The Hungarian National Museum in Budapest

Located in the former municipality of Pest, the Hungarian National Museum ( Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum in Hungarian) documents the turbulent history of the country, from prehistory to present day. Captain Ulysses highly recommends visiting the museum to better understand the country’s complex history and identity!

⚠️: do not confuse the Hungarian National Museum with the Hungarian National Gallery, located in Buda Castle, which exhibits the largest collection of Hungarian art in the country.

Brief history of the Hungarian National Museum

In 1808, the Hungarian National Assembly voted in favour of the construction of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest.

At the end of the 1830s, the Hungarian Parliament entrusted the construction works to Hungarian architect Mihály Pollack. The building was inaugurated 10 years later: in 1846-1847, the museum (as well as the Széchényi National Library) was transferred to its brand new neo-classical location.

In 1848, the museum played a major role in the Hungarian Revolution. It is indeed on the building’s front steps that nationalist poet Sándor Petőfi recited his famous poem Nemzeti dal (“National Song”) as well as the 12 points of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, thus launching the popular uprising against the House of Habsburg.

Even today, the Museum remains a strong symbol of freedom and independance: each year, Hungarians meet in front of the Hungarian National Museum to commemorate the revolution of 1848.

Visiting the Hungarian National Museum

Nestled in the district of Józsefváros, the Hungarian National Museum is worth a visit both for its neo-classical architecture and for its collections.

The architecture of the Hungarian National Museum

Built between 1837 and 1847 by Austro-Hungarian architect Mihály Pollack, the Hungarian National Museum is an imposing neoclassical building resembling an ancient temple, with pediment and columns.

At the entrance, statues of revolutionary poets János Arany and Sándor Petőfi commemorate the Revolution of 1848.

The interior of the museum is just as spectacular as its facade, especially the grand staircase, adorned with paintings of famous Hungarian artists Károly Lotz and Mór Than.

The museum’s beautiful gardens, where concerts are regularly held, are also worth taking a look at. National virtuoso Franz Liszt peformed on several occasions in this stunning setting in the 19 ^th century.

The collections of the Hungarian National Museum

The Hungarian National Museum documents the country’s history from prehistoric times to the Communist regime. In each room of the museum, the decoration and museography reflect the historical period presented.

The museum is divided into two main sections:

👉 on the ground floor , the museum traces the history of the region from prehistoric times to the domination of the Avars (Mongolian nomadic horsemen) which ended at the beginning of the 9th century

👉 first floor , the museum presents the history of the country from the beginning of the 9th century to the end of the Communist regime in Hungary. Visitors are invited to travel back in time and discover the history of the Árpád dynasty, the Turkish occupation, Transylvania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Among the pieces and relics on display, be sure to take a look at theHungarian Coronation Mantle. and the Roman stone inscriptions and carvings.

Access

Getting to the Hungarian National Museum

Located in the former municipality of Pest, in the district of Józsefváros, the Hungarian National Museum is very well served by public transport:

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses also stop near the Hungarian National Museum. They’re quite a practical option when it comes to getting around the city.

👉 More info here.

Opening hours

The museum 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 Museum is included in the Budapest Card. Otherwise, the entrance rates are:

👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in advance!

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Credits
Alan b | Alan b | Szilas | Top Budapest | Yelkrokoyade