The museum was founded in 1802 and holds many of the nation's most cherished artifacts, including items from the personal collection of 19th-century aristocrat Count Ferenc Széchényi. Inside, a rich Hungarian history is on display, from tales of ancient people arriving at the Carpathian Basin to exhibits on the Hungarian middle ages.
To visit you can purchase same-day museum entry, or use a Budapest Card for complimentary admission. Learn as you go with an audio guide—available for a small fee—or book an English-language guided tour by contacting the museum in advance. Many Budapest tours also pass the National Museum, including most full-day sightseeing tours, scooter tours, and e-bike tours. Biking and walking tours also typically pass by, given the museum's central Kálvin Tér location.
If you want to arrive on your own, public transit is the best choice. You can take the M3 or M4 metro lines—or 47, 48, or 49 trams lines— to the nearby Kálvin Tér stop. To visit the museum along with several of Budapest's top attractions, hop-on hop-off bus tours are convenient. Tours typically stop at the Central Market Hall, which is about a 5-minute walk from the museum.
The museum holds regular hours Tuesday through Sunday, and is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Weekends are typically busiest, so you can avoid the crowds by visiting earlier in the week. The museum also periodically hosts concerts, so check the calendar for up-to-date event listings before your visit.
The sizable permanent collection at the Hungarian National Museum includes several standout exhibits. Highlightings include the Coronation Mantle—worn by Hungarian monarchs during coronation ceremonies—as well as the Lapidarium, a robust collection of Roman stonework. Beyond these collections, history fans should prioritize the exhibitions on political history, covering everything from the Rakocizi War of Independence to the collapse of communism.
