It’s hard to think of a long weekend in Budapest without mentioning those ever famous ruin bars. In the long span of the city’s history, these pubs are just a blip in its historic lifetime, but even in the last 15 years Budapest’s ruin bars have evolved into an attraction that is almost as popular  today as Fishermen’s Bastion or Buda Castle. They are often considered the best bars in town with probably the most affordable drink menus you can not miss whilst enjoying Budapest nightlife.

History of Ruin bars

In the early 2000s, the inner part of the 7th District was full of abandoned buildings. Once the site of the Jewish ghetto, the historic Jewish Quarter became dilapidated in the decades following World War II, after the deportation of some 10,000s Jews. In 2002, the people behind a placed called Szimpla opened up the very first venue in Kertész utca – where you still find Szimpla Café today. However, the real hit happened in 2004, when Ábel Zsendovits and his friends decided to gamble on a building complex in Kazinczy street, which marked the official start of the legendary ruin bar era the World knows so well by now.

Szimpla began as a small experiment, a bar set up in an abandoned, ran-down factory building offering affordable drinks for the creative crowd in the city. Szimpla became a bohemian hub after the crumbling building got spruced up with local design and vintage, mismatched furniture. Its chaos and eclecticism has turned into a trend and inspired and keeps inspiring an entire generation of people.

Evolution of Ruin bars

As ruin bars very quickly became an iconic part of the cityscape, people started to come to Budapest specifically to have a drink or two in these now iconic buildings. More bars popped up following the concept of the ruin bar look and feel, like the legendary Instant-Fogas Complex , which is the collaboration of the Instant and Fogas Ház. While places like Fogas Complex and Szimpla were meant to be alternative cultural hubs, they eventually changed direction to cater for party crowds, whilst places like Instant with their surreal decor spanning an entire apartment block, offered places for pure hedonism.

The look and feel

As mentioned above, ruin bars have been around since the foundation of Szimpla Kert that has been the mecca of the ruin bar era. These bars are primarily found in Budapest’s 7th District (the old Jewish quarter) and its neighbouring areas in the old ruins of abandoned buildings, factories, warehouses, stores or lots. This district was left to decay after World War II, creating a perfect place to develop an underground bar scene. (Not so underground)

From outside these bars look like normal Budapest townhouses. They don’t have large signs leading the way, you don’t hear any loud music, and there’s no queue of people outside waiting to get in. But once you walk into the inner courtyard, you find yourself in the middle of a hip, artsy, and funky place bustling with crowds chatting, dancing, and enjoying a very unique, laid-back atmosphere.

In a ruin bar you feel like you’re drinking at your local thrift store. None of the furniture matches. They are old and eclectic. You may also feel like you’re visiting your grandmother’s house. The ceilings are all designed differently. The building purposefully haven’t been renovated, there are still holes in the walls and visible pipes everywhere to keep the look and feel eclectic, authentic and full of history of the last century.

Popular as a night out in Budapest, ruin pubs also offer a range of activities during the day, with many functioning as community spaces and live music venues. Szimpla Kert holds a weekly farmer’s market on Sunday mornings, or occasionally a vintage clothes market, while Anker’t screens films and holds markets.

Drink prices in ruin pubs

You’ve probably heard urban legends about how affordable Hungary is so you might be wondering how much a pint of beer or a glass of wine costs. In Budapest, tourists can purchase both a glass of wine and a bottle of lager for less than €4 – wine can cost less than 2€, whilst a bottle of lager is around €2-3 – while cocktails, such as a Mojito or Cosmopolitan, the most expensive drinks in the city, were priced at €5 A round of ten different drinks comes to about €24 in total.

The coolest ruin pubs in central Budapest

Szimpla Kert for creative, environment friendly vibes

The opening of Szimpla Kert in 2002 was a milestone in the alternative life of Budapest. Converting an old factory into a huge open-air cinema and pub, they created a unique framework for hosting concerts, theatre shows and many different cultural events. Szimpla defines itself as a ’cultural reception space’, indicating the intention to embrace genres and performers off the mainstream, presenting them in an informal atmosphere. With constantly supporting initiatives for urban sustainability, Szimpla has been serving as an ultimate incubation house of green ideas from the very beginning, too.

The Szimpla lifestyle is brought to life by culture, creativity and constant change day by day. Everybody and anybody can make themselves at home, have a rest or have fun when visiting Szimpla in Budapest. Right from the beginning, their main mission is to shape the environment and make it more liveable and human friendly. Searching for the cultural treasures of both Hungary and the World, introducing and managing creative talents and their products as well as implementing and operating models that help sustainable development in many walks of life are all the things Szimpla lives by. 

Kazinczy u. 14, szimpla.eu –  Open 15pm-4am on Mondays until Thursdays, 12pm-4am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9am-5am on Sundays.

Instant & Fogas Complex for the biggest parties in the city

The immense club kingdom of Instant and Fogas is concentrated into 2 neighbouring buildings in 49 Akácfa street and offer inexhaustible amount of fun in all aspects on almost every single day of the year. Intant and Fogas ház used to be two separate ruin pubs, but they have recently decided to unite their forces to create the kingdom of ruin pubs in the heart of Budapest.

When looking for places to go out in the evenings or to spend the whole night somewhere a bit wild, one has to contemplate a handful of factors to make sure all needs would be fulfilled. Fortunately, you get to skip this planning-thinking-deciding phase, by having all facilities together that a party fiend might possibly desire. Instant & Fogas have 8 bars altogether to keep you fuelled until the end of your stay, but there is also a bunch of solutions to ease your hunger. For complete courses and fine treats accompanied with top quality wines and spirits you should definitely check out Liebling, but as long as you are satisfied with a small nibbles, quick grilled snacks and pizzas are also available. Just follow the delicious scent of freshly cooked food and you’ll easily find where to get them.

They also have 1,200 square meters dedicated to hosting music events from a wide range of genres separated properly from each other. While this isn’t a brand new concept for Instant or Fogas, by establishing the complex and forming new rooms the entire idea manifested on a whole new level.

Budapest VII, Akácfa u. 49-51., instant-fogas.com – Open every day 6 pm – 6 am

Mazel Tov for an upscale ruin bar experience

 This is one of Budapest’s newest ruin bars. Mazel Tov (located in the old Jewish quarter) is a community centre and restaurant serving traditional Jewish cuisine by day. At night, the courtyard is a party with DJs and live entertainment entertaining guests.  Head to Mazel Tov if you like the ruin bar concept in theory, but prefer things more upscale. This Middle Eastern restaurant inside Budapest’s buzzing Jewish Quarter does have a disintegrating facade like other ruin bars, but the inside is a different story: Cheap drinks have been upgraded to cocktails, ham & cheese sandwiches to mezze plates, self-service to hostesses, and cheap furniture to a thoughtfully designed, industrial-chic interior with sleek wood paneling.

Mazel Tov’s Israeli and other Mediterranean dishes are reliable and arrive without delay, to ensure that tables turn over quickly in this wildly popular restaurant.  Reservations are an absolute must as the place gets mobbed by people every day of the week. Instant and Fogas is next door in case you want to compare and contrast.

Akácfa u. 47, www.mazeltov.hu/en. Open every day 12:00 pm.-0:00 am.

Szatyor Bar and Cafe for the posh Buda crowed

Filled with colourful, eclectic furniture, Szatyor Bar looks like your typical ruin bar, but it’s actually different from those swarming Budapest’s party district on the other side of the Danube. This being in Buda, instead of scruffy students sipping low-priced beers, Szatyor draws an over-25 crowd where shirts and skirts outnumber hoodies and backpacks. Duck confit and sous-vide venison leg are rarely part of the ruin bar culinary repertoire, but here, you will find them alongside pricey craft beers.

This updated ruin bar is situated on the fashionable Bartók Béla Boulevard in 11th District, where middle-class Buda residents wind down in the evenings, who are more discerning drinkers and eaters than the tourist-heavy partygoers in Pest. Attached to Szatyor Bar is a classically-furnished café, Hadik, which has earned a place in Budapest’s collective memory as a legendary haunt of bohemian writers and poets in the 1920s. It shuttered after WWII, but was finally revived in 2010 after a long hiatus.

Budapest, Bartók Béla út 36, table reservation: reservours.com/szatyorbar/tablereservation/en , open Monday-Wednesday and Sunday 12 pm – 23 pm, Thursday-Saturday 12 pm – midnight

Wherever you decide to spend the night, any of these places will guarantee an unforgettable time. Ruin bars are now par t of our culture and the era they created keeps inspiring the younger generation of people to stay creative and re-create the cityscape in our beloved city.

Our city-centre hotels for visiting the Best Ruin Bars in Budapest

If you’re a night owl who’s planning to stay out late, it’s important to live close to the city centre, because nobody likes to spend a long time travelling back to the hotel once the party’s over. Choosing a downtown hotel will allow you to have a shower and get off to sleep in no time at all.

Danubius Hotels offers 5 city-centre hotels in Budapest: the Hotel Astoria City Center, Hotel Erzsébet City Center, Hotel Hungária City Center, Radisson Blu Béke Hotel and Hotel Gellért. All the hotels are fully air-conditioned and pet-friendly. Check out on a map: Best Area to Stay in Budapest for Nightlife

Hotel Astoria City Center – A four-star hotel in the heart of Budapest

Hotel Astoria is within walking distance of Gozsdu Court or Kazinczy Street, so you won’t need to worry about getting a taxi or night bus back. Astoria is within walking distance of Erzsébet Square, Gozsdu Court, Kazinczy Street and the surrounding ruin pubs.

Radisson Blu Béke Hotel – A city centre hotel near Nyugati Station

Hotel Radisson Blu offers a stylish, peaceful place to stay on the bustling Grand Boulevard. It’s a stone’s throw away from the bars on the Grand Boulevard, and very close to Kazinczy Street and the heart of the city’s nightlife area.

Hotel Hungaria City Center – A modern hotel near Keleti Station

Hotel Hungaria is next to the busiest railway station in Pest, but still close to the centre. It is situated only two stops away from the night spots and bars of District 7, and the No. 24 tram takes you directly to the Budapest Park concert venue.

