Budapest Sights

House of Terror

#2 of 641 things to do in Budapest

#39 of 49020 things to do in Europe

4 reviews | Write a review

Good for: Monuments, war, History Lovers, iji

Not good for: those who don't have patience

  • Address
    • Andrássy út 60
  • Transport
    • M1 Vörösmarty utca
  • Website
  • Phone
    • 1 374 2600
  • Price
    • adult/child 1500/750Ft
  • Hours
    • 10am-6pm Tue-Fri, to 7.30pm Sat & Sun

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Lonely Planet review for House of Terror

This startling museum is housed in what was once the headquarters of the dreaded ÁVH secret police. The building has a ghastly history, for it was here that many activists of every political persuasion that was out of fashion before and after WWII were taken for interrogation and torture. The walls were apparently double thickness to mute the screams. A plaque on the outside of this house of shame reads in part: ‘We cannot forget the horror of terror, and the victims will always be remembered’.

The museum focuses on the crimes and atrocities committed by both Hungary’s fascist and Stalinist regimes in a permanent exhibition called Double Occupation. But the years after WWII leading up to the 1956 Uprising get the lion’s share of the exhibition space (almost three-dozen spaces on three floors). The tank in the central courtyard is a jarring introduction and the wall outside displaying many of the victims’ photos speaks volumes. Even more harrow­ing are the reconstructed prison cells (collectively called the ‘gym’) and the final Hall of Tears gallery. The excellent audio guide costs 1300Ft.

 

Traveller reviews for House of Terror (4)

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    Terrifyingly impressive museum, must see!

    helenhandbag recommends this,

    We were in Budapest for a couple of days and were somewhat disappointed by the major galleries in town. So we decided to look for smaller themed museums and so we spotted the House of Terror in our guide. My boyfriend especially is fascinated by WWII. The experience already begins outside, with victims' pictures lined up. Inside, despite many exhibits and films being only in Hungarian, we got chills from seeing how impressive and haunting they managed to present their exhibits. The lift down to the basement was especially well done, and seeing the pictures of those who are still wanted made us angry, too for what they had done and getting away with it. An example for museums around the world. Go there if you want to be educated, but do have a clear mind, it's definitely not a happy place by any means.

    Good for: Monuments, war

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    Great look back at a point in history most would hide.

    abalogh96782 recommends this,

    A real chicken skin tour. No photos allowed during tour.

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    A must-see.

    davidn24503 recommends this,

    A moving and powerful experience. Excellent use of multimedia: text, lighting, objects, sound, all well-designed. We did not use the audio guide, but found that many of the rooms had xeroxed explanatory pages in English; they had hundreds of copies so you are meant to take them with you. Most of the video clip interviews have English subtitles, and for some of the clips you don't need subtitles. If you live in a country with a stable, open and safe democratic government, this museum will help you take that less for granted for a long, long time.

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    get the audiobook!

    amtettamanzy recommends this,

    it's a great exhibition, but definitely you have to buy the audiobook. almost everything is written in hungarian, so it's a bit painful to understand all rooms and objects.

    Good for: History Lovers, iji

    Not good for: those who don't have patience

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