Buda Castle Buda Castle, Budapest
What can you see in the buildings of the former Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian royal palace known as the Buda Castle? If you expected to see a royal palace luxury room exhibition in the Buda Castle, you may be disappointed to learn that due to the lootings at the end of the WW2 (plundered by the Nazi troops, then by the Russian troops), the building and its beautiful interior has been ripped and stripped to the naked walls. Unfortunately, very little has remained from the former glory of the Buda Castle as a royal palace, which was to host the monarchs and leaders of the Austria-Hungary empire until 1944. Currently the buildings of the Buda Castle host outstanding collections of some of the finest Budapest attractions. The courtyards, on the other hand, give venue to one of the best festivals in Budapest (wine festival, beer festival, chocolate festival, crafts festival, you name it)
The buildings of the Buda Castle are as follows:
Hungarian National Gallery
the collections of the Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria, MNG for short) are in buildings A, B, C and D of the Buda Castle, which means that the gallery takes up most of the Buda Castle on the Castle Hill in Budapest. The gallery collects all the Hungarian works of arts from the beginnings of the Hungarian state until the early 20th century. Its most outstanding collection is the paintings from the 19th century Hungarian painters. The gallery is a nice place for those who love fine arts from the previous century, and also for those who wish to see the interior of the Buda Castle at a cheap price (entrance fee to the gallery is very low).
Get a FREE Entry to the National Gallery with your Budapest Card from only €19.
Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Budapest History Museum
The Budapest History Museum is a lovely museum for history lovers and who fell in love with Budapest. If you wonder how people lived, danced, ate, connived, slept, cruised, etc. in earlier centuries in the town of current Budapest, the museum will provide a unique perspective.
Get a FREE Entry to the History Museum with your Budapest Card from only €19.
Opening Hours:
1 March – 31 October Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm, November 1 – February 29 Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 4 pm (closed on Mondays, but often open on national holidays)
National Szechenyi Library
The national library in Hungary is also in the Buda Castle, right next to the Budapest History Museum. The library has temporary exhibitions, which may interest you. Most of the exhibitions are paper based, e.g. illustrations, maps from century old books, but there are other types of exhibitions at the Szechenyi Library, like porcelains from Herend, or the graphics of Hungarian artists. The permanent exhibition of the Szechenyi Library may intrigue librarians, steam punks and nostalgic folks: what was it like reading books in Hungary between 1802 and 1985. The library is named after another Szechenyi you may know, the father of the Szechenyi Chain bridge and Szechenyi Baths, i.e. the father of Istvan Szechenyi, Ferenc Szechenyi.
Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat 9 am – 8 pm
Excuse me,can you tell me Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum ticket price and open time ,if we have Budapest card the price is?
Thanks
Hello Iris,
thank you for your email.
For ticket prices, opening hours please see the relevant websites on the following links:
https://mng.hu/en
http://www.btm.hu/eng/
Hungarian National Gallery: free entry to the permanent exhibitions in the National Gallery with a Budapest Card
Budapest History Museum: free entry to the permanent exhibitions with a Budapest Card
I hope I could be of help.
I will visit the budapest castle somewhere near the second week of july, can you tell me the castle attraction’s prices, like the library and the museums, and the schedule please. And if there is any special events at that time. So that i can decide which day is more appropriate.
Hello Maria,
thank you for your email.
As there are quite a few museums in the Castle District area, please find them all on the following link:
https://budacastlebudapest.com/category/buda-castle-museums/
Please just click on the one you are interested in for prices and other relevant information.
There are different kinds of Tours in the Buda Castle, depending on whether you wish to walk, use a Segway or a bus, or you wish to have a public or private program:
https://budacastlebudapest.com/buda-castle-tour/
There is not any special event / festival planned for the second part of July.
I hope I could be of help.
I plan to visit budapest and want to visit Buda Castle.
It is not really clear to me on the entrance fee. I am on budget and not considering taking any tour. Is the complex free of charge? Thanks
Dear Nina,
The buildings of the Buda Castle are currently occupied by museums (the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum).
Entrance for both museums can be purchased on the spot.
How much time should I spend for the library? It is enough one hour? I want to take part at the tour of the city that ends at 5 pm.
Dear Gabriel,
the Library is open until 8pm (Tue-Sat).
The cruise on the Danube is included in the Budapest Card?
Dear Gabriel,
thank you for your inquiry.
You can find more information about the benefits of the Budapest Card on the following page: http://budapestcards.com/
I read on a website that I a hove included a tour of the Buda Castle in the Budapest Card. Is it right?
Hello Gabriel,
The free walking tours with a Budapest Card in Buda and Pest are guaranteed to start every day, therefore there is no need to book your places in advance.
They usually last 2–2.5 hours long and they come with an English speaking tour guide. The tours run on national holidays and in rainy / snowy weather too. Just take the card with you when you turn up for a walking tour.
Meeting time and location of Buda Walking tour: 2 pm at the Holy Trinity Statue near the Matthias Church in the Buda Castle District, Holy Trinity Square, 1014 Budapest
There is no need to make an advance booking for the free walking tours. You can just show up at the meeting point and join the tours.
Can I enter with Buda Card in the library?
Hello Gabriel,
the National Szechenyi Library can be visited without a Budapest Card.
The only way to enter and visit the interor of the palace is to visit the history an the art museum?
Dear Gabriel,
thank you for your email.
Yes, the buildings of the Buda Castle are currently occupied by 2 separate museums (the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum).
I am trying to find out the entrance fee to the National Gallery and History Museum inside Buda Castle without having to purchase a Budapest Card. Information says entrance to these places are inexpensive but does not specify the cost. What is the entrance fee and does the entrance fee cover both gallery and museum or are there separate costs, and if so how much and where can I purchase the tickets? Also is there an entrance fee to the Citadel? I would like to visit these places on Tuesday 11th July.
Dear Jenny,
thank you for contacting us.
Please find the requested information below:
Budapest History Museum:
Low / High Season prices
Adults: 1800 / 2000 HUF
Visitors aged 6-26: 900/ 1000 HUF
Visitors aged 62-70: 900/ 1000 HUF
Hungarian National Gallery:
Full price: HUF 1,800 per Adult
Discount price: HUF 900 per Student / Senior Citizen
Audio guide: HUF 800
Ticket to both museums can be purchased at the entrance.
Is there a lost and found at the castle or a number/ email I can get hold of someone on? I lost a ring at the castle a few weeks ago and it was very important to me.
Dear Vicky,
we are very sorry to hear that.
I am afraid, there is not any department for lost items in the Buda Castle. If you have lost your ring in a particular building, museum etc, try to contact them directly.
I am sorry I could not be of more help.