August in Budapest

Programs, Activity Recommendations

August offers the richest selection of events, festivals and other programs in Budapest. The main event of the month is St. Stephen’s Day, on August 20.: a National Holiday ending with fireworks at 21.00.

Festivals, Other Events in the Last Month of Summer

Weather

August tends to be scorching hot and dry in the last month of summer.

There are heat waves with no clouds and rain in sight, so do bring your

Plan your program to avoid the hottest hours on the midday sun, or if you do have to be outside, take frequent rests and have a bottle of water with you.

Beer Festival in Buda Castle, 23 – 26. August

Venue: Buda Castle, Royal Palace: Lion’s Court, Hunyadi Court

The 4-day beer festival returns to this imposing locale, the courtyards of the Royal Palace in Buda!

Getting there:

Opening Hours:

Tickets:

Includes the special festival glass and a glass of beer of your choice.

You can taste around 250 beers on the 4-day beer event including the best local craft brews, as well as beers by large, international companies:

See detailed beer list here.

Beer premieres, quality street food (burgers, grilled meats, sausages, BBQ), music and a fantastic panorama promise a great program over the last weekend of August.

Concerts by Hungarian bands in the evenings each day ensure awesome atmosphere! You can even join a street party on Saturday night (from 22.00 – 03.00)

Cholent Festival, Kazinczy Street, 26. August

Opening Hours: 10.00 – 21.00, August 26., Sunday

This Jewish gastronomy festival is held for the 4th time. An opportunity to taste cholent of four countries and other kosher food.

The location is Kazinczy Street a vibrant cultural and gastronomy spot of district VII and the city.

The section of Kazinczy between Király and Wesselényi Streets will be turned into a cultural and foodie festival focusing on the emblematic Jewish dish, the cholent.

Entry to the event is free but you have to pay for food and drinks. A basic cholent is 1 000 HUF, extra cholent: 1 500 HUF.

Dagály Thermal Bath Re-Opened

Location: Népfürdő utca 36., 1138 Budapest (distr. XIII.)

Getting there: Buses No. 15. and 115 (Dagály fürdő stop)

Opening Hours: every day 08.00 – 20.00

Tickets:

The refurbished Dagály Strand (within the Duna Arena swimming complex) re-opened with

The open-air bath is an ideal place to relax at on a sultry August day.

TIP: The Dagály is also less crowded than other, better known Budapest Baths (Széchenyi, Gellért, Palatinus).

St. Stephen’s Day – August 19 – 20./Saturday – Sunday

We pay honor to our first King, St. Stephen (cc. 970-980 – 1038.) who formed a stable Christian Kingdom of Hungary out of the seven nomadic tribes arriving in the Carpathian basin at the end of the IX. century.

It is also the holiday of the new bread baked from the newly harvested wheat and rye, as well as a thanksgiving for good harvest.

It is a sort of closing celebration of summer helping everyone to prepare in mind for the coming of autumn and the new school year.

The holiday ends with spectacular fireworks over the Danube and the bridges that you can enjoy from the open deck of a large cruise ship, the Európa:

Programs include

See detailed program on 18 – 20. August here!

TIP: Read also our Tips on How to Beat the Heat in Budapest?

Cultural Festival Bakáts Square, 23 – 26, August

Location: Bakáts tér – Bakáts utca – Ráday utca – Kálvin-udvar

Getting there: M3, M4 metro lines, Kálvin tér station

Tickets: many programs are Free (guided tours, film screenings concerts), tickets for the main stage evening programs ( 2 000 HUF) and for the programs in Kálvin-udvar at21.00 (1 000 HUF) can be bought online or at the Info Point on Bakáts tér daily between 10.00 – 18.00.

A colourful festival with concerts, opera performances, film screenings and gastronomy in and around Ráday utca in district IX. Two stages, a main stage in front of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and a Jazz Stage in Bakáts utca host concerts.

On the main stage

Wine and food, lecsó (the Hungarian ratatouille) cooking competition, free guided tours, children programs await visitors in Bakáts utca.

Summer Festival till 31. August

Venue: Margaret Island-Open-Air Stage, Water Tower, Városmajor Open-Air Stage

The last month of the Budapest Summer Festival offers a wide range of cultural programs in various genres:

Sights, Attractions Not To Miss, Unique Tours

Naval Museum Ship: Lajta

The Historic War Ship Museum, Lajta will be anchored at the Parliament till 30. September.

