Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum
The permanent Petőfi exhibition of the national literary museum in the Károlyi Palace in downtown Budapest, titled Költő lenni vagy nem lenni.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum (Petőfi Literary Museum) is a national museum of literature that collects, preserves and presents the material heritage of Hungarian literature. It was founded in 1954; its predecessor was the Petőfi–Jókai House, established in 1909. In its first years its exhibitions were held in the Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum (Hungarian National Museum); since spring 1957 it has operated in the Károlyi Palace in downtown Budapest.
The Neoclassical palace received its present form with the rebuilding of 1832. During the Reform Era (reformkor), the literary salon of Bártfay László was held here; in January 1849, Batthyány Lajos was arrested here, and in October 1918 the Magyar Nemzeti Tanács (Hungarian National Council) was formed here. Its last private owner was Károlyi Mihály; from 1930 the Fővárosi Képtár (Municipal Gallery) operated in it for twenty years.
By the change of regime the building had deteriorated, so the exhibition rooms closed for a few years; a complete renovation took place between 1996 and 2000. From 1 July 2024 the museum is a branch institution of the Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Közgyűjteményi Központ (Hungarian National Museum Central Collection Centre). The permanent exhibition Költő lenni vagy nem lenni, which opened in 2023, presents the oeuvre of Petőfi Sándor together with the visual art of his age.
Highlights
- Költő lenni vagy nem lenni – permanent Petőfi exhibition
- Classicist Károlyi Palace in downtown Budapest
- Hungarian and English audio guides and interactive multimedia devices
- Objects from the Szépművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts), the Kiscelli Múzeum (Kiscell Museum) and other collections
- The national collection of material heritage of Hungarian literature
Permanent exhibition
- Költő lenni vagy nem lenni – állandó Petőfi-kiállítás – The exhibition presents the oeuvre of Petőfi Sándor from the perspective of the poet, prose writer and editor, set against the visual art of his age; Hungarian and English audio guides and interactive multimedia devices assist the visit.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Közgyűjteményi Központ
- Director
- Horváth Márton
Admission & discounts
| Adults | HUF 1,600 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | HUF 800EEA citizens aged 6–26 and 62–70, and members of school groups from EEA educational institutions up to age 26 (50% discount) |
| Children & teens | HUF 800free up to age 5 · A free ticket can be requested for children under 6; from 6 to 26 years of age, a youth ticket (HUF 800) applies. |
| Seniors | HUF 800Pensioner ticket for ages 62–70; free admission can be requested from the age of 70. |
| Students & apprentices | HUF 800Youth ticket for ages 6–26. |
| Groups | –Individual or group guided tour (up to 35 people): HUF 5,000 per group. |
| Families | HUF 2,200Family ticket for 1 adult and 2 children HUF 2,200; for 2 adults and 2 children HUF 3,300; each additional child HUF 500. |
| Temporary exhibition ticket – full price | HUF 2,000With the temporary exhibition ticket, all current temporary exhibitions of the museum can be visited; youth and pensioner ticket HUF 1,000. |
| Combined ticket (permanent and all current temporary exhibitions) – full price | HUF 2,600Youth and pensioner ticket HUF 1,300. |
| Guided tour or museum education session (up to 35 people) | HUF 5,000Per group. |
Free admission: On the last Saturday of every month, the permanent exhibition is free of charge for students under 26 and for families arriving with children under 18. On national holidays (15 March, 20 August, 23 October) admission is free for everyone.
Teachers working in public education may visit free of charge with a teacher’s card valid for the current school year. Discounts require a photo ID proving eligibility. Permanent exhibition ticket prices: full price HUF 1,600, youth and pensioner HUF 800.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | HUF 2,200 · Family ticket for 1 adult and 2 children HUF 2,200; for 2 adults and 2 children HUF 3,300; each additional child HUF 500. |
- Family tours & workshops
Family tickets are available; museum education sessions are offered to school and kindergarten groups.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
PIM Bolt (PIM shop, pimbolt.hu).
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (HU, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | For group visits, the group leader should arrange a date with the museum educators at least one week before the visit (muzeumped@pim.hu). For guided tours, a group size of 20–25 people is recommended; the MÁV provides free travel for school groups. |
