Nights of Museums20 June, 2026

Nights of Museums

The Night of the Museums is the most magical cultural event of the year, taking place on the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice. On this evening, hundreds of museums, galleries, and hidden heritage sites across Budapest stay open until the early hours of the morning (often 2:00 AM). By purchasing a single, affordable festival wristband, you gain unlimited access to all participating venues and can use the dedicated "Museum bus" lines to hop between locations.

Museum of Fine Arts

Hungarian National Gallery

Museum of Ethnography

Hungarian National Museum

Hungarian National Gallery

The event is much more than just looking at art; it’s a massive city-wide party featuring candlelit tours, rooftop concerts, secret garden workshops, and interactive light shows. Whether you want to explore the underground tunnels of a castle or watch a live restoration in a grand palace, this is the best night to see the city's intellectual side come to life.

House of Terror Museum

Hospital in the Rock

Aquincum Museum

aeropark

Pinball Museum

During the Night of the Museums, you have a massive selection of over 100 venues in Budapest. To make it easier for you to plan, here is a breakdown of the most popular and foreigner-friendly spots:

The "Must-See" Landmarks

Hungarian National Museum: The heart of the event, offering live music in the garden and guided tours (often in English) through Hungary's royal history.
Museum of Fine Arts: A grand building on Heroes' Square where you can see everything from Ancient Egyptian mummies to Renaissance masterpieces under dramatic night lighting.
Hungarian National Gallery: Located inside the Buda Castle, this is a fan favorite because you can enjoy world-class art and then step out onto the terrace for the best night view of the illuminated city.

Unique & Underground Experiences

Hospital in the Rock (Sziklakórház): A secret nuclear bunker and hospital hidden in the caves under the Castle. It’s extra atmospheric (and a bit spooky) during the night tours.
Pinball Museum (Flippermúzeum): Not your typical museum! It’s one of Europe’s largest interactive pinball collections where you can actually play on hundreds of machines until 2:00 AM.
Underground Railway Museum: A tiny but charming museum located inside an old tunnel at Deák Ferenc tér, dedicated to continental Europe’s first subway line.

Adventure & Technology

Aeropark Aviation Museum: Located near the airport, you can board retro Soviet-era planes, try flight simulators, and watch special evening "engine starts" that are very loud and exciting.
Museum of Electrotechnics: Famous for its "sparkling" demonstrations where they show off giant Tesla coils and neon lights in a cool industrial setting.
Zwack Unicum Museum: Perfect for foodies; you can learn the secret recipe of Hungary’s national herb liqueur and visit the atmospheric old distillery and cellars.

Science & Nature

Hungarian Natural History Museum: Great for families, featuring dinosaur skeletons and "Night of the Dragons" themed workshops.
Aquincum Museum: The ruins of an ancient Roman city in Óbuda. At night, they often have gladiators, fire-juggling, and Roman-style snacks by torchlight.

Quick Tip: Your wristband acts as your ticket for all these places AND gives you free access to the "MU" Museum Buses, which are special lines that loop between these venues all night long. You can buy the wristband at any participating museum on the day of the event!