Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Kálvin tér • 3 min walk
- Corvin-negyed • 7 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
130 reviews
Excellent
79
Very good
32
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
4
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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HameshaIndia
New Delhi, India195 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We went to the library near National Museum on Saturday, 15 April 2023. The ticket cost 1700 forints and not the 1000 forints mentioned by others. None of the pictures we see on the net could be seen in any of the places. Large areas of the library were locked away. No one though we made it clear that we were here to see the images on the net, we were very quiet, but nobody guides us to any of those areas and we feel very cheated.
We are quiet sure we didn't miss them. Half the building was locked away and we feel cheated because we paid quite a significant sum and we did not see any of the areas that the library talks about.
There were not even any signs up in English pointing to the historical nature of the building and how it has been built. That's up on the net but no details were there inside the building. this is a cheat on the tourists. Of course one must maintain the decorum of the library and we did. But the tourists should get to see what they paid for. The Municipality owes us an explanation on why we were cheated. We would like our money returned and we would like a proper visit where we get to see what we came to see.
We are quiet sure we didn't miss them. Half the building was locked away and we feel cheated because we paid quite a significant sum and we did not see any of the areas that the library talks about.
There were not even any signs up in English pointing to the historical nature of the building and how it has been built. That's up on the net but no details were there inside the building. this is a cheat on the tourists. Of course one must maintain the decorum of the library and we did. But the tourists should get to see what they paid for. The Municipality owes us an explanation on why we were cheated. We would like our money returned and we would like a proper visit where we get to see what we came to see.
Written April 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa E
Rome, Italy17 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Absolutely worth including in your itinerary in Budapest...entry to the bookshop costs around €5/6 and it will take you max 1 hour to visit. It is a public library and for this reason you will find people who study, read and work... so maximum silence 😂. In my opinion I think it's the most evocative thing I've seen in Budapest! I absolutely recommend it
Written April 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ale
Milan, Italy100 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Very beautiful library, definitely worth visiting for those who love neo-baroque.
There are about five very nice rooms and they are only on the 4th floor.
Negative note is that every year that passes they continue to increase prices, I saw reviews from 2018 and they charged 800 Forints, in 2019 they went to 1000 and this year 1700 (4.50 each).
However, we liked it a lot.
There are about five very nice rooms and they are only on the 4th floor.
Negative note is that every year that passes they continue to increase prices, I saw reviews from 2018 and they charged 800 Forints, in 2019 they went to 1000 and this year 1700 (4.50 each).
However, we liked it a lot.
Written December 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flyer10190694163
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
The palace floor and reading rooms are amazing. If you are a reader I recommend bringing your book and taking time to just read in one of the armchairs in the reading room. Single visit tourist tickets available at the front desk.
Written September 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fla de Visser
Arnhem, The Netherlands70 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
Library
First, I don’t understand why people have problems as in finding the library. Library building is at a few steps from Kalvin ter. Just google it. Then you get your ticket, the stairs (or elevator maybe) to the 4th floor and Bazinga! It seems that you can also check it without a ticket, as long you have your ID/passport with you (Please, check it at the front desk and save a couple of euros, if you want). It is really beautiful, but I would not recommend it if you genuinely don’t like books, history or architecture. It is kinda ridiculous when you see people who probably barely read monopolizing spots at the place to themselves only in order to take pictures while others are there to study.
First, I don’t understand why people have problems as in finding the library. Library building is at a few steps from Kalvin ter. Just google it. Then you get your ticket, the stairs (or elevator maybe) to the 4th floor and Bazinga! It seems that you can also check it without a ticket, as long you have your ID/passport with you (Please, check it at the front desk and save a couple of euros, if you want). It is really beautiful, but I would not recommend it if you genuinely don’t like books, history or architecture. It is kinda ridiculous when you see people who probably barely read monopolizing spots at the place to themselves only in order to take pictures while others are there to study.
Written December 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dirmu G
Eversdal, South Africa3,044 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
The impressively decorated old palace rooms now serve as reading / study rooms for students. Each room is dedicated to another faculty. While the students quietly sit and study, we could wander through the rooms.
