The Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest is rolling out a packed, kid-focused lineup that swaps hush-hush museum rules for hands-on play, stories, theater, and wonder. Primary schoolers get creative workshops and themed clubs, tweens explore legends and art through adventurous tours, and toddlers dive into gentle, sensory sessions built for curious little minds. Educator guides keep everything fun and experiential, and on request the gallery-floor visit can be topped up with studio time where kids learn practical techniques and take the theme further in fresh, tactile ways.
Where and when to show up
Find it at 1014 Budapest, Szent György Square (Szent György tér) 2. Most programs meet at the information desk; staff will escort groups back there after sessions. Capacity is limited and ages are strict so everyone gets the right pace and content. Programs are sprinkled across November and December 2025, with a steady rhythm of weekday afternoons and special weekend dates.
Color It Again! — Museum workshop for kids
November brings theater into the galleries with Color It Again!, a playful club for ages 6–12. Sessions run on November 12, 19, and 26 from 16:00 to 17:00. Kids step into artworks, try on roles, write and act out stories, and make the essentials of stage magic across the different dates: a mask one week, a puppet or headpiece the next, even a piece of set design. One day you’re a queen, the next you’re a farmhand or goose girl — all in good fun.
Children participate independently without a guardian. After the workshop, staff bring the group back to the info desk at 17:30–17:40. Maximum group size: 15. Fee: about $6.90 per session. You can join any single date — the topics don’t build on one another. There’s also a monthly pass: four sessions for about $23.50 (instead of about $27.60).
Adventure in the Gallery — St. Martin’s Day
November 15 is all about St. Martin’s Day with two guided tours tailored by age. Who was Saint Martin, and what legends swirl around his name? The route threads through old tales and even crosses paths with Saint Stephen. Altarpieces and paintings spring to life while folk customs and the mood of feast days fill the rooms.
– 10:30–11:15: ages 6–9. Max 20 kids. Duration: 45 minutes.
– 11:30–12:15: ages 10–13. Max 20 kids. Duration: 45 minutes.
Bring an adult: one child with one adult; two or more children with up to two adults. The gallery encourages questions and curiosity — quiet voices optional.
Toddlers in the Gallery — playful sessions for the littlest ones
Kisasszonyok és úrfik (Little Ladies and Young Gentlemen), November 18, 16:00–17:00: Step into the world of elegant homes and salons of yesteryear. How did children dress, live, and spend their days long ago? For ages 2–4. Max 12 kids. Duration: 60 minutes.
Tipegők — Hullócsillagok (Toddlers — Shooting Stars), December 16, 16:00–17:00: On a quiet winter afternoon, follow a bright celestial sign through the deep night to the glow of ancient altars. Listen for angels’ songs, stroll an imaginary snowy landscape where fresh drifts crunch underfoot, and discover all the shades hidden in white paint before creating festive art. For ages 2–4. Max 12 kids. Duration: 60 minutes.
These toddler sessions gently build perception, observation, language and rhythm, fine motor skills, and social ease — with the guaranteed joy of making something together.
Dates at a glance
Budapest dates: 2025.11.12; 2025.11.15; 2025.11.18; 2025.11.19; 2025.11.26; 2025.12.02; 2025.12.16.
More to explore in November
Beyond the kids’ core lineup, the gallery’s calendar is busy. Highlights include Mama, nézd! – Napfényes hétköznapok (Look, Mom! — Sunny Weekdays) on November 13 and 27; Fényes Adolf és a szolnoki művésztelep (Adolf Fényes and the Szolnok Artists’ Colony) on November 15; a Sunday choir concert on November 16; Nyolcak — Előre meghirdetett tárlatvezetés (The Eight — Scheduled Guided Tour) on November 22; Explore the Gallery — From the Crypt to the Dome, November 23; Lázadó formák, merész színek — Tihanyi Lajos művészete (Rebel Forms, Bold Colors — The Art of Lajos Tihanyi) on November 27; and A szépség utolsó festője: Fényes Adolf | Bellák Gábor művészettörténész előadása (The Last Painter of Beauty: Adolf Fényes | Lecture by art historian Gábor Bellák) on November 29. There’s also Épületséta – Kriptától a kupoláig (Building Walk — From the Crypt to the Dome) on November 30.
December keeps the lights on
December brings Mama, nézd! – Anyai párhuzamok (Look, Mom! — Maternal Parallels) on December 4; Alkoss! – Aranyló ünnep (Create! — Golden Holiday) on December 6; Szellemi fitnesz – Karácsonyi csoda (Mind Fitness — Christmas Miracle) on December 10; an Italian-language guided tour on December 12; and Adventi épületséta – Kriptától a kupoláig (Advent Building Walk — From the Crypt to the Dome) on December 14. The toddlers’ Shooting Stars session returns on December 16.
Year-round pulse
From January 1 to December 31, 2025, the gallery’s broader program keeps humming, with 14 major listings in this family-friendly strand alone. If your kids ask to go back, the calendar won’t let you down.
