Buda Castle Buda Castle, Budapest
The Hospital in the Rock (Sziklakorhaz) underneath the Buda Castle district is one of the most unique and fascinating attractions of Budapest.
It was built to house an air raid hospital, then it was transformed into a nuclear bunker. Nowadays the Hospital in the Rock museum is one of the biggest Hungarian waxwork exhibitions with more than 200 figures, and numerous original machinery and furniture that are still in working conditions.
Booking a Hospital in the Rock Tour with Castle District Exploration Tour
History of Hospital in the Rock
Hospital in the Rock was built in a 10km long natural cave system underneath the Buda Castle District.
People started to use the cave systems under the Buda Castle Hills back in the Middle Ages. In the 13th century wells were dug and the caves were convenient for storing wines and chilling foods. Jump to the 20th century, in the WWII, the halls and tunnels were used as refuges. In 1941 the mayor of Budapest ordered the construction of a a first-aid shelter which could withstand the blasts of bombing, and the caves under the Castle area seemed to be a logical choice. The Hospital in the Rock – as a proper underground medical institute – opened in February, 1944 including three wards and one modern operating theatre.
The Hospital was in constant use in full capacity during the siege of Budapest (1944-45), when both civilians and injured soldiers were treated there at the same time. Volunteers of the Hungarian and International Red Cross helped the staff during these extremely hard times.
The Hospital closed it gates in July, 1945 – but remained in use for producing vaccines against typhus by the Vaccine-Producing Institute.
The institution was re-opened as a functioning hospital in 1956, at the start of the Revolution. In 1958, the Hospital in the Rock was expanded and upgraded to a nuclear bunker, which was designed to survive any nuclear or chemical attack while still functioning as a self-supplying hospital. One of the engines that operated the generator are still in working condition.
Although the Hospital in the Rock was never formally decommissioned, it is no longer a hospital. Before opening its gates to the general public as a historical museum attesting the times of WW2 and later the Cold Ward, its caves were used as a storage facility until 2002.
In 2007, the Hospital in the Rock was renovated with the help of the Military and History Institute and Museum, and first opened its gates to welcome visitors the same year.
Opening Hours of Hospital in the Rock
Monday: 10am – 7pm
Tuesday: 10am – 7pm
Wednesday: 10am – 7pm
Thursday: 10am – 7pm
Friday: 10am – 7pm
Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 10am – 7pm
Last tour starts at 6pm every day.
The Hospital in the Rock is closed on the following dates:
Nov 1, Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31, Jan 1.
Hungarian national holidays (Mar 15, Aug 20, Oct 23): the exhibition can only be visited by individuals with advance registration; it is closed for groups and drop-in guests who did not pre-purchase their tickets.
Tickets to Hospital in the Rock
Hospital in the Rock guided tours depart every hour between 10am and 7pm. Language: English or Hungarian. Duration: 60 min.
Full price Tickets:
Adult: HUF 7620 (HUF 6,000 + VAT)
Discounted Tickets:
Student (with Student IDs) or Senior Ticket: HUF 5,715 (HUF 4,500 + VAT)
Children aged 6 – 12 HUF 3,810 (HUF 3,000 + VAT)
Free Tickets
EU citizens over 70 years of age: free of charge entry
EU teachers: free of charge entry
Disabled Visitors + 1 accompanying person): free of charge entry
NOTE: the Hospital in the Rock cannot be visited by children under 6 years of age, and it is not recommended for children under 12 years. Children aged 6- 12 years must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian at all times.
Further discounts:
25% Discount with a tourist pass for the city of Budapest: Budapest Card
10% Discount for groups of 15+ (advance registration is required)
Small Group Castle Tour with Hospital in the Rock Entry
You can visit the Hospital in the Rock as part of a small group Buda Castle District Tour. The programme is 3 hours, approx. 2 hours guided walking in the Buda Castle District and 1 hour guided tour inside the underground caves turned into a nuclear bomb shelter known as the Hospital in the Rock museum.
- Days: Monday – Sunday
- Hours: 2pm – 5pm
- Language: English
- Tour: Small group EN guided Walking Tour
- Price:
- Adults €100
- Children (12-16): €38
- Meeting Place: Holy Trinity Statue Buda Castle District (near the Matthias Church, at the foot of the Holy Trinity / Szentharomsag Statue)
- Booking Tickets: pre-book tickets here to secure your place
The small group is maximised at 6 guests and provides a comprehensive overview of Hungarian history and the main attractions of the Buda Castle hilltop along with a special insight guided tour in the underground cave section of the Buda hills (underneath the Budapest Castle District) that were used as a hospital and nuclear shelter during WW2 and the Cold War, hidden from tourists/ civilian visitors until 2008.
In the museum specialty Gift Shop of the Hospital in the Rock Museum you can buy quirky gifts and other memorabilia that recall the Cold War era (e.g. injection pen, old postcard reprints, water bottles, hoodie, fleece, faux military garments, etc.)
Last updated: October 7, 2023
From where can we buy online tickets please?