Written June 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valeriano
Seveso, Italy2,559 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
You have to make the entrance tickets, with a long and laborious procedure. Difficult to figure out where to go: in the guide they gave us, it said to climb the marble stairs in the main lobby, but the doors were barred. We then went up a first time in the elevator to the fourth floor, finding only "normal" rooms; after going down to ask for information that no one could give us we went back up and began to wander: after 2/3 normal rooms, we were able to access the rooms to visit and we were amazed. A unique spectacle. Be careful not to make noise and not to speak out loud, as some rude tourists did, since here there are boys studying.
Automatically translated
Written January 7, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dpbi1992
Romeno, Italy8,857 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Preparing some material about vosa do and see in Budapest I find an article about bookstores and libraries.
This library immediately struck me because it was housed in a historic building.
On the 4th floor, after a couple of rooms, you enter some really beautiful corners!
Definitely recommend the visit.
This library immediately struck me because it was housed in a historic building.
On the 4th floor, after a couple of rooms, you enter some really beautiful corners!
Definitely recommend the visit.
Automatically translated
Written August 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James & Heather
Langkawi, Malaysia14 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
I love libraries in general so when we read about this one in Budapest, we just had to visit. And wow, photos don't do the place justice. We paid a small fee to visit the fourth floor where you'll find the breathtaking rooms including a gorgeous spiral staircase. Even though the place was full of students, there was a serene atmosphere and we ended up spending a couple of hours sitting in big, comfy armchairs by a huge window overlooking the street, reading our books.
Written January 7, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Supratik
Leicester, UK2,243 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
I'm really pleased that I managed to visit this spectacular library. Finding the building was easy with Google map from Kalvin ter. The entrance is to the left of the building ( facing the front). As you enter, go through the double door to reach the actual foyer. Go to the ladies sitting to the right where you can see the sign of Visa/MC for paying. It was 1800 HUF. The lady was not particularly welcoming but neither was she mean. I asked her for a tourist ticket, she asked me "the palace?" I said yes and paid. She even gave me a leaflet in English.
Go to the turnstiles where someone would lift the red rope to let you enter. Your ticket will not work at the turnstile. On the way out just push the bars to come out. Look for signs of the lift and go straight to 4th Floor. Come out of the lift, turn right, go through a white modern room and immediately you'll see the beautifully ornate rooms. It was slightly surreal to see young pupils working on their laptops under massive chandeliers.
Felt awkward to take photos but I guess students are used to tourists. Keep the camera silent. Visit all rooms. The room with staircase is really nice. The map identifies the rooms. There is some info on the original family as well. I suggest an hour to take it slowly.
You can have a drink at the cafe on the ground floor.
Probably the most beautiful library I have ever seen.
Go to the turnstiles where someone would lift the red rope to let you enter. Your ticket will not work at the turnstile. On the way out just push the bars to come out. Look for signs of the lift and go straight to 4th Floor. Come out of the lift, turn right, go through a white modern room and immediately you'll see the beautifully ornate rooms. It was slightly surreal to see young pupils working on their laptops under massive chandeliers.
Felt awkward to take photos but I guess students are used to tourists. Keep the camera silent. Visit all rooms. The room with staircase is really nice. The map identifies the rooms. There is some info on the original family as well. I suggest an hour to take it slowly.
You can have a drink at the cafe on the ground floor.
Probably the most beautiful library I have ever seen.
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Хотіла дізнатись, як працює бібліотека. Як фінансується бібліотечна система Угорщини
Written November 20, 2019
Здравствуйте! Где купить билеты на экскурсию в библиотеку?
Written October 25, 2019
does anyone know the opening times of the library?
Written September 26, 2019
Hi, according to the website the main library hours are 10am-8pm Mon-Fri and 10am-4pm on Saturday. The childen's library is open 1-7 M-F and 10-4 on Saturday.
Written September 26, 2019
hi,
some say must pay 2 Euro to enter and some say 1000HUF for 2 person and some told its free and some told only Charge for WIFI.
I can't locate their website to have a firm answer. Can some one share how much to enter to this baroque library and what time open.
thank you :)
Written April 5, 2017
la visita della biblioteca è a pagamento? Grazie!
Written July 24, 2016
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