Guided tours sweep through the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest from December into January, opening up both its blockbuster temporary exhibitions and the permanent collections. The program stretches from William Blake to ancient mummies and the world of imperial China, with English-language options offered for visitors. The venue: 1146 Budapest, Dózsa György Road (Dózsa György út) 41. The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, and they encourage phone bookings. Expect an end-of-year schedule that gets more festive as the holidays approach, then glides into the new year with lectures, slow-looking sessions, yoga, and creative workshops across the galleries.
Highlights: Blake, Heaven and Hell, and Ancient China
The museum anchors December with two recurring guided formats. Menny és pokol házassága közelről (The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Up Close) brings visitors face to face with the imagination of William Blake. This close-looking tour runs December 13–14, December 20–21, and December 27–28, with back-to-back options. There’s also a special Rendhagyó tárlatvezetés a William Blake kiállításban (Unconventional Guided Tour in the William Blake Exhibition) on December 19, and another unconventional Blake tour on January 7, plus Blake: The Silence on January 10 for a quieter, more meditative take.
Alongside Blake, the museum keeps returning to Az ókori Kína világa közelről (The World of Ancient China Up Close). This guided tour runs December 11–14, December 16, December 18–21, December 27–28, December 29–31, then in the new year on January 2–4, January 6, January 8–11, January 13, January 15–18, and January 20. English-language sessions appear as The Mysterious World of Ancient China on December 29 and December 31, a handy option for international guests.
December 14: Packed Day in the Galleries
December 14 is stacked. Beyond Heaven and Hell and the Ancient China tour, the day taps into the permanent collections with Korszakok a múzeumban: Istenné vált múmiák (Periods in the Museum: Mummies Who Became Gods), a deep dive into ancient afterlives and how Egyptian mummies were elevated to divine status. The schedule keeps the pace brisk, and the museum recommends checking availability and phoning ahead to secure a spot.
Festive Season, Slow Looking, and Family Days
The year-end period from December 23 to January 2 is framed as Év végi ünnepi időszak a múzeumban (End-of-Year Festive Period at the Museum). Expect seasonal programming and a warm atmosphere for families and out-of-town visitors. In the run-up, Szellemi fitnesz – A betlehemi csillag fénye alatt (Mind Fitness – Under the Light of the Star of Bethlehem) on December 17 blends art history with a winter celestial theme. There’s also Szia Szépmű! – Karácsony a múzeumban (Hi Szépmű! – Christmas at the Museum) on December 18, a family-friendly day in the galleries.
December 19 adds A Masterful Selection of Masterpieces for those who want a brisk overview of highlight works. That same day, there’s another slot for Ancient China and the unconventional tour through the Blake exhibition. December 20 layers on Jóga Jordán Adéllal (Yoga with Adél Jordán) for a mind-body reset in museum spaces, and Szieszta – séta és alkotás a múzeumban | Mi kerül az asztalra? Évezredes ételek (Siesta – Walk and Create in the Museum | What’s on the Table? Millennia-Old Foods), a creative stroll with a culinary twist. December 21 reprises both Heaven and Hell Up Close and Ancient China Up Close.
Between Christmas and New Year’s
After a pause on the December 24–25 holiday, programming restarts December 26 with Ancient China Up Close, then rockets forward with alternating sessions through December 27–31. The December 29 and 31 English tours titled The Mysterious World of Ancient China make the international audience feel at home. On New Year’s Eve, Ancient China Up Close still runs for anyone squeezing in culture before midnight.
January: Fresh Year, Fresh Focus
January keeps the rhythm: Ancient China Up Close anchors January 2–4, 6, 8–11, 13, 15–18, and 20. The Blake exhibition gets a new spin on January 7 with another unconventional tour, then Blake: The Silence on January 10 for a contemplative format. Also on January 9, Fényjáték – slow-vezetés (Play of Light – Slow Tour) and Szobrok titkai (Secrets of Sculptures) encourage unhurried looking and tactile storytelling through the sculpture halls.
Family audiences come back in on January 13 with Mama, nézd! – Bíborba, bársonyba, aranykoszorúba (Mom, Look! – In Purple, Velvet, and a Golden Wreath), a hands-on session that nudges younger visitors to notice materials and symbols. On January 21, Szellemi fitnesz – Könyvek és könyvmolyok a művészetben (Mind Fitness – Books and Bookworms in Art) explores how artists picture readers, writers, and the worlds found between covers. January 24 rounds out the month with Szieszta – séta és alkotás a múzeumban | Titkos kódok (Siesta – Walk and Create in the Museum | Secret Codes), a creative program linking pattern, symbol, and interpretation.
Plan Your Visit: Food, Stays, and Access
Inside the museum, a café and self-service restaurant serve modern Hungarian cuisine using local ingredients and up-to-date techniques. Service is streamlined and friendly. Access requires a museum admission ticket.
Staying nearby is easy. Options cluster around the City Park and the Puskás Ferenc Stadion/Papp László Sportaréna (Ferenc Puskás Stadium/Papp László Sports Arena) area: Hotel Arena with a fitness room, pool, and sauna; Green Hotel Budapest with spacious, nature-inspired rooms and quick M2 metro access just 328 feet away; Hotel Amadeus in leafy Zugló with a panoramic restaurant; and several more, including Hotel Veritas near major exhibition centers, Hotel Zugló with a wellness wing, Lion’s Garden Hotel opposite a 100-year-old Dominican church, panziós in green zones, and Szőnyi Hotel*** offering hearty and diet-friendly menus. Most properties highlight proximity to downtown and major venues, plus parking, Wi‑Fi, and family- or business-friendly amenities.
The Museum of Fine Arts’ guided tours calendar runs dense from mid-December into late January. To join, call ahead, check schedules, and get ready to walk slowly, look closely, and let the curators and guides draw back the curtain on everything from imperial bronzes to visionary prints.
