Aside from its rich cultural and architectural heritage, Budapest is
home to an impressive number of museums and galleries. Some, such as the
Museum of Fine Arts and Ludwig Museum of Modern Art (LUMU) are
world-class institutions, but there a variety of woefully unsung museum
gems that are worth seeking out. Budapest native Anna J. Kutor rounds up
a few worth exploring.

There are several museums in Budapest worth a visit, but culture hounds
looking for added insight into the city’s past and present should check
out the hidden, lesser-known cultural gems.

Postamúzeum (Post Office Museum)

If your interest in the country’s postal pedigree goes beyond its stamp
then head over to this museum, which celebrates the beauty and lore of
the Magyar Posta. Established before the turn of the 19th century, this compact museum is
now based on the first floor of the opulently furnished former
Saxlehner family palace. The surroundings - carved wood moldings,
chandeliers hanging from frescoed ceilings -  lend an air of elegance to
collection, as do the employees wearing official postal uniforms at the
entrance. Admission is now only available to groups who reserve a date
in advance, to make sure to call ahead.

Bélyegmúzeum (Postal Stamp Museum)
Admission for adults: 750 HUF (2.5 EUR); students: 375 HUF (1 EUR)

The Hungarian postal office sign above the entrance is the first clue
that this drab looking building in central Pest has a connection to the
postal service, yet you won’t be able to send a package from here. You
will, however, be able to see a detailed history of Hungarian stamps,
from the first stamps ever ordered by royalty to present day creations.
The sizable collection of stamp collector Frigyes Mirko Poppovits forms
the base of the museum’s collection, which now totals over 13 million
stamps. Among the more interesting pieces are the numerous examples of
Socialist Realism, ones marking significant events in Hungarian
history, golden stamps, unusual forgeries and the Madonna with Child
incorrectly printed upside-down, which is believed to be the most
valuable stamp in the country.

Gyermekvasutas Múzeum (Children’s Railway Museum)
One-way ticket for adults cost 600 HUF (2 EUR) and 300 HUF (1 EUR) for children.

The unique train ride is far more attractive than the small museum, but
young and old alike will be fascinated by the history of Hungary’s one
and only children-run railroad. What was launched in the 1940s by the
Young Pioneers, the Communist Party’s youth movement, has now become a
novelty. The youthful engineers, trained and supervised by adults,
manage and run the steam-operated small trains that run a scenic,
11-kilometre route through the Buda hills. The museum, located at the
Hűvösvölgy terminus, tracks the development and change of this unique
service through well-organized displays of photographs, documents and
memorabilia. To get there, take the no. 56 tram from Szél Kálmán square
to the last stop.

Semmelweiss Orvostörténeti Múzeum (Semmelweiss Museum of Medical History)
Admission for adults: 700 HUF (2 EUR), students and pensioners: 350 HUF (1 EUR)

Occupying the former home of Ignác Semmelweiss, Hungary’s leading
19th-century physician who is hailed as the “savior of mothers” for his
role in catching the cause of child-bed fever, this small museum readily
appeals to medical enthusiasts of any generation. Spread over four
rooms, the exhibit has everything from early medical instruments to
anatomical models, old bottles used for homeopathic remedies and even a
replica of the fireplace where medicine was cooked up. The Semmelweiss
Memorial Room displays the doctor’s medical text alongside a few
personal artifacts.

Victor Vasarely Museum
Admission for adults 800 HUF (3 EUR), students: 400 HUF (1.5 EUR)

Named after and dedicated to the works of Hungarian-born kinetic and Op
Art figurehead Victor Vasarely, this spacious exhibit takes up a wing
of the Zichy Castle on the Buda side of the Arpad Brigde. Color,
optical illusions, impressions of motion and space are the cornerstones
of Vasarely’s works, of which the artist donated over 400 to this
museum. Walking among the oversized canvases and tapestries feels like
stepping into another dimension, one where shapes and forms morph into
singular abstract creations. Besides the permanent collection there are
also sporadic exhibits focusing on local and international figures of
abstract art.

Bajor Gizi Actors’ Museum  

Take a famous stage actress, personal mementos of acting and a dash of
theatre intrigue - and you’ve got yourself a vibrant museum of Hungary’s
theatre history. The museum preserves the legacy of Bajor Gizi, a
well-known actress who owned the stately neo-baroque mansion which gives
home to the theatrical collection. Beyond Bajor, the exhibit also
documents the standout events and participants of over 200 years of
Hungarian theater, revealing fascinating life stories and a unique
theatrical worlds of Hilda Gobbi, Mari Jászai, and Emilia Márkus.