Experience Budapest’s Premier Vintage Vehicle Showcase: The XXI. Budapest Oldtimer Show 2025
The Hungarian capital is set to host one of Central Europe’s most prestigious vintage vehicle exhibitions this October. The XXI. Budapest Oldtimer Show returns to the Hungarian Railway History Park (Magyar Vasúttörténeti Park) on October 11-12, 2025, promising visitors an extraordinary journey through automotive and railway history.
What Makes This Event Special
The Budapest Oldtimer Show stands out as more than just a vintage car exhibition. This comprehensive vintage vehicle showcase features 500 carefully selected historic vehicles spanning every category imaginable: classic automobiles, motorcycles, buses, trucks, tractors, steam locomotives, and railway carriages. What sets this event apart is its commitment to presenting only unique specimens – each vehicle type appears just once, ensuring visitors experience the highest quality collection possible.
The organizers take pride in featuring international vintage vehicles never before seen in Hungary, making this a truly unique opportunity for enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Each exhibited vehicle comes with detailed technical specifications and historical information, transforming the viewing experience into an educational journey through transportation history.
Venue and Atmosphere
Set within the atmospheric locomotive roundhouse of the Hungarian Railway History Park, the exhibition creates an authentic industrial heritage environment. The oil-scented floors and nostalgic railway surroundings transport visitors back in time, enhanced by period music playing throughout the venue. Visitors can photograph vintage vehicles alongside hostesses dressed in period costumes, adding to the authentic historical atmosphere.
The venue itself serves as Europe’s largest railway museum, meaning attendees can explore extensive railway collections beyond the vintage vehicle displays. Recently restored railway vehicles include Holocaust memorial trains, tank and artillery transport cars, Governor Horthy’s conference car, and the teak-paneled Golden Train.
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Exhibition Highlights
Pre-War Vehicles Collection
The show’s crown jewel is its extensive collection of pre-World War vehicles, including wooden-wheeled automobiles and motorcycles over 100 years old. These antique vehicles represent the pioneering era of motorized transportation, offering visitors glimpses of automotive archaeology rarely seen elsewhere.
International Participation
Recent years have seen increased international participation, with foreign vintage vehicle collectors, clubs, and restorers bringing rare specimens to Budapest. This trend toward internationalization means visitors encounter vintage vehicle types completely unknown in Hungary, expanding the educational value significantly.
Live Demonstrations
A unique feature includes live demonstrations where century-old antique cars and motorcycles are actually started and operated. The outdoor areas feature similar demonstrations with veteran trucks, buses, tractors, and Formula Renault race cars, providing authentic sounds and experiences of historical machinery.
Comprehensive Programming
Vehicle Beauty Contest
All exhibited vehicles participate in a vintage vehicle beauty contest, with international judges awarding 25 prizes across different historical periods and vehicle categories. The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday at 2:00 PM on the Railway Car Stage.
Interactive Railway Experiences
The Railway History Park’s interactive programs come alive during the event weekend, including the locomotive turntable, handcars, rail cars, horse-drawn railway, garden railway, and the massive Truman steam engine. Visitors can explore inside the red Nohab diesel locomotive and experience Europe’s largest steam locomotive and railway car collection.
Family-Friendly Activities
Recognizing families as important visitors, the event provides numerous free activities for children: bouncy castles, skill games, children’s entertainment, playgrounds, and locomotive turntable experiences. Unlike many festivals, visitors can bring their own snacks (sandwiches and small bottles of tea), making this a genuinely family-friendly event.
Educational Components
The event includes educational elements such as informational announcements about vintage vehicle restoration, type histories, and historical stories broadcast through the central sound system. The model house features terrain tables and railway model exhibitions, while a special exhibition commemorating 200 years of railway transportation occupies the third floor of the office building.
Practical Information for Visitors
Opening Hours
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Ticket Prices
Tickets are sold exclusively on-site during opening hours and cannot be purchased in advance. Accepted payment methods include cash, bank cards, and all three types of SZÉP cards.
Pricing Structure:
- Adult tickets (18+ years): 8,000 HUF
- Child tickets (under 18): 7,000 HUF
- Senior tickets (65+ years): 7,000 HUF
- Children under 3: Free admission
Transportation and Parking
The venue offers completely free parking for all visitors, with organized parking areas managed by event staff. The location accommodates various transportation methods:
- By Car: Multiple free parking areas available
- By Bus: Group transportation welcomed (advance email notification required)
- By Motorcycle/Bicycle: Dedicated parking areas in P1 parking zone
- By Public Transport: Accessible via various Budapest public transportation options
- By Railway: Reachable via MÁV Esztergom line, befitting the railway museum location
Prize Draws and Giveaways
The XXI edition celebrates with special prize events. Every ticket holder can participate in Sunday’s prize draw featuring 20 AGIP gift packages, with the grand prize being an actual OT-licensed vintage automobile. Participants must fill out their ticket’s reverse side and deposit it in the transparent ballot box at the Railway Car Stage. The drawing occurs Sunday at 4:00 PM, with prizes awarded immediately on stage.
Additional giveaways include commemorative stickers for all ticket purchasers, plush toys for children from BMW Imi at the circular park, and free automotive magazines for adults.
Why Visit the Budapest Oldtimer Show
This event represents Hungary’s premier vintage vehicle gathering, offering experiences unavailable elsewhere in Central Europe. The combination of rare international vehicles, comprehensive educational materials, authentic historical atmosphere, and interactive experiences creates value for diverse visitor interests.
Vehicle enthusiasts appreciate the technical depth and restoration demonstrations, while families enjoy the comprehensive entertainment options. History buffs find themselves immersed in transportation evolution, and photography enthusiasts discover countless opportunities among the period-costumed presentations.
The event’s philosophy of quality over quantity – showcasing only unique specimens with detailed documentation – ensures every visit provides genuine discovery opportunities. Whether you’re a serious collector, casual enthusiast, or simply curious about transportation history, the Budapest Oldtimer Show offers an unmatched window into the evolution of motorized vehicles.
The Budapest Oldtimer Show continues growing in international recognition while maintaining its authentic Hungarian character, making it an essential experience for anyone interested in vintage vehicles, transportation history, or unique cultural events in Budapest.