The gates of this Buda Castle festival will swing open at 2pm on Friday, marking the beginning of a tasteful three-day fiesta full of fun events, excellent gastronomy, and accomplished Hungarian bands. These annual festivities will take place for the ninth time in the usual setting of the cobblestoned terraces surrounding the Royal Palace and the adjacent Lions Court. To reach the location of this popular pálinka-soaked party, you can walk or take the Castle Hill Funicular, or better yet, hitch a ride on a Budapest TukTuk. The prices haven’t changed compared to previous years: tickets cost 2,000 forints, and come with a tasting glass. Festivalgoers can make payments with pre-paid cards of the convenient Hellopay system, and use their leftover funds at a variety of designated businesses outside the festival venue.
A total of 22 vendors will contribute to the spectacular culinary display with more than 400 kinds of pálinka, among them Békési Pálinka House, Gyulai Pálinka Manufactory, Panyolai Pálinkák, and Nobilis. Other top tipples available at the event will include beer, wine, and gin – the special spirit of the year. As for food vendors, Kolbice, Meat&Sauce, Szarvaskolbász és libatepertő, and others will make sure that no one needs to do without juicy snacks made of premium meat.
Follow your own instincts and try the spirits that seem most appealing to you, or join one of the guided tours: the “Csajos” (Girly) tour takes less-adventurous pálinka lovers through some gentler, one-of-a-kind fruit brandies, while “Üt meg hat” (Strike and six) explores more characteristic pálinka varieties. If you’re keen on concocting your own blend from four kinds of plum pálinka, make sure to attend the festival’s blending course. Evening entertainment will be part of the schedule on all three days: taking the stage will be Anna and the Barbies on Friday, Vad Fruttik on Saturday, and Szabó Balázs Bandája on Sunday.
