What to see and do in Budapest this spring

Budapest Spring FestivalThe 36th Budapest Spring Festival awaits lovers of the arts with a colourful program that includes classical and contemporary music, opera, jazz and pop, world music, dance, contemporary circus, theatre, and visual arts. What makes the Budapest Spring Festival even more special is that along with the best Hungarian performers, true international superstars like Little Boots, Ana Moura, Sinéad O'Connor and J.A. Hasse will perform on one of the stages. The 16-day festival will also feature several world premieres, Hungarian premieres, co-productions and theatre premieres.Ice-cream"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream,” as the classic phrase goes. How about you? Which flavor you do you like? Chocolate? Vanilla? Rhubarb? Strawberry? Are you up for specialties like gorgonzola or camembert flavour? If yes, we have some good news for you. With spring comes the start of ice-cream season in Budapest. On 8 May this most delicious cool treat is even celebrated by a day of Hungarian artisan ice-cream. Our favourite ice-creameries include Erdős és fiai Confectionery (not only because their Oreo cookie flavour is amazing), Gelarto Rose (known for their rose-shaped scoops), Cake Shop (where the sorbets consist of 95% fruit purée) and the silky and sweet gelato of Fragola.

Rollerblading/skateboardingThe warm weathers here, the suns out, it's time to head outside. If you are feeling like Tony Hawk on four/eight wheels, you might already preparing to hit the ramps and show off your best tricks. But if not, the first rays of sunshine will surely pump you up! The location depends on you: you can cruise around Budapest, looking for a friend or head for a half pipe or a bowl to test your skills. If you choose the latter, you can find fellow skaters at the small skate park at Erzsébet Square or at the skate park at City Park. And let's not forget that Heroes' Square is also like an iconic place for skaters - you'll always find people cruising around and doing kick-flips. For rollerbladers it's worth heading along the Danube banks (the Pest side near Elizabeth and Liberty Bridges is super popular) - this way you can have a beautiful view while you roll around.

Community gardeningA community garden (sometimes called an urban garden) is basically a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. There's a sense of community, you can learn about gardening from others and share in the produce. Aside from generating fresh fruit and vegetables it can also be a well-maintained public space that adds to the local scene. To find your local one and get involved, visit the Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Center (aka KÉK) they manage a range of community gardens called Közösségi Kertek in Hungarian. THere's also a handy map showing all the community gardens in the Hungary.

Adventure parksWhen the winter season is over, it feels nice to go out and start to get in shape again. If you aren't into jogging or yoga, visiting an adventure park can be a good option both for having fun, spending quality time with your friends and getting back into fitness. And, what's better than spending a day warm day climbing, swinging from tree to tree and getting lost in a wooden labyrinth. Nothing beats that. We encourage you to visit Challengeland or the adventure park at Római Shore. The latter is especially child-friendly.

JoggingAs soon as the first rays of sunshine hit Margaret Island, runners start to appear on the tracks. A few kilometres (just over 5 to be exact) on an island in the middle of the Danube, not only helps you get back in summer-ready shape but will also warm your heart. After all, every kind of fitness activity is better with a beautiful panorama. City Park is also a good option, although it hasn't got a proper running track, so following the right path can be tricky. If you are feeling ready for a longer run, be sure to sign up for the Telekom Vivicittá Half Marathon in April.

TerracesWith the new season comes new venues, as well as old venues that are transformed by opening their terraces for the fun and sun loving people of the capital. Places like Fröccsterasz, Kertem, Barba Negra Track, Gozsdu Sky Terrace and Fruska reopen. The city will soon be full of places like them, you could let your ears be the way - the sound of laughter, chatter and clinking glasses fill the streets near them. Later in spring rooftop bars, such as 360 Bar will also open.

Green areasFancy a picnic? Or a long romantic walk in the woods? Want to sleep in the shade of a tree? If you are tired of Margaret Island and City Park, here are some alternatives.
Füvészkert - the botanical garden of the Eötvös University where you can find the largest water lilies in town, capable of bearing the weight of an adult woman.
Mechwart Park - an 18 000 square meter park with a fountain, playground, decorative stones and plenty of sitting opportunities. Kopaszi Dam - a 10 acre green area at the Buda side of Rákóczi Bridge, which - with it's beautiful riverside setting - provides an ideal place for romantic strolls, sports activities and relaxation.

Gül Baba's Türbe is near by the bridge-head of Margaret Bridge and is considered one of the best parks in Budapest because of its big shady trees. We recommend it to everyone who'd like to take a break from the city's noises.

Grab a bikeIt's great to get to know Budapest and its surroundings by bike - feel the sun on your skin and the cool breeze in your hair. There are places where you can rent a bike for a whole day or even several days, such as Budapesbike, Yellow Zebra Bikes, Bikebase Budapest (also sells secondhand bikes),DYNAMOBIKE and Lemon Bike. Find some popular bike trails and maps around the city.

EasterRemember the Ice Bucket Challenge, in which people dumped a bucket of ice water on themselves (or someone else's head)? In Hungary, that thing existed hundreds of years before the "new'" version would become a social media phenomenon. It's a tradition, actually, that at Easter (this year on April 5-6), boys dump water or spray perfume on the girl's head as a kind of celebration. If you don't wish to do so, there are still some other options. For example you could head to the Easter Market at Vörösmarty Square, where you can taste traditional Hungarian foods and find Easter-themed arts and crafts. There will be Easter Lamb festival in the Vajdahunyad castle and at City Park, where you can taste special lamb and traditional Eastern dishes. The Easter market at the Museum Of Ethnography is also a good choice.

Other major eventsBudapest100 is organised by Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre (also known as KÉK) to celebrate unique 100-year-old buildings around Budapest.

On 18 and 19 April, several dozens of centenary buildings open up their gates to visitors.The programs are primarily in Hungarian, although there will be some in English or that don't require language skills - for example just exploring the interiors of these special buildings. There's free entrance to the participating buildings and we'll be providing more information about this event in the lead-up. Remember to keep your eye out as prior registration is required for some of the tours and activities.

CityMatiné is an open air, daytime, party series based in Budapest. Moving between the city's best open air venues, playing the smoothest of music and providing the finest BBQ in town. These guys throw the biggest parties of the spring/summer season at the most special places like the Palatinus Bath. They'll kick of the new season with a blast on 1 May and although the place is still a secret, we can guarantee that it will be a memorable spring-starter.

Other not-to-be-missed events during springtime include the National Táncház Festival and Fair, the Titanic International Film Festival, the International Book Festival Budapest and the Budapest Dance Festival. Check out other must-see events, happening in Budapest over the coming weeks, at our regularly updated events calendar.