August is almost over, but this doesn’t mean that summertime is coming to a close – in fact, the climate in Budapest can be particularly pleasant in September and beyond, as the autumn days are often sunny but not scorching, and the nights are usually balmy enough for enjoying outdoor activities without a jacket. We present some warm-weather attractions of the Magyar metropolis that continue for another month or more, from ferryboat excursions to barbecue parties to rocking out under starry skies at open-air concert venues.
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Take a riverboat ride
Set sail for a scenic day trip from central Budapest to the artist’s village of Szentendre aboard one of the round-trip voyages provided by the Mahart Passnave ferryboat service, operating daily (except Mondays) through September 30th; Mahart also offers Saturday excursions to Vác, Visegrád, and Esztergom on every Saturday in September. Alternatively, the BKK ferryboat still zigzags across the Danube to make numerous stops at varied docks on both the Buda and Pest sides between the city’s southern and northern borders during September, and meanwhile, multiple tour-boat companies continue operating through early autumn and beyond.
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Have a barbecue party
Summer may be the most popular season for gathering friends and cooking over an open fire, but this age-old type of gastro gathering is certainly appealing in early autumn, as well – actually, barbecue parties can be even better when the air gets slightly chilly, as the flames provide welcome heat instead of another source of swelter. Read our recent roundup to learn about 10 places for barbecue parties in Budapest – or for a more deluxe cookout experience, downtown Pest’s Araz Restaurant continues to offer their bountiful all-you-can-eat grill parties in their courtyard terrace every Thursday evening through September 22nd.
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Play some outdoor sports
From parklands to rooftops, Budapest features many open-air facilities for amateur athletes to enjoy outdoor workouts – ranging from basketball to baseball to yoga to beach volleyball – and most of these summertime exercising sites are also available during the first half of autumn, when they are usually additionally appealing because the healthy fun and games can be enjoyed in cooler conditions. Even if you’re not into organized team-sports activities, early autumn is also an ideal time for running laps on the recently refurbished track around Margaret Island, or embarking on a strenuous hiking excursion in the Buda Hills.
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Hang out at a terrace hotspot
Sometimes during summertime, we can get sunburned while having lunch or a few drinks in the outdoor-seating section of many popular Budapest eateries or bars. However, most of these places still offer alfresco tables during early autumn, providing all of the breezy bliss of open-air dining without the strong sunshine that can leave us red in the face (quite literally). What’s more, most restaurants with sidewalk seating offer blankets or heaters to make their patios more appealing day and night beginning in September. Check out our recent roundup of 20 terrific Budapest terrace hangouts to get some ideas for atmospheric eating.
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Explore open-air museums
Budapest boasts quite a few sprawling outdoor museums that are fascinating destinations for edifying excursions during the warmer months, and many of them remain open through most of autumn. The amazing archeological park of northern Buda’s Aquincum – the 1,900-year-old ruins of a complete city built here as an outpost of the Roman Empire – is fully open until the end of October, while the Hungarian Railway Museum hosts some of its most popular events after summer is over, including the Steam Engine Parade on September 10th and a Sausage Festival during October 21-23. Read our roundup of for more info.
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Make a splash in outdoor pools
Swimming may be somewhat more appealing during the heat of summertime, but some of Budapest’s world-famous bathing complexes continue to welcome alfresco paddlers in September and beyond, goosebumps be damned. The Art Nouveau-styled open-air pools of remain open into October, depending on the weather; Margaret Island’s family-favored water park keeps challenging visitors to try the towering water slides through September 18th; and the grand outdoor thermal pools of stay open all year long, to the wintertime delight of those soakers who just can’t play enough chess games during warmer seasons.
