Overview & visitor information
A mixture of Hungarian and international folk, world music and modern dance is on offer at this huge event. Held over 10 days, it occurs from mid-June in Vorosmartyter and on Margaret Island.
Festival
Danube Folklore Carnival
A mixture of Hungarian and international folk, world music and modern dance is on offer at this huge event. Held over 10 days, it occurs from mid-June in Vorosmartyter and on Margaret Island.
City guide
More festivals in Budapest
Keep exploring Budapest.
budapestNew Year’s Day Concert
Activity
Held usually in the Duna Palota, this event takes place annually to celebrate the New Year.
budapestInternational Circus Festival
Activity
A biennial event; held under the big top of the Municipal Great Circus in late January.
budapestOpera Ball
Activity
A very prestigious event that is held in the third week of February at the Hungarian State Opera House.
budapestBudapest Spring Festival
Activity
Cramming in over 200 events, this is the capital’s largest and most important festival which truly expresses Hungarian culture. It takes place over two weeks in late March/early April.
budapestBudapest Fringe Festival
Activity
A kind of sideshow to the Spring Festival, this event is held in Millennium Park and other venues around the city. It is a three day festival and showcases non-mainstream theatre, music and dance performances.
budapestNational Dance House Festival
Activity
The biggest tanchaz (folk music and dance) in the country; this festival spans two days in early April at the Buda Concert Hall plus other venues.
budapestBudapest Farewell Festival
Activity
One of Budapest’s most unusual festivals, this citywide ‘Budapesti Bucsu’ has concerts, folklore shows, street theatre and even a carnival to entertain people. The festival is an occasion that heralds the departure of Soviet troops from Hungarian soil on 19th June 1991.
budapestBridge Festival
Activity
Another festival of music and dance, this event is a one-day affair that is held on bridges and by the river with street theatres offsetting all the music shows. Held on or around the 21st of June, the festival marks the start of summer.
budapestMuseum Night
Activity
To mark the summer solstice, two dozen museums across the city re-open their doors at 6pm, not closing until the early dawn (usually)
budapestFerencvaros Festival
Activity
Held in the city’s district IX from mid-June to early July, the local groups perform music and dance in the streets.
More places in Budapest
Keep exploring Budapest.
budapestWhat to do with Children in Tow
Activity
One of the great things about Budapest is that it has an abundance of playgrounds, theme parks and roller-skating parks. One of the best theme parks is Varosliget (City Park) which has an abundance of activities to entertain children: playgrounds, the city zoo, a circus and a fairground. The Szechenyi Baths are well-liked by the older children, especially the whirlpool, and there is also rowing in the summer and ice-skating in the winter (Nov-Mar, Mon-Fri 9am to 1pm and 4-8pm, Sat and Sun 10am-2pm, 4-8pm, depending on weather). Another highlight is the caves underneath the city which are good fun as long as your child isn’t scared of the dark. There are two notable cave formations here such as the ones under the Varhegy, Buda Castle Labyrinth (Budavari Labirintus, daily 9:30am-7:30pm, 1500Ft;) and the Szemlolgyi Caves at Pusztaszeri ut 35 (tours hourly Mon & Wed-Sun 10am-4pm; 1250Ft) which have stunning formations.
budapest
budapestFisherman’s Bastion
Building
The Fisherman’s Bastion is a medieval looking stronghold that offers impressive views of the city, fitting as it was built as a viewing platform in 1905. The name comes from a medieval guild of fishermen who were responsible for defending that part of the wall. The seven white turrets represent the Magyar tribes that first entered the Carpathian Basin in the late 9th century. In front of the bastion is a statue to St Stephen.
budapestCitadella
Fortress
A fortress that never saw battle, it was erected by the Hasburgs after the 1848-49 War of Independence just in case of further rebellion. However by the time it was ready, the political climate had cooled and the citadella was of no use. Today it contains some of the city’s artillery, the Bunker Waxworks (466 5794, times 9am-7pm, price 1200Ft) and a rather rundown hostel/hotel. However if you walk north along it you’ll come to a lookout that is the best in the city.
