The House of Terror is one of the most popular museums in Budapest and tells visitors Hungarian totalitarian history in a truly scenographic way. Visiting the Terror Háza, you can walk across fascinating exhibits with personal testimonies and artefacts about the oppression faced by Hungarians between 1944 and 1990 in a building that was the headquarters of both the Nazi Party and the Communist Secret Police.
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About the Terror Háza
Located in the heart of Budapest, the House of Terror Museum (Terror Háza in Hungarian) try to explain how life in Hungary was under its two totalitarian regimes. Symbolically, the museum is situated in the former headquarters of both the Arrow Cross Party, which was affiliated with the Nazi regime, and the communist secret police ÁVH (State Protection Authority).
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The museum wants to honour the victims of fascist and communist regimes, acting as both a museum and a memorial. Inside, you can discover personal stories about the victims of these regimes, which are hard to find in history or school books if you aren’t Hungarian.
However, you’ll be more impressed by its scenic setting. The building itself is impressive, showcasing a black façade with the word “TERROR” casting shadows on the sidewalk. The exhibits also try to get visitors’ attention at all costs with a really successful wow effect.
For this reason, what will likely leave the most lasting impression is the numerous scenographies throughout the museum, more than the Hungarian history itself.
What to See at the House of Terror
The museum’s exhibition will guide you through oppression, surveillance, and brutality experienced by Hungarian under Nazi and Soviet rule. Each room narrates a different chapter of this history through photographs, videos, personal testimonies, and artefacts.
Note that this is still a relatively recent history, as Hungary became a free democratic country and joined the European Union only in 2004. Many readers, including myself, may still have memories of the Soviet bloc!
From 1944 to 1990, Hungary was, in fact, initially governed by the Arrow Cross Party, which was supported by German Nazis, followed by communist rule backed by the Soviet Union.
The Terror Háza aims to help visitors understand the sacrifices made by people under dictatorships. However, its highly scenographic display resonates more like a Retro Museum Budapest experience or a Trabant tour, which might be more appealing than a traditional history museum.
Hungarian Double Occupation
The exhibition at the House of Terror Museum begins on the second floor and follows the chronological timeline of Hungarian totalitarian dictatorships. If you don’t rent the audio guide, you’ll find sheets with explanations in each room, in Hungarian and English.
The first hall, Occupation Follows Occupation, serves as an introduction to the permanent exhibition. It provides visitors with insight into the Nazi and Soviet occupations of Hungary.
To give you some context, it all starts with the Trianon peace diktat of 1920 when Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory. The desire for revenge then pushed the country to ally itself with the Nazi and Fascist governments of Germany and Italy.
In 1944, the Nazi Germany occupied Hungary. Then, in the late summer of the same year, the Red Army invaded and drove out the Nazis but transformed Hungary into a communist dictatorship.
Arrow Cross Party
Next, you’ll enter the Arrow Cross Corridor and Arrow Cross Room, both focused on the Arrow Cross Party. It must be said that this part of the story told at the House of Terror is quite toned down compared to what you might hear on a guided tour of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter.
In Hungary, national socialist ideas gained a lot of followers and got power in 1944 with the support of Germany. The persecution of fellow Jews in Hungary was merciless, with almost no attempt to stop the deportations.
Red Army in Hungary
After the exhibit on the Arrow Cross Party, you will enter The Changing Room, an installation featuring uniforms from the Arrow Cross and Communist secret police. This installation symbolises the transition between dictatorships and highlights their intrinsic similarities.
Although Nazi and Communist may appear to be opposing forces, they represent two sides of the same coin. Every totalitarian dictatorship doesn’t tolerate freedom of speech, worship or even thought.
After the Soviet occupation, hundreds of thousands of Hungarians had to “change clothes” and adapt to the new reality with no place for aristocrats, the bourgeoisie, business people and religious people.
Deportation and Persecution After WWII
The exhibition on the first floor begins with a room dedicated to resettlement and deportation, the Gulag Room, illustrating the collective persecution following the Second World War.
More than 200,000 Hungarians of German descent were accused of collective guilt and forced to resettle. Additionally, Czechoslovakia, which was seen as a victorious ally, compelled nearly 100,000 Hungarians to leave their homeland.
More than 700,000 prisoners of war, civilians, and political prisoners were deported to Soviet forced labour camps, where they literally worked to death due to the harsh living conditions.
The collective persecution also affected civilians, such as landowning farmers referred to as kulak, a term borrowed from Russian since there is no direct Hungarian equivalent. In this exhibit section, you can see videos of surviving kulaks displayed on a wall constructed from bricks resembling fat pork. Although these bricks aren’t made of real fat pork, the setup is incredibly convincing, making them look quite realistic.
I was not aware of these historical events, and many other people are as well, including Hungarians. For decades, in fact, survivors of the gulags were not allowed to speak about their experiences in the labour camps. This is not a distant history; András Toma, the last prisoner to return from a gulag, came back to Hungary in 2000 at the age of 74!
Life in Hungary in the 50’s
The Hall of the Fifties showcases the era’s official optimism and high spirits, featuring vibrant poster propaganda with stunning, colourful graphics. It’s an amazing exhibit for anyone interested in propaganda aesthetics.
However, this area also highlights the contrast of the total control exerted over society. The Soviet Union enforced its influence in occupied countries, like Hungary, through a network of advisors and secret service agencies, whose task was to reshape these nations to align with the Soviet model.