Hotel Erzsébet City Center – The best choice for shopping and business travel

Hotel Erzsébet City Center is a modern hotel within easy reach of the River Danube, Deák Square or the Bálna.

Budapest is one of a kind in every season, however autumn may be the ideal one to discover the Hungarian capital! Enjoy the lovely autumn weather and the vivid colors of the hills of Buda. Experience the vibrant cultural life with so much to explore in the city: culinary and art festivals, outdoor leisure activities, sport programmes, exhibitions, concerts and much more!
Whether you plan to stay for the weekend or for a midweek break you will surely find some things why the city is worth visiting.  Here are some of our top tips for this season to make the most out of your stay.

Budapest weather in autumn

One of the biggest reasons for visiting Budapest during autumn is the weather that allows you to spend plenty of time in the city enjoying the warm rays of sunshine. While it isn’t as hot as the summer, autumn is a great time for a holiday to Budapest if you prefer fewer crowds and cooler weather that’s perfect for sightseeing.

Temperatures are usually mild and pleasant during the daytime with an average high over 20°C which comes down to 14°C by the end of October. However the weather can change very quickly in this season so you may face some rainfalls during your stay. But don’t worry about rain ruining your plans since we also gathered some indoor activities to choose from.

Top things to do in Budapest in autumn

Sightseeing in the city

Sightseeing is a perfect outdoor programme during autumn time. Budapest is full of good spots where you can take great pictures or just enjoy the view. Under the following points we have listed some of the best places you don’t want to miss this autumn.

Gellért Hill

Take a good hike to Gellért Hill, the highest but easily reachable point of Budapest!
You can start your trip at Liberty Bridge and climb all the way up to the Liberty Statue. The route will offer you varius spectacular photo opportunities where you must take a break and admire the city.

If you want to take a smaller trip you can choose the other side of the hill and climb up just a few stairs from Erzsébet bridge to reach the waterfall and the St. Gellért Statue

Városliget

Városliget (City Park) is one of the biggest parks in Budapest and since it is located in the middle of the city it is the most beloved place for locals as well.

Due to the Liget Budapest project, the whole area has been renewed to provide higher quality environment and services. They established new institutions (like the House of Music and the Museum of Ethnography) offering endless opportunities for leisure and cultural activities. You can spend hours just wandering around the park without noticing. Visit Vajdahunyad Castle, rent a boat on the boating lake, or go on a picnic!

Margaret Island

Margaret Island (Margit-sziget) is also a beautiful public park where locals spend their weekends or afternoons doing sports, relaxing, or simply enjoying the good weather.
This island is also a good option if you’re visiting the city with children because there are several playgrounds, fountains, and a small zoo where you can feed the animals.

Find out more about Margaret Island!

Upcoming events, festivals and exhibitions

Budapest Chocolate Festival

Sept 30- Oct 02, 2022

Officially known as the Sweet Days Chocolate Festival, the Budapest Chocolate Festival is a dessert connoisseur’s dream come true. While the event started out as a celebration of all things chocolate, over the years it has grown to include a variety of baked goods including cakes, donuts, and even wine and coffee. During 3 days the festival is waiting for the sweet lovers in front of the Basilica on St Stephen’s Square. The entry is free of charge.

Budapest Restaurant Week

Oct 06-16, 2022

Dining in a high class restaurant may be an expensive matter – except during the Restaurant Week! DiningCity Restaurant Week is held 2 times a year, every autumn and spring, when many top restaurants in Budapest and in the countryside of Hungary offer a 3-course exclusive menu for a uniform-fixed price. This autumn Restaurant Week will last 11 day: from 6th until 16 of October.
The participant restaurants offer their menus for only 4,900 HUF (appr. €13), premium menus for 6,900 HUF (appr. €18) and exclusive menus for 9,900 HUF (appr. €25). (Bookings can only be made through DiningCity Restaurant Week website.)

Check out Zsolnay Café’s 3-course menus and reserve your table for free!

Sport events

Budapest Marathon

Oct 8-9, 2022

The 37th SPAR Budapest Marathon is part of a 2-day festival all about running. Participate in the running-sightseeing tour of the beautiful Budapest!
The course runs through the heart of city by the banks of Danubie, crosses several bridges and passes the most famous sites of the city like the Statue of Liberty, Buda Castle and Margaret Island.

You are not an experienced runner? Do not worry! You can choose from shorter distances as well (ranging from 400 m to 42 km), or you can complete the run in a team of 2 or 4! Challange yourself and take part in the running festival.

UEFA Nations League

Sept 21-27, 2022

The 2022–23 UEFA Nations League is the third season of the UEFA Nations League, an international association football competition involving the men’s national teams of the 55 member associations of UEFA.
The 2nd part of the league phase is held in September when the League A will compete for the Qualification for Nations League Finals held in June 2023 to determine the champions of the competition.

Matchdays 5&6 are going to be very important matchdays for Hungary since our national team managed to compete in the League A and could secure place in the UEFA Nations League finals June 2023.

• 23rd September: Hungary vs. Germany
• 26th September: Hungary vs. Italy

The two significant matches will take place at Puskás Arena.

World Press Photo Exhibition Budapest

Date: Sept 23 – Oct 30, 2022 – Hungarian National Museum Budapest

World Press Photo Exhibition is one of the most well-known photo exhibition on its world-wide tour showcasing the stories that matter with photography from the 65th annual World Press Photo contest. The winners were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 64,820 photographs entered by 4,066 photographers from 130 countries.

Visiting hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 10.00 -18.00
Friday – Saturday: 10.00 – 20.00

Henri Matisse – The Colour of Ideas Exhibition

Until Oct 16, 2022 – Museum of Fine Arts Budapest

Visitors are invited on a chronological journey through Matisse’s almost sixty-year-long oeuvre, which can be described as a series of renewals.
The exhibition is based on the masterpieces of the Centre Pompidou (Paris) and it is the first show featuring Henri Matisse’s art in Hungary.
Visitors can admire a selection of more than 150 pieces of the artist’s most important works throught his Fauve period all the way to his late gouache paper cut-outs.
The exhibition catalogue contains studies by foreign and Hungarian authors as well as a selection from Matisse’s writings.

Art Market Budapest

Date: Oct 6-9, 2022 – Bálna Budapest

Art Market Budapest is an internation contemporary art fair and exhibition that raises awareness of Central and Eastern European art and artists. It is also a unique art platform, which provides thought-provoking new impulses for both the European and the global art scene.

Art Market Budapest will be held at Bálna Budapest where visitors can not only spectate exhibitions but also participate in events, programs and workshops.

The INSIDE ART – International Art Industry Conference is also held among the Art Market this year where the focus is on Serbia and the serbian contemporary arts. Moreover Art Market Budapest is also honored to host MOST.SERBIA Festival with the main goal of the event is to make the treasures of Serbian culture and the cultural cooperation between Hungary and Serbia palpable for the public.

You can enjoy the first day of the fair (October 6) for free and buy you tickets for the following dates.

City breaks in Budapest

Plan your perfect autumn break to Budapest and find great accommodation at any area at reasonable price in one of our centrally located hotels in Budapest! Check out our special Budapest city break offers.

Recommended hotels in the city center

If you like to experience the real metropolitan buzz of the city we recommend you to stay at Danubius Hotel Astoria City Center or Danubius Hotel Erzsébet City Center.

Both of them are situated in the middle of bustling District 5, just a few minutes away from the  prime attractions like the Hungarian National Museum, the Great Synagogue (the largest in Europe), Great Market Hall, Váci utca (Budapest’s iconic shopping street), and also the Danube. These two hotels have a very different style: while Hotel Astoria has its own legendary and historical character, Hotel Erzsébet is a smaller, atmospheric hotel.

If you want to spend a more relaxing holiday, choose Danubius Hotel Helia, our wellness hotel that offers you a wide range of fitness and spa services. This hotel is located just 15 minutes away from the city centre, next to the beautiful bank of the Danube.

Are you visiting Budapest for a concert or conference? Danubius Hotel Arena is the nearest option for you to stay right in the neighbourhoods of Papp László Budapest Sports Arena, Puskás Ferenc Stadium and the BOK Sports and Conference Centre.

And last, but not least you can stay at Hotel Hungaria City Center which is an ideal base both for tourists and business visitors. The hotel is located next to Keleti railway station from where you can reach Budapest’s main attractions by taking the metro M2 and M4.

20th of August is always a very special celebration in Hungary. Think of it as huge summer closing party which has been extremely precious for the locals for thousands of years.  It’s one of our oldest national holidays, when we celebrate the foundation of our state, the state’s founder Saint Stephen, and the “festival of new bread”. It’s not only a national holiday, but also a state occasion, so numerous official events also take place on this day. The swearing-in of new military officers, water and air shows, ceremonial speeches and the spectacular firework show are all among the traditional programmes; but more recently, a number of other festivals have come to be associated with this red-letter day.

What do we celebrate on 20th August?

The 20^th of August: Saint Stephen’s day, when we commemorate the foundation of the Christian Hungarian state more than a thousand years ago. During his reign, Stephen I declared 15th August the Day of Our Lady. It was on this day that he offered up the country to the Virgin Mary, and it was also on this day in 1038 that the king himself died. The date of the celebration was moved to August 20th by the king Saint Ladislaus, because on this day in 1083, with the blessing of Pope Gregory VII, the relics of Stephen I – the Holy Crown and the Holy Right Hand – were raised to the altar in the Basilica at Székesfehérvár, an act that was equivalent to canonisation.

From the reign of King Louis the Great onwards, 20th August continued to be observed as a religious festival. But later, when Pope Benedict XIV reduced the number of church celebrations in 1771, Saint Stephen’s day was left out of the liturgical calendar. Later, Maria Theresa ordered the reinstatement of Saint Stephen’s day, and even had it added to the calendars as a national holiday. After the crushing of the 1848 revolution, 20th August was not allowed to be held as a national celebration for a long time, as Saint Stephen was a symbol of the independent Hungarian state. After the 1867 Compromise, the day regained its former special status, and in 1891 it was declared a public holiday. It remained a national day until 1945, when it was abolished, although continued to be publicly celebrated as a religious festival until 1947. The communist regime did not officially recognise the religious and national associations of the occasion, so it was renamed the “festival of new bread”. Between 1949 and 1989 it was celebrated as Constitution Day. After 1989, the old traditions were revived, the procession of the Holy Right Hand was held again, and Saint Stephen’s Day became an official state celebration of the Republic of Hungary.

