Following the protection of the Ottoman Empire extended to the heroes of the Hungarian independence movement, relations between the Turks and the Hungarians have gained additional momentum.

In this respect, upon the establishment of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867, the Ottoman Empire established a resident Consulate in Pest. Among many Turkish diplomats who have served in the city of Pest, the following names worth mentioning in particular: Ali Nizami Bey-the first resident Consul-General in Pest, Feridun Bey-who donated his fortune to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to be used for the education of Turkish students, İsmail Lütfi (Simavi)-who have served for 13 years in total during different times, Ahmet Hikmet (Müftüoğlu)-renowned for his contributions to the renovation and recognition of Gül Baba Tomb as a cultural monument which has later turned into a symbol of Turkish-Hungarian friendship and renowned Turkish poet Enis Behiç (Koryürek)-who have worked under Ahmet Hikmet at around the same time.

Having formed an alliance during the First World War, Türkiye and Hungary later emerged as new states and established formal diplomatic relations with the “Treaty of Friendship” signed on 18 December 1923 and subsequently exchanging Envoys in 1924.

His Excellency Hüsrev Gerede, the first Turkish Envoy in Budapest, presented his letter of credentials and formally took over his duty on 9 May 1924. Turkish Legation functioned until 1 April 1945, when it had to cease its operations due to the Second World War. Republic of Türkiye dispatched an official delegation to discuss the re-opening of her diplomatic mission in 1946. The Legation assumed its function with the arrival of Mr. Zeki Hakkı Karabuda as Charge d’affaires on 14 November 1946 and His Excellency Agah Aksel as the new Envoy on 8 January 1947 in Budapest.

Despite the constraints of the Cold War, Türkiye and Hungary maintained their commercial, cultural and people-to-people relations and mutually raised their diplomatic representation to the level of Embassies on 28 September 1967.

Below is the list of buildings used by the Turkish diplomatic mission since 1924 as well as the addresses of its chancery and residence:

- Grand Hotel Hungaria (1924-1929): Turkish Legation established by Hüsrev Gerede as the Envoy functioned in one of the glorious hotels situated along the banks of Danube river until having finally moved into its first long-term permanent headquarters.

- Andrássy út 101 (1930-1941): Following a temporary stay at “Vérmező ut 6”, the Legation moved to this building which is very close to its contemporary chancery.

- Zivatar utca 1-3 (1941-1945): This building was used until the Legation suspended its operations due to the War. Following the Nazi occupation, the building hosted the Hungarian Prime Minister Miklós Kállay and his wife when they sought refuge (19 March 1944-19 November 1944) in the Turkish diplomatic mission. Kallay’s wife stayed there until her tragic death in the garden on 7 February 1945 caused by shell fragments. Her remains were buried by the Embassy staff on the ground. Today, there is a placard in the lobby of the European Youth Centre which later replaced the building to commemorate this rather compulsory hospitality of significant importance for Turkish-Hungarian relations.

- Hotel Bristol (1946-1948): Following the post-war period, the Legation had to be re-established in the four rented rooms in this hotel providing a working space to the five staff members (the Turkish envoy’s residence was briefly located at “Budakeszi ut 55”).

- Benczúr utca 15 (1948-1960): When there was a shortage of housing in Budapest, the derelict apartment at this address was used as chancery and residence.

- Mártírok útja 43-45 (1960-1968): The chancery moved to the two adjacent apartments on the sixth floor at this address, which is known as “Margit körút 43-45” today.

- Lisznyai utcá 23 (Embassy residence since 1960): This residential building was first rented from the Diplomatic Services Bureau (DTEI and its successor CD Hungary) of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs annually between 1960 and 1992. At last, it was purchased on 15 April 1992. After long procedures, the permit for restoration was issued for the comprehensive works conducted between July 1997 and June 1998.

Between 1992 and 1998, when the procedures for restoration and the construction itself were ongoing, the Embassy rented the building at “Istenhegyi út 59-61” as a residence for the period of 1992-1998.

- Úri Utca 45 (1968-1999): The quest for a suitable chancery building ended when the Embassy moved into the building at this address in the castle district on 1 May 1968. Due to the growing volume in consular transactions, the Embassy also rented the ground floor of the adjacent building (number 47) in 1984 to be used by its consular section.

- Andrássy út 123 (Embassy chancery since 1999): As per the objective of moving into state-owned premises, the building was purchased on 27 July 1997 and commissioned in July 1999 after its comprehensive renovation. It was originally built as a summer house in 1872, was further expanded in 1892 and 1965 whereas the annex used as a consular department was apparently built in 1904.

Turkish Embassy in Budapest currently operates in this building together with the Offices of Military Attaché and Counsellors for Education, Communication, Social and Interior Affairs. Yunus Emre Budapest Turkish Cultural Centre, as the Cultural Department of the Embassy with a diplomatic status, is residing in another state-owned building at “Andrássy út 62”, which also hosts the Office of Culture and Promotion Counsellor. Our Commercial Counsellors are located in another office on the same street (Andrássy út 5, II/5-17). Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has a Program Coordination Office in Budapest as well.

Further information on mission history is available in the booklet of the exhibition entitled “Buildings, Places and Faces: A Century-Old Tale of Turkish Diplomacy in Hungary”, which was curated together with Budapest City Archives during “2024 Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year” celebrated on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

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