Békéscsaba: Mihály Munkácsy Museum and parking

Békéscsaba is a cultural and transport hub in the Southern Great Plain. Its sites associated with Mihály Munkácsy, churches and vibrant Slovak traditions offer plenty to see, including for visitors interested in art or the city’s history.

Csabai sausage and the festival dedicated to it may also make the city familiar to food lovers. If you’re arriving by car, it’s worth checking the parking information in advance so you can focus on your plans once you get there.

Mihály Munkácsy Museum and Memorial House

Mihály Munkácsy spent part of his childhood in Békéscsaba, so exploring places connected with the painter’s life is an obvious theme for a visit to the city. The museum named after him is dedicated to preserving his work; it was founded in 1899, its current building opened in 1914, and it was renovated in 2007. If you’re interested in the city’s cultural past, this is a good place to start your exploration.

The Mihály Munkácsy Memorial House offers another way to get closer to the painter: 21 of his paintings are displayed here. His younger sister, Gizella, once lived in the house, and Munkácsy visited her regularly. The museum and memorial house make a particularly good combination if you’d like to see more than just a building or two and spend some time learning about an artist with ties to Békéscsaba.

The Lutheran Great Church and Small Church

The Lutheran Great Church in Békéscsaba is the largest Lutheran church in Central Europe. Its architecture features Zopf and Empire elements, and the interior has two levels of galleries. The spire of its 70-metre-high tower was simplified from the original design in 1843. These details alone show why the church is worth adding to your sightseeing itinerary if you’re interested in religious architecture.

The city’s other Lutheran church, the Small Church, was built in the Baroque style in 1745. The two buildings offer a good opportunity to take in architectural landmarks from different periods belonging to the same denomination. Among Békéscsaba’s religious buildings, it’s also worth noting the twin-towered, Neo-Gothic Co-Cathedral of St Anthony of Padua: built in 1910, it was designed by Antal Hofhauser.

Jókai Theatre and the city’s public buildings

The Békéscsaba Jókai Theatre is the first permanent stone theatre in the Great Plain. The building was completed between 1877 and 1879 and then reconstructed in 1913. It may interest you for more than just its performances: it also holds an important place in the history of the city’s cultural institutions. Cultural life in Békéscsaba began to flourish from the second half of the 19th century, and the theatre is one of the landmarks of that period.

Among the public buildings, look out for the Town Hall, built in the Romantic style. Designed by Ernő Sztraka, the building was constructed in 1873, and its façade was based on plans by Miklós Ybl. The Hotel Fiume is also associated with Sztraka: built in 1869, it was named after the Nagyvárad–Szeged–Fiume railway line. These places evoke different aspects of the city’s development.

Slovak Farmhouse Museum and local traditions

Slovak traditions remain an important part of Békéscsaba’s cultural identity. The settlement was depopulated during the Ottoman occupation and then resettled in the 18th century, mainly by Slovak settlers. If you’d like to learn about this part of the city’s past, the Slovak Farmhouse Museum is a good place to start. Built in the 1860s, the traditional dwelling features Baroque and Classicist elements; its front porch and lobed gable are distinctive details of the building.

Local traditions also include food. Csabai sausage, a product recognised as a Hungarikum, and the festival centred on it have earned the city the nickname “the sausage capital”. So even if you’re more interested in local food and customs than museums and public buildings, you’ll find a connection to Békéscsaba.

Sculpture Walk, Fairy-Tale House and baths

If you’d like to spend some time exploring the city on foot, visit the Sculpture Walk alongside the Élővíz Canal. Its busts portray prominent figures from Békéscsaba and people connected with the city, so you can encounter characters from local history as you stroll. It’s a different kind of activity from a museum visit: you can stop at whichever figure’s story interests you most and continue at your own pace.

The Fairy-Tale House is another unique attraction. The building is decorated with sculptures, gingerbread figures and drawings created by visual artist Mihály Schéner. If you’d like to add a swim to your sightseeing, you can also include the Árpád Thermal and Outdoor Baths in your plans: they were built in 1922 and renovated in 2003. This gives you time for a different kind of stop alongside the cultural sights.

Parking in Békéscsaba

Békéscsaba has two paid parking zones, with different hourly rates in each. Parking fees are payable on weekdays only; parking is free on weekends and public holidays. If you’re arriving by car, it’s worth checking which zone you’ve parked in before starting your payment.

You can find information about local parking on the city’s parking page. Mobile parking lets you pay on the spot, directly from your phone.

5601 – Békéscsaba premium zone: HUF 560/hour (weekdays 08:00–18:00)
5602 – Békéscsaba standard zone: HUF 510/hour (weekdays 08:00–18:00)

The rates are based on data from Nemzeti Mobilfizetési Zrt. and were valid when this article was published.

Tip: If you’re arriving by car on a weekday, check your location in the zone finder after parking, as hourly rates vary between paid zones. The Sculpture Walk is best explored on foot, so you’ll have time to see the busts.

Once you’ve parked, you can start parking online from your phone in just a few clicks, without a machine, cash or installing an app.

Last updated: 27. 10. 2026.