Buda Castle tickets at a glance
The castle complex holds several institutions: the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, the Stephen's Hall and the National Library. Each one sells its own tickets. The viewpoint by the Mary statue at the castle garden is free, but the museums charge admission, and a ticket for one does not open the door of another.
The cheapest way to start is the Budapest History Museum at HUF 3,800 for adults in 2026. The Stephen's Hall has its own prices, and the larger combination ticket covers all exhibitions of the castle museum. The National Gallery and the Matthias Church are not included in any of these.
Our picks: Buda Castle tickets and entries
The castle walk with Saint Stephen's Hall is the one that bundles a ticket with a guide. The Budapest Card is worth a look only if you plan to visit several museums and use public transport, and the former prime minister's office is a short extra.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Budapest Card with museums and public transport
- Public transport
- National Gallery and Castle Museum
- Danube cruise
The listed museums include the National Gallery and the Castle Museum on the hill. The funicular ride and Matthias Church entry come only with the 72-hour plus version.
Check availability →Castle walk with Saint Stephen's Hall
- Saint Stephen's Hall entry
- Guide and headsets
A guided walk through the castle district that includes a visit to the hall. Ask whether other castle museums are included before you book.
Check availability →
Castle walk with the former prime minister's office
- Former prime minister's office
- Carmelite monastery
- Balcony panorama
A 1.5-hour walk that goes inside the former private office of the prime minister. Entry to the palace building itself is not part of it.
Check availability →Buda Castle tickets and guided visits
Timed entries, guided walks with Stephen's Hall and museum combinations, with live prices and availability. Check which options include museum admission.
Buda Castle ticket prices 2026
Prices in Hungarian forint. Reduced tickets need proof of eligibility.
| Ticket | Adult | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Budapest History Museum | HUF 3,800 | HUF 1,900 |
| Stephen's Hall with a tablet | HUF 4,900 | HUF 2,450 |
| Stephen's Hall plus all Castle Museum exhibitions | HUF 5,900 | HUF 2,950 |
| National Gallery permanent exhibition | HUF 5,800 | HUF 2,900 |
| National Gallery annual card | HUF 9,000 | Ask at the desk |
| National Gallery audio guide | HUF 1,200 | Ask at the desk |
At the History Museum, the reduced price applies to young people aged 6 to 26 and eligible students, and to seniors aged 62 to 70, within the EEA. Children under 6 enter free. Visitors from 70 can also enter free, but the rule is tied to EEA or EU citizenship, so bring ID and check at the desk. The standard ticket covers the permanent and temporary exhibitions; special programs can need an extra ticket. The History Museum plus the Stephen's Hall combination suits most visitors, and the National Gallery is the one to add if you like art.
Buda Castle opening hours
- Budapest History Museum: daily from 10:00 to 18:00. The last entry is at 17:30, and the galleries are cleared from 17:45. There is no general Monday closure.
- Stephen's Hall: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with the last start at 17:15. On Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 there is a personal guided tour in Hungarian, and tablet visits follow.
- Hungarian National Gallery: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with the last entry at 17:00 and clearing from 17:30. It is normally closed on Monday, and holidays follow a separate calendar. The dome is temporarily closed.
- National Library: reading rooms Tuesday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Friday and Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00. The permanent exhibitions run Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Holiday hours can differ, so check the current hours before you go. The Stephen's Hall is visited with a time slot, which you book online or buy from the remaining places at the ticket desk.
What a combination ticket does and does not cover
The simple Stephen's Hall ticket covers the medieval and modern history of the palace. Only the larger combination ticket adds all exhibitions of the castle museum. Neither includes the National Gallery or the Matthias Church, and the library is a different kind of visit with its own access rules. Online booking can add a service fee, so compare the final amount at checkout rather than the headline price.
The library is not a museum ticket
The National Library has reading rooms and exhibitions with their own access rules. A reader's card is for ages 16 and over with ID: HUF 2,500 for a new annual card, HUF 1,500 reduced. Day use costs HUF 1,200 and covers the standard services, without the special collections. This is not the price of a tourist tour.
Other tickets on Castle Hill
The Matthias Church sells church and tower tickets separately, and the upper terrace of the Fisherman's Bastion is ticketed too. The Hospital in the Rock is a guided museum with its own price. The funicular has its own fares. For a guided route that combines several stops, see the Buda Castle tours.
Buda Castle tickets: frequently asked questions
Is there one ticket for the whole of Buda Castle?
No. The National Gallery, the History Museum, the Stephen's Hall and the library each sell their own tickets, and the combination ticket covers only the Stephen's Hall and the castle museum exhibitions.
Is entry to Buda Castle free?
The viewpoint by the Mary statue at the castle garden is free. The museums and the Stephen's Hall charge admission.
Is the History Museum closed on Mondays?
No. The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with the last entry at 17:30.
Can I buy a ticket for the National Gallery with the History Museum?
They are separate tickets. The National Gallery permanent exhibition costs HUF 5,800 for adults in 2026, and a ticket for a temporary exhibition includes the permanent exhibition on the same day.
Is buda-castle.org the official ticket site?
No. This is an independent guide, not the website of the castle, its museums or a ticket office. Museum tickets are sold by the institutions themselves.