Official programmes of 20th August 2022

The official state celebrations start in Kossuth Square in the morning, culminating in a spectacular water and air show. The afternoon is given over to joyful family programmes and the ceremonial holy mass and procession at the Basilica, while the highlight of the evening (literally) is the fireworks display.

8:00 – 9:00 am Kossuth Square ceremony

9:00 – 10.00 am Hungarian Military Air Parade over the Danube – Lower and upper quays in Pest and Buda

10.00 – 18:00 pm Viewing of the Holy Crown in the Parliament Building

17:00 – 18.00 pm Festive Mass and Procession of the Holy Right in St. Stephen’s Basilica

21:30 pm  „The game of fire and lights” – Fireworks and light parade over the Danube (in the lower and upper quays in Pest and Buda)

Festival programmes on 20th August in Budapest

Although this year Saint Stephen’s day falls on a Saturday, we can celebrate Hungary’s birthday during 4 days between 18 and 21 August.

There are countless colourful and exciting family programmes, culinary and musical festival events to choose between. The festive programme series are held in various venues of the city and the participation is free of charge at every event (however some events may require previous registration).

Here are some of the main events you must visit during the festive days:

Street of Hungarian flavours in Várkert Bazár

August 19th – August 21st

Held alongside the Saint Stephen’s Day celebrations of 20th August, the Street of Hungarian Flavours is sure to be one of the most popular gastronomic events of the year. This free food festival is where this year’s National Cake and the Saint Stephen’s Day bread will be presented, and countless culinary treats from every region of the country and the Carpathian Basin will be on show: fish soup from Baja, mutton stew from Karcag, a cornucopia of excellent handcrafted products, ginger-spiced sausage, a selection of pálinka (schnapps) varieties, Hungarian fish specialities, craft beers, traditional stuffed cabbage from Szatmár County.

The event showcases the diverse gastronomic culture of the Carpathian Basin, exclusively from vendors who make their products from high-quality, local ingredients. A good many traditional small farmers and numerous traditional food producers will also be represented here, selling a variety of treats such as jams, fruit juices, craft beers, meat products and cheeses.

It is also here that the new National Cake of Hungary debuts every year! In 2022, the title was awarded to “Huncut szilva herceg” (Prince Naughty Plum), created by pastry chef Orsolya Karikó of the Vanília & Gelaro Handcraft Confectionary in Nagykőrös.

The main characters of the country’s cake are the red wine of Eger and our favourite Hungarian fruit, plums. The caramelized chocolate-cinnamon crunchy layer, the spiced plum chocolate mousse and the cranberry-plum jelly with red wine create a harmonious flavors for the cake.

This year, László Gyuris from Szeged’s Virág Confectionary and Café won the Sugar-free cake of the Year competition with his creation called “Nagyi kedvence” (Grandma’s Favorite).

The cake has several delicious layers including raspberry, mascarpone mousse and white chocolate pistachio crunch. One slice contains 11,9 grams of carbohydrates and 233,8 calories only, therefore it is an excellent choice for people with diabetes, as well as for people trying to be conscious of the ingredients in their food.

The cakes will be available for tasting at hundreds of pastry shops all over the country from August 19.

Festival of Folk Arts in Buda Castle

August 19th – August 21st

Hungary’s greatest folk art event, will take place in the Buda Castle District of Budapest for the 36th time this year from August 19th through August 21th.

Every year, the Festival of Folk Arts workshops – where masters present special craft tricks and practices – draw a great deal of interest during the St Stephen’s Day celebration series.
Visitors are able to observe unique knowledge rooted in centuries of generational experience, immense humility and love. During the event, tradesmen move their workshops to the Buda Castle so that whoever would like to can try their hands at the many crafts.

These four days are indeed a celebration of masters and crafts, a borderless event that is the most significant meeting place for masters living in Hungary and abroad. The Festival is famous not only for its dance and music programmes, introductions of craftsmen, but for the folk market, where visitors can buy handcrafted products during the whole time of the event.

Csárda Festival

August 18th – August 21st

The gastronomic adventures start on 18th of August at Vörösmarty square.
In the Csárda Festival visitors can sample delicious food from the Carpathian Basin, watch folk dance shows, listen to lively folk music and experience the classical Hungarian traditions.

Street Music Festival and Food Truck Show

August 19th -August 21st

If you like to listen to music of all kinds and taste the best street food of the city, the Szabadság square will be the perfect place for you.

Promenade of Cities

August 19th -August 21st

For 3 days you can visit the Promenade of Cities – a remarkable installation of hundreds of flags next to the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Learn more about the history and traditions of Hungary with each flag that tells us a little about the town they represent.

Where will I get a good view of the 20th August fireworks?We say Hilton!

That’s a very important question! The quays on the banks of the River Danube are always full of huge crowds, so it’s better to find a spot further away with an magnificent view of the river. For the perfect experience, you need to go to the Hilton Budapest. There are still rooms with panoramic views of the Danube available, so you’ll be in the perfect place to enjoy the time of your life during the holiday weekend, within easy reach of all the programmes in the Castle. Book a room for a fascinating overnight stay at elegant Hilton Budapest.

Experience the firework display next to the Fisherman’s Bastion!

Avoid the crowds in town, celebrate at Hilton Budapest on 20th August!

The LÁNG Bistro & Grill is located right next to the Fisherman’s Bastion right across from the Parliament Building. From there you can admire the amazing fireworks of the year from a truly exclusive location. Enjoy a festive dinner at LÁNG Bistro & Grill and watch the fireworks from the Hilton Budapest’s outdoor venue, the Babits Promenade!

Programme price: 30.800 HUF / person – which includes special buffet dinner, unlimited sparkling wine, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee and 10% service charge.
The event runs from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Book your table online.

August is one of the favourite times of the year to visit Budapest. Long summer days followed by even longer summer nights cooled down by a gentle breeze that is trying to remind us of the approaching autumn. Budapest is blooming and celebrating life to its absolute best. Budapest is one of a kind. A love affair. A never ending date night with the best tunes, food and the fruitiest wine. Let the city show you its kindest, most lovable side: it’s unforgettable August.

August weather in Budapest

Budapest weather in August is extremely enjoyable with high temperatures lasting throughout the month and into September. There might be a chance of rain, but showers tend to be light and fast, so it won’t get in the way of your holiday.

August has an average temperature of 21°C with highs of 27°C – however, regularly staying in the 30’s in recent years. You can expect cooler weather at night when winds help to bring temperatures down to a comfortable level so make sure you always have an extra layer of clothes with you. Great news that you’ll have 13 hours of sunshine each day and humidity levels remain low, although there can be some cloud coverage towards the end of the month and on rainy days.

Budapest enjoys a continental climate which means the region gets cool weather in the winter and quite a lot of annual rainfall. Thunderstorms are more common in the summer because the rainfall is heavier and rising temperatures seem to fuel the storms. However, strong winds and heavy downpours can be avoided with a visit to the museum or a shopping spree in the local shopping centre.

What to wear in August

As briefly mentioned above you need to have enough breathable clothing for the Hungarian summer. If you choose to do a lot of walking, pack comfortable walking shoes and a small water bottle that you can carry around. Don’t forget to apply a generous amount of sunscreen as the Sun can get burning during the hot summer days. Most importantly pack your swimsuits for your day at one of the thermal pools or the sensational outdoor lidos either on Margaret Island or other parts of the city. However, since raining is not uncommon, carry waterproof jackets or at least an umbrella. Because Hungarian weather is mainly consistent, but can come with surprises, we would recommend to check the weather forecast before you start packing.

Get more tips for The best itinerary for 3 days in Budapest.

Cheap flights to Budapest in August

All major airlines fly to Budapest on daily, but at least on weekly basis. You can catch the best deals on Google Flights by looking and booking 2-3 months before you’d like to travel.

City breaks in Budapest

Budapest is perfect for a city break in August and all year round. Whether you plan to stay for the weekend or for a midweek break, you will find great accommodation at any area at reasonable price in one of our centrally located hotels in Budapest. Choose one our hotels for an unforgettable Budapest city break.

Our favourite reasons to visit Budapest in August

1. Chill out at the best outdoor pools in Budapest

Budapest lies on the geological fault separating the Buda Hills from the flat Great Plain, and more than 30,000 cubic metres of warm to scalding (21°C to 76°C) mineral water gush forth daily from some 123 thermal and more than 400 mineral springs. As a result, the city is a major spa centre and ‘taking the waters’ at one of the city’s many spas or combination spa–swimming pool complexes is a real Budapest experience.

Palatinus

Located on Margaret Island, in a beautiful setting, Palatinus water park is a popular place in the summer, especially during the weekends. There are 11 pools, including two thermal pools, two children’s pools and two swimming pools, among others.
Location: Margaret Island, District 13
Opening hours: Summer only, open from May to September (weather permitting), 9 am to 8 pm daily

Római

Római, or the Roman, outdoor pool is located in the oldest part of Budapest. Archeological finds from the area date back to the Roman times, thus the name. Római houses three pools, including a swimming pool and a children’s pool.
Address: Rozgonyi Piroska utca 2
Location: Óbuda, District 3
Opening hours: Summer only, open from May to September (weather permitting), 9 am to 8 pm daily

Paskál

Built in 1989, Paskál is one of the youngest open-air pools in Budapest. There are two pools, one of them is a children’s pool.
Address: Egressy út 178/F
Location: Pest, District 14
Opening hours: Summer only, open from May to September (weather permitting), 9 am to 8 pm daily

Aquaworld

Aquaworld Budapest is a large indoor water park, open all year around. It has 17 pools, including a swimming pool, a wave pool and a surf pool, besides 11 slides. There is a separate area for small children with pools and playhouses. In the summer there are additional outdoor facilities on a fully landscaped beach area.
Address: Ives út 16
Location: Pest, District 4
Openig hours: year-round, 6 am to 10 pm daily

Dagály

The history of Dagály Baths dates back to the 1940’s, when the first pool was built. Since the 1970’s Dagály Bath gets its water supply from the same thermal spring as Széchenyi Baths, elevating its status to a thermal bath. There are ten pools, including two swimming pools, a thermal pool, a wave pool and a children’s pool.
Address: Népfürdő utca 36
Location: Pest, District 13
Opening hours: year-round, 6 am to 8 pm daily

2. Enjoy World famous Summer Festivals

August is all about outdoors and celebrations. The Best Budapest Summer Festivals are awaiting you with World-class music, food and drinks.

