Looking for an escape from reality? Unsure of what to do in Budapest? Don’t worry, there are endless options, and a top attraction of the city is winding down in an escape room. With over 8,000 escape room venues worldwide, it seems like this specific cultural phenomenon is definitely one yearned for by the masses. Life has many situations we want to escape from, and over the past few years, the growing trend of willingly enrolling in a thrilling escape game has boomed.
Inspired by “escape-the-room” style video games, comprising of logical puzzles, mathematical sequences to decode, riddles, clues and tasks, and combining the previous elements with time (running out!), a special new game format was born. The first escape game (appropriately named as Real Escape Game) was developed and brought to life in Japan back in 2007, by Takao Kato. After, it was hard to ignore the growing trend, with game rooms popping up all over Asia, including Singapore (2011).
The History of Budapest Escape Rooms
Source: Pixabay
In Hungary, the escape room concept was pioneered by Attila Gyurkovics in 2011, who founded Parapark, the first game location in Europe. Ever since, Budapest has become an Escape Room hub, as the thrill and adrenaline rush that comes with an escape game Budapest adventure is hard to beat. Amazingly, Attila had no information about the Japanese escape games and instead based his game on the internationally renowned Hungarian-American psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, who recognized the psychological concept of flow. Attila wanted to create the notion of flow for everyone in everyday life, and the pursuit of finding this groove was what brought him to create his escape room!
Most escape games tread along the route that danger is approaching, in the form of a catastrophe, a timed bomb or the case of being chased by a potential murderer – and you have one hour to break free! Tourists and locals alike are catching on to the craze, so if you ever want to feel like you’re in a real-life detective movie, you know what to do in Budapest…
Check the list below for your very own room escape Budapest guide!
Para Park Budapest – Enter The Flow
1082 Budapest, Vajdahunyad utca 4.
Time: 45-60 minutes
Members: 2-6 person
Experience the first room escape in Europe! The founder, Attila has designed a captivating place, with emphasis on an enjoyable, carefree group dynamic and the famous flow theory. This escape room has no language barriers, as there are no riddles or written messages, just colors, sounds, symbols, and shapes to discover! This is also a great room for those who don’t want to be frightened, as there are no scary lights or voice effects, only an old basement in Pest, inspired by crime scenes and Twin Peaks. All you have to do is search for missing clues and enjoy the fun of teamwork.
Source: ParaPark
Mindquest – Adrenaline Junkies’ Paradise
1072 Budapest, Klauzál street 19. (First floor of Füge Udvar)
Time: 60 minutes
Members: Max 5 person
Enter the gripping world of Mindquest, a room escape in Budapest set on the top of a ruin pub (yes, we do recommend you get some drinks after). You can go on a mission in one of 5 themed rooms: The Bomb (A bomb will be ticking…), The Diamond Heist (Can you hack the security system and steal the gemstone?), The Matrix (Reality or an illusion? You’ll have to find out…), and finally the room of Noo’zaca (Enter the jungle of South America). Mindquest is perfect for gamers who are up for an adventure!
Source: Mindquest
E-Exit Escape Game – Need an Emergency Exit?
1085 Budapest, Mária u. 19.
Time: 60 minutes
Members: 2-6 person
Don’t worry about things to do in Budapest, instead discover the enticing realms of Santa Muerte, Heaven & Hell, 1984 or The Circus. These escape rooms are perfect for experienced players who have seen lots before, but interestingly enough, are also perfectly suitable for brave beginners, as with a large variation of mind-breakers, puzzles, and searching for codes and opening locks, everyone will find a role they can fit…Crazy fact: In one room, you might just have to use a defibrillator to come back to life…
Source: E-Exit Escape Games
Locked Room – Will You Stay Locked in forever?
1061 Budapest, Székely Mihály u. 4
Time: 60 minutes
Members: 2-7 person
If horror movies are your thing, Locked Room will be your perfect place for scary. Locked Room was the winner of the Best Escape Room in Hungary award each year it was announced, where you’ll need to work as a team, and use critical thinking to conquer complex challenges. Step inside and find yourself in a hidden, underground government research base in cold Russia, or would you rather fancy waking up in an abandoned hospital? There’s also the task of trying to prevent a planned murder set up by a crazy psychopath…However, the main question is, how will you be able to escape?
Source: Locked Room
Neverland Bar and Escape Room
1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 22-24
Time: 60 minutes
2-7 person
Neverland is much more than just a simple escape room. A versatile entertainment facility, this place is equipped with a gourmet kitchen, a giant bar with a wide range of premium drinks and a Private Room that you can rent out with a pianist and your own bartender for a luxurious VIP experience. And we haven’t even talked about their 5 high-quality thematic escape rooms ranging from a western-style sheriff’s station to a spaceship. Experience one of the most versatile entertainment venues in the city center!
Source: Neverland, Budapest
Mystique Room – A Visual Mystery to Solve
1055 Budapest, Szent István körút 9.
Time: 60 minutes
Members: 2-8 person
With 9 stunning rooms to choose from, designed and built in-house by a team with decades of combined experience in set and game design, Mystique Room is a visual delight. Also, Mystique Room has created rooms that are enjoyable for all and solvable for everyone, so no one has to go home disappointed. The rate of successful escapes is nearly 100%, so if you’re in a need of a happy family escape, Mystique Room is a great place to start.
Source: Mystic Room
Mindcrime – The Perfect Escape for Kids
21 Katona József street, 1137 Budapest
Time: 60 minutes
Members: 3-7 person
Arriving in Budapest with children? No need to fret! Although most Budapest room escapes have been created for adults, Mindcrime has been purpose-built for kids! Starting from age 9, all children are welcome to a “Memory Thief” themed escape room. Mindcrime also offers a space for fun-filled birthday parties, personalized invitation cards, and guests are welcomed with a pre-decorated room for an unforgettable birthday experience.
Source: Mindcrime
Magic Rooms – Find Yourself in Movie Wonderland
1066 Budapest, Zichy Jenő utca 27
Time: 60 minutes
Members: 2-8 person
Enter a world of magic, and go on a journey in the world of Star Wars, Harry Potter, Atlantis or Pirates of the Caribbean! Once inside the Magic Rooms, you really will feel like you’ve just entered a movie set, where an incredible mission is waiting for you. The games at Magic Rooms are never about getting locked in a room, instead, to solve the tasks you’ll be using secure electric devices and 3D printing technology. Ready, set, go!
