We've already written not one or two, but three articles about the unmissable acts of the forthcoming seven days and now it's time for something completely different – like a quick run-through of what you should do and where you should head between concerts. We've collected a few places which are guaranteed to take your breath away with unimaginable atmospheres, or because they simply offer something you can't get anywhere else.
LuminariumThe special castle designed by Architects of Air aims to provide visual surprise and excitement in an otherworldly environment, and to create the optimum conditions where people can be moved to a sense of wonder through the particular phenomenon of luminous color. Imagine wandering through an 800-square-meter labyrinth of multihued chambers while listening to Ozric Tentacles or Cocteau Twins, where you can rest your head after a tiring concert and leave for a place that you might've already seen in your dreams. A wonderful, chilling experience that you shouldn't miss. Map number: 46.WAMP Design MarketThis unique bazaar is usually a community event taking place once or more every month in the hub of Budapest, where emerging Hungarian designers showcase their handcrafted works. It's a place where design meets urban Hungarians, tourists, and expats. It is also a meeting place for creative and trendsetting young people. If you are unfamiliar with the Hungarian design scene, this is the time and place to discover it – if you have already attended a WAMP, than we don't need to tell you why you should attend again. Map number: 28.Eastern European Funfair
If Jaroslav Hašek would have lived long enough to visit a Sziget Festival, we're sure that he would call this small "village" home. The aim of EEF is to meld ages and generational relationships that nowadays seem more and more meaningless and surreal. Relive the time when your parents and grandparents lived, where everything was allowed that wasn’t forbidden, and where trust was based on increased control. While you are making your very own uniform, fish, or watch a movie, you'll surely feel nostalgic for an era that you couldn't live in. Map number: 20.Magic MirrorJaroslav Hašek would fancy the aforementioned village, but RuPaul would advise everyone to spend some time at the Magic Mirror tent. The festival’s headquarters for queer culture welcomes everyone to take a walk on the wild side, even if you are a boy who knows nothing about lipsticks and high-heeled shoes. Selected films of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival will be screened here, and Free Entry, a film that will transport you to the year where you made it to Sziget. Of course, screenings are just the icing on the cake: revues, round-table discussions, and dance performances also await you. Map number:
47.Unicum Ruin Bars QuarterThe ‘ruin pub’ is a real Hungarian specialty and export product, which enhances our reputation in the world – especially in Western Europe. Contrary to its name, the ruin pub is more than a run-down place: it’s a meeting spot where, besides drinking, it’s perfect for conversations, to hang out, and meet new people. During this week, the most popular ruin pubs are moving to the Island of Freedom to help you connect with friends and foreigners. Drink until the sun comes up! Map number: 31.World Village - Dance House 'Táncház'
At the dance houses and dance workshops, the focus will be on the shepherd’s dances.
This year, the dancers of the Turai Tradition and Youth Dance Company will lead us day by day through Hungary’s dancing landscape, from the Upper Tisza region through Somogy and Rábaköz to Székelyföld. Traditionally we close the evenings with all-night dance get-togethers, where anyone can get a taste of Hungarian folk dance and the “Táncház” method, which has been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
