Royal Palace (Buda Castle)
Location: Budavari Palota
Having been levelled and rebuilt at least a dozen times during the last seven centuries, this enormous palace has two important museums, the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery, and the National Szechenyi Library. This library (+316 224 3700, Tue-Sat 10am-8pm) contains codices and manuscripts, a large collection of foreign newspapers and a copy of anything and everything published in Hungarian. The Hungarian National Gallery (+3620 439 7325,; Tues-Sun 10am-6pm) offers four floors of Hungarian art from the 11th century to the present day. Some of the highlights include Renaissance stonework and Gothic wooden sculptures. A full price ticket costs 900Ft for the permanent exhibitions (1900Ft for the temporary exhibitions) and there are also concession rates and family prices available. For holders of the Budapest Cards, the permanent exhibitions will cost 700Ft and temporary exhibitions cost 1400Ft.
The History Museum (+361 487 8800, 1st Mar-31st Oct 10am-6pm, Monday closed, 1st Nov-28th Feb 10am-4pm Monday closed, Adults 1300Ft, 1040Ft with the Budapest card, children 650Ft, 520Ft with Budapest Card) offers 2000 years of the city’s history on three floors. There are restored palace rooms dating from the 5th century which can be entered from the basement, from there you’ll find three vaulted halls that lead into the Gothic Hall, the Royal Cellar and the 14th century Tower Chapel. The ground exhibits show artifacts of Budapest from the medieval times to the Turkish occupation. The first floor details Budapest in modern times; from the expulsion of the Turks to Hungary’s entry into the EU.