budapestLiberty Monument
monument
A 14m statue of a lady with the palm frond, she symbolises freedom throughout Budapest. Erected in 1947 in tribute to the Soviet forces that died liberating the city at the end World War II, she can be found east of the citadella.
budapestChain Bridge
Bridge
If you can walk across only one of the city’s three bridges that join Buda and Pest together, then make it this one. The city’s oldest and probably the most beautiful bridge, it is named in honour of the man who designed it, Lstvan Szechenyi. When it opened in 1849, it was unique for two reasons: it was at the time, the city’s only dry link between Buda and Pest and the city’s aristocracy who had been previously exempt from taxation, had to pay a toll!
budapestAquincum Museum
Museum
Purposely built on the western edge of an ancient Roman civilian settlement, this museum offers extensive exhibits on Roman life in Budapest. There is a vast collection of Roman coins and wall paintings, a replica of a 3rd century organ called a ‘hydra’ and stone sarcophagi. Across the road is the Roman Civilian Amphitheatre which, while smaller than the original thing, leaves much to the imagination; you can still see stone cubicles where the lions were kept and the ‘Gate of Death’ to the west where slain gladiators were carried through.
budapestGul Baba’s Tomb
Cemetery
This tomb is the resting place of Gul Baba, an Ottoman Dervish who played a part in the capture of Buda in 1541. Known as the ‘Father of Roses’, this tomb is a pilgrimage place for Muslims. You must remove your shoes before entering.
budapestZsigmond Kun Folk Art Collection
Museum
Be prepared for lengthy and detailed descriptions from the staff at this museum as they are very proud of their collection! Put together by a wealthy ethnographer, a lot of the pottery is from Mezotur near the Tisa River but there are some Transylvanian furniture and textiles on display too.
budapestMargaret Island
island
This island doesn’t have any famous landmarks but is a great spot for sports and other activities such as cycling and swimming (there are two swimming pools here). Or you could go and have a pampering session at the Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget which is one of most modern spas in Budapest.
More restaurants in Budapest
Keep exploring Budapest.
budapestCafé Pierrot
A curious mix of café, bar and restaurant, this long established eatery is very stylish on Castle Hill. The décor is clownish and there is daily live piano music. The cuisine is Hungarian though it does offer interesting hybrids with international flavours.
budapestTabani Terasz
For something lovely to remember, you should try this enchanting cellar and terrace restaurant below Buda Castle; the place becomes very distinctive during winter when candlelit. Offering a more modern Hungarian cuisine accompanied by an excellent wine list.
budapestSpoon
Dining on the high waters of the river Danube (don’t worry, you’re still tethered to the bank!), here you’ll experience international cuisines with great choices for vegetarians. The décor is bright and the views for the castle and Chain Bridge are amazing.
budapestLou Lou
A foodie hangout for expatriate French, this bistro offers delicious French cuisine with reasonable daily specials. Some of the food highlights on offer at this antiquely furnished place are the smoked duck breast and grilled scallops.
budapestTom-George
Address: V Oktober 6 utca 8 Tel: +266 3525 Times: Noon to midnight
budapestArtesano
Address: VI O utca 24-26 Tel: + 688 1696 Times: Noon to midnight, Monday to Saturday
budapestSalaam Bombay
Address: V Merleg utca 6 Tel: + 411 1252 Times: Noon to 3pm & 6-11pm
budapestStex Haz
Address: VIII Jozsef korut 55-57 Tel: + 318 5716 Opening Times: 8am to 4am Monday to Saturday, 9am to 2am Sunday
budapestMongolian Barbecue
Address: XII Marvany utca 19 Tel: + 212 1859 Opening Tomes: Noon to 5pm & 6pm to midnight
budapestIguana
Address: V Zoltan utca 16 Tel: + 331 4352 Opening Times: 11:30am to 12:30am