Discover All of Budapest's Mini Statues – Complete List with Map

Budapest is known for having countless mini statues by urban artist Mihály Kolodko all around the city. Here we give a comprehensive list of all of them with a handy interactive map, so we make your statue hunt just a little bit easier!

Yellow markers indicate mini statues that are on private property, such as museums, red markers indicate the statues that are unfortunately gone.

Franz Joseph

• Location: Pest-side pylon of the Liberty Bridge (Szabadság híd).

• Details: Depicts the former Austro-Hungarian Emperor lounging comfortably in a tiny hammock. It is a playful nod to the fact that the bridge was originally opened and named in honor of Franz Joseph, despite no longer bearing his name.

Meerkat

• Location: Bókay János utca 53, VIII. district (on the fence of the 1st Children's Clinic).

• Details: Commissioned by the Szurikáta Foundation for Diabetic Children to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. The meerkat wears a tiny backpack to symbolize that diabetic children always carry their necessary medical supplies.

The Axe

• Location: Szabadság tér 15.

• Details: This bronze axe sits on a velvet pillow as a direct satirical response to political vandalism. It replaced an earlier controversial sculpture of a Soviet winter hat that had been chopped down with an axe and thrown into the Danube by a politician.

"Egyszer volt Budán kutyavásár" - "There was only one dog fair in Buda"

• Location: Batthyány utca 26, Buda side.

• Details: A collection of tiny dogs sitting together in a basket, illustrating a famous Hungarian idiom. The phrase originates from a folk tale involving King Matthias and a cunning dog fair in Buda.

Jeanne d'Arc (Lisa Simpson)

• Location: Fővám Square area (near the southern corner of Corvinus University, right where the Tram 2 line exits the tunnel beneath the Liberty Bridge).

• Details: After the original at Jászai Mari Square vanished, Mihály Kolodko recast and re-installed the painted bronze figure at this new location. Both locations were intentionally chosen because they sit directly along the route of Budapest's scenic No. 2 tram line. It depicts Lisa Simpson tied to a stake like Joan of Arc.

Ratatouille (Lecsó) Gastro Rat

• Location: Buda side near the Elizabeth Bridge (Apród utca / Döbrentei tér area).

• Details: A life-sized bronze rat holding a spray can and painting the word "lecsó" (ratatouille) on a stone wall. It acts as a clever crossover homage to both the Pixar film Ratatouille and traditional Hungarian vegetable stew.

Vuk, the Fox

• Location: Rudas Thermal Bath area, nestled into the rock wall of Forrásbarlang.

• Details: Depicts Vuk, the beloved mischievous fox cub from István Fekete's classic novel and cartoon. The little bronze figure is humorously shown holding onto a small bomb.

Footprint

• • Location: South Buda, near the Buda bridgehead of the Rákóczi Bridge (in the Infopark area along Neumann János utca / Magyar Tudósok Körútja, facing the MOL Campus).

  • Details: It is a multi-element sculpture featuring a hunter from the Khanty people (an indigenous Finno-Ugric ethnic group of Siberia) carrying a harvested deer on his back, perched on a small rocky base. The title "Lábnyom" (Footprint) serves as a philosophical reflection on humanity's ecological footprint, ancestral connections to nature, and the traces we leave behind in the world.

Balloon Dog (Libido)

• Location: Belgrád Embankment near the Chain Bridge.

• Details: This miniature bronze sculpture depicts a classic balloon animal dog sniffing and approaching a bone. While it serves as a surface-level homage to contemporary American artist Jeff Koons and his famous monumental balloon sculptures, the piece contains a deliberate adult subtext. Titled "Libidó," the sculpture references Jeff Koons' high-profile marriage to the Hungarian-born adult film actress and former politician Ilona Staller (Cicciolina), with whom he created the notoriously explicit Made in Heaven art series. The unusual shape of the bone features stylized, rounded ends that playfully nod to this provocative chapter of art history and the theme of desire.

Rubik's Cube

• Location: Buda embankment near Batthyány Square (overlooking Parliament).

• Details: Commemorates Ernő Rubik's world-famous Hungarian invention. Positioned perfectly across from the Parliament building, it reminds visitors that "there is always a solution".

