Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) is rolling out a packed calendar of guided tours, talks, and hands-on sessions for late 2025, blending blockbuster names with deep dives into ancient worlds. The lineup runs from November into December, anchored by the William Blake exhibition and a series of themed weekend programs, with family events, yoga, slow-looking walks, and even scent-led sessions sprinkled in. The museum sits at 1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 41, and many programs are repeated for different audiences. Organizers reserve the right to change times and programs, and several activities require advance booking or a valid museum ticket. There’s also a café and self-service restaurant inside the museum, accessible with an entry ticket only—think modern, high-quality Hungarian ingredients, new tech in the kitchen, and service with actual smiles.
Blake, but make it unexpected
“Rendhagyó tárlatvezetés a William Blake kiállításban” (Unconventional tour of the William Blake exhibition) pops up on three Wednesdays in November—12, 19, and 26—and returns on December 12. Expect unconventional takes in the galleries, unpacking the English poet-painter’s radical visions. If you’re obsessed with process, “William Blake műhelytitkai” (William Blake: Workshop Secrets) lands on November 15 and again on November 29, focusing on how Blake made what he made. Bookend that with “A Masterful Selection of Masterpieces” on November 14, 21, and 28—a curator-favorite format that roams the museum’s greatest hits with fresh context.
Heaven and hell, up close
“Menny és pokol házassága közelről” (The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Up Close) comes in hot across multiple weekends: November 14–16, 21–23, 28–30, plus December 6–7. The title nods to Blake’s incendiary work, and the sessions go immersive. It’s a rare chance to sit inside the friction where mysticism meets modern imagination, cycling across three consecutive weekends and then returning in December.
Ancient worlds on the move
Ancient Egypt and China take the spotlight with their own deep-dive programs. “Szkarabeusz-akták: Az ókori Egyiptom rejtett arca” (Scarab Files: The Hidden Face of Ancient Egypt) surfaces on November 22 and again on December 6, pulling back the curtain on everyday beliefs, symbols, and the shadowy side of the afterlife. Family-friendly “Korszakok a múzeumban” (Ages in the Museum) installments add narrative punch: “Egyiptomi mítoszok nyomában” (In Search of Egyptian Myths) on November 16, “Démonok és varázslók az ókori Egyiptomban” (Demons and Magicians in Ancient Egypt) on November 30, and “Istenné vált múmiák” (Mummies Turned into Gods) on December 14. Then pivot east: “Az ókori Kína világa közelről” (The World of Ancient China Up Close) runs December 5–7, with extra dates on December 6 and 7 to catch different angles.
Touch, look, breathe
“Kezet rá!” (Hands On!) returns like a Sunday ritual—November 16, 23, 30—with two listings on November 30, signaling morning and afternoon slots or split groups. These sessions typically invite tactile exploration or close observation exercises. Slow culture fans get “Illatok által homályosan – slow-vezetés” (Vaguely Through Scents – slow tour) on November 14, a sensory-rich meander that tunes the nose as much as the eye. “Szombati Szemezgető – Ünnepek nyomában” (Saturday Sampler – In Search of Holidays) on December 13 warms up the season with a themed wander through festive imagery.
Art for budding minds (and busy ones)
The museum’s kid-forward “Mama, nézd!” (Mom, Look!) arrives twice: “Hesztia és Ízisz oltalmában” (Under the Protection of Hestia and Isis) on November 11, then “A születés csodája” (The Miracle of Birth) on December 9. These sessions weave mythology and life’s big themes in ways that land for small visitors and their grown-ups. “Szia Szépmű! – Múzeumra hangolva” (Hi Museum! – Tuning into the Museum) on November 20 is a friendly starter for those easing into art spaces.
Goya, music, and movement
If “Rokokó, realista, romantikus? Francisco de Goya y Lucientes” on November 14 sounds like a triple dare, it is—Goya defies boxes. That same day, “Goyescas” nods to the Spanish painter through music, likely threading Enric Granados’s piano suite with visual references. For the body–mind set: “Jóga Jordán Adéllal” (Yoga with Adél Jordán) on November 14 turns the galleries into a breath-and-balance zone, while “MerülésMűhely” (Immersion Workshop) the same day leans into deep-focus creative practice.
Walk, make, repeat
“Szieszta – séta és alkotás a múzeumban | Négy elem – Tűz, víz, levegő, föld” (Siesta – walk and create in the museum | Four Elements – Fire, Water, Air, Earth) flows on November 22, with a guided stroll followed by hands-on making. It’s a reset button for over-scrolled attention spans, threading elemental themes through art and action.
Mark your festive calendar
“Év végi ünnepi időszak a múzeumban” (Year-End Festive Period at the Museum) runs December 23 to January 2, 2026, wrapping exhibitions and programs in holiday energy. Expect tailored openings, seasonal highlights, and extra reasons to drop by as the city glows.
Eat, stay, museum
Inside the museum, the café and self-service restaurant keep things fresh and modern, championing Hungarian ingredients with contemporary technique. Around Heroes’ Square and City Park, accommodation options abound. Think everything from the Mediterranean-tinged Hotel Arena with a pool, sauna, and fitness room, to Green Hotel Budapest near the M2 metro, and the snug Hotel Amadeus in leafy Zugló. You’ll find business-friendly rooms at Hotel Veritas near the arenas and expo grounds, the Lion’s Garden Hotel opposite a 100-year-old Dominican church with a shaded garden, and several family-run pensions with free parking and Wi‑Fi. Zugló’s Szőnyi Hotel serves hearty plates for 50 guests, with vegetarian and diet options for anyone not in the mood for macho portions.
How to plan it
Many programs reappear across dates, so you can sync your visit with your schedule. Some events are in English or bilingual, while others run in Hungarian; check listings when you book. The museum offers phone contacts for information and reservations, and you can set alerts or add highlights to your list. From Blake’s blazing visions to the quiet power of a mummy’s afterlife, late 2025 at the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) is a choose-your-own-adventure—with a side of good coffee and better stories.