3. Sziget Festival – 7-13th August

The famous Sziget Festival, Hungary’s most popular summer music festival to date is held every August in Northern Budapest on Óbudai-sziget (“Old Buda Island”), a leafy 108-hectare (266-acre) island on the Danube.
The week-long festival has grown from a relatively low-profile student event in 1993 to one of the prominent European rock festivals, with about half of all visitors coming from outside Hungary, especially from Western Europe. In addition to music, the festival offers a plethora of other activities including cinema, dance, theatre, tattooing, Internet access, volleyball, tennis, football, indoor rowing, rock climbing, bungee jumping and a life-sized foosball. The island is located in the city of Budapest allowing trips to the city centre during the day.

In 2011, Sziget was ranked one of the 5 best festivals in Europe by The Independent. The festival is a two-time winner at the European Festivals Awards in the category Best Major European Festival, in 2011 and 2014.

You can choose from endless choices of daily tickets and passes from simple tickets (€75) to Citizen (€289) and Moving-in passes.

4. Festival of Folk Arts in Buda Castle – 17-20th August

Every year, the Festival of Folk Arts workshops – where masters present special craft tricks and practices – draw a great deal of interest during the St Stephen’s Day celebration series. Visitors are able to observe unique knowledge rooted in centuries of generational experience, immense humility and love. During the event, tradesmen move their workshops to the Buda Castle so that whoever would like to can try their hands at the many crafts. These four days are indeed a celebration of masters and crafts, a borderless event that is the most significant meeting place for masters living in Hungary and abroad. It is truly a festival of crafts!

5. Bath party series in Szechenyi Bath – all month

While California dreaming comes with pool parties, Budapest nightlife takes this to another level: taking advantage of its natural features the city turns the thermal baths into the best party venues. Whilst reforming our thousand years old bathing culture, the aim with the combination of Hungarian bathing and party-culture is to create a unique musical and visual world that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Szechenyi bath parties are held in the hot summer months, late at night after the official closing hours from 10:30pm to 3:00am.
What should you wear? A stylish fashion show piece with stiletto, a dancing queen dress, or should you just be bare naked? No, all you have to bring along is nice swimwear, whatever that may be: bikini is just as good as a one piece, besides speedos, long trunks, surf style swim shorts are all welcome. A towel would be very useful, too.
Beers, wines, cocktails, juices and more can be bought on site with your special waterproof party card: there is no cash payment, but you can top up your Party Card with cash or card. The Party Card has a string attached so you can keep it safe with you in the water (around the neck or arm).
On top of the regular Sparties, the spectacular Cinetrip Pool Party is on twice a year: the first one is in August, around the Sziget Festival date, (the other one is normally on 30th December pre-NYE Party). These parties are awesome. No wonder Cinetrip editions are always the greatest hits of the summer season, as they are even more spectacular than the regular weekly bath parties with their own fireworks show.

Buying your party tickets online includes a locker (or a private cabin in the bonus tickets), too. You can book your ticket in advance here.

6. Need for speed? You’ll love F1 Hungarian Grand Prix – 2-4th August

The Hungaroring Circuit was built in 1985, located a few kilometres north-east of the Hungarian capital. The track is in a huge 110 hectare natural valley making the views as spectacular as the racing.
With the exceptional natural advantage of being situated in a natural amphitheatre, almost 70 percent of the racetrack is visible from any point and this makes the circuit a fan favourite.

A favourite with the drivers and teams for the excellent facilities, the circuit has also cemented itself as a fan favourite too. Located so close to a major city, there is no shortage of accommodation, restaurants, entertainment and tourist attractions.
The Hungaroring Circuit meets the highest technical requirements and is regarded to be one of the safest race tracks in the world, while still playing host to exciting racing.

7. Celebrate Hungary’s birthday on St Stephen’s Day – 20th August

August 20th is the greatest national holiday for Hungarians, celebrated with day-long festivities followed by spectacular fireworks throughout the country. August 20th commemorates the foundation of the Hungarian state, it’s like Hungary’s 4th of July. Also called St. Stephen’s Day, remembering Stephen I, the first king of Hungary and founder of the Kingdom of Hungary, who was canonised on August 20th, 1083 by Pope Gregory VII.

Festivities usually start already on 18th August with the spectacular fireworks closing the holiday on 20th. A series of state ceremonies launch the holiday programs in the morning on 20th August to commemorate the Foundation of the Hungarian State.
The main venues of the state programs are held in Kossuth Square in front of the Hungarian Parliament, and in Heroes’ Square. Besides the state celebrations, a wide range of other programs welcome visitors both in the morning and in the afternoon ensuring a wonderful time for the whole family.

Read more on 20th August Fireworks and family events in Budapest.

8. Where will you get the best view of the fireworks?

Views from both Buda Castle and the Danube River bank are spectacular. If you want to reserve your seat in the first raw we recommend staying in one of our amazing hotels and let us spoil you for a special weekend.

Hilton Budapest

The Hilton Budapest is one of the Hungarian capital’s most iconic hotels, and staying here is a matchless and unforgettable experience – on top of which the view of the fireworks will take your breath away. It’s no coincidence that the guest book is filled with the signatures of heads of state, international film stars and celebrities. In the heart of the Buda Castle District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the luxurious hotel offers its guests breathtaking panoramic views of the Danube both from their rooms and from their tables in the stylish LÁNG Bistro & Grill.
The building of the Hilton Budapest, a member of the famous Hilton chain of hotels, is a unique feat of architectural bravado: a modern hotel interior melded with elements of the 13th-century Dominican monastery that once stood here. The historic Dominican Courtyard is a popular venue for open-air events, concerts, receptions and weddings.
The magic continues as you step outside the hotel. With its cobbled streets in the shadow of Buda Castle, Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion, this is an area of Budapest that will steal your heart forever…

Hotel Gellért

The Art Nouveau style Danubius Hotel Gellért first opened its doors in 1918, and has long been an iconic Budapest landmark that has even featured in Hollywood films. Its stately building, at the foot of the Gellért hill, also houses the world-famous Gellért Baths, which include an outdoor pool with the original wave-generating device installed in 1927.

Over the years, some famous names have stayed at the Gellért – including American presidents and European royalty – and the hotel retains the elegant atmosphere of a bygone age. Guests can enjoy superb cuisine at the Panoráma Restaurant or Gellért Brasserie, and take advantage of wellness treatments and medical programmes at the adjacent Gellért Baths. Furthermore, the hotel is the perfect base for exploring, located next to one of Budapest’s most beautiful bridges and a short walk from Pest’s Great Market Hall and shopping streets.

Budapest in August is hot and extremely busy. From celebrations to summer festivals, there is something to do for everyone. If you enjoy burning sunshine, good music, late nights and lidos, Budapest is all you need.

Cheat sheet

How to exchange currency

Most places accept credit and debit cards, including restaurants, bars, shops and taxis. Street vendors or small shops may insist on cash only. The national currency is Hungarian Forint (HUF), which you can  easily exchange from any currency at bureaux de change. However, there are huge differences between the rates offered by money changers. The worst rates tend to be offered at the airport, railway stations and in banks. The best policy is to exchange currency in a larger bureau such as Northline or Correct Change. Avoid people in the streets offering better rates than the licensed bureaux, as they are most likely out to scam you.

Getting Around Budapest in August

Most of Budapest’s inner city and historic districts are best to explore by foot. There are pedestrian precincts in downtown Pest and traffic is restricted on Castle Hill, so walking is probably the best way to get around. Great news, however, that the city is very well connected by public transportation, too. Budapest has a fast and efficient metro system as well as many trams, trollies and buses. Outer suburbs are served by the local suburban railway called HÉV.

There are two separate categories of transport, divided based on time. The daytime transport is available from 04:30 AM to 11:50 PM and the night transport is available from 11:50 PM to 4:30 AM. To make getting around the city easier, there are many travel cards you can pick from including a 24-hour travelcard, a 72-hour travelcard and even a 7-day travelcard.

Read more about Getting around Budapest.

What to avoid

Budapest has its own higher crime areas, however the city is relatively safe at night compered to another capitals. Thefts and pickpocketing could be quite common in certain parts of town, so always keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy places, like bars, trams and buses. Avoid poorly lit streets and stay close to your friends if you are tired or had a couple of drinks. If you are the victim of a crime, or if you see an incident, call 112 and tell to the operator that you need help. The main squares and streets in the downtown area are under CCTV surveillance.

If you are excited about visiting Budapest in August then see more here: 3 days in Budapest itinerary.

Whether you’re soaking it up in the famous thermal spas around the city, bar crawling through the ever-popular ruins pubs or admiring the city from above – no one could deny that Budapest is a city everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
This is especially true for fun seekers and party lovers as summer festivals in Budapest are definitely bucket-list worthy.  During the hot summer months, the city is filled with amazing music festivals, summer festivals, cultural and art events that will keep just about everyone happy. Let’s whizz through the upcoming events to see what’s Budapest Summer Festivals holding for you in 2019.

Summer weather in Budapest

Summer in Budapest lasts for about 3.5 months. The climatic conditions during summer resemble those of the Mediterranean environment which makes the country a great tourist destination. The city sees lots of daylight averaging 9 to 11 hours every day with temperatures hovering around 25°C.
Summer (May, June, July, and August) is a favourite time to tour the city. Though it may sometimes get considerably hot during the day, the city gets crowded as most tourists come to see the brimming World Heritage Sites and enjoy summer festivals. Weather conditions are pleasant for more fun due to longer days and night walking in the warm evenings.