"Nincs kompót"

• Location: Várkert Rakpart, opposite the Várkert Bazár on the Buda side.

• Details: Features a miniature pantry with a tiny working door, a chair, and an empty jam jar. It references a famous catchphrase from the 1965 Hungarian satirical film The Corporal and the Others ("The Russians are already in the pantry").

The Rabbit with the Checkered Ears

• Location: Castle Hill Funicular upper station (Szent György Square).

• Details: Features the iconic 1970s Hungarian cartoon rabbit peering out over the city through binoculars. True to the show, it watches over Budapest to help anyone in need. Probably the mini statue at the most prominent spot in the city. This one is the hardest to miss.

Dead Squirrel

• Location: Falk Miksa Street.

• Details: Portrays a tiny squirrel lying on its back next to a toy gun, mimicking a classic crime scene setup. Placed right next to the statue of Detective Columbo from the 1970s TV show.

Trabant

• Location: Slachta Margit Embankment, near Margit Bridge.

• Details: Sculpted out of limestone rather than bronze, this mini car features a wind-up key on its side. It pays homage to the iconic East German vehicle that defined an era of Central European travel.

Paddington & Masha's Bear

• Location: Medve utca (Bear Street) & Vitéz utca corner.

• Details: Installed on Christmas Eve, this piece features Paddington Bear riding on the back of the bear from the animated series Masha and the Bear. It symbolizes a playful cultural bridge between British children's literature and Eastern European animation. No wonder it was placed on Bear Street.

Skála Kópé

• Location: Nyugati Square (in front of the former Skála Metró department store).

• Details: Depicts the nostalgic 1980s commercial mascot sitting on a modern chair. To honor his famous marketing slogan ("his heart belongs to the shoppers"), Kolodko placed Skála Kópé's glowing red heart visibly on the outside of his chest.

Sad Tank

• Location: Bem Embankment (near the former Kossuth Bridge site).

• Details: A harmless, drooping-barrel toy tank commemorating the dramatic events of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

Lunar Roving Vehicle

• Location: Hold utca 12 (on a stone bollard).

• Details: Honors Hungarian-American NASA engineer Ferenc Pavlics, who designed the lightweight wheels for the Apollo lunar rovers. Fittingly placed on "Moon Street" (Hold utca). This one might be tricky to find, look near the parking spaces, there might be a car parked right next to it.

Ferenc Liszt

• Location: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.

• Details: Shows the legendary composer and pianist sitting patiently atop his vintage luggage. It was unveiled on the 200th anniversary of Liszt's birth to greet travelers at the airport named after him. It was moved from the Terminal 2A bus stop to the Skycourt in 2025.

Kermit the Frog

• Location: Liberty Square (Szabadság tér) near the parking garage entrance.

• Details: The beloved Muppets character sits quietly at the base of a green fence. Locals frequently dress him up with tiny handmade scarves during cold winter months.

Ushanka Returns

• Location: Pest Danube Embankment, near Parliament.

• Details: A follow-up piece to the destroyed Soviet winter hat sculpture, showing an ushanka hat that has sprouted scuba flippers. It humorously depicts the political symbol either crawling out of the water or escaping back into it.

"Message" (Russian Warship)

• Location: Moszkva Sétány, XIII. district (near the Árpád Bridge end).

• Details: Mounted on a large stone middle finger wearing a Ukrainian seal ring, this statue depicts a tiny Vladimir Putin inside a Russian warship. It is a stark political statement responding directly to the events of the Ukraine war. The artist was born in Uzhhorod, Ukraine.

Scuba Diver

• Location: Corner of Osvát utca and Dohány utca (outside the historic New York Café).

• Details: Depicts an old-fashioned deep-sea diver holding a massive skeleton key. It references the urban legend that writer Ferenc Molnár threw the café's front door key into the Danube so it would never have to close.

Money Blower

• Location: Corner of Hold Street and Szabadság Square (right outside the Hungarian National Bank headquarters).