Visit the unique naval ship on an audio guided tour! After viewing the exhibition come and join us on tour on the Danube!

TIP: While already at the Parliament why not visit it on a guided tour and learn about its history, stories, and architecture?

Várkert Bazaar – Guided Tours

Location: Ybl Miklós tér, district I., between the Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge

The refurbished Castle Bazaar & Royal Gardens (Várkert Bazár), historical building complex designed by Miklós Ybl, was inaugurated 2 years ago.

You can get to this wonderful new attraction by boat from Pest.

The boat service departs from Petőfi tér at Erzsébet bridge and stops at the new port at the Castle Bazaar.

Beautifully restored arcaded buildings, a promenade offering

There’s an escalator that takes you up almost to the Royal Palace (you have to walk a bit to get there).

The southern palaces regularly host exhibitions.

TIP: You can visit the palaces and gardens on a 60 – 90- minute guided tour. Expert guides will tell you about the history of the buildings and the beautiful neo-Renaissance garden in English, German, French or Hungarian languages.

Price: 2 900 HUF/prs. Tours depart from the Southern Palace/Déli palota, (Ybl Miklós tér 5., distr. I.) Duration: cc. 60 – 90 minutes.

Registration is required at the (+36 ) 30 -198 5274 mobile number. Tickets can be bought at the Ticket office in the Testőrpalota/ Guards’ Palace/(Ybl Miklós tér 2., distr. I.).

See more at the official website.

Summer Mini Concert Series – “The City of Music” – Free Event

Location: at 10 venues in Budapest

Date & Time: till August 18.: at most venues: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

The Hungarian capital deserves to be called “The City of Music” as well.

This summer you can listen too mini concerts for free at various locations:

all these at scenic landmarks of the city: the Basilica, Deák Square, Vörösmarty Square, Deák tér, Várkert Bazaar, Magyarság Háza in Buda Castle, Vajdahunyad Castle, Margaret Island

For example at the Basilica you can enjoy bell concert and flute music on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 16.00 and 16.30.

Concerts last cc. 15-20 minutes and are performed by musicians of Budapest’s prestigious orchestras.

Concerts in Matthias Church

Organ Nights on Two Sundays

Dates in August: 06., 27., performance starts: 19.00

The Church of Our Lady in Buda Castle (better known as Matthias Church) hosts free organ recitals two Sundays a month.

The 20-minute program performed by Bertalan Hock can be attended with an entry ticket to the church.

Duna String Orhcestra – Matthias Church, 10. August

Concert starts: 19.00

Tickets: 7 000 HUF, 9 000HUF, VIP: 11 000 HUF

Tickets can be purchased on the day of the concert at the entrance of the church, from 10.00 till the start of the program.

The concert inludes works by

Soloist: Gyula Gabora, violin

Organ Concerts in St. Stephen’s Basilica

Address: Szt. István tér, district V., M3 (blue line) metro Arany János utca station

Concert Dates in August 2018:  02, 09, 16, 23, 30 Thursdays at 20.00, duration: 70 minutes (no break)

Tickets: 18 – 31 EUR depending on seat category

The grandest church of the city on Szt. István Square is an ideal for classical concerts.

The more than 110-year old organ was constructed when the Basilica was finished in 1905.

The lead musician is Miklós Teleki, one of the best organ player in Hungary.

The 70-minute concerts include works by

See more organ concerts in Budapest!

Concert of the Béla Bartok Female Choir in Church of St. Anne, 12. August

Time: 19.00

Entry: FREE

Venue: Church of St. Anne, Batthyány tér 7. Buda side (M2 metro)

Barnabás Balasi, the organist of this little Baroque church will acompany the choir and improvise on the church’s organ.

Program:

Miklós Kocsár: Missa secunda
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Brandenburg Ádám: Magnificat (premiere)
Maurice Duruflé: Tota pulchra es Maria
Randall Thompson: Alleluia
Csemiczky Miklós: Ave Maria
Zoltán Kodály: Psalm No. 150 from the Genevan Psalter
Miklós Kocsár: Salve Regina

Evening Concerts in the Zoo

Dates: 04. July – 22. August 2018, Wednesdays at 20.30

Tickets: 3 500 HUF, can be bought at the Zoo’s cashier (closes 1 hour before the zoo’s closing time).

The summer evening concert series in the Zoo and Botanical Garden look back to years of tradition.

