Museum of Terror

This somber gray building, marked boldly with the word "TERROR" across its façade, is more than just a museum—it’s a deeply moving memorial. On sunny days, the inscription casts a shadow onto the building itself, symbolizing the dark legacy held within.

The House of Terror stands as a tribute to the victims of both fascist and communist regimes in Hungary. It opened to the public on February 24th, 2002, after two years of careful planning and renovation. The building’s own harrowing past makes its message all the more impactful—it once served as a site of suffering for countless individuals who were imprisoned, tortured, and executed here.

In 1944, as World War II drew to a close, Budapest fell under the control of the Hungarian Nazi Party, the Arrow Cross. Though their brutal rule lasted only a few months, their impact was devastating. During this time, the building became their headquarters, and many were subjected to inhumane treatment in the basement cells—hundreds were interrogated, tortured, or killed below ground.

Today, those same basement spaces are preserved to reveal the grim reality of political imprisonment during that era. Visitors can walk through the original cells and witness firsthand the brutal conditions endured by detainees.

The museum doesn’t just document horror—it educates. Through immersive exhibits and a powerful narrative, it tells the story of those who resisted two of the 20th century’s most oppressive regimes. Spanning four floors, the permanent exhibition takes visitors on a chronological journey through Hungary’s experience with totalitarianism. Accompanied by haunting music composed by Ákos Kovács, the exhibit begins on the second floor with a room titled “Double Occupation,” introducing the Nazi and later Soviet control over Hungary.

This building serves as both a historical witness and a warning—ensuring that the pain of the past is never forgotten.