Petőfi Literary Museum (PIM) Budapest

Writers' nutshell

Claudia from Budapest

About me Spoiled by the beauty of my native Firenze, in Italy, I recently celebrated my 10th year in Budapest, a city I couldn't have enough of, yet. I'm an official tour guide, a journalist and a writer, but most of all someone who needs to be surrounded by lively places and stunning architecture. Why Budapest Budapest never stops surprising me and this keeps...
""Petőfi Literary Museum (PIM)" in Budapest helps even foreigners swim across Hungary's recent history and understand the country better through its novels."

I love to explore a city learning about its writers.

Most of the Hungarian authors describe a unique relationship with Budapest. Budapest, from its side, shows a special attachment to them, in the shape of statues, plaques and street names (and, sometimes, drinks). Patriotic poet Sándor Petőfi is regarded as a national hero, so it makes sense that the local museum of Literature carries his name. Opened in 1954, Petőfi Literary Museum (PIM) is the evolution of an institute called "Petőfi House", from which it inherited a rich collection of documents. The permanent exposition is dedicated to Petőfi and it's a great way to understand the local mentality and pride, since the young Sándor played a leading role in 1848's Revolution for the independence from the Habsburg Empire. Together with the ever-changing temporary expositions, a considerable heritage of objects, pictures, furniture and book, it helps even foreigners swim across Hungarian recent history and captures local habits and tastes.

Every time I spend some time there, I come out with a different thought about Hungarian literature. I remember that my first approach to it was hard. I found it too pessimist, soggy and very cerebral, then my horizons expanded and I discovered that there's much more than melancholy in Hungarian novels.

PIM allows me to travel throughout local history with the eyes of those I consider its national heroes, the intellectuals. After a recent renovation, the Museum has pretty gardens, that were merged with Karoly Gardens, becoming one of the best places to sit and...read an Hungarian novel!

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Budapest Spotter Claudia

About me Spoiled by the beauty of my native Firenze, in Italy, I recently celebrated my 10th year in Budapest, a city I couldn't have enough of, yet. I'm an official tour guide, a journalist and a writer, but most of all someone who needs to be surrounded by lively places and stunning architecture. Why Budapest Budapest never stops surprising me and this keeps my love alive. The more you zoom in, the more details will entertain your eyes, while the jungle of the coffee shops and bars ensures quality entertainment and precious locations to write in and be i...

About this spot

Károlyi utca 16

Exhibitions:

HUF

1000

13173611

Oct 2, 2025

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