Budapest’s 25 Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy út 25) has lived more lives than most city blocks. Once a palace for MÁV, it flirted as the Opera House’s French-style lady-in-waiting, doubled as an intellectual hub for architects, pulsed as a key salon for the city’s bourgeois society, hosted art circles and glittering balls, nurtured generations of dance students, then sat for years as a ghost palace before pulling a Houdini-worthy escape: a magical transformation into a luxury hotel. Today it’s W Budapest, and its doors are wide open.
Inside Lechner’s Fairy-Tale Palace
Join Imagine Budapest for a full walk-through of the former Ballet Institute (Balettintézet), where the façade wows and the interiors spill their secrets. Weaving through Ödön Lechner’s fairy-tale palace, the tour blends history with flavor. Contemporary functions meet contemporary tastes: the program wraps in the reinvented halls of the former namesake café, where stories of the past are paired with modern dishes and drinks.
Tastings Included
W Budapest sweetens the visit with a special mocktail plus both sweet and savory bites. Think of it as small, stylish time travel: one hand on a banister polished by decades, the other holding a bright, fragrant refresher.
Good to Know
– Due to the theme and venue, the tour is only open to guests aged 14 and up.
– Access to closed-off sections is via stairs only; no elevator is available.
– The first part of the visit takes place outdoors. Dress for the weather.
– Advance registration is required.
When and Where
Multiple dates run from December 27, 2025, through January 31, 2026, typically at 10:00 or 12:30. Meeting point: 1061 Budapest, corner of Lázár Street (Lázár utca) and Hajós Street (Hajós utca). Endpoint: 1065 Budapest, 27 Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy út 27). The route focuses on a full building walk-through.
Pricing and Duration
Price: 11,990 HUF per person (about 32.8 USD); from January 1, 2026: 12,490 HUF (about 34.2 USD). The tour lasts 2 hours.
Dates at a Glance
2025.12.27 12:30
2025.12.29 12:30
2025.12.30 12:30
2025.12.31 10:00
2026.01.03 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.04 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.10 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.11 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.17 12:30
2026.01.18 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.24 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.25 10:00, 12:30
2026.01.31 10:00, 12:30
Final Notes
Organizers reserve the right to change the schedule and program. The experience promises a rare look behind the velvet rope: a once-silent palace now buzzing again, from ballet shoes to boutique suites, with a clink of glasses to seal the story.
