Ikono Budapest

Opening in September 2023 at Váci utca 27, in the heart of Budapest’s historical centre, IKONO represents a new concept of cultural experience that fuses immersive art, interactive installations and technology. It is the brand’s fifth European venue, following Madrid, Rome, Barcelona and Vienna, and offers a sensory journey through 12 thematic rooms designed by international artists.

Unlike traditional museums where the visitor passively observes the works, here you are the real protagonists: you can touch, play, interact and become an integral part of the installations. Each room is conceived as a blank canvas on which you can express your creativity, take original photographs and experience shared moments with friends and family. The experience lasts about 60 minutes and is designed for all ages, from children to adults, making it perfect for families, couples or groups of friends.

Things to do at IKONO Budapest

The tour runs through 12 different rooms, each with its own artistic identity. The Infinite Lantern Room welcomes visitors with hundreds of suspended lanterns that create games of reflections and shadows through strategically placed mirrors, generating the illusion of an infinite space inspired by Japanese landscapes. In Light Painting, you can turn light into art: in a dark environment, long photographic exposures capture your light movements in unique works, echoing Picasso’s experiments of the 1940s.

The Evolution of Love, by artist Koketit, explores the transformative power of self-love through organic shapes, vibrant colours and reflective surfaces. The giant ball pit, the largest in Budapest with more than 100,000 coloured balls, is designed to support even adults, while the confetti room overwhelms you with a cascade of coloured confetti perfect for spectacular photos. The maze of mirrors confuses spatial perception by multiplying reality to infinity.

The Woman among the Leaves by American artist Heather Bellino features over 2,000 hand-engraved elements on glass celebrating nature and femininity with organic patterns inspired by the Renaissance. The Yokocho room faithfully recreates a nocturnal Japanese alley with neon signs and vending machines, while the arcade room concludes with working vintage video games such as Pac-Man and Street Fighter, recreating the atmosphere of the 1980s. Other installations include the fluorescent coloured jungle and optical illusion environments, to be freely explored in no particular order.

Admission Tickets

The standard ticket grants access to all 12 rooms with free admission for approximately one hour. The prices are aligned with those of the brand’s other European venues. Children pay the same rate as adults as the experience is designed equally for all ages, regardless of content.

Online advance purchase is strongly recommended as it guarantees entry at the selected time and avoids waiting at the ticket office. During weekends and high season (summer and holidays), time slots frequently sell out days in advance. Those who turn up without a reservation can only enter if there is remaining availability.

Opening hours and visiting times

IKONO Budapest is open daily with extended opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 21:00. Last admission is one hour before closing time. Times may vary during national holidays, which can be checked on the official website.

The average duration of the visit is 60 minutes, but it depends very much on your approach: those who wish to take many photographs and experience all the interactions can take up to 90 minutes. There are no set time limits inside, allowing you to freely manage the pace of the experience. Allow an additional 10-15 minutes for the cloakroom at the entrance and exit.

The best times to visit are weekday mornings, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, when attendance is significantly lower. Weekends see the highest number of visitors, with peaks between 14:00 and 18:00. The first opening hours (10:00-11:00) guarantee practically empty rooms, ideal for those wishing to photograph without people in the background.

How to get to IKONO Budapest

The venue is located at Váci utca 27, Budapest’s most famous pedestrian artery connecting Vörösmarty Square to the Central Market. The M1 metro line (yellow) stops at Vörösmarty tér, from where the entrance is a 3-minute walk south along Váci utca. The M1 is the oldest continental metro in Europe and connects quickly with Deák Ferenc tér, the main public transport hub.

Several tram lines stop nearby: tram 2, which runs along the riverfront offering panoramic views of Buda Castle, stops at Ferenciek tere (5-minute walk). Trams 47 and 49 connect with outlying districts, stopping at Fővám tér, right in front of the Central Market. Buses 9 and 15 run along Little Boulevard stopping at Ferenciek tere.