Museums

Hungarians are rightly proud of their long and colourful history and if it’s the past that fascinates you, you have come to the right place. If you plan ahead and bear in mind that most of the important museums are closed on Mondays, there are enough history/culture/art establishments here to keep you busy for a month.

For a panoramic glimpse of Hungary’s past, the Royal Castle Museum covers the country’s story right from Roman times, taking you through the Mediaeval era to the Gothic period and it marries up all the rich history with some fascinating artefacts from more modern times too.

To experience the seat of Government, the Parliament building is a must but do be warned that entrance tickets - free to all EU citizens – can be hard to come by.

For an insight into the Jewish experience, the Dohany Synagogue and the haunting Holocaust Museum are both must-sees (closed on Saturdays) while the marble staircases and spacious galleries on offer at the city’s Ethnography Museum will transport you to less harrowing times.

For the post-Soviet era, don’t miss Memento Park (open daily) or indeed Terror House, which is located in the former headquarters of the Hungarian secret police and which offers a grim reminder of how life was just a few decades ago.