• Details: This bronze miniature depicts a worker using a modern leaf blower to scatter old Hungarian pengő banknotes across the pavement. It commemorates the historic 1946 hyperinflation—the most extreme economic inflation ever recorded, when banknotes reached astronomical denominations and were worth less than the paper they were printed on—while marking the anniversary of the introduction of the Hungarian forint.

Leo and Fred

• Location: Kopaszi Dam amphitheater steps (BudaPart, overlooking the Lágymányosi Bay and the MOL Campus).

• Details: This sculpture features the main characters from the classic 1980s Hungarian non-verbal animated series: Leo, the lazy circus lion, and his trainer/best friend, Fred. The scene shows them resting next to their open trailer, paying historical homage to "Kis Konstantinápoly" (Little Constantinople), a popular 19th-century entertainment and nightlife district that once occupied the area before modern waterfront developments transformed it.

Aranka Néni and Béla Bácsi

• Location: Pasaréti Square, II. district.

• Details: Commemorates a local elderly couple who ran a beloved flower stall at the square for decades. The bronze sculpture depicts them sitting together atop a blooming concrete flower.

"In Vino Veritas" (Roman Legionary)

• Location: Aquincum Military Amphitheatre, Óbuda (III. district).

• Details: Shows a tipsy Roman soldier sitting beside an empty wine jug. Its twin statue was placed inside the Colosseum in Pula, Croatia, linking two historic Roman amphitheaters.

Draft Horses

• Location: Dreher Brewery grounds, Kőbánya (X. district).

• Details: Commissioned for the brewery's anniversary, it depicts two draft horses pulling a cart loaded with traditional beer barrels. It honors the historic delivery carts that once supplied Budapest's restaurants.

Antal Dreher

• Location: Inside the Dreher Brewery industrial complex courtyard.

• Details: Depicts the renowned brewery founder standing atop a wooden beer barrel leaning on a walking stick. It serves as a tribute to the industrial heritage of Hungarian brewing.

Hanna Szenes

• Location: Hanna Szenes Park (corner of Jósika utca and Rózsa utca).

• Details: Portrays the WWII Jewish poet and British paratrooper taking a courageous leap of faith over a limestone map of Hungary. It stands as a powerful memorial to her sacrifice and resistance.

Rezső Seress

• Location: Akácfa utca 38 (on the facade of the Kispipa Restaurant).

• Details: Honors the composer of "Gloomy Sunday" (the famous "suicide song"), who spent decades playing the piano at this very venue.

Noah's Ark

• Location: Bethlen Gábor tér (near the University of Veterinary Medicine).

• Details: A miniature ark perched on a stone pillar symbolizing animal protection and care. If you peek through its tiny windows with a phone light, you can spot a painted rainbow inside.

The Fourteen Carat Car

• Location: Rejtő Jenő utca, near the Hungarian Theatre.

• Details: A bronze car honoring pulp-fiction writer Jenő Rejtő and his famous comedic novel The Fourteen-Carat Car. It is located right near the author's birthplace.

Theodor Herzl

• Location: Dohány Street Synagogue (Tivadar Herzl Square).

• Details: Depicts the visionary father of modern political Zionism sitting on a bicycle. It marks the birthplace area of Herzl right outside the historic Jewish Quarter.

Mekk Elek

• Location: Széll Kálmán Square (near the tram stops, at the bottom of the stairs).

• Details: Features the legendary, bumbling handyman goat from classic Hungarian puppet animation. He holds a plaque in his left hand referencing "Moscow Square," the former name of the transit hub.

Winnie the Pooh

• Location: Damjanich utca 27 (facade of Frigyes Karinthy's birthplace).

• Details: Depicts the honey-loving bear reaching upward. It pays tribute to Frigyes Karinthy, who translated the classic book into Hungarian, naming the bear after his sister's nickname.

Chief Worm

• Location: Bem Quay (Halász Street tram stop).

• Details: Kolodko's very first mini-sculpture in Hungary, depicting the cheerful fishing bait character from The Great Ho-Ho Angler cartoon. He enjoys one of the best views of the Danube from the Buda embankment.

Miksa Róth

• Location: Inside the reception/ground-floor workspace of the Miksa Róth Memorial House (Nefelejcs utca 26).

