Ride the Moving Museum: Budapest’s Vintage Ikarus Bus Experience
Can you fit a whole bus under the Christmas tree? Well, now you can — sort of!
This winter, forget tiny presents — hop on board one of Budapest’s legendary vintage Ikarus buses and take a nostalgic ride through the city’s dazzling holiday lights. The Moving Museum program invites you to experience history on wheels aboard a 1971 Ikarus 311 or the iconic 1973 Ikarus 66 “Faros,” both fully restored and dressed in festive finery.
What’s the Moving Museum all about?
The Hungarian Museum of Technology and Transport combines preservation and education with this special program. Just a few years ago, their collection lacked Ikarus buses. Today, they boast a fleet of over 20, with these two stars taking tourists on a winter magic carpet ride around Budapest’s most beloved spots. Museum experts narrate tales of Ikarus’s automotive lore, plus local delights, all while the bus hums along the city streets. And on select weekends, live music adds extra holiday cheer.
A little bus history with your mulled wine
Did you know the Ikarus 66 “Faros” got its nickname from its rear-engine design? It was Budapest’s speedy, comfy answer to public transport pangs in the 1960s and became a sought-after export as far as Egypt and Kuwait. Its museum cousin served as a beekeeper’s bus before restoration brought it rolling back to life.
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The Ikarus 311 is a roomy 36-seater, crucial to public transport in its heyday and popular abroad, especially in East Germany and Bulgaria. The museum’s example was honored with a full refurbishment that brings back its original charm and mechanics.
When and where can you hop on?
From December 6, 2025, to January 11, 2026, join the weekend excursions on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM, plus special New Year’s Eve morning rides. Departures and returns happen at the Verona angyalai street stop between the Műcsarnok and the Museum of Ethnography. Buckle up for a 50-minute no-stop tour circling Budapest’s scenic inner city and Buda hills.
Why you should try it
If you want a slice of Budapest wrapped in history, culture, and holiday sparkle, this is your ticket. Great for families, history buffs, or anyone who can appreciate vintage vibes and cheerful tunes under winter skies. Plus, who wouldn’t want to say they once rode a bus older than their grandparents?!
So, don’t just hang your stockings—hang onto a ticket and come ride Budapest’s festive rolling legends this winter!
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