Gödöllői Királyi Kastély

About the museum

Count Grassalkovich I. Antal began building the palace after 1735; the first phase lasted until 1745 to designs by Mayerhoffer András, and the building was then extended in several stages. His son, Grassalkovich II. Antal, had a baroque stone theatre built in it, and his grandson, Grassalkovich III. Antal, built the new orangery and turned the French garden into a landscape garden. The male line of the family died out in 1841, and in 1850 the estate was bought by Sina György.

From 1867 the palace, bought and converted by the Hungarian state, became the rest residence of I. Ferenc József and Queen Erzsébet, and from 1920 it was the summer residence of Regent Horthy Miklós. After the Second World War Soviet units and a social care home moved into the building, and it became more and more dilapidated over the decades.

Preservation work began in 1985. The first permanent exhibition, with the ceremonial hall and the royal apartments, opened in August 1996 in the renovated main façade wing. Later the Erzsébet memorial exhibition, the baroque rooms, the renovated Baroque Theatre and the Királydomb Pavilion were also opened to visitors. A comprehensive renovation of the park and the building complex was announced in October 2025.

Highlights

• Ceremonial hall and royal apartments
• Memorial exhibition for Queen Erzsébet
• Baroque Theatre
• Baroque rooms from the Grassalkovich era
• Landscaped palace park

Permanent exhibition

• Állandó kiállítás – királyi lakosztályok, díszterem, barokk termek – The ceremonial hall, the apartments of I. Ferenc József and Queen Erzsébet, the memorial exhibition for Queen Erzsébet and the baroque rooms from the Grassalkovich period.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Gödöllői Királyi Kastély Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.

Admission & discounts

Gödöllő residents receive a 50% discount on the permanent exhibition ticket with a residence card. Season tickets (e.g. Kastély bérlet, HUF 8,500) are available at the ticket office. An MÁV combined day ticket with admission to the Gödöllő Royal Palace is available at a reduced price.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition rooms can be reached by lift, and the attendants help with the lift. Wheelchairs can be requested at the cloakroom. The steep stairs of the Horthy-bunker cannot be used with a wheelchair. Visitors with anxiety can, on request, visit the palace before opening or after closing, at no extra charge.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family programmes (Mesélő lakosztályok, Egérleső meselyukak, Felfedező csomagok), two children's audio guides and birthday packages. The palace has a family room with baby-care facilities.

Getting there & parking

From Liszt Ferenc International Airport on the M31 motorway, about 25–30 minutes. The MÁV combined day ticket is linked to the Pest Vármegye 24 and Magyarország 24 day tickets.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café on the ground floor, two gift shops, Tourinform office on the ground floor. The cloakroom is free; larger bags, backpacks and coats must be left there.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Event venues: the ceremonial hall, the riding hall (lovarda), the Baroque Theatre, ground-floor rooms, the palace park and the ceremonial courtyard.

Plan your visit