Thank you!
Hello Janice,
tickets can be purchased on the spot.
Why do y’all not recommend it for children under the age of 12?
Hello Lilly,
Thank you for your question regarding the underground nuclear shelter / hospital museum in Budapest.
Children are all different so we may feel some are more mature than others, we understand that it may not be straightforward.
The Rock Hospital museum management has had the experience that children under 12 may find the hospital scenery, military and harmed people (wax works) and WW2 equipment depressing.
Some kids can get claustrophobic too, or may get bored to walk with a group at all times.
The museum has a set path which does not allow children to make their own exploration among the exhibits.
It is more like a cave tour in a sense that individual or group visitors are grouped and led in a narrated guided tour, progressing from cave room to room. This kind of structured walk might be another reason why younger children would very likely be disappointed prefer to explore freely as opposed to following a group tour.
Hope this helps.
There is a cave tour under the Buda Castle (a shorter version of 40 min as well) that we would suggest families with younger kids.
Have a great time in Budapest.
The young girl who sells the tickets has been very very rude doing her job. Actually I had never met such a despotic person. They treat you so bad you don’t want to enter the museum anymore.
Dear Johan,
thank you for your invaluable feedback.
Please kindly note that our site, budacastlebudapest.com is a privately owned site specializing in online ticket and tour reservations in the Buda Castle area in Budapest. We do not represent the management of any of the buildings or attractions in the Buda Castle area.
Thank you for your kind understanding.
Hello,
We are a group of 45 students.
Is reservation nessesary?
Hello Pieter,
we have already contacted you via email.
Dear sirs,
Is it possible to buy ticket by card (prepaid, credit or debit)? If no, do you accept euros or bank transfer to pay the tickets?
Thank you very much in advance
Giada
I live in London but I’m familiar with the Szilla Korhaz because my father worked there From February to August 13 He was a medical doctor and I would be grateful if you looked up your records and find his name. DR ROJKO ANTAL.
Please let me know if you found his name. It would be VERY IMPORTANT for me.
Nagyon koszonom es varom valaszukat
Agi Katz (nee Rojko).
Can you okeSe look up your
He worked there February to August 1944
Dear Agi,
Thank you for contacting us.
We would advise you to contact the museum directly at the following email address: info@sziklakorhaz.eu
Not sure if it is any help, but there are some other references to a doctor in Budapest called Dr Rojko Antal, e.g. one mentioned at the The Buda Hospital of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God / Knights of Malta: http://www.irgalmasrend.hu/site/budapest/gyogyitasapolas/fekvobetegellatas/ortopedia/azosztalytoertenete
He is shown to have lived in the 5th district https://library.hungaricana.hu/en/view/FszekCimNevTarak_20_019_04/?query=pr%C3%B3nay%20p%C3%A1l&pg=421&layout=s
We are a group of 14 coming in April,do we need to pre book or can we just buy tickets onto day
Hello Debbie,
we have contacted you via email.
Tisztelt Uram/Holgyem!
Nyolc tagu tarsasaggal szeretnenk latogatast tenni Augusztus 9.-en Kedd delutan.
Szukseges elore jegyet foglalnunk?
Kosznettel:
Boglarka
Kedves Boglárka, előfoglalásra van lehetőség a Sziklakórház honlapján.
Javasoljuk, hogy online előre egyeztessenek és – vagy jegyet vásároljanak, mert a látogatók száma néha meghaladja a kapacitást a nyári idény miatt.
Köszönjük együttműködésüket.
Hello,
We are visiting Budapest in late September and would like to visit the hospital and do a tour. Do we need to book tickets in advance or can we just arrive and get a tour?
Many thanks,
Paul.
Dear Paul,
For groups over 5 guests, we recommend pre-bookings.
If you wish to make a reservation, please contact us at info [at] budacastlebudapest.com.
Hola!
Somos un grupo de 6 personas que el 11/02/2023 queremos visitar el hospital. ¿Nos puedes indicar como realizar la reserva con antelación y el pago’
Gracias
Hello Ana,
we have contacted you via email!
Hello, we are visiting tomorrow, with 2 elderly person we are getting off of the hop on hop off bus at stop 16, what is the best way yo get to the hospital in the rock please??
Dear Shona,
the closest stop is at the Buda Tower (also called Elisabeth Tower), it is appr 10 min walk.
Enjoy your time at the Castle district!
Hi, we are a group of 3 coming on 8/6/2023. Can we purchase/book the tour online in advance or only when we arrive? Thanks in advance.
Hello Jerlyn,
we have contacted you via email!
thank you
Unfortunately the guided tour moves through at a pace where you didn’t have time to look at the displayed pictures or read some of the text available. Sometimes the guide was already speaking before the whole group was together.
There was a lot to try and take in in a short space of time.
Personally I would have preferred the audio tours that no longer seem to be available so I could be more aware of the importance of this place in Budapest’s history.
Sadly, very expensive for what we gained from our visit.
Dear Neil,
Thank you for your feedback.
We have contacted you via email.