default, do not cover access to St. Stephen’s Hall or the National Gallery, which is housed in another wing of the Buda Castle.

Address: 2 Szent Gyorgy Square Budapest 1014
Phone: +36-1-487-8854

A new entrance was opened to the Budapest History Museum leading the way in the Royal Cellar in 2014. The new entrance allows access to visitors coming  from the Castle Garden Bazaar (Varkert Bazar) via the moving staircase or elevator from the riverside gardens of the historical Castle Bazaar, and from the Savoy terrace in front of the National Gallery through the palace garden.

Medieval Buda Castle Exhibition

King Matthias Coat of Arms Buda Castle History Museum
Coat of Arms Buda Castle

Some of the fine displays from the Middle Ages are the coats of arms of medieval ruling and aristocratic families on carved stones and stove tiles. Detailed information of each period of the Buda Castle is provided on touch-screen displays. You can learn about the various ruling families of the Buda Palace, including portraits, seals, coins, coasts of arms in pictures and through interesting anecdotes and legends.

Visitors can see the fine books of the royal libraries, like Matthias Corvinus’ library from the Renaissance period, the medieval latrine, the accommodation of the castle guards or a stone carving workshop, and artistically painted constellations (King Matthias loved astrology).

 

Budapest History Museum – Exhibitions

This is a nice ad teaser for an exhibition which showed the life of citizens in Buda in the 19th century:

Special Festival Events – Opening Hours

The opening hours of the Budapest History Museum are affected by some of the greatest national festivals taking place in the Buda Castle, such as the Festival of Crafts and the Wine Festival around Aug 20 and early September (typically between Sept 6-10, depending on which days are on the weekend).
Ticket holders of the Wine Festival can normally visit the permanent exhibitions of the History Museum free of charge.
Last updated: Jan, 2025

46 comments

  1. Hello, I am inquiring as I’ve seen pictures online of some beautiful art/exhibits that I would like to know the significance of, can I please reach out to get information? Thank you!

  2. Hello

    I’ll be visiting on the 21. Juli. Can I buy the tickets there or do i have to buty it online?

    • Hello Nathan,
      Tickets for the Budapest History Museum are available on the spot.
      Have a nice holiday in Budapest!

  3. Hello,

    I am visiting Budapest and I want to visit museums with medieval silk textiles in the collections. How can I find out if there are any medieval silk textiles at Buda Castle Museum? Is there a collection database available, or a curator I can contact?

    Many thanks,
    Susanna

  4. Michał Kamiński

    Hi !
    This is Michał Kamiński.
    I represent Polish scouts from Zakopane.
    There will be from 4 to 7 students, aged 17-23.
    We will be visiting Budapest between 17-27.07.2021.
    I wonder if we could get any discounts sightseeing the Royal Castle of Budapest ?
    I’m waiting for a reply.
    Thank you in advance.
    Michał Kamiński

  5. Ive been researching the Cuman/Kunok/Kipchak people who fled from central asia to Hungary in the Middle ages. Do any of your exhibits contain information on them? If not can you point me in the direction of a museum in Budapest that does?

    • Dear Cody,
      Thank you for contacting us regarding exhibitions in Budapest History Museum, Hungary.
      Please contact the Museum directly at btm@btm.hu

      Hope we could help. We wish you a successful research!

  6. Good morning,

    I’m planning to visit your museum with my customers, about 40-45 adults, 9th of November 2019. Can you please tell me what will be the price per person. Do you have any Polish speaking guide? What is the price for a guide and how long the tour will take? Can you please tell me about the price of parking for our bus? I have to include all these in my calculation.

    Thank you so much,

    Agnieszka

  7. A bit dissapointed you had almost nothing about Barbara Celjska even though she was Sigimund’s wife and the Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary

  8. Hello:

    My family and I are planning a trip to Budapest in August and I was wonder if there were a lot of steps to enter and access different parts of the Castle/Museum/Gallery. My parents are 71 and it is difficult for them to climb too many steps. Are there elevators/escalators that make it easier to access one level from another?

    Thank you,
    Future Traveler

    • Hello Vincent,

      the magnificent Buda Castle is located on top of the Castle Hill on the Buda side of the river Danube. Despite the elevated location, it is very easily accessible on foot, or by public transport.

      You can walk up there, or use an elevator and you can also access the Buda Castle by public transportation.

      Please find more on the topic on:
      https://budacastlebudapest.com/getting-there/

      Have a great time in Buda Castle.

  9. Hello

    I was wondering if the Budapest History Museum has a exhibition about the History of Budapest itself and if it will be open on the first of November. Thank you in advance!

    Lore

    • Dear Lore,
      yes, the Budapest History Museum has a permanent exhibition about the history of the capital. The Museum will be open on Nov 1.

  10. Hi,

    Is the museum open on 16th August 2018?

    Regards,
    Joe

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