Music Festivals

Sziget Festival – 7-13th August

Venue: Budapest, Óbudai-sziget

The famous Sziget Festival, Hungary’s most popular summer music festival to date is held every August in Northern Budapest on Óbudai-sziget (“Old Buda Island”), a leafy 108-hectare (266-acre) island on the Danube.
The week-long festival has grown from a relatively low-profile student event in 1993 to one of the prominent European rock festivals, with about half of all visitors coming from outside Hungary, especially from Western Europe. It also has a dedicated “party train” service with resident DJs that transports festival-goers from all over Europe. By 1997, total attendance surpassed the 250,000 mark, reaching an all-time peak in 2016 with 496,000 visitors from 95 countries (the daily capacity having been raised to 90,000).
It is now being increasingly labelled as a European alternative to the Burning Man festival due to its unique features (“an electronically amplified, warped amusement park that has nothing to do with reality”).
In 2011, Sziget was ranked one of the 5 best festivals in Europe by The Independent. The festival is a two-time winner at the European Festivals Awards in the category Best Major European Festival, in 2011 and 2014.
In addition to music, the festival offers a plethora of other activities including cinema, dance, theatre, tattooing, Internet access, volleyball, tennis, football, indoor rowing, rock climbing, bungee jumping and a life-sized foosball.
The island is located in the city of Budapest allowing trips to the city centre during the day.

You can choose from endless choices of daily tickets and passes from simple tickets (€75) to Citizen (€289) and Moving-in passes.

Summer Bath Parties – 7-13th August

Venue: Szechenyi Bath

While California dreaming comes with pool parties, Budapest nightlife takes this to another level: taking advantage of its natural features the city turns the thermal baths into the best party venues. Whilst reforming our thousand years old bathing culture, the aim with the combination of Hungarian bathing and party-culture is to create a unique musical and visual world that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Szechenyi bath parties are held in the hot summer months, late at night after the official closing hours from 10:30pm to 3:00am.
What should you wear? A stylish fashion show piece with stiletto, a dancing queen dress, or should you just be bare naked?
No, all you have to bring along is nice swimwear, whatever that may be: bikini is just as good as a one piece, besides speedos, long trunks, surf style swim shorts are all welcome. A towel would be very useful, too.
Beers, wines, cocktails, juices and more can be bought on site with your special waterproof party card: there is no cash payment, but you can top up your Party Card with cash or card. The Party Card has a string attached so you can keep it safe with you in the water (around the neck or arm).

On top of the regular Sparties, the spectacular Cinetrip Pool Party is on twice a year: the first one is in August, around the Sziget Festival date, (the other one is normally on 30th December pre-NYE Party). These parties are awesome. No wonder Cinetrip editions are always the greatest hits of the summer season, as they are even more spectacular than the regular weekly bath parties with their own fireworks show.
Buying your party tickets online includes a locker (or a private cabin in the bonus tickets), too.

Cultural and Art Festivals

St Stephen’s Day

Venue: All around Budapest and the country

August 20th is the greatest national holiday for Hungarians, celebrated with day-long festivities followed by spectacular fireworks throughout the country. August 20th commemorates the foundation of the Hungarian state, it’s like Hungary’s 4th of July. Also called St. Stephen’s Day, remembering Stephen I, the first king of Hungary and founder of the Kingdom of Hungary, who was canonised on August 20th, 1083 by Pope Gregory VII.

Festivities usually start already on 18th August with the spectacular fireworks closing the holiday on 20th.

A series of state ceremonies launch the holiday programs in the morning on 20th August to commemorate the Foundation of the Hungarian State.
The main venues of the state programs are held in Kossuth Square in front of the Hungarian Parliament, and in Heroes’ Square.
Besides the state celebrations, a wide range of other programs welcome visitors both in the morning and in the afternoon ensuring a wonderful time for the whole family.
The celebration starts with the raising of the Hungarian flag on Kossuth Square in the morning.

Street of Hungarian Flavours

A Gastro Promenade on the Danube Bank in Buda, between Várkert Bazaar – a beautiful, refurbished series of buildings built at the end of the 19th century – and  Döbrentei Square in Buda (north of Chain Bridge). Visit the Street of Hungarian Flavours (Magyar Ízek Utcája) to taste traditional Hungarian food and drinks as part of the St Stephen’s Day celebration series.

Cake of the Country

Each year a special cake is prepared to celebrate our country’s foundation. Prior to St Stephen’s Day the National Guild of Hungarian Confectioners selects the best recipe submitted by confectioners from all over Hungary which is then announced during the celebration.
You can first taste it – along with the healthy version torte during these couple of days celebrating St Stephen’s Day.
Following the event all major confectioneries all over the country will offer the cake for a full year.

The 20th August Fireworks and family events in Budapest is a great experience for everyone who’s after a fun day.

Festival of Folk Arts – 17-20th August

Venue: Buda Castle

Every year, the Festival of Folk Arts workshops – where masters present special craft tricks and practices – draw a great deal of interest during the St Stephen’s Day celebration series. Visitors are able to observe unique knowledge rooted in centuries of generational experience, immense humility and love. During the event, tradesmen move their workshops to the Buda Castle so that whoever would like to can try their hands at the many crafts. These four days are indeed a celebration of masters and crafts, a borderless event that is the most significant meeting place for masters living in Hungary and abroad. It is truly a festival of crafts!

Jewish Summer Festival

The Jewish Summer Festival started 17 years ago with the purpose of introducing the Jewish culture and heritage. Over the years it grew bigger and bigger, now people come here from all over the World to experience the traditions and the unique vibe of the Jewish Quarter.
One of the three main event sites is the Dohány Street Synagogue where the biggest concerts are held. Among the performers you can find the Budapest Klezmer Band – a world famous group of musicians that plays traditional Jewish music, The Dohány Symphonic Orchestra, The Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and so on. The second one is the Rumbach Street Synagogue that is hosting modern jazz, blues-rock jazz concerts and the Independent Theatre, performing Caligula’s Eparch.
The third venue is Goldmark Hall, where the Independent Theatre also performs the Fourth Gate and the Dohány Street Sheriff amongst others. These plays are strongly connected to the Jewish traditions and destiny.
This festival offers a great insight to this vast culture and community, it introduces wonderful artists, actors with almost thirty different programmes and performances, in the beautiful centre of Budapest.

The Night of the Museums – 23rd June 2019, 2020

Have a sleepover with history; spend the night in Budapest’s museums and find out if museums really do come to life after hours. Museums open their doors to visitors until 2:30 am for this annual event.
Participating museums include famous museums and galleries, like the Hungarian National Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Budapest History Museum, the House of Terror Museum, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Hungarian Natural History Museum.
Unique museums with quirky collections are also on the list, such as the Hospital in the Rock Museum, the Underground Railway Museum, the Museum of Electrotechnics, the Postal Museum and the Museum of Transport.
There are more than 1,000 programs offered, all of which can be visited with one single ticket; including bus transfer between main venues.
Admission: Armbands cost HUF 1,500 (cca. €5) for adults and HUF 600 (cca. €2) for children (ages 6-18, free entry for kids under 6) and are valid from 6:00 pm until 2 am on the dedicated days each year. Armband includes free transfer between venues on the ‘Museum Bus’, as well as usage of the public transport system from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am. Get your armband at the museum of your choice and explore some of the collections at over 100 museums and galleries in Budapest. For more info and a complete list of participating museums visit the official website.

Budapest PRIDE – 3-12th July

Budapest Pride is the biggest annual LGBT event in Hungary. Smaller than most Western Prides, the main Budapest Pride march is more of a political demonstration. You can also celebrate the month of Pride with film festivals, exhibitions, picnics, concerts and parties, all in this beautiful and romantic city. The entire Budapest Pride Festival lasts over a month, so plan your schedule accordingly and don’t miss out on all the fun.
The march of Budapest Pride proceeds though the main street of Andrássy Avenue (between the City Park and Elizabeth Square). Following the colourful parade people can enjoy an alfresco Rainbow Party in the eclectic Budapest Park.
Hosted by Funhouse, the extravagant Rainbow Party welcomes top DJs and live performers, creating a truly fun and enjoyable ambiance. All of this is wrapped up with an impressive fireworks show.
While Budapest may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of Pride destinations in Europe, its annual celebrations certainly puts on a lively show which enables the local LGBTQ community to embrace their pride in significant proportions.

Vajdahunyad Castle Summer Festival – 2nd July – 3rd August

Venue: City Park – Vajdahunyad Castle

The Vajdahunyadvár Summer Festival is a festival of classical music, swing, klezmer as well as traditional Hungarian gypsy music. The courtyard of Vajdahunyad Castle, built in Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, provides a beautiful and romantic background for this annual event.
Performances are usually scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays and start at 8:30 pm.

Sport Festivals

Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix

Venue: Hungaroring, Mogyorod

The Hungaroring Circuit was built in 1985, located a few kilometres north-east of the Hungarian capital. Under the impetus of Bernie Ecclestone, who wanted an Eastern European venue for the F1 Championship, the construction took only 8 months. The track is in a huge 110 hectare natural valley making the views as spectacular as the racing.
With the exceptional natural advantage of being situated in a natural amphitheatre, almost 70 percent of the racetrack is visible from any point and this makes the circuit a fan favourite.
The constantly improving circuit, with its excellent infrastructure, meets the strictest requirements for F1 racing. It is praised by the FOM and FIA and it is a popular venue for testing, with the summer F1 testing taking place here.
The Hungaroring Circuit meets the highest technical requirements and is regarded to be one of the safest race tracks in the world, while still playing host to exciting racing.
A favourite with the drivers and teams for the excellent facilities, the circuit has also cemented itself as a fan favourite too. Located so close to a major city, there is no shortage of accommodation, restaurants, entertainment and tourist attractions.

Whatever sets your soul on fire this summer, Budapest will get you covered. From dancing in the moonlight on a hot summer night to getting your heart rate up with speedy race cars, Hungary has the best of the best summer can offer.

The world focusses on Budapest from 5 to 22 April 2019, when the Budapest Spring Festival, the largest cultural event in Hungary, takes place in 23 venues all over town. Culture lovers will enjoy around 100 exciting events in more than 20 categories.

