Lead a merry dance at the Hungarikum village
A polygonal-shaped wooden barn rocks with all-time folk-music beats accompanied with the sounds of booming whoops and stomping boots. Drawn by these animated Hungarian sounds, Szitizens flock to the festival’s Hungarikum Village to join the fun, a real local cultural attraction amid the global gaiety. Following the professional performances by Magyar troupes, dance-house instructions begin at 8pm, when sweaty revellers try to learn a few not-so-easy steps. By day, more relaxed workshops, including gingerbread-making, feature.
Fill up on lángos
You may only be in Hungary once, so… here goes! Two thousand calories, irresistible enjoyment and instant regret crammed into deep-fried dough – this is lángos, the national snack. Even though locals always say, “I never eat a whole one”, actually everyone does, and they love it. Lángosshould be crispy on the outside and soft within. It should also be drenched in as much oil as the body can handle and slathered with a messy assembly of diet-busting toppings. The classic lángosis crowned with sour cream, garlic butter and lots of shredded cheese, but more extreme taste combinations come with salami, bacon, jalapeño peppers or vegetables. This, be assured, is the perfect solution after a drunken night when you just need that perfectly heavy and hearty midnight fill-up. Several stands offer lángos at Sziget, priced at about 1.000 forints.
Take in a Hungarian film
If you need a bit of downtime, make a beeline for the Cinema Hungary tent, where you can watch classic and contemporary Hungarian hit movies with English subtitles. Altogether some 20 films will be screened, including The Whisky Robber, telling the true story of Hungary’s most (in)famous bank robber (read more about him here), Jupiter’s Moon, a movie about a refugee who becomes capable of levitating (a smash at Cannes) and comedies like Brazilians and A Kind of America. See the full schedule here.
Sample local booze
Discover Hungarian wine regions from Etyek to Eger by sampling fine reds, whites and rosés at the Sziget Wine Village, one of the festival’s most convivial drinking destinations. A splash of sparkling soda water turns the intoxicating tipples into fine fröccs, a refreshingly fizzy spritzer, the perfect accompaniment to the hot Hungarian summer. For something a little stronger, head to the Unicum Ruin Pub quarter, where the iconic spherical bottles of Hungary’s answer to Jägermeister hang from the chandelier. A bucketful of Unicum Plum with a dash of lemon, soda, sugar and ice should add a kick to any party. Then there is plenty of pálinka, of course – the Hungarian grappa, clear, powerful and created in many flavours. For the biggest selection, head to the Rézangyal station, where apple, apricot, plum, even honey versions are served.
Watch opera at the House of Hungarian Music
Set up near the Museum Quarter, the House of Hungarian Music presents classical, opera and jazz performances. On Friday from 10:30pm, multi-dimensional jazz-hop chill band Cymbal Rush take the spotlight to cross boundaries with their provocative style. On Saturday at 7:30pm, the award-winning Balázs Elemér Trio enchant the audience with Renaissance, Baroque and Gregorian melodies. Then every day at 6pm, an intriguing Primadonna Show is on the agenda, staged by the Hungarian State Opera House. International concerts feature between Hungarian acts.
Buy a local souvenir at the WAMP Design Market
Flanking one of Sziget’s main promenades, brightly coloured stalls present hand-drawn illustrations of urban landmarks, T-shirts with creative Budapest prints, even scarves in the shape and design of the city’s 4-6 tram. All this merchandise is made by Hungarian designers and now offered at Sziget by the WAMP Design Fair, a local market for established and emerging artists and designers. Whether you are looking for chimney-cake scented air-freshener or a pair of socks with a fish pattern, you’ll find them here.
Sziget Festival August 8-15th, Budapest, Óbuda Island
