Free Summer Mini Concerts in Budapest

Outdoor Concerts at 11 Venues, 25. May – 22. August 2018

brass band in green and red hussar uniform — Hussar band at Várkert Bazaar

The 15-20-minute performance series in various genres are part of the “Budapest, The City of Music” program organized by the Festival & Tourism Centre of the city.

Music lovers can select from 600 miniconcerts, 10 grand concerts at 11 venues all summer, till 12. August.

A fine cultural program for free!

Genres cover:

folk music

classical pieces with jazz instrumentation

women’s string quartet

gypsy music

bell and flute music

brass band in hussar uniform.

The concerts are held at the most prominent historic and cultural locations of Budapest:

Venues: Várkert Bazaar – Gerbeaud Cafe Terrace – Basilica – Parliament – Great Market Hall – Margaret Island – Vajdahunyad Castle – Art Hall (Heroes’ Sqr.) – Fishermen’s Bastion – National Gallery

Concerts in Várkert Bazaar on Sundays

Location: Öntőház Courtyard, Open-air Stage/in case of bad weather: in the assembly hall

Dates & Time: at 11.00 on the following Sundays

03. June – Gergely Bogányi plays works by Liszt and Chopin on his world famous piano (In the assembly hall)
10. June – Amadinda Percussion Group
17. June – Rákfogó-Szakcsi 75
Béla Szakcsi Lakatos – Fender Rhodes, Márton Fenyvesi – guitar, Kornél Fekete-Kovács – trumpet, György Orbán – double bass, Imre Kőszegi – drums
25. June – Micheller Myrtill & Tibor Pintér voice & guitar and a concert by the Götz Saxophone Quartet
01. July – Guitar concert by Ferenc Snétberger
08. July – Budapest Rendezvous with the most beautiful songs of the capital: Anna Götz and Tamás Böröndi, Flying hands: Zoltán Orosz accordion, Kornél Horváth percussion
15. July – Muzsikás Ensemble
29. July – Andrea Malek – Miklós Birta duo
05. August – Gershwin concert by József Balog and Béla Szakcsi Lakatos
12. August – Amadinda Percussion Group

The Várkert is a series of buildings at the foot of Buda Castle hill.

The complex was built between 1875 – 1883 according to the designs of Miklós Ybl architect.

Today the neo-Renaissance palaces house exhibitions, events and concerts.

The lush garden is perfect for a walk and admiring the view on the Pest side of the river.

TIP: The garden is a place for picnics on weekends in summer. You can rent a blanket and basket (1 000 HUF + 5 000 HUF deposi), food is provided by the best local street food vendors.

Between 20 – 31. July Dance Evenings entertain visitors in the Foundry Court (

Mini Concerts in Pest (2018)

Gerbeaud Cafe’s Terrace

Harp and violin duo on Saturdays and Sundays at 16.00, 16.30 between 02. June – 05. August

The famous historic coffee house, the Gerbeaud facing Vörösmarty tér is a classic cafe and confectionery offering

Hungarian cakes,

ice cream and sundaes,

breakfast and brunch and

of course all sorts of coffee drinks, tea and other beverages.

Sip you choice of drink or try a slice of local cake (Dobos torte, Somló sponge cake, Eszterházy cake or Krémes) on the terrace while listening to the concert of the duo.

St. Stephen’s Basilica

chimes and flute on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays at 16.00 and 16.30

The largest church of the Hungarian capital on Szt. István Square is on every tourist’s must-see list. Time your visit this summer when the mini chime and flute performances take place.

Great Market Hall

Address: Vámház krt. 1-3., district IX., tram 2, M3 metro

Gypsy music (Tuesdays and Fridays at 11.00 and 11.30):

May 29.
June: 01., 11., 15., 19., 22., 29.

July: 06., 09., 11., 13., 16., 18., 20., 30.

August: 01, 03., 06., 08., 10.

The spacious, 19th century central market hall at the Pest end of the Liberty Bridge is full of local produce, cheese, wine, pálinka and tasty food on the first level gallery.

The venue is fitting for the haunting melodies of gypsy music.

Margaret Island – Musical Fountain

(northern end of the isle)

Female string quartet with a clarinet artist on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 16.30, 17.00 and 17.30.

Margitsziget, the popular leisure park of the locals, is great for strolls, jogging, or a picnic under the shade of the ancient trees.

TIP: You can get there by a public boat service: it’s an affordable way to cruise the Danube. Hop on boat lines D11 or D12. One way tickets: adults: 750 HUF, children (till 15 years of age): 550 HUF.

TIP: The island also gives home to the Open-air Stage, venue of the summer-long cultural festival (concerts, musicals, theatre, opera, ballet, performances, children programs).

Vajdahunyad Castle Courtyard (City Park)

Transylvanian folk music with a solo singer on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10.30 and 11.00.

A copy of the original castle located in Transylvania was built in 1896 for the Millennial celebrations.

Today it houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture.

TIP: The Vajdahunyad castle is also a venue for summer concerts in July-August.

Art Hall on Heroes’ Square

Classical music with jazz instrumentation on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11.00 and 11.30.

The Art Hall, the biggest exhibition hall in Budapest, is the centre of contemporary art.

The historic building stands next to Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere).

Kossuth Square (Parliament)

Thursdays: 17.00

Entry: FREE

TIP: Kossuth Square at the Parliament is also a place for free open-air concert in summer. Performances that are 45 – 60 minutes long – usually take place on Thursdays at 17.00.

Various bands perform a show of classical music, through jazz and swing, to pop music at the square in front of the Parliament, Thursdays at 17.00:

June 07. – V4 Classic: Spectrum Quartet (Slovakia)
June 14. – V4 Classic: Lukasz Gothszalk Trio (Poland)
June 23. – V4 Classic: Swing a la Django és Dohnányi Big Band (Hungary)
June 28. – V4 Classic: String Quartet of the Brno Conservatory (Czech Republic)
July 05. – Szabó Henrik Quartet
July 12. – Police Big Band
July 19. – Four Bones Quartet
July 26. – Melodika Project
August 02. – Jenő Esze & his Band
August 09. – Police Big Band
August16. – Duna Művészegyüttes
August23. – Esze Jenő és Zenekara
August30. – Four Bones Quartet
September 06. – Police Big Band
September 15. – Fugato Orchestra

Mini Concerts in Buda

Várkert Bazaar – Main Entrance

A saxophone band plays on Sundays at 14.00 and 14.30.

Várkert Bazaar Gloriette

A brass band dressed in Hussar costume gives concert on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays at 16.00 and 17.00.

Fishermen’s Bastion Buda Castle

Address: Szentháromság tér 6., district I.

Getting there:

Wind instrumentalists accompanied by an opera singer on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays at 16.00 and 16.30.

National Gallery, Buda Castle

Address: Szent György tér 2., Royal Palace/Buda Castle

performance by painters and jazz guitarists, every Saturday at 16.00 and 16.30

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