Hungarian Secret Police
As you continue through the exhibition, you’ll learn about the ÁVH, the State Protection Authority (in Hungarian Államvédelmi Hatóság), which served as the secret police in Hungary from 1945 to 1956.
You will see an interrogation chamber that was also used as a torture chamber, along with the office of the Hungarian Political Police. Here, you can learn about Gábor Péter, the leader of the State Protection Authority.
Like many dictatorships, the regime in Hungary was paranoid, and safety was not guaranteed regardless of your status. Even ministers faced imprisonment. ÁVH staff would sometimes participate in the arrests and torture of their own parents or siblings.
The Judiciary Room highlights the brutality of the show trials, which were conducted under political orders and directly controlled by the ruling party. Wealthy farmers, aristocrats, and members of the bourgeoisie received much harsher sentences than those from the working class.
Prison Cells
The Cellar of No. 60 Andrássy Road became notorious during the Arrow Cross regime. Arrow Cross militants rounded up individuals and brought them to the basement of their headquarters, where they were brutally beaten.
You’ll reach the cells via a slow-moving elevator, during which a brief documentary explains the execution methods used. Upon arriving in the basement, you’ll see the small cells where prisoners were tortured. Many victims were held there for varying lengths of time, and many ultimately lost their lives.
Half of the basement has been reconstructed to showcase its original state from the mid-20th century. It’s shocking to realise that you are not in a distant military prison or a deep dungeon but rather on a prominent avenue, just half a meter away from the pavement and everyday life.
At the end of the exhibition, when you reach the yard, you can see a huge Soviet tank.
Plan Your Visit at the House of Terror
The House of Terror exhibitions are highly detailed and immersive, leaving a lasting impression on visitors. It is a must-see attraction in Budapest.
However, your visit may not be as smooth as you’d hope. Even during the low season, the House of Terror can be extremely crowded. I’m unsure if the access flow is controlled because the crowd was overwhelming during my visit.
The museum was so crowded that I had to wait over 10 minutes to access the elevator to the basement. There were no alternative stairways, so I was stuck in a large crowd. Additionally, tour groups often blocked the entrances to various rooms.
Regarding language accessibility, there are some interactive installations in Hungarian, such as telephones featuring voices in Hungarian. In the cellar, photos of prisoners have captions only in Hungarian.
While some videos have English subtitles, the overcrowded environment made it difficult to follow along, especially with numerous guides speaking in close quarters.
Photography is strictly prohibited within the museum, so any pictures in this article are either stock photos or publicly available images. On the positive side, the House of Terror is fully accessible and equipped with elevators and ramps.
The House of Terror with Children
Due to the nature of some exhibits, children are not permitted inside the museum. My opinion on this is similar to what I expressed about the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum.
Despite the complex stories being shared, there was nothing particularly shocking in the exhibits. Furthermore, in the House of Terror, everything is presented so spectacularly that even adults may overlook the serious content.
Guided Tour at the House of Terror
While the Terror Háza offers guided tours in English only for groups of a minimum of 10 people, you can enhance your visit using the audio guides available in multiple languages.
Additionally, you can book a private communist history tour that includes the House of Terror. I recommend the Budapest: Communist History Tour for a comprehensive introduction to communism in Hungary, and the Born Under the Red Star Tour to explore communist pop culture and the darker aspects of Budapest’s history.
Opening Hours
The House of Terror is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and it’s closed on Mondays.
Admission Fees
Tickets for the Terror Háza museum cost 4,000 HUF (approximately €10). Unfortunately, you can’t buy tickets online, as they are only available at the museum.
Reduced-price tickets are available for families, teenagers, and individuals aged 62 to 70 (this applies only to Hungarian citizens and citizens of the European Economic Area) for 2,000 HUF.
If you’re looking to save money, admission is free for citizens of the European Economic Area on the first Sunday of each month. However, be aware that the museum may be more crowded than usual on those days.
How to Reach the House of Terror Museum
The Terror Háza is located at Andrássy út 60 in Budapest, making it easy to reach by various means of transportation.
You can take the M1 metro line and get off at Vörösmarty utca station, just a short walk from the museum. Alternatively, trams 4 and 6 stop at Oktogon, which is only a few minutes away. Several bus lines, including 105 and 979, also have stops nearby.
My advice is to check the most convenient route on Google Maps, and if you need more information on how public transport works, read my article How to Get Around Budapest.
Terror Háza
Budapest 1062, Andrássy út 60
Where to stay in Budapest
Budapest offers a wide range of beautiful hotels to choose from. Hampton By Hilton Budapest City Centre (here my review) is located in the heart of Budapest, just 600 metres from St. Stephen’s Basilica. They offer a delicious breakfast and have a restaurant and a bar on-site. For those looking for a hotel with unique and stunning decor, Stories Boutique Hotel is a 4-star property situated 500 meters away from the Hungarian State Opera. They have a restaurant on-site that serves à la carte, a continental or vegetarian breakfast. If you prefer an aparthotel, Zoya Luxury Residence is an excellent option with units with a coffee machine, a dishwasher, a microwave and parking space.
Final Thoughts on the House of Terror
A visit to the Terror Háza is an intense yet essential experience for anyone interested in Hungary’s history. There, you can learn about the impact of Hungarian regimes and the resilience of those who suffered under them. Despite the heavy crowds, this museum is a must-visit destination. Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on the House of Terror in the comments below!
