Cinema Mystica

Inaugurated in 2023, Cinema Mystica represents one of Budapest’s most innovative artistic experiences, an immersive museum where digital art, technology and the senses come together in a journey through 10 thematic rooms. Located in the prestigious Párisi Udvar, a historic Art Nouveau shopping arcade in the heart of the 5th district, this 1,200 square metre space houses 23 unique installations that blur the boundaries between reality and vision.

What distinguishes Cinema Mystica from traditional museum experiences is its fully interactive nature: here, visitors are not mere spectators, but become an integral part of the works of art. Immersive projections, 3D printed sculptures, enveloping soundscapes and installations that react to movement create an audiovisual experience unprecedented in the Hungarian art scene. The atmosphere is designed to stimulate deep reflection through the use of sacred geometry, morphogenesis and philosophical themes, turning every visit into a meditative as well as aesthetic journey.

Things to do at Cinema Mystica

The exhibition route runs through 10 different rooms, each dedicated to a specific theme and characterised by unique atmospheres. The permanent exhibition, entitled ‘Mikromakro: As Above, So Below’, explores the connections between the macroscopic universe and the microscopic world, revealing the hidden connections between seemingly distant dimensions. The works on display are creations by live artists from the Global Illumination collective, joined by international artists such as Hayk Zakoyan, Ocopus Studio, Nima Gazestani and Polyhop.

One of the most popular rooms features 360-degree wall projections that transform the space into ever-changing landscapes: pulsating galaxies, geometric shapes that dissolve and recompose, natural landscapes that merge with digital elements. Visitors can lie down on comfortable poufs and bean bags distributed throughout the rooms, letting themselves be enveloped by the projections on the ceiling and walls while specially composed soundtracks amplify the sensory experience.

Interactive installations react to visitors’ movements and presence: touch surfaces generate light waves on contact, tunnels of mirrors multiply the image infinitely, creating time corridors, and rooms where sensors translate gestures into variations of light and sound. Particularly striking is the room dedicated to mystical digital creatures, where luminous entities seem to come to life and interact with the observer.

Interactive screens distributed along the way offer insights into the creative process, explaining how technology and art are intertwined in the creation of each work. Some installations use artificial intelligence to generate unique visual patterns that never repeat, ensuring that each visit is different from the previous one. 3D-printed sculptures using cutting-edge technology depict organic, geometric shapes that seem to defy gravity.

One section of the experience includes short art films projected in immersive environments, where the viewer is surrounded by images on several walls at once. Themes range from the exploration of nature to existential reflections on human perception. The free cloakroom service at the entrance allows visitors to leave their coats and bags behind to enjoy the experience with greater freedom of movement, which is particularly appreciated during the cold seasons.

Admission Tickets

The standard adult ticket allows access to all 23 installations without time limits within the opening hours. Reduced rates are available for children (up to 12 years), students (up to 25 years with valid ID) and senior citizens (over 65 years). Children under 4 years of age enter free of charge, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Online advance purchase is strongly recommended, especially during weekends and holiday periods when attendance is higher. Booking guarantees access without queuing at the ticket office and often includes small discounts compared to the on-site price. During the Christmas and New Year period (23 December to 1 January), tickets tend to sell out weeks in advance, so early booking is essential.

The Mystica Cinema is not included in the Budapest Card, so tickets must be purchased separately.

Opening hours and visiting times

Cinema Mystica is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with last admission at 21:00. Opening times may vary during special holidays: on 24 December (Christmas Eve) opening hours are reduced, while on 25, 26 December and 1 January the museum remains open all day, but tickets must be booked well in advance.

A full visit takes on average 60-90 minutes, but many visitors choose to linger longer in rooms they find particularly impressive. There are no limits on length of stay: you can explore the installations at your own pace, return to your favourite rooms and spend as much time as you need to immerse yourself in the experience. Some particularly engaged visitors report stays of up to 2 hours.

How to get to Cinema Mystica

The museum is located at Ferenciek tere 10, inside the Párisi Udvar, in the heart of Pest’s 5th district. The location is extremely central and easily accessible by all means of transport. The M3 metro line (blue) stops at Ferenciek tere, from where the entrance is a 2-minute walk across the square of the same name. This is the most convenient option for those staying in areas connected by metro.

Several tram and bus lines stop in the immediate vicinity: trams 47 and 49, which run along Ring Boulevard, stop within walking distance, while buses 7, 107, 108, 110 and 112 connect the museum with various parts of the city.

For those who prefer to walk, the Mystica Cinema is located along Váci utca, Budapest’s main pedestrian street, a 5-minute walk from Vörösmarty Square.