April in Budapest

Festivals, Programs, Concerts, Exhibitions

Budapest is most lovely to me at this time of the year when parks, gardens are are all green and flowery.

We have lots of festivals and things to do to choose from. Here is our selection.

Spring Fair of Hungarian Flavours, 06 – 07.  April

Venue: Várkert Bazaar, Event Hall

Address: Ybl Miklós tér 2 – 6., Buda, district I.

Admission: free

Opening Hours:

If you love to stock up on some local craft produce this is the place to get them!

Sausages in all variation will be in the limelight.

Besides sausages and other meat products, you can sample the best craft foods brought to you by Hungarian small farmers.

Some of the things to look for:

Concerts, children performances, tastings accompany the food fair on both days. Entry is free to all programs.

Spring Fair at Vörösmarty Square, 05 – 22. April, 2019

Address: Vörösmarty tér, city centre, district V. M1 underground stop, M2, M3 lines at Deák tér, tram 2., Vigadó or Széchenyi tér (a short walk from there)

Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs: 10.00 – 21.00, Fri – Sun: 10.00 – 22.00

The square that hosts the city’s popular Christmas market has been given home to a Spring Fair too for a couple of years now.

The event organized by Budapest’s official Tourist Centre is an ideal place to meet and chat with local craftsmen, and artists and buy something unique.

Vivicitta Half Marathon Festival, 13 – 14. April, 2019

Spring’s biggest running event is the Vivicitta Half Marathon with the main races – 21 km and 10 km – taking place on Sunday.

Saturday is dedicated to shorter distances and family programs. Note: Expect changes in public transport schedule on these two days!

The route offers a complete sightseeing experience since runners will see many famous Budapest landmarks:

Easter Programs, Events, 19 – 22. April 2019

You can choose from a range of activities and programs in and outside the Hungarian capital during spring’s most awaited holiday.

Find more recommendations on Easter Things to Do in Budapest!

TIP: View also our post on Easter opening hours of shops, attractions as well as information on public transport during the holiday.

Budapest Spring Festival, 05 – 22. April 2019.

Venue: around 40 locations in the city

The Budapest Spring Festival has grown into Central Europe’s biggest cultural event with more than 100 programs in multiple genres:

The biggest stars include:

Franz Liszt‘s works will also be in the focus of the nearly 4-week program.

Ticket prices to the programs vary between cc. 2500 HUF – 15.000 HUF (depending on venue and seat category).

It’s good to buy tickets well in advance because lots of programs sell out quickly.

See more programs on the event’s official website.

Budapest Art Week, 17 – 22. April

Venue: various art galleries and museums in Budapest

Tickets: full price: 3 000 HUF, students, seniors: 2 000 HUF, family: (2 adults + max. 3 kids): 8 000 HUF.

Note: You’ll receive a wristband with which you can visit all programs during the 6 days.

The Budapest Art Week is a brand new series of programs that aims to inspire and provide guidance to fans of art.

It’s part of the Spring Festival listed above.

You can experience the thriving art world of the city in close to 50 art venues: galleries, museums, workshops, community places.

You can go on

The 6-day event complements the Spring Festival’s repertoire of classical art programs synchronizing nearly 60 programs to highlight the most significant and current venues of the city’s art world.

The exhibitions can be visited during the opening hours of the venues. For more information on the programs visit the event’s website.

International Book Festival, 25 – 28. April, 2019.

Venue: Millenáris, Kis Rókus u. 16–20., Buda

A 4-day International Book Festival is focusing on literature and books.

This year Orhan Pamuk will be the guest of honour.

The European First Novel Festival is also organized within the Book Fest.

Visit the official website of the event for more details.

Sightseeing, Tours

April is an ideal month to explore the city by walk: pleasant spring weather, warm sunny days, longer daylight hours.

The most scenic parts of the city perfect for a short or longer stroll are:

• The Danube Promenade (Dunakorzó) – a riverbank on the Pest side stretching between the Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge – lots of terraced cafes to have a bite or a cup of coffee.

• The Várkert Bazár and Gardens (Castle Bazaar & Garden) that celebratesits 3-year anniversary on 02-03. April 2017, on the Buda side at the southern foot of Castle Hill also offers plenty to see – you’ll enjoy an amazing vista on the walkways meandering on the slopes of the Neo-Renaissance garden that is in full bloom and green by mid-April.

• Take the escalator from Várkert up to the Royal Palace of Buda: rich in historic sights, museums (Budapest History Museum, the National Gallery and National Széchenyi Library), charming coffee houses and bistros, not to mention the amazing view from Fishermen’s Bastion.[/checklist]

Giant Ferris Wheel on Erzsébet Square

The Budapest Eye re-opened in mid-March and offers an amazing birds’ eye view of the city from its 42 cabins.