• Details: A rare indoor mini-statue showing Hungary's master stained-glass and mosaic artist carefully holding a delicate glass pane. It invites visitors to explore his historic home and museum.

Harry Houdini

• Location: Inside the lobby of the K11 Cultural Center (Király utca 11).

• Details: A rare indoor sculpture dedicated to the legendary illusionist and escape artist. It commemorates Houdini's birthplace in Budapest.

Headphones

• Location: Outside Müpa Budapest (Palace of Arts) on Komor Marcell utca.

• Details: A functional piece of interactive art where a miniature bronze pair of headphones quietly plays classical music when you lean in close. It mirrors the acoustic excellence of the concert hall behind it.

Garfield

• Location: Exterior wall near the University of Veterinary Medicine.

• Details: Created to celebrate the world-famous, lazy, lasagna-loving cat's 45th birthday, this colorful, painted miniature depicts Garfield sitting on the brick structure. It is cleverly integrated directly into the university's fence alongside pre-existing architectural reliefs of other animal leads—such as dog and horse head sculptures—fitting right in among the building's official animal motifs.

Piszkos Fred (Dirty Fred the Captain)

• Location: Antall József Embankment (Pest side, near the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Chain Bridge).
• Details: Unveiled during the Christmas holidays, this miniature bronze depicts Jenő Rejtő's legendary, slippery pulp-fiction adventurer standing beside a ship's chest. Its placement right next to the prestigious Academy playfully bridges high science with popular, irreverent street culture, celebrating classic pesti humor.

Stalin's Boots / Among Us

• Location: Dózsa György út 35 (on the promenade near the new Museum of Ethnography by City Park).

• Details: This piece depicts the severed bronze boots and lower leg stumps remaining from the massive Stalin monument torn down during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Right next to the boots, Kolodko placed a tiny character from the modern video game Among Us, playfully connecting a dark piece of 20th-century history to internet culture and the theme of "imposters".

Tied-Up Chuck Norris

• Location: Megyeri Bridge (Pest side, on the pedestrian walkway near the glass "Pest" sign).

• Details: Unveiled on April Fool's Day, this sculpture depicts the legendary American action hero tied up. It is a direct nod to the famous 2006 internet naming contest for the newly built bridge, where the public overwhelmingly voted to name it the "Chuck Norris Bridge"—a plan that was legally blocked because bridges must be named after deceased Hungarian citizens.

Lucky Saint Nicholas

• Location: XVI. district, Hunyadvár utca 43/c (inside the Erzsébetligeti Theatre / Corvin Cultural House foyer).

• Details: A miniature bronze depiction of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) designed to bring good luck, tucked away inside a local cultural and community space.

Yoda

• Location: Szent Gellért Square M4 metro station (perched on the handrail right at the top of the escalators leading down to the platforms).

• Details: This bronze miniature depicts Yoda, the wise Jedi Master from Star Wars, sitting quietly in deep contemplation. Its placement inside the sleek, futuristic M4 metro station plays on the sci-fi theme, prompting even the city's transport center to humorously remark that while Luke Skywalker had to travel all the way to Dagobah to find him, commuters only need to visit Gellért Square.

Pinocchio

• Location: Pest side, near the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) / Vigadó tér embankment area.

• Details: Unveiled in July 2026 alongside the forklift and meditating rabbit statues, this miniature bronze sculpture depicts Pinocchio with a remarkably long, elongated wooden nose.

Dr. Bubó & The Nervous Rabbit

• Location: XIV. district, Hermina út (on the exterior fence of the Bethesda Children's Hospital).

• Details: Unveiled on August 10, 2026, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Bethesda Children's Hospital (in collaboration with the Zugló municipality), this pairing features two beloved characters from the classic Hungarian animated series Kérem a következőt! ("Next, Please!"). Dr. Bubó (the wise, owl-doctor) and his famously anxious, paranoid rabbit patient have "opened a clinic" right on the hospital fence. Continuing Kolodko's tradition of placing medical-themed miniatures near actual clinics (like the meerkat at the First Children's Clinic).

Photo credit: Bethesda Children's Hospital Facebook page

Statues that went missing

Part of the fun of hunting Kolodko's mini statues is that they live entirely out in the open—which also means they occasionally vanish. Whether snatched as an extreme souvenir, caught in a political scuffle, or just mysteriously walking away, a few beloved pieces are no longer on their original ledges.