Concerts are held at

Find out more about the Summer Concerts in Budapest Zoo.

Museum Exhibits in August

The more than 100 museums and exhibition halls of Budapest always offer some exciting exhibits.

Cafe-Pub-Restaurant TIP

Budapest is chock full of restaurants, cafes bars and pubs. Here are our picks to try in August.

Budapest Baristas

Address: Múzeum krt. 15.

Open:

A new specialty coffee bar is behind the unoriginal name on Múzeum krt (just across the Hungarian National Museum) in a spacious, airy historic building (

The cafe – formerly antique and used books shop incorporates parts of the medieval city wall of Pest.

The road already has a new wave coffee shop, Fekete (translates to black, though they seem to focus more on milky coffee beverages) just a few blocks from Bp baristas.

Anyway, the compulsory

You can enjoy your choice of drink up on

Besides quality coffee, you can have muesli, fresh croissant, and cake and dessert creations ranging from brownie, strawberry cheesecake, tapioca pudding, and paleo (sugar and dairy free) goodies.

See other favourite cafes, espresso bars in Budapest!

Léhűtő Pub – Craft Beers on Tap

Address: Holló utca 12-14., district VII., Gozsdu court

Open: Mon: 16.00 – 24.00, Tues – Wed – Thurs: 16.00 – 02.00, Fri – Sat: 16.00 – 04.00, Sun: 16.00 – 24.00
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There are few things better than a nice glass of cool, fresh draught beer – and if it’s a specialty made by a local micro brewery that’s even better.

Besides local tastes, Léhűtő offers a nice selection of

Some snacks are also available to go with your beer.

Partying in August

The outdoor clubs are still full of life at night. The major clubbing hot spots of the city are:

Danube Boat Party

Dates: every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 23.00

Have an awesome summer party on a sightseeing boat on the Danube.

The boat will take you on a 1.5-hour cruise where you can view the most notable landmarks of our city lying on the two banks of the Danube.

A welcome drink is included in the price and after the program you can continue partying in one of the top clubs.

Tickets: 17 EUR (a welcome drink is incl.).

Past Events

Liberty Bridge Festival (aka Szabihíd), 04 – 05. August

Venue: Szabadság híd/Liberty Bridge (the green one at the Great Market Hall in Pest)

This summer one of the most beautiful bridges of Budapest, the Liberty Bridge turns into a colorful festival place on 4 weekends.

The whole bridge is for the pedestrians, the southern sidewalk is only for bicycles.

No cars or other vehicles are allowed including trams No. 47, No. 48 and 49.

See details of the traffic changes here.

The event is part of a very popular project called Szabihíd, started in 2016. The aim of the project is to use the whole bridge as a public place without any motorized traffic.

On the last weekend of the festival you can enjoy

Programs on 04 – 05 August

(all programs are FREE)

Night Run Budapest, 04. August, Saturday

Time: 7 – 14 – 21 km races start at 22.00, kids’ races, Expo and other programs from 14.00

Location: Várkert Bazaar, Buda

Run along a scenic 7 km route in the Buda side and see the illuminated city on this warm August night. The track includes the Castle (with a bit of elevation to get there).

There are still places available for the 14 km and 21 km races.

Free kids’ runs in the afternoon starting at 16.45. The adult races begin at 22.00 with a warm up starting at 21.45.

You can register for the race here.

Sziget Festival, 08 – 15. August 2018

One of Europe’s most popular outdoor pop-rock music festival takes place on an island in the Danube (hence the name: Sziget which means island).

The week-long Sziget Festival on Hajógyári-sziget brings an impressive line of international and local performers each year.

Besides concerts all sorts programs and activities await visitors of all ages.

Festival of Folk Arts (Mesterségek Ünnepe) Buda Castle, August 17 – 20.

Admission: full price: 2 500 HUF, discount tickets for children (aged between 4 – 14), and retirees: 1 500 HUF, free for kids under 4.

Opening Hours:

The 4-day festival is organised each year in the courtyards of the Royal Palace on Buda Castle Hill.

An ideal program for families because the festival offers a couple of great activities for children of all ages:

There is also a folk art market where you can buy quality products (ceramics, glass, wood, leather, and enameled artifacts).

Concerts, culinary delights, a harvest process round up the event that is tightly connected to St. Stephen’s day on 20. August.

See detailed programs on our Folk Art Festival in Buda Castle page or visit the organiser’s website.

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