Buda Castle Buda Castle, Budapest
Being packed with military memorabilia, loaded with weaponry and bringing battle scenes to life an exciting and fun family day for all is guaranteed in the Institute and Museum of Military History.
The Military Museum is in a temporary location until its new location on Disz Square in the Buda Castle is completed in 2025 or 2026.
The museum contains collections relating to Hungary’s military history from the medieval times to the world wars and beyond and also displays impressive series of weaponry, uniforms, armour, flags, and coins.
In addition to the story of Hungary’s history of warfare, there are some cannons by the entrance in the beautiful courtyard along with a few cannonballs in the wall (dating back to the Revolutions of 1848-49) and there is an outdoor statue and memory park providing a magnificent view on the River Danube.
The institution is also a research centre with a library and archives, housing national and international conferences, events.
History
Although originally built as an army barrack in the 1830s, the museum itself was established in the early 1920s with the aim to research, organise, systematise and exhibit the artefacts of both universal and Hungarian military history and to house military items.
Not surprisingly, the building itself was damaged during WWII and, unfortunately, much of its contents was destroyed.
The exhibits focus particularly on the 1848–49 War of Independence and the Hungarian Royal Army under the command of Admiral Miklos Horthy (1918–43).
One of the most grievous collection describes and displays the events of the Revolution of 1956, a nationwide uprising against the government of the Hungarian People’s Republic and its Soviet friendly policies, lasting for less than a month and bloodily suppressed by the Soviet troops.
Opening hours
The Military Museum is in a temporary location until its new location on Disz Square in the Buda Castle is completed in 2025 or 2026.
Tue – Sun: 10 am – 4 pm
Closed on Mondays
Tickets
Full price: HUF 1,500
Students/seniors: HUF 750
Family ticket: HUF 3,000
Address: 2-4 Kapisztran Square, Budapest 1014
Phone: +36 (1) 325-1600
Recommended from age 6+
Last updated Oct 31, 2024
Dear sir or madam,
My name is Maria Koutra and I am from Greece. On Tuesday 2 May 2017, my family and I visited the Museum of Military History.
We loved your city and your museum. As we watched the exhibits, my son who is eleven years old, forgot his hat in the museum. We bought his hat from your city and on it was written the name of your city which is Budapest. So my son is very sad.
If you found the hat and if you could sent it to me, I would be very grateful.
My address is
Agias Sofias 94
Thessaloniki 54634
Greece
Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully
Maria Koutra
Dear Maria,
thank you for your email.
We are very sorry to hear about it.
Please contact the museum directly on the following e-mail: webmaster@mail.militaria.hu.
I hope they could be of help.
I am a collector and researcher of European enameled orders of decoration. I live in the USA. How might I see pictures online of your collection of medals? Thanks
Dear David,
if you wish to contact the Museum of Military History directly, you can do so on their website: http://www.militaria.hu/kapcsolat/
Mr yawn i have a clay hungarian canteen from the 1800s just wondering if you would like to see a picture of it
I am a photo editor for World War II magazine, based here in the US. I’m looking for historic images from the Dec. 1944 siege of Budapest. I’m hoping that you might have some sort of archives, and have images that I’m looking for. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convienence.
Thank you so much!
Dear Guy,
we have contacted you via email.
Hello, my name is Michelle Dolin, I live in the U.S. I have pictures of an army passbook that was my great grandfather’s. I was hoping to see if someone could translate it for me (there are four pages total that I have copies of). Also, could you offer me direction in finding any of his military records or if that is even available? Any assistance would be greatly appreciate. Thank you.
Dear Michelle,
we have contacted you via email.
Hi,
What are the rules regarding bags? Does the military history museum have a cloakroom, or are backpacks allowed?
Thanks, Alexia
Hello Alexia,
thank you for your email.
Please contact the museum directly on:
http://www.militaria.hu/kapcsolat
I hope I could be of help.
Hi,
Do you know of any source of information about the 7th Hussars in the period of 1915 and later? I have one of their pistols, and was wondering where it was used. Thank you and have a Merry Christmas.
Rick
Dear Rick,
you may wish contact the Museum of Military History for an official reply at the following email address: webmaster [at] mail.militaria.hu
They will hopefully be able to help you with research details.
Merry Christmas to you too!
Hello. In my ancestry research I have discovered that my recent Hungarian ancestors (Rumy de Rum et Rábadoroszló) have an extensive history of military service, including several great uncles who were captured and spent years as prisoners of war of Russia during the two World Wars. Is there a way to research from the USA?
1. My great uncle General Rumy Lajos had a lifetime of military service and awards, including WWI, Counter Intelligence, and WWII, where he was captured on the Eastern front and held 11 years POW.
2. My great uncle Rumy Ferenc Arpad was also a POW for about 3-6 years, and subsequently arrested and sent to Russian forced labor several times
3. My great uncle Nagy Aurel, husband of Rumy Jolan, also served, and my understanding – from a letter I have inherited – was “deported” and may have died in service, but I’m not sure.
I am eager to learn more about these men and their service to Hungary. Any help or direction is greatly appreciated.
Paulette
Hello Paulette,
please contact the Museum of Military History directly on:
webmaster@mail.militaria.hu
Hallo Paulette,
How are you related to the Rumy family? I am Zsolt Rumy Arpad Ferenc Rumy’s son
Dear Madam .Sir:
I am conducting a research about abut my relatives in Transylvania during the second world war. I came across the name of a lieutenant that was an officer in the prison in Cluj and helped saving Jews form deportation to Germany in the summer of 1944.His name is CZikkora who was the prison’s benevolent lieutenant .Can you help me locate his details.
“Czzikkora put on a whole scene so the other guards wouldn’t suspect” (as my relative told his wife).
Yours
Asher Heinrich
Dear Asher,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your research.
Please contact the Museum of Military History directly at webmaster[at]mail.militaria.hu
Hope we could help.
I m an Indian student, studying in France, so will i get the student discount
Hello, yes you can use your international student ID card and get student rates.
Are you still closed? It’s September and I just walked here.
Dear Chad,
There has been a decision made by the government that the Military Museum will be moved to Szekesfehervar, a town approx 1 hour train ride from Budapest, reopening in 2024.
The current building in the Buda Castle, will, sadly, no longer be open to the public, instead it will be the home of Hungarian military offices and departments fulfilling governmental tasks.
We will soon update the article.
My father was shot down in WW2 and his plane crashed in Western Hungary. Before Covid I was in contact with someone, who I beleive was from your museum, that put me in contact with someone in Western Hungary who said he knew the exact location of the crash.
I was hoping I could find these gentlemen again in an attempt to take my sons over to find part of the plane, and of course, tour Hungary.
Dan you help?
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your comment.
We have contacted you via email.
The museum website says that the museum has moved to a new location. Where is this new location as there seems to be no up to date information beyond stating that it is no longer at Buda Castle?
thank you
Geoff
Dear Geoff,
Thank you for contacting us.
The Museum of Military History has moved to Szekesfehervar.
We recommend visiting the Budapest History Museum in the castle area.
Have a nice holiday in Budapest!