This year’s Budapest Spring Festival is already celebrating its 39th birthday! The Budapest Spring Festival was created in 1980 with the honourable intentions of using high-quality productions to stimulate the Hungarian capital’s spring tourism. The initiative was so successful that the series of events won the 2005 European Cultural Award. Famous artists, and also amateurs, consider it an honour and distinction to perform at this prestigious, all-encompassing arts festival. At the beginning of the year, many culture lovers in Hungary as well as increasing numbers of tourists hungry for cultural entertainment when visiting Hungary, eagerly await the details of the Budapest Spring Festival. It’s a good idea to check out the programme and reserve tickets in advance as the majority of productions sell out in minutes. Particularly good news this year is that the festival partially overlaps Easter and spring break, allowing attendees to spend an extended holiday weekend in Budapest with quality entertainment.

The festival’s special allure is further heightened by its inclusion of not only the greatest Hungarian performers, but also big international stars.  Joseph Calleja, Jordi Savall, the Theater Basel Ballet company, Ferenc Snétberger, Jurij Basmet and the Moscow Soloists, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, Eric Whitacre, Ji, Kristjan Randalu with saxophone legend David Liebman, Judith Hill, GoGo Penguin, and Goda Gábor and the Artus are just a few of the many performers at the 18-day all-arts festival.

A much anticipated event each year, the Budapest Spring Festival holds pleasurable moments for devotees of all branches of the arts, offering free family programmes that will draw even the youngest concert-goers effortlessly and playfully into the enjoyment of music and dance.

What’s the Budapest Spring Festival 2019 all about?

Nowadays, the BSF doesn’t only present the world-class stars of Hungarian culture to a curious audience, the stages of Budapest attract cutting edge artists from the international cultural world, and, in a similar cultural mission, the BSF provides a space to introduce young talent, too.

If you haven’t already got your tickets, click on the Budapest Spring Festival’s official website, where you can find out all the information about ticket purchase.

https://www.facebook.com/BudapestiTavasziFesztival/videos/10155545397292849/

Festival Locations

As in previous years, events in 2019 will take place in multiple locations, the festival’s distinguished programme sites include Müpa Budapest, the Music Academy, Erkel Theatre, Uránia National Cinema, Vigadó Concert Hall, the Castle Garden Bazaar (Várkert Bazár), the Budapest Music Center, Akvárium Klub, and A38, among other of Budapest’s many theatres, cultural institutions, and museums.

The dozen or so locations include several of particular interest, such as Terminal 1 of Ferenc Liszt International Airport, which will host a concert by Kristóf Baráti (violinist) and the Kodály Philharmonic of Debrecen.  Also of note are the festival’s Bauhaus walking tours, which offer a sampling of some of the tastier morsels from Budapest’s architectural heritage.

For a complete listing of locations and programmes, consult the Budapest Spring Festival website. 

Spotlighted Themes from This Year’s Budapest Spring Festival: Liszt and Russian Culture

Every year, Budapest Spring Festival programmes are constructed around a number of specific themes. One such theme that returns year after year, the art of Franz Liszt, will again be occupying a key position in 2019.  On 11 April, Kirill Gerstein, Zsolt Hamar, and the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Liszt’s Faust Symphony; Klára Kolonits and Bálint Zsoldos will enchant audiences with a selection of the composer’s songs at the Budapest Music Centre concert hall; and the Stuttgart Philharmonia Choir will also offer a special Liszt concert of its own.  On 16 April the Symphonic Orchestra of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music accompanied by pianist Fülöp Ránki will perform Liszt’s Orpheus and Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major

Each spring, the festival programme additionally spotlights the art of a particular country:  in 2019, this honour will fall to the great art and artists of Russia, with Russian classics, contemporaries, and living legends bringing Russian music and fine arts closer to enthusiastic audiences in the Hungarian capital.  Events in this vein will include Mussogorsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, reworked for saxophone and piano, Tschaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and a number of Prokofiev compositions, in addition to Budapest Art Week’s exhibition of some of the most exciting works of contemporary Russian fine art.

Special Appearances and Global Stars at the Budapest Spring Festival

Visitors to the 39th Budapest Spring Festival will find no shortage of international attractions to occupy their attention.  The impressive reconstructed interiors of the Museum of Fine Arts, for example, are certainly worthy of up-close inspection, while an exhibition dedicated to the sketch art of Italian Renaissance genius Michelangelo also promises to draw large crowds to Budapest’s Square of the Heroes.

Also arriving in Hungary will be Malta’s star tenor Joseph Calleja, along with the excellent guitarist Ferenc Snétberger, who, drawing inspiration from flamenco, jazz, Romani, and classical music, will perform on the stage of the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall.

The young, but extravagant South Korean piano virtuoso Ji, whose been on the rise ever since becoming – at just ten years old – the youngest ever winner of the New York Philharmonic’s young artists competition, will be performing Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations.

Another concert centred on Bach will feature Balázs Szokolay and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra with their complete performance of the composer’s solo concertos for harpsichord:  seven works and six movements in total.

Popularising choral music in Budapest will be one of the most popular musicians of our day, the Grammy Award winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre, whose compositions are performed by hundreds of amateur and professional choirs, and whose global virtual choir project has drawn collaborators from 110 countries.  Accordingly, the composer’s 12 April concert at the Academy of Music promises to be truly special event.

Debut acts in Budapest this year will include the astounding voice of Japanese-American soul singer and Prince protégé Judith Hill, while visitors to A38 will be treated to a new album of material by the specially talented Austrian composer/singer Anja Plaschg, stage name Soap&Skin, whose music infuses classical music with elements of electropop.  Also premiering a brand new album will be Wigama Lekko, the brand new formation of Róbert Hrutka and Dániel Viktor Nagy, while at the Béla Bartók International Concert Hall, the Manchester trio GoGo Penguin will demonstrate the unmistakeable sounds of their own special rock-jazz-electronic fusion.

Lovers of dance, too, may begin the countdown to spring, as festival treats for them include a performance of the full-length ballet Tevye by the Theater Basel Ballet, the premier of A szél kapuja [The Wind’s Gate] by Artus, led by the emblematic Hungarian dance figure Gábor Goda, and – in yet another premier – an appearance by Rita Góbi, internationally successful member of Hungary’s younger generation of dancer-choreographers.

An unmissable event on the festival’s colourful palette is PONT Festival at Castle Garden Bazaar, known for its presentation of traditions, customs, dances, and tastes from UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.  PONT events this year will focus on the treasures of the Balkans, including an open air costumed carnival parade on 12 April, and – to make a visit to the Castle Garden Bazaar really worthwhile – on 13-14 April, an entire array of free family programmes and concerts.  Among them, Vilmos Gryllus’s spring greeting songs, the interactive musical storytelling by Hangoló, and a variety of drum, dance, and handicrafts workshops, folktales, and films hold entertainment possibilities for every member of the family.

Spring Festival Ticket Sales

• Online Tickets
• at the Müpa ticket office: 1095 Budapest, Komor Marcell utca 1.; Telephone: +36 1 555 3300, +36 1 555 3301; e-mail: jegypenztar@mupa.hu; Hours: daily from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., on performance days until the first intermission;
• The publicity service of the  Budapest Festival and Tourist Centre: 1052 Budapest, Bárczy István utca 1–3.; Telephone: +36 1 269 0470; e-mail: jegy@fesztivalvaros.hu; Hours: Monday 12:00 – 6:00 p.m., Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., closed weekends; closed 28 February for technical reasons.

Budapest Accommodations

The best way to enjoy both the wonderful atmosphere of spring, and the quality cultural programmes of the Budapest Spring Festival is to spend a few days relaxing and sightseeing in the city.  For this, the Danubius hotels in Budapest, one on either bank of the Danube and a third on dazzlingly beautiful Margaret Island, are a high-comfort option.

As the Christmas fairy-tale is now over all the festive magic has gone back to storage boxes until next December. But the Hungarian capital will never slow down: January is an excellent time to visit for real winter lovers, foodies with serious cravings, instagrammers searching for the next big thing and everyone who loves a bit of chill (out).

Reasons to visit Budapest in January

We have numerous reasons that will get you inspired for your stay. Whether you’re not convinced yet or you’ve already booked your trip, this list will give you all the essentials you need to know before you leave for your adventure.  From all the fun winter can offer to cafes,  restaurants, museums and spas Budapest has endless reasons for you to stay and never want to leave again.

All the winter fun

The most instagrammable winter view

Hungary is geographically blessed with 4 seasons and winter is one of the most wonderful ones. Although January is the coldest month of the year, it is also the snowiest one: snow up to 15 inches on a single day has occurred in the past. The famous city landscape gets a winter wonderland takeover with crisp snow covering the roofs over the city and the thin layers of ice mirroring the bridges on the frozen surface of the Danube. If you thought Charles Bridge in Prague was the real deal, forget it – we guarantee you won’t find a more instagrammable place during January than the Hungarian capital.

If you’d like to find the most beautiful places in the city, don’t go any further. We have listed them all for you here.

Winter sale

In January people usually hold back their spendings, however Budapest is a great place to save some extra budget for. The Winter Sale is on until the end of January so you are down for a treat with a favourable exchange rate and lots of generous discounts. Budapest has several shopping centres, so you can hide away from the cold and plan a whole day indoors with great shopping, excellent food, cinema or bowling. We have collected all the details about the best shopping centres in Budapest in our previous article about 10 unique reasons to visit Budapest in December.

Sledging and snowball fights

Sledging and good old snowball fights are one of the most entertaining activities with friends or family during the colder winter months. Budapest is blessed with many surrounding hills and green areas that remain untouched when it snows…for a very little while. Those locations will very quickly become the new playground of rosy-cheeked children ever so excitedly pugging their next snow weapon joined in by their parents in an epic snow fight.

Normafa

For the best sledging experience head to Buda and explore the gorgeous hilly area of Normafa. The snow is stuck here easier due to higher altitude so the fun is always guaranteed. Normafa being a popular sledging destination, is usually very busy at the weekends. To avoid the crowd choose a weekday for your visit and stop by Anna-ret where the hill provides an excellent sliding experience.

Gellert Hill by the end of Rezeda street

Another popular destination chosen by people from the area. With a perfect steepness and a long sledging track it is perfect with little ones as well.

City Park – Kiraly Domb (Royal Rise)

Easily accessible by bus this rise in the park is located in the city centre and provides great conditions for an unforgettable experience. We love it because of its many slopes with different steepness and it is suitable for both adults and children. The downside is that parking is free only on Saturdays and Sundays.

