Bank holidays (March 15th, August 20th, and October 23rd) mean free entry to Budapest's museums for everyone, but these are not the only days you can enjoy exhibitions without paying. Children under 6 and seniors over 70 can visit museums free of charge year-round. Journalists also have free access with a valid press pass. The same goes for teachers from the European Economic Area (EEA).
Speaking of the EEA, citizens of these countries who are under 26 can visit museums for free several times a year. Additionally, children under 18 can enter museums for free on specific days and can bring up to two companions at no extra cost. And the city pass Budapest Card also includes free museum visits.
We have rounded up the dates and details you need to know:
Always free:
- Money Museum (registration is needed, but guided tours are also free)
- Police Museum (registration is needed, but guided tours are also free)
- Deák17 Gallery
- Virág Judit Gallery
- Deák Erika Gallery
- Várfok Gallery
- Faur Zsófi Gallery
First Saturday of each month
- Óbudai Museum (if you are a 3rd district resident, entry is always free)
Third Saturday of each month:
- Hungarian National Museum (EEA citizens under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Museum of Fine Arts (EEA citizens under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Hungarian National Gallery (EEA citizens under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Museum of Ethnography (EEA citizens under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives) – will be temporarily closed between July and September
- Ráth György Villa (EEA citizens under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
Last Saturday of each month:
- Petőfi Literary Museum (Students under 26 and families visiting with children and teenagers up to the age of 18)
- Kiscelli Museum (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Aquincum Museum (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Budapest History Museum (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Budapest Gallery (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
First Sunday of each month:
- Hungarian Natural History Museum (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- House of Terror (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
Third Sunday of each month:
- Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives. If you are a 3rd district resident, entry is always free)
Fourth Sunday of each month:
- Skanzen – Open-air ethnographic museum in Szentendre (Family entry under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
- Ludwig Museum (Visitors under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives)
One weekend of each month:
- The Museum and Library of Hungarian Agriculture (Family entry under 26 and children under 18 with two close relatives. Check the museum's website for the exact dates!)
(Cover photo: Medgyesi Milán - We Love Budapest)
