Nestled in Buda Castle, on the right bank of the Danube, the Hungarian National Gallery ( Magyar Nemzeti Galeria in Hungarian or MNG) is home to the largest collection of Hungarian art in the country. It is one of the best museums in the capital!
Follow the guide!
⚠️: do not confuse the Hungarian National Gallery with the Hungarian National Museum, located in the former city of Pest and dedicated to the history of Hungary.
💡 The Captain’s tip 💡
Want to know more about the history of Budapest? Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the city. It’s up to you to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide!
Are you looking for a hotel in Budapest? Be sure to check out the Captain’s article: Where to stay in Budapest? Advice & recommendations
Planning your trip to Budapest? Take a look the Captain’s detailed article on the best things to do: A Guide to Budapest
Visiting the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest
If the Hungarian National Gallery gathers collections dating back as far as the Hungarian conquest, it is best known for its altarpieces dating from the late Gothic period as well as for its collections from the 19 th and 20 th centuries.
The museum’s collections are diverse and varied: historical scenes, portraits, landscapes, Art Nouveau, Cubism, etc.
👉 Middle ages : the former throne room is home to a collection of late Gothic altarpieces (15 th and 16 th centuries). The museum also showcases Baroque works inspired by Austrian art.
👉19 th and 20 th centuries : the Gallery exhibits a large collection of paintings and sculptures from the 19 th and 20 th centuries, including pieces from famous Hungarian artists, among whom Miklós Izsó, Mihály Munkácsy, László Paál, Károly Lotz, Pál Szinyei Merse, Bertalan Székely, etc.
👉 Photographs : the Hungarian National Gallery is also home to a large collection of photographs, including photos from Brassai and Ervin Marton.
👉 Panoramic views on Budapest: from the terraces surrounding the dome, you will have a panoramic view on Budapest!
Access
Getting to the Hungarian National Gallery
To get to the Hungarian National Gallery, head for the district of Buda, on the right bank of the Danube. The museum is located in Buda Castle, dating from the 14 th century.
The nearest public transports are:
- The funicular
- The bus: Dísz tér stop (served by lines 16, 16A and 116)
Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours also stop at the Hungarian National Gallery. They’re quite a practical option when it comes to getting around the city.
More info: hop-on hop-off bus tour
💡 Relocation of the Hungarian National Gallery 💡
For your information, the Hungarian National Gallery is scheduled to move to the Városliget (the “City Wood”), east of Budapest. Stay tuned …
Opening hours
The Hungarian National Gallery is open every day from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is however closed on Mondays.
Admission
Entrance to the Hungarian National Gallery is included in the Budapest Card. Otherwise, the entrance rates are:
| Adults | 3200 ft |
| Visitors aged 6 to 26 and visitors over 60 who are members of the EU | 1600 ft |
| Children under 6 and visitors over 70 | Free of charge |
👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in advance!
👉 Looking for tips and recommendations? Here are all of Captain Ulysses’ suggestions!
🛏️ Accommodation: if you’re looking for an accommodation in Budapest, Captain Ulysses highly recommends Expedia. You’ll find a wide choice of hotels, hostels and apartments in the Hungarian capital. The Captain recommends in particular:
– tight budget: Avenue Hostel
– intermediate budget: Agape Apartments
– to treat yourself: Hotel Moments Budapest
🎟️ Activities: as for booking visits and tourist activities, Captain Ulysses recommends three websites: GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Civitatis. Guided tours, cruises, skip-the-line tickets, tourist activities… there’s plenty to choose from!
🎫 Citypass: If you are staying in Budapest for several days, you might want to consider investing in the Budapest Card. It includes free public transport, free entrance to the Lukacs Spa, two guided tours, free entrance to 17 museums, as well as numerous discounts.
🚐 Transfers: Budapest airport is located about twenty kilometers from the city. If you want to take a load off your mind, you can book a private transfer into Budapest’s city centre from the airport. A car will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the city. Find out more: airport transfer.
🚌Transport in Budapest: Budapest’s public transport system is well-developped and quite easy to navigate: metro, bus, tram and even ferry. If you wish, you can also opt for a hop-on hop-off bus tour which stops at all the top tourist attractions in Rome (audio guide included). Otherwise, there’s always the good old local ways of getting around the city: in a russian jeep or a Trabant.
✈️ Flights: Captain Ulysses highly recommends booking your flights on Skyscanner. You’ll be able to compare countless offers to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possible.
Credits
Bobo boom | damian entwistle | damian entwistle
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