Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum

About the museum

The Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum (Hungarian Museum of Commerce and Catering) was founded in 1966; to this day it is a national institution with a collecting scope unique in the world. It began its work in the Buda Castle district, in the former Fortuna inn, where it operated until summer 2005. From September 2006 to June 2011 it was housed in District V, beside the Szent István-bazilika (St Stephen’s Basilica), in the former building of the Magyar Külkereskedelmi Bank. Since autumn 2011 it has welcomed visitors in the old centre of Óbuda, at Korona tér 1, the former home of Gyula Krúdy.

The museum initially collected only relics of the history of hospitality; in 1970 it was enriched with a collection on the history of commerce. Its collecting scope covers domestic commerce, hospitality, the hotel industry and the history of tourism. The object collection includes trade signs, shop boards, shop fittings, scales, product boxes, advertising objects, menus and menu cards.

The permanent exhibitions present two centuries of Hungarian commerce, the spaces of hospitality at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Gyula Krúdy’s flat in Óbuda, and smaller chamber exhibitions. The museum’s Látványraktár (Display Depot) brings rarely used shop tools, old goods and advertising objects before visitors.

Highlights

• “A jó kalmár a világ jótevője” (“The good merchant is the benefactor of the world”) – two centuries of Hungarian commerce
• “Vendéget látni, vendégnek lenni” (“To host guests, to be a guest”) – spaces of hospitality at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries
• Gyula Krúdy’s Óbuda flat in two rooms
• Display depot with old shop tools, advertising objects and boxes
• Memorabilia of the Britannia Hotel and the Gerbeaud Emil exhibition

Permanent exhibitions

• „A jó kalmár a világ jótevője” – The permanent commerce-history exhibition presents two centuries of Hungarian commerce, from measurement standards to fairs.
• „Vendéget látni, vendégnek lenni” – The exhibition evokes the spaces of domestic and professional hospitality at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
• „Nekem soha nem volt otthonom” – The exhibition is set up in two rooms of Gyula Krúdy’s former, modest flat in Óbuda, where the writer spent the last three years of his life.

Founded

1966

Operated by

Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Közgyűjteményi Központ

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On the national holidays (15 March, 20 August, 23 October) everyone can visit free of charge, regardless of citizenship; EEA-citizen young people (up to age 26) and close relatives accompanying a child under 18 are admitted free on the third Sunday of every month.

Free admission is granted, among others, to teachers in public education, journalists, tourist guides, holders of ICOM, ICOMOS and ICCROM cards, holders of an Óbuda address and holders of the Budapest Card. A 50% discount applies with the Tájak-Korok-Múzeumok card. Payment in cash or by bank card.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family tickets, children’s programmes and museum education sessions await families.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Larger bags and coats can be left in the cloakroom; only small handbags may be taken into the exhibition space. There is a museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum’s rooms can be rented; the venue reservation must be notified at least 30 days in advance.

Plan your visit