The new attraction is open every day, 10.00 – 24.00, all year.

Explore Green Budapest!

April is also ideal for leisurely strolls in parks, gardens and arboretums.

Here are some tips where to enjoy a bit of green in the city!

Kopaszi Dam & Park

The Kopaszi Dam in southern Buda close to Rákóczi Bridge was turned from a neglected area into local’s favorite park in 2007.

The 10 hectare/24.7 acre landscaped area surrounds Lágymányosi bay and is bordered by the artificial Kopaszi dam south of Rákóczi Bridge.

Great for

TIP: View our photos taken on a Sunday morning in April.

Find more tips on parks and arboretums in Budapest.

Concerts

Budapest is home to a couple of great concert halls like the

Exhibitions in Museums

The more than 100 museums of Budapest offer exciting exhibits all year round. Here’s our top choice for the month of April:

Hungarian Press Photo Press Exhibit

Venue: Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center

Address: 1065 Budapest, Nagymező u. 8.

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 11.00 – 19.00 (cashier closes at 18.30)

Tickets: full price: 1 500 HUF, students/retiree: 800 HUF

You can view Hungary’s best press photos carefully curated in 14 categories.

The display accurately showcases what happened in the world of politics, culture and life itself.

The Magical Easter Egg Exhibition

Venue: Duna Palota/Danube Palace, Zrínyi utca 5. (close to the Basilica)

Opening Hours: every day at: 09.00 – 18.00

Admisison: FREE

An amazing collection of artfully painted Easter Eggs by Ildikó Fekete folk artist.

Eggs decoaretd with traditional Hungarain folk motifs demonstrate the skillfulness of people living in the countryside.

Enchanted Island Interactive Exhibition & Game, Vajdahunyad Castle

Address: Vajdahunyad Castle in City park/Városliget, take M1 metro and get off at Széchenyi Fürdő

Opening Hours: open till 13. May 2018. Tue – Sun: 10.00 – 17.00

Tickets:

If you’re in Budapest with children visit the Enchanted Island Exhibition in the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, housed in Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park.

A spectacular and exciting program with hands-on displays and fun games on 1 000 sqm. You’ll enter an enchanted tropical island and be part of a secret mission.

Visitors receive a text booklet game along with a small surprise, which helps uncovering the secret step by step.

Devote at least 1 – 1,5 hours to explore the displays and games.

Hotel Tips for April

We recommend a lovely bohemian boutique hotel in Buda castle with a great restaurant and wine bar, the Baltazar Hotel in Országház utca.

Pick the Lovers package with your room to surprise your loved one with a bottle of champagne, chocolate glazed strawberries and a dessert in one of three cafes of your choice.

Great location in a historic area packed with

Our other pick is the Hotel Nemzeti McGallery Collection, a 4-star establishment in a historic building on the József körút part Nagykörút.

The hotel belongs to the MGallery division of the Accor group, known for unique hotel all around the world highlighting local architectural and cultural characteristics.

The 80-room hotel offers modern, eclectic design combined with21-st century amenities.

Highlights are

An ideal choice if you look to stay at a place that offers something unique in a city!

Thermal Baths – Relax and Heal

Baths in Budapest are a wonderful source of recreation, healing and historic ambience.

You can admire the architecture and enjoy the hot pools in baths from the era of Ottoman occupation (15-17. centuries): the Király Bath and the Rudas Bath.

Or you can have a great time and soak up he grandeur of two more recent spas: the Gellért in Buda and the Széchenyi in Pest.

Past Events

VinCE Wine Show, 05 – 07. April

Venue: Várkert Bazaar, Ybl Miklós tér 2-6., Buda, distr. I.

Opening hours: every day: 11.00 – 22.00

Tickets: Daily tickets purchased in advance:

VinCE is central Europe’s biggest wine event with master classes, workshops and presentations in English and of course lots of tasting.

The wine show moves to a new venue, the Castle Bazaar in Buda.

This year you can sample the wine and distillate offer of 160 exhibitors from Hungary and the neighbouring countries.

Food will be served in the food court so that you won’t have to leave the venue if you get hungry (but of course with your armband you can leave and come back whenever you want).

See more details on the event’s official website.

More Program & Activity Tips

Easter in Budapest – May Day Programs – More May Events, Programs – Gourmet Festival in Buda – Budapest Summer Festival – Top Summer Things To Do – Budapest in June