Budapest’s A38 Ship anchors the city’s nightlife scene. A whole raft of performers play indie, pop and rock on-stage at this former cargo boat that’s now permanently moored near Petőfi Bridge on the Buda side. The summer months bring musical events outdoors, when the bow terrace hosts party series beginning in the afternoon. In addition, an onboard restaurant serves fine delicacies from farm chicken to rib-eye steak, all best paired with Hungarian wine. Access here is also available directly from the BKK public ferry, stopping right by A38.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary on the Danube in Budapest, the A38 Ship is one of the city’s most popular (and undoubtedly most unique) hangouts. This vast Ukrainian vessel hosts prime concerts year-round, live acts currently in the pipeline being Canadian rock band Japandroids on July 4th and Estonian indie-folk quartet Ewert and the Two Dragons on July 24th. Some concerts are also streamed live on the A38 Facebook page.

But it’s not just the concert shows that make the boat a popular destination for the Budapest crowd. During summer, electrifying party series animate sun-splashed afternoons and balmy nights. These free events take place in the boat’s bow terrace every day of the week, when renowned DJs spin tech-house, chill out, hip hop or funk in the afternoon and get the party rocking even after sundown. A twofer deal is available for guests ordering cocktails until 7pm. Events start every afternoon at 5pm and run until 10pm, except on Saturdays, when good times on board begin at 2pm.

You can also come here to dine by the large panoramic windows or on the A38 terrace, with views over the Buda hills and contemporary Palace of Arts across the river. On the menu, you’ll find a light chicken salad with basil and mozzarella, soup made with leek and gorgonzola, duck breast served with pearl barley and beetroot purée, and risotto with porcini mushrooms and red wine. On weekdays, two-course lunch specials are offered for 1,300 forints, served between noon and 3pm.

From the autumn, art exhibitions also feature. Future displays include paintings by Dr Béla Máriás, a major satirical artist who often places politicians and leading personalities in incongruous situations. These strange and often hilarious juxtapositions have lifted Béla from underground maverick to globally acknowledged artist, earning him a long feature in the Wall Street Journal and shows in New York.

In addition to leisurely attractions, A38 is also home to a television production studio, releasing some 250 one-hour concert movies and documentary-style interviews with musicians every year. Concert films are broadcast on the A38 YouTube channels, by now considered a vast online archive for international and Hungarian music.

You can reach the ship by taking the frequent 4-6 tram to the Petőfi híd, Budai hídfő stop and walk two minutes from there. But you can step on-board in a more stylish way, too. Twice a day, once at 4:46pm, the D11 line of the BKK public ferry boat stops right by A38.

For more information about upcoming events here, check out the A38 website and Facebook page.