Everyone takes a peek at what fellow passengers are reading on the bus or while waiting at a metro station. We can get a glimpse into the interests of a stranger and it can be fun people watching. In its new exhibition called Utazó Olvasó ("Travelling Reader"), the Museum of Ethnography captures these insightful moments for us all to see until March 26.

Eleonóra Takács and István Juhász created the Facebook community of Utazó Olvasó in 2012. Since then, they have taken a lot of pictures of people who are reading on all kinds of public transport. The initiative eventually caught the attention of the Óbuda Platán Library, which housed the first exhibition of the blog’s pictures.

Now, until 26 March, we can see the 42-picture exhibition at the Library of the Museum of Ethnography. The photos are unshakeable proof that reading is not out of style, and that people can read nearly anywhere and anytime. If they have ten minutes on bus 7 or on metro 3, they will immediately take out a book and exclude the outside world.

The general public can see the exhibition not only in Budapest, but in many rural areas as well. The photos have already been exhibited in Ajka and Szombathely, and in the summer, they will be shown in Balatonalmádi and Szeged – among other locations. The goal of the organisers is to promote reading across the country. As an extra, they also hold unconventional literature classes in connection with the openings, and thanks to the participating libraries, hold book distribution campaigns on public transport vehicles. Experience has shown that the project is a great success, not only among the public, but among BKK inspectors, as well.

The images are very expressive and realistic: they capture moments that we encounter every day. Although the theme is organically connected to reading, we can imagine these photos exhibited not only in libraries, but within the framework of large-scale exhibitions in the future as well.

Opening hours:


Tuesday: 10.00 - 17.30 Wednesday, Thursday: 10.00 - 16.00 Friday: 10.00 - 15.00 Saturday, Sunday, Monday: closed