Rendőrmúzeum

About the museum

The predecessor of the Rendőrmúzeum, the Bűnügyi Múzeum (Crime Museum), opened in 1908 in the building of the Budapest police headquarters on Ferenc József tér, initially as a closed collection accessible only to the profession. By the 1940s its material had reached around ten thousand objects, but during the Second World War most of the basic collection was destroyed.

It was reorganised in the fifties and sixties, and in 1967 it received an operating permit as a national museum with a national collecting scope. On 26 April 1999 it reopened under its present name at Mosonyi utca 5 in District VIII, and from then on the entire exhibition has been accessible to the general public.

The museum’s permanent exhibitions present the history of the Hungarian police and gendarmerie, as well as the tools of criminalistics and notable crimes. Alongside the collection there is a library and a photo and film archive; its rural exhibition site is the Almásy-kastély (Almásy Castle) in Tarnaméra.

Highlights

• The history of the Hungarian police from 1848 to the present
• Criminalistics exhibition with notable crimes
• Stuffed body of Kántor, the famous tracking dog
• Collection of uniforms and insignia
• Free admission and guided tours

Permanent exhibitions

• A magyar rendőrség története – The exhibition presents the history of the police and gendarmerie from 1848 to the present, through themed rooms, uniforms, weapons, documents and photographs; a separate room holds the portrait gallery of the interior ministers.
• Kriminalisztikai kiállítás – The exhibition shows the work of crime-scene investigators, detectives and experts through notable crimes from the fifties to the present, using photographs, models and physical evidence; the oldest object is a crime painting from 1764.
• Múlt és jelen – fotókiállítás – A photographic exhibition on the past and present of police work.

Founded

1908

Operated by

Készenléti Rendőrség

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Visiting the museum and guided tours are free of charge. Viewing and guided tours of the Tarnaméra exhibition are also free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance and the exhibition rooms can be reached without steps, including by wheelchair. There is no accessible toilet. For blind and partially sighted visitors, a free interactive guided tour is held, which includes objects to handle (handcuffs, riot helmet, vest, shield, rubber baton).

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum offers museum education sessions, interactive tools and craft workshops. Some parts of the criminalistics exhibition are not recommended for under-16s.

Getting there & parking

On foot, about two minutes from Keleti Railway Station. By car, it is reached from the Erzsébet híd or the Hungária körút via Lóvásár utca, from the direction of Orczy tér, along Fiumei út and Festetics utca. Paid parking applies on Mosonyi utca on weekdays 8:00–18:00; it is free at weekends and on public holidays.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit