The 15 best museums in Budapest
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Loading... - Allen Anderson
- 21 Dec 2021
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Museum of Fine Arts
Best museum for Old Masters
Set in a museum resembling a neoclassical temple, Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts is where you’ll find works by world-famous artists like Raphael, El Greco and Dürer, as well as an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian and Greek artifacts. The museum’s highlight is the Romanesque Hall, a frescoed space inspired by medieval Hungarian art. Constructed in the early 1900s, the gallery suffered severe damage during World War II – and in 2018, was restored and opened to the public for the first time in 70 years.
Hungarian National Gallery
Best museum for Hungarian art
Located in the Royal Palace at Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery charts the history of Hungarian art, from medieval Gothic triptychs and sculpture to post–World War II abstraction. Museum highlights include the lookout platform from castle dome, the paintings of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, and the work of Hungarian impressionists such as Pál Szinyei Merse, József Rippl-Rónai and János Vaszary.
Hungarian National Museum
Best museum for history buffs
The Hungarian National Museum is the country’s largest. Exhibits here take visitors through the story of Hungary from prehistory to the Communist era. Don’t miss the Roman lapidarium, the stunning Seuso Treasure (a collection of 4th-century silver vessels), the collection of Scythian gold, the 11th-century coronation mantle of St. Stephen and even a giant hand taken from a statue of Stalin.
Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art
Best museum to discover new artists
The Ludwig is where to visit if you’re looking for new and now art from Central Europe and beyond. The gallery mounts ongoing, rotating exhibitions that feature up-and-coming artists from the region, a lively counterpart to the stellar permanent collection. This museum is especially famous for its collection of Pop Art, and you’ll find works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and other well-known makers on display.
House of Terror
Best museum for difficult history
Located in the former headquarters of Hungary’s secret police, this memorably named museum opened in 2002 to commemorate the victims of the Communist and fascist regimes. It’s an immersive experience with multimedia and interactive installations over multiple floors; you'll see the cells where political prisoners were held, and you can watch video accounts from survivors telling their stories. Installations represent different themes, such as a room filled with blocks of lard to represent the forced handover of agricultural produce under the Communist regime.
Aquincum
Best museum for connecting with the ancient past
Head to suburban Óbuda to explore the site of the ancient Roman city of Aquincum. Today, it’s an archaeological park where you can stroll among the ruins of houses, shops, bathhouses and the forum. An impressive museum is housed in a former electric transformer building, with exhibits explaining Roman life in Hungary through displays of mosaics, jewelry, everyday items and even a portable organ dating back to the 3rd century. Read More…
