Budapest Local City Tips And Events

Are you looking for fun events in historic Budapest instead of just plain sightseeing? Late summer / early September in Budapest comes with a bunch of opportunities to discover this incredible city while attending concerts in world-famous buildings or tasting the best wine Hungary has in the Buda Castle. For even more cool events around the city check out our previous posts!

Hungarian Folk Performance, Saturdays

Don´t be shy and discover all about folk dance in Hungary in a 90-minute show. If you want to get the full hungarian experience, after eating and drinking the most typical food and drinks, it is time to learn. Go to the beautiful Danube Palace in Pest in the city center.

Concert at  St. Stephen´s basilica, Sundays and Tuesdays

Enjoy either an organ or a string concert in St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire country. It is such a different experience but it is something which is worth living. Let yourself get into the atmosphere.   

Jewish Cultural Festival, September 3 - 11

If you looked into the most famous landmarks of Budapest, you probably read about the Dohány Street Synagogue, which is one of the largest in the world. It seats 3000 people, which makes it also a prime Budapest concert venue. To make the most of your visit, the Jewish Cultural Festival  is the best opportunity to catch a concert. The festival presents culture and Jewish traditions, of thousands years, by theater plays, dance, etc… In spite of its being tradition preserving festival, its organizers renew, every year, the repertoire. The Dohány Street Synagogue is between Astoria and Deák Ferenc tér on the red (#2) subway line. Once known as the entrance of the old Jewish quarter, nowadays the inner part of the seventh district right behind it is the notorious PARTY DISTRICT you might have heard about in passing.

Budapest Wine Festival, September 7-10

Let’s start with the obvious: Hungarian wine is really good. Tokaji is a brand even Voltaire wrote about, and one that was loved by Louis XIV, Beethoven, Schubert and Goethe. Long story short: you’ll love it too, and whichever kind of wine you’re into, you’ll find something worthwhile. In fact, the festival tries each year to put another wine-growing region in the spotlight. This year, all eyes turn on Lake Balaton, which is best known for the two things you love: good wine and amazing holidays. For a fairly flat country like Hungary, Buda Castle is quite a remarkable vantage point that looks down on the Danube and the downtown hurly-burly around it. On top of the wine, you can check out concerts and local cuisine at the festival. Just like at most big festivals in Hungary, you can pay by charging money on a Festipay card (you can reconvert any leftover money to cash before the end of the last day). You can get tickets online – there’s early bird discounts, with daily tickets starting at 5500 (13 EUR) if bought in time. To get to the Royal Castle, you can take the Funicular from Clark Ádám square, or bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér. Or you can simply walk up the hill – it’s not too steep unless you go out of your way to turn it into a fat-burning exercise.

Budapest Half Marathon, September 10

The largest Central European Half Marathon takes place in Budapest on Sunday, the 10th September, 2023. It is an unique experience being able to go sightseeing the most beautiful and touristic attractions from a different point of view. Enjoy of the avenues,  cross the Danube and run at the foot of the Buda Castle. If you are into running, you can´t miss our post about races and marathons in Budapest, check it about here. 

Chocolate Festival, September 16-18

This latest edition of theBudapest Chocolate Festival will take place in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica in the city center. This is one of the best festivals in the whole country, just imagine; chocolate, pastries, wine and, get ready, free entry. Can you imagine anything better? Weel, entry is free but not all the things you would love to eat and drink! Enjoy of the sweetest festival from 10.00 to 23.00 on Friday and Saturday and from 10.00 to 21.00 on Sunday. 

International Book Festival, September 28 - October 1

At Millenáris Park we will be able to enjoy one of the most known book festival of the whole Europe. Get to know the local, national and international writers. Enjoy of a great atmosphere and don´t forget to walk around the city centre later on to enjoy the great food and drink which are waiting for you. It will be held at Millenáris Park. 

World press Photo 2023 exhibition, Until October 30

The World Press Photo 2023 exhibition at the Hungarian National Museum will present 138 images selected by an international jury from 64,823 photos taken by 4,000 photojournalists from 130 countries. Discover this amazing event with the most talented photographers of the entire world.

National Gallop Budapest

Heroes Square connects Andrassy Avenue to the City Park, and with its statues of great Hungarian kings and chiefs, is a fun place to visit on any day of the year. But there’s one day it’s even more entertaining than usual: when it’s turned into a unique race course for the weekend of the National Gallop. Once upon a time, Hungarians came to Central Europe on horseback. They learned to build houses instead of pitching yurts, became Christians rather than pagan nomads in the year 1000, and slowly gave up on their plans to rule the rest of the world. One thing they never gave up on would stay with them forever: the love of horseback riding in any shape or form. No wonder they came up with the concept of a National Gallop, where different regions in the country compete with one another every year. Anyone can sign up – actual participants are chosen in regional contests. And it’s not just about horses: you can try traditional dishes and wines. And yes, coming to Heroes Square also means being really close to the Zoo, the City Park and Széchenyi Baths – you can plan a full day around the Gallop and the nearby niceties. Heroes Square (Hősök tere) is on the M1 subway line – that’s right, the oldest metro line on the European continent. Entrance is free – but you can get tickets for good seats at the grand stand overlooking the Gallop.