The El Greco holdings
The largest collection outside Spain — reason enough on its own, and not seen in this number anywhere else.
Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) — CC BY 3.0 · Slaunger — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Nikolai Karaneschev — CC BY 3.0 · Nikolai Karaneschev — CC BY 3.0
The Museum of Fine Arts is Hungary's most important museum of foreign art, standing on the left side of Heroes' Square behind a neo-Classical front of columns and a carved pediment. It opened in 1906 and reopened after a three-year restoration that brought back its ornate Romanesque halls, closed since the Second World War. The collection is stronger than most visitors expect. The Spanish section is the famous one: the largest gathering of El Greco outside Spain, with works by Goya, Velázquez and Murillo — built around a collection bought by Count János Pálffy and given to the state. Alongside it are Dutch and Italian holdings (Raphael, Titian), an ancient Egyptian collection, and substantial sculpture and drawing collections. Practically: the museum is large and tiring if you attempt all of it. Pick two sections — the Spanish first, then either the Egyptian or the Dutch — and allow two hours. Captions are in Hungarian and English and an audio guide is available. It faces the Hall of Art across the square, and both are minutes from the Városliget and the Széchenyi Baths.
The largest collection outside Spain — reason enough on its own, and not seen in this number anywhere else.
A fully ornamented hall reopened after being shut since the Second World War — the space itself is the exhibit.
Coffins, mummies and funerary objects — a small section but well displayed, and it holds children.
Classical columns and carved pediment facing Heroes' Square — free to see from the square.
Hősök tere, Dózsa György út 41, Pest 1146
Heroes' SquareHeroes' Square is the largest and most formal square in Budapest, standing where1 minute walk4.8
Millennium MonumentThe Millennium Monument is the sculptural group that fills Heroes' Square: a cen2 minutes walk4.6
Budapest Zoo & Botanical GardenBudapest Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world: it opened in 1866, seven ye5 minutes walk4.4
Vajdahunyad CastleVajdahunyad Castle is not a historic castle but a lesson in architectural histor5 minutes walk4.8
Széchenyi thermal bathThe Széchenyi Baths are the largest thermal bath complex in Europe, and the thin6 minutes walk4.1This museum holds foreign art: Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Egyptian. The Hungarian National Gallery, in Buda Castle, is devoted to Hungarian art alone. For internationally known works, come here; to understand Hungarian art, go there.
The Spanish, without hesitation — El Greco, Goya and Velázquez in one place, at a density you will not find outside Madrid. Take the lift straight to it and do not try to pass through everything.
Yes — the main displays are labelled in Hungarian and English, and the audio guide is available in several languages. There is no Arabic material.
Make it the start of a Városliget day: the museum in the morning while it is quiet, then Heroes' Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, and finish at the Széchenyi Baths in the afternoon.