Mr. Bean's Teddy Bear

• Location: Harmincad utca 6 (facade of the former British Embassy building).

• Details: Meticulously captures the knitted texture of Mr. Bean's inseparable stuffed companion in solid bronze. It adds a touch of classic British absurd humor to the formal diplomatic streetscape.

Urinal

• What happened: Originally placed on the retaining wall near Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park as a tribute to Marcel Duchamp's famous 1917 avant-garde readymade artwork Fountain. Because of its provocative and vulnerable nature, it has repeatedly fallen victim to theft or vandalism, going missing shortly after installation and seeing repeated disappearances over the years.

Ushanka

• What happened: Originally installed at Szabadság Square on a velvet pillow as a political commentary on Soviet/Russian history. A far-right politician famously destroyed it with an axe and threw it into the Danube. Kolodko humorously retaliated by replacing it with a bronze axe, and later created a follow-up installation nearby where the ushanka sprouted flippers after crawling out of the river.

The Original Jeanne d’Arc (Lisa Simpson)

• • What happened: The original mini-statue depicting Lisa Simpson as Joan of Arc was mounted on a pole near Jászai Mari Square, but it eventually disappeared due to theft or damage. Recognizing how beloved it was, Kolodko later cast a replacement copy, which is now securely placed near Fővám Square along the Tram 2 line.

 Dracula

• • What happened: Located near Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park, this miniature showed a cape-wearing vampire reading a book (a nod to Béla Lugosi and Vlad Tepes). It vanished completely, likely stolen or removed by collectors/vandals in July of 2026.

Süsü the Dragon

• • What happened: Unveiled in April 2020 on the wall of the former television headquarters at Szabadság Square, it featured actor Gyula Bodrogi inside the iconic one-headed dragon costume. It completely disappeared in January 2021 without a trace and was never replaced, leaving only an empty stone ledge behind.

 Trabant at Keleti Station

• What happened: Unveiled in February 2023 outside Keleti Railway Station as an interactive mini-Trabant with a lift-up "gull-wing" door. Like many of his high-profile street art pieces, it eventually fell victim to theft or vandalism and vanished from its post.

 Drone

• Location: Bem Embankment (Bem rakpart), near the Bem Square tram stop and Margaret Bridge.

• Details: This sleek, modern miniature sculpture depicted a surveillance drone—jokingly nicknamed "Svédcsavar" (meaning a "twist" or "curveball")—resting right on the stone wall along the Danube. Adorned with tiny crowns referencing Swedish national symbols, it served as a sharp, contemporary commentary on modern technology, surveillance, and global conflict. Unfortunately, like many of Kolodko's more provocative or exposed riverside pieces, this statue has already disappeared.

Forklift at the Occupation Monument

• Location: Szabadság Square (at the base of the controversial Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation).

• Details: Unveiled in July 2026, this miniature installation features a tiny forklift and its driver positioned right at the base of the much-debated monument. The sculpture is designed to look as though the micro-machine is actively trying to lift and haul away the massive, politically charged sculpture complex, showcasing Kolodko's trademark sharp political satire. The statue reportedly disappeared in late August of 2026.

Meditating Rabbit / Zen Rabbit

• Location: Margaret Island on the southern tip of the Pest side along the running track (near a yellow set of stairs leading down toward the water/shoreline, visible when the Danube water level is low).

• Details: Unveiled in July 2026, this miniature bronze sculpture depicts a rabbit sitting in a deeply calm, meditative "zen" state. The piece playfully nods to local history, as Margaret Island was historically known as Island of Rabbits. Local lore also links the figure to a viral news incident involving a wild rabbit that collided with an e-scooter on the island, imagining the hare has since found inner peace. Because of its position near the riverbank, it acts as a seasonal bonus piece that is easiest to spot when the Danube recedes. The statue reportedly disappeared in late August of 2026.

If you've found all of the statues in the city, and don't want the thrill of the hunt to end, there are some statues in Vác and Esztergom, which are both ideal one day trips outside of Budapest.