In order to grow in the future, it is necessary not to lose sight of the past, the roots that form the basis of tomorrow. This philosophy is deeply rooted in Budapest and all over the city you will see traces of its past, which they do not want to erase. 

In some buildings you will see marks of past wars, corners that tell stories of yesteryear or sculptures with names that are eternal in the collective memory of the Hungarian capital. 

On this occasion, and to emphasise this idea, we bring you a compilation of the best historical museums in Budapest, where you can dive a little into its historical roots and better understand its fantastic and interesting history. 

Best Historical & History Museums

Budapest History Museum & Castle Museum

Szent György tér 2, 1014

Budapest has countless charming spots, but perhaps one of the most magical and historic is the Buda Castle. Inside it, in the southern wing of it, we can find this important museum. 

Walking through the exhibition, we can review the history of Budapest from very early times; the prehistoric times, to its well known communist era. Walk among medieval rooms, Gothic statues, Ottoman relics and evidence of Roman civilisation.

Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum

Lovas út 4/c, 1012 

We don’t move much, because we are still in the surroundings of one of the great symbols of the Hungarian capital, the Buda Castle. 

On this occasion, we must go inside, along the Buda hillside, to travel under the Castle floor through the corridors of the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum. This bunker has had various uses since 1935; from wartime shelter to the renowned hospital. 

Inside it is a perfect recreation of wartime reality, with real equipment and wax figures. It is a must-see if you want to understand the history of Budapest.

House of Terror Museum

Andrássy út 60, 1062

You’ve probably heard the phrase; “if the walls could talk…”, well on this occasion, you’re going to wish they wouldn’t. This building, opened in 2002, has housed all the horrors of those who were imprisoned under both fascist and communist totalitarian regimes. 

Now, it presents itself to the world as a place of remembrance and remembrance of all that should not be done in a world where there should be no place for such practices. Once you visit it, you will understand why it is one of the most visited museums in the capital.

Holocaust Memorial Center

Páva u. 39, 1094

Objects as personal and traditional as toys, accompanied by the technology of interactive screens, tell the harrowing story of the reality of the Holocaust. 

This is not just a story of Budapest, but of the suffering of an entire country. Its creation serves to raise awareness of the horror that happened and to urge that nothing like it can ever happen again.

Memento Park

Balatoni út – Szabadkai utca sarok, 1222

We have seen museums that dedicate exhibitions of their collections to Hungary’s more recent history, where communism is of fundamental importance. But until now, we have not seen one that has dedicated its entire collection exclusively to it. 

This is the case of this museum, which has a permanent exhibition devoted entirely to the communist period of the city and the country. It is located on an open-air parquet floor, and here you’ll find everything from statues of Marx and Lenin to the Barrack Cinema, as well as photography exhibitions.

Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives

Dohány u. 2, 1077

This is one of the museums with the most complete archives on the Jewish community in Europe, as well as a large number of Jewish artefacts. It is housed in a building adjacent to the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street, as well as occupying part of the synagogue. 

Its beginnings were not as bright as they are now, as it had to be hidden during the country’s hardest years. Nevertheless, they managed to collect a large number of documents that today form the central part of the exhibition.

Hungarian Agricultural Museum (Magyar Mezogazdasagi Muzeum)

Vajdahunyad stny., 1146

The majestic and imperial Vajdahunyad Castle houses a large collection of interesting artefacts on the routine of agricultural work over the years, among other exhibits on fishing, hunting and viticulture.

The castle itself is a must-see. The building, based on a Transylvanian castle, is a 19th century construction located in the City Park.

In memoriam 1956. October 25. Memorial and Exhibition

Kossuth Lajos tér 6-8, 1055

305 square metres of open-air space that tells the story of human barbarism. It pays tribute to the victims of the 1956 Hungarian revolution. 

Various media are used to provide visitors with the necessary information, such as images, documentaries and film excerpts, but perhaps the wall that served as a wall is the clearest and hardest thing for the visitor to see. 

To this day, it is still preserved with bullet holes from the shootings that took place there.

Kiscelli Museum

Kiscelli u. 108, 1037 

If you want to take a walk through the history of Hungary and its capital, stop by this museum where objects, ceremonies and customs from past centuries are on display. In particular, you can discover what life was like between the 18th and 20th centuries. 

Combining its temporary exhibitions, which are held several times throughout the year, with the permanent ones, will give you a clear vision of the evolution and history of the Hungarian people.