The best ice rinks in Europe

Until winter lasts Budapest is always a go to destination for ice-skaters. Wherever you stay in the city you’ll find a great ice rink nearby where you can slide, glide or perform your favourite stunts!

Müpa Ice Rink

A great ice rink right by the Palace of Arts on the Pest side where you can do laps while listening to the two channels of Müpa Radio, Easy and Symphony. The onsite bar serves great mulled wine and hot chocolate to warm you up whilst a whole tent of cultural attractions awaits you after your skating session. The rink is open until 27^th January.

Csepel Ice Corridor

Csepel is a suburban area that is rarely visited by tourists as it’s fairly outside of the city centre (Budapest’s 21st district to be exact which can be accessed by suburban train (HÉV) from Boráros tér). With the coolest ice rink in the city the Csepel Ice Corridor is well worth the travel for a fun winter experience. The rink welcomes all levels, whilst the ice corridor is suitable for racing and showing off your Tonya Harding skills. The onsite wooden huts serve hot drinks and cinnamon-scented nibbles. What a treat!

City Park Ice Rink

City Park Ice Rink has a unique proposition offering Europe’s largest outdoor ice rink to everyone who’s up for some skating fun. Located in Budapest’s City Park and enhanced by the beauty of Vajdahunyad Castle this place is a real gem. Skate in a historic setting on 15,000 square meters of artificial ice whilst admiring the surrounding historic monuments. You can rent skates on site together with Bobby the Seal to make sliding less of a hard work. The opening hours can vary depending on the weather so always check the opening times here.

The best museums and exhibitions to visit this January

The newly renovated Museum of Fine Arts

After a long 3-year renovation the stunning Museum of Fine Arts has reopened with a stellar collection on show. New exhibition halls, one of which is dedicated to da Vinci, have been created, the Roman Hall that was closed for 7 years has reopened its doors and Hungarian paintings from the National Gallery arrived to bring real masterpieces into the famous collection.

Address: Dózsa György út 41.

The Invisible Exhibition

This permanent exhibition is a unique journey, guided by a blind or partially sighted person, giving an unforgettable insight into their lives. The idea of the Invisible exhibition came from a German man who wanted to experience how his blind wife lives. The tour lasts for 1 hour in total darkness, in 7 different rooms where all you can rely on is your senses: touching, hearing and smelling.

The rooms represent our daily life: street, where you have to cross the road; a bar, where you try to pay for a drink or a museum with statues.

Address: Kis Rókus u. 16-20.

Bacon, Freud and The School of London

In collaboration with Tate Britain, a National Gallery exhibition brings The School of London to Budapest for the first time. This exhibition works with art from post-war artists from the same social circle who were pursuing different forms of figurative painting as opposed to avant-garde styles. Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff are the highlights.

Address: Szent György tér 2.

The Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition

In the newly renovated Museum of Fine Arts Leonardo da Vinci has a special  place with the dedicated Michelangelo room on the first floor. The exhibition hall has 10 original Leonardo drawings and the famous bronze statue that was the subject of decade-long debates, but now commonly acknowledged to be a creation of da Vinci himself.

Address: Dózsa György út 41.

Wellness and recreation

Hungary is famous for its thermal water and spa culture that the country inherited from the times it was part of the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire. Thermal water is high in calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen carbonate and is best to ease joint pain and arthritis and improve blood circulation.

Szechenyi Thermal Bath

Housed in a neo-Baroque palace in Budapest’s City Park, Széchenyi Thermal Bath is Europe’s largest thermal bath complex. Built in 1913, the spa is home to 15 indoor pools and three huge outdoor pools of different temperatures – which you explore even during the cold winter months. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs with average temperature of 74°C and 77°C. It is open year-round, and you might catch some of the locals play chess on floating boards at the edge of the pool come rain, sunshine or even snow.

The baths can be reached by public transport, metro line 1 (yellow line) from Vörösmarty square. (It is also a station of the yellow M1 (Millennium Underground) line of the Budapest Metro) or the trolleybus 72. From downtown, the bath is a few hundred metres beyond Heroes’ Square.

Gellert Spa

Gellert Spa is located in the historic Hotel Gellert where the bath offers a wide range of healing treatments such as gentle and stronger massage, thai massage, sauna, steam rooms, pedicure, and several outdoor and indoor swimming and thermal pools of various sizes, an outdoor wave pool and hot tubs. The hotel guests can purchase tickets to the spa for half price.

The bath complex was built between 1912 and 1918 in the Art Nouveau style but was damaged during World War II. References to healing waters in this location are found from as early as the 13th century. A hospital was also located on this site during the Middle Ages, then during the reign of the Ottoman Empire baths were also built on this particular site. The “magical healing spring” was used by the Turkish during the 16th and 17th centuries. The bath was called Sárosfürdő (“muddy” bath), because the mineral mud settled at the bottom of pools.

The Gellert Baths were originally separated for ladies and men. From 2013 January, all the pools are mixed, so at last people can enjoy every section together, although it still has the two different parts.

Király Baths

Király Bath or Király fürdő was first built in Hungary in the second half of the sixteenth century, during the time of Ottoman rule.

It still retains many of the key elements of a Turkish bath, exemplified by its Turkish dome and octagonal pool. Király Thermal Bath had no direct hot water base, nor has it any today. The Turks built the Bath far from the springs to ensure the opportunity for bathing even in the case of an eventual siege, within the walls of the castle. Its water was supplied at that time, and is being supplied now, from the surroundings of the current Lukács Bath. Kiraly Baths have 4 pools on site. You can take a virtual tour of the spa here.

“Sparty” like there’s no tomorrow

While California dreaming comes with pool parties, Budapest nightlife takes this to another level: taking advantage of its natural features the city turns the thermal baths into the best party venues. Whilst reforming our thousand years old bathing culture, the aim with the combination of Hungarian bathing and party-culture is to create a unique musical and visual world that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Weather in January

The good news is that Budapest is slightly warmer than other Eastern European destinations, with an overall average temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degree Celsius), but it is still frigidly cold throughout January. Please don’t let this scare you away as the city has been designed for the different seasons so you’ll find lots of indoor activities, quality indoor shopping, hot thermal spas, not to mention that queues will be shorter everywhere.

What to pack

A very warm jacket, a chunky scarf, a hat and some warm gloves are crucial besides making sure you wear plenty of layers. You’ll move around a lot spending time outdoors and it may be freezing on the streets and you always want to keep warm. However, in museums and cafes you will want to lose some layers and feel nice and cosy. Your packing list should include your essentials for winter conditions:

• Long sleeve jumpers
• A very warm coat
• Hat or beanie with a warm scarf
• Gloves
• Warm shoes or boots

Budapest is an ideal urban destination all year round catering for all weather conditions or any occasions. Winter brings snow and crisp, frosty mornings with a slower pace of life. Visit Budapest in January if you’re ready to get lost in pure beauty, enjoy fun outdoor activities and breathe in real culture.

The Earth is in trouble. We hear, see, say and feel it with increasing frequency: our planet and our environment are in great danger. It’s very clear that we must pay more attention to our natural resources, protect our green environment and take action day in, day out against over-consumption in the interests of sustainability and environmental protection. There are many ways and opportunities in our day-to-day lives to make responsible choices, to make smart decisions and to show our commitment to the Earth through our actions.  The stakes couldn’t be greater: ensuring that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren can enjoy the natural treasures of this beautiful planet, stopping the threat posed by climate change, and slowing down global warming…
Earth Hour is one such opportunity. Did you know that with just a bit of attention you can do something for the Earth every day?
We’ve collected a few simple but highly effective green methods that you can apply every day, and we’ll also tell you what Danubius Goes Green stands for.

Earth Hour
Since 2006, on the evening of the last Saturday of every March, non-essential lighting is switched off all over the globe for one hour and all electrical devices are unplugged. Sixty minutes are devoted to the Earth in numerous countries around the world, with cities and homes going dark, decorative lighting switched off, and the importance of conscious environmental protection is highlighted through various exciting challenges.

History of Earth Hour
Earth Hour was launched in 2006 in Sydney at the initiation of WWF Australia, by switching off the city’s lights. From a local initiative, the event has grown to become a worldwide movement mobilising more than one billion people over the past 11 years.
In 2017, Earth Hour was celebrated in 178 countries, and the Earth Hour logo symbolising the 60 minutes was supplemented with a ‘plus’ sign, encouraging everyone to go beyond the 60 minutes and think of their environment on all other days of the year, as our lives are surrounded by excessive and often unnecessary energy use.

The message of Earth Hour 2018
In addition to the 60-minute symbolic lights-out, on 24 March 2018 the initiative will also call attention to natural values, communicating the message: “Connect2Earth”. The symbol embodying this message is one of the most well-known representations of connecting today: the Wi-Fi symbol.

This year, Earth Hour focuses on preserving our planet’s biodiversity, as well as on ensuring we notice and protect our own environment, and that we contribute to its healthy functioning. Be it forests or rivers, seas or water habitats, it is of the utmost importance for us humans that these habitats are preserved in their natural state, safeguarding the rich flora and fauna that are continuously threatened by grave dangers.

Switch off and Connect2Earth – in Hungary too!

With the involvement of WWF Hungary, we have been participating in this worldwide initiative for 10 years, since 2008.  In recent years, the programme’s Hungarian host has linked special attractions and exciting initiatives to the international green event held annually at the end of March. In 2013, as part of a large-scale candle collection promotion, a 5-metre high giant wax candle provided light for the 60 minutes of darkness. In 2015, as part of the Great Greenification Project, volunteers cleaned public areas, while in 2016, in addition to turning off the lights, participants undertook resolutions to plant trees, clean water, compost, hold meat-free days or become car-free.
In 2018, we can say yes to even more challenges:

• Switch off! Take part in Earth Hour: switch off the lights and ask your friends to do the same.
• Protect the forests! Undertake not to print anything for a week and only use your documents online.
• Drink smartly! Undertake not to buy any PET bottled products for an entire week, drinking only tap water instead.

12+1 tips that will help you protect the Earth

1. Don’t use plastic bags.
2. Drive less.
3. Plant trees.
4. Don’t throw food away.
5. Collect waste selectively.
6. With each meat-free day, you can reduce the Earth’s carbon footprint.
7. Drink tea instead of PET bottled waters and soft drinks.
8. Take a shower instead of a bath.
9. Don’t have the heating on if your window’s open.
10. Use water-saving perlators on your taps.
11. Use natural cleaning agents instead of chemical detergents.
12. Buy local.

+1. Be environmentally conscious even when staying at a hotel.

Danubius Goes Green

For Danubius, besides preserving traditions, one of our key values is protecting the environment. Danubius does not just exploit natural treasures (thermal water, mud, gas, green environment), but also provides for their replenishment. Establishing a sustainable, responsible, environmentally-friendly GREEN hotel culture is no longer a matter for debate – it has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, and indeed, we also involve our guests in these efforts:

• 3-in-1 BATHROOM: In order to reduce the volume of waste from single-use soap, shampoo and shower gel packaging, more and more of our hotel rooms come equipped with liquid soap dispensers.
• TOWEL CHANGES: Many tons of towels are washed unnecessarily every day around the world. Guests at our hotels have the opportunity to do something against environmental pollution. A towel thrown on the floor clearly indicates that the guest would like to have it replaced, but if they wish to go on using it, they can simply hang it back on the rack.
• WASTE: More and more of our hotels apply selective waste collection, which is why we also ask our guests to help us in this endeavour. We ask that glass and plastic waste and newspapers be deposited separately next to the waste bin in the room, in order for these to be subsequently placed in the appropriate selective containers.
• ELECTRICITY: Our guests can use the multifunctional key-card received at check-in to power lamps, the air conditioner and the television. Please don’t forget to turn off the lights when leaving your room!
• AIR CONDITIONING: Most of our rooms are air-conditioned. Our guests can turn on the air conditioning and set the desired temperature by inserting the key-cards into the key-card slot next to the door.

Earth Hour at Danubius Hotels

For Earth Hour on 24 March, our hotels again have the opportunity to prove Danubius’ commitment to environmental protection. The hotels have numerous initiatives planned for Earth Hour. On Saturday between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, the hotels’ reception and lobby area will go dark, with restaurant guests offered dinner by candlelight. Other hotel activities are a testament to the creativity of our staff: in the wellness hotels, guests can relax at the bath areas by candlelight; at  Hilton Budapest, guests are served muffins with a small candle as decoration, and there will even be some flaming drink specialities that can be purchased at the bar. By writing their name, city and country on the globe placed in the lobby, hotel guests can symbolically join this worldwide initiative. At the restaurant of Danubius Hotel Helia, patrons can dine by the light of special floating candles and will also be treated to a glass of the house wine. Reflecting our commitment to nature and what it has to offer, our buffet selection includes artisanal cheeses and organic ingredients.

As the three-year remodelling project at Museum of Fine Arts draws to its close and the November grand opening approaches, visitors to the institution are invited to take advantage of a very special opportunity:  from 15 March through Easter, the museum will be reopening its Romanesque Hall, a sight that has been off limits to the public since it was closed during the time of our grandparents and great-grandparents in 1945.  It is a destination well worth including in your spring plans, perhaps in combination with a sight-seeing tour of the capital over the long weekend or Easter holidays.

The Museum of Fine Arts’ Romanesque Hall is a room of unparalleled beauty, the most richly decorated in the museum.  Designed in imitation of a Romanesque church interior, the hall boasts a total floor space of 900 square metres and the atmosphere of a medieval basilica.

According to the museum press release, the project included the restoration of 2500 square metres of wall surface, a monumental task that provided work to 70 restoration experts and required 5 ½ kg of gold, 100 kg of variously coloured pigments, and 1500 litres of preserving agents and fixatives.

Prior to restoration, the Romanesque Hall was used as a store room, holding a portion of the paintings belonging to the Old Masters’ Gallery, along with the collection’s numerous plaster casts. Indeed, up to the time renovations began, great stacks of works crowded the once magnificent room. The plaster casts in particular speak of an age past: during the early 20th century, life-sized replicas of the world’s great art treasures were produced in copious numbers, so that people could view them without the need of travelling. As a result, the hall came to house such curiosities as an enormous Paduan equestrian statue, a replica of the main portal of the cathedral of Freiburg, and various other curiosities.

A Few Highlights from the Museum’s History:

The Museum of Fine Arts is a national collection, its history is closely linked to that of art collecting in Hungary in general. Unlike the large public collections of more fortunate nations, which derived their core material from the works amassed by monarchs over the course of centuries, the Budapest museum owes its existence to the activity of the Hungarian nobility. The 1896 decree on which the museum was founded brought the collections of a number of Hungarian nobles and clerics together within the walls of a new neo-Renaissance and neo-Classical building designed by Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog and constructed between 1900 and 1906.  Of the collections in question, the most significant was that of the Esterházy family, which the Hungarian state purchased in 1870 and 1871, and which formed the core material for the so-called Országos Képtár, the Museum of Fine Arts’ immediate predecessor. Drawings and paintings from the Esterházy collection include works by DaVinci, Raffaello, Correggio, Rembrandt, and Tiepolo, several hundred Dutch and Flemish paintings, and an appreciable body of paintings by major Spanish painters, such as Ribera, Murillo, and Goya.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest first opened its doors on 1 December 1906 in the presence of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Interest in collecting the art of classical antiquity commenced in 1908 with the purchase of a body of statues from the collection of Paul Arndt in Munich.

After more than three years of reconstruction work, the Museum of Fine Arts will reopen in November of this year.

Beyond the renovation of the museum building itself, the institution will also – thanks to its reunification with the Hungarian National Gallery – introduce an entirely new exhibition concept, complete with freshly developed permanent exhibitions. The public will gain access both to the made-over institution, and its new public displays in two stages: the ground-floor areas and the renovated Romanesque wing will open in October of this year, and the new permanent exhibitions in mid-2019.

Important information on the free viewing of the Romanesque Hall

Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts’ renovated Romanesque Hall will be free daily from 10:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m. (with final entry at 5:00 p.m.) from 15 March until 2 April.  Visitors will be admitted in order of arrival, with no appointments or advance booking available (even for groups).

Tips for making your visit to the Romanesque Hall even more enjoyable:

• Visit the legendary Gundel Restaurant and sample some of their specialities!
• Book accommodations in Budapest city centre and discover the beautiful sights of the Hungarian capital!

The world focusses on Budapest from 30 March to 22 April 2018, when the Budapest Spring Festival, the largest cultural event in Hungary, takes place in 23 venues all over town. Culture lovers will enjoy around 100 exciting events in more than 20 categories.

This year’s Budapest Spring Festival is already celebrating its 38th birthday! The Budapest Spring Festival was created in 1980 with the honourable intentions of using high-quality productions to stimulate the Hungarian capital’s spring tourism. The initiative was so successful that the series of events won the 2005 European Cultural Award. Famous artists, and also amateurs, consider it an honour and distinction to perform at this prestigious, all-encompassing arts festival. At the beginning of the year, many culture lovers in Hungary as well as increasing numbers of tourists hungry for cultural entertainment when visiting Hungary, eagerly await the details of the Budapest Spring Festival. It’s a good idea to check out the programme and reserve tickets in advance as the majority of productions sell out in minutes.

What’s the Budapest Spring Festival 2018 all about?

Nowadays, the BSF doesn’t only present the world-class stars of Hungarian culture to a curious audience, the stages of Budapest attract cutting edge artists from the international cultural world, and, in a similar cultural mission, the BSF provides a space to introduce young talent, too.

This year’s colourful spring collection – following a theme akin to the now well-established traditions – includes classical music, opera, popular music, jazz and world music, dance, theatre and photographic exhibitions. What’s more, during the festival, Budapest’s galleries and museums organise a series of events under the title; Budapest Art Week – Everything that’s Fine Art. Renowned soloists display their knowledge of their pianos or stringed instruments, while symphony orchestras and distinguished opera and theatre companies come, bringing their thrilling new performances. Fans of jazz will enjoy the taste treats of many musicians presenting their new albums, moreover the Hungarian Jazz Celebration 2018 offers some special delicacies.

If you haven’t already got your tickets, click on the Budapest Spring Festival’s official website, where you can find out all the information about ticket purchase.

Venues

Budapest’s most prestigious, best-known concert venues are all taking part in this year’s BSF: the Palace of Arts, the Academy of Music, the Old Music Academy, the Erkel Theatre and the Pest Music Hall to name but a few. Other excellent venues include the Budapest Jazz Club, the A38 Music Boat, the Budapest Music Centre, the Aquarium Club, the Trafó Contemporary Arts Centre and the Castle Garden Bazaar. Leafing through the comprehensive, bulging festival programme booklet reveals more stand-out names: the Inner City Saint Michael’s Church, the Hungarian National Museum, the József Katona Theatre and the Uránia National Film Theatre.

Performers

It’s a hard task to pick out one or two musicians or an orchestra from the outstanding collection of artists appearing at the BSF 2018. However, fans of Hungarian popular music will not doubt be delighted to attend concerts such as the ‘Ákos 50’ concert, Hobó’s ‘Visionaries, Poets & Vagabonds’ show, or KATIKOVÁCS Symphonic Live. The names Kodály, Bartók and Liszt appear often in the programme listings, but fans can also expect moments of intense pleasure and musical delight from Bernstein, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Danube Artist Ensemble. Notable soloists are coming from all corners of the planet, if we want to mention some of the names, please stand up Yefim Bronfman (piano), Cosima Soulez-Larivière (violin), Anneke Boeke (flute), Danyiil Trifonov (piano), Maxim Vengerov (violin), Gergely Ittzés (flute), Lucie Horsch (recorder) and also the Hungarian opera soprano Andrea Rost. Jazz buffs will be enchanted by The Bad Plus, Chapelier Fou, the Grandbrothers and Tale of Us.

For a detailed programme with videos, please look at the www.btf.hu web page.

Accommodation in  Budapest during the BSF 2018

Check out all the tempting offers from the Danubius Budapest hotels ! We offer discount room packages and high quality hospitality at numerous hotels located all over Budapest. This spring, you can be sure of finding a hotel close to the venues of the cultural festival.