Friday, 28 April
Csontváry exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts
Hungarian painter Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka (part of the avant-garde movement of the early twentieth century) was born 170 years ago. To celebrate the occasion, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Janus Pannonius Museum in Pécs, and the Museum of Fine Arts set up a joint exhibition. You can see the most important works of the master, including the ones from his journeys around the world.
Get tickets here.
Art cinema
If you feel like watching an award-winning film at a cinema that resembles a ruin pub (beer is also available), head to Művész Cinema on Grand Boulevard. It is a unique spot, screening movies since 1910. And this Friday, they will continue the tradition with the Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin (starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) and the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once (with Michelle Yeoh).
Get tickets on the Hungarian website or at the ticket office.
Aterballetto at the National Dance Theatre
The Italian dance company Aterballetto is coming to Budapest to spread the art of dance on stage. They are performing Yeled and Shoot Me at the National Dance Theatre. Yeled - which means child in Hebrew – by Dadon is a danced reflection on the loss of primal innocence and an investigation of when this change occurred. Shoot Me is a creation by Tortelli, based on the music by the English rock band Spiritualized and some recordings of Jim Morrison, where music and dance are combined to create a direct dialogue between the dancers on stage and the audience.
Read more here and get tickets here.
Saturday, 29 April
Farmers' Market on the river bank
If it’s Saturday, it is market day! And at the Római part market, now in place by the Danube for the past six years, you can browse a huge variety of local goods. At 8 am, a lángos stand fires up, and shoppers start to rifle through mushrooms on the stall. Check out the colourful flowers in the back courtyard, and browse the handicrafts, homemade jams and cordials.
The market is open every Saturday between 8 am - 1 pm.
Liliom at Örkény Theatre
On 29 April, you can see the drama Liliom at Örkény István Theatre with English subtitles. The timeless theme of love collides with the problems, desires, and traumas of 21st-century people. English subtitles will be available on monitors located near the stage. For the best possible viewing conditions, you are advised to buy tickets from row 4. Tickets are available at the theatre box office or online.
Read more and get tickets here.
Mad Vill
At the end of April, Hungarian brewery Mad Scientist and underground concert series Hell Vill come together for a 3-day-long event (28-30 April). You can expect (surprise, surprise) craft beer and underground musicians such as the Witchthrone, Ghost Toast, Bipolaris, Komodo, or Another Way.
See the lineup and get tickets here.
Parov Stelar at Budapest Park
We could not wait for the opening of the outdoor concert venue Budapest Park. Well, it is happening this week, and on Saturday, you can celebrate the news at the concert of the Austrian 'electro swing' pioneer Parov Stelar. On 29th April they’re bringing a breathtaking show to Budapest Park. Expect something extraordinary, including a new stage design and visual experience, many new songs, and a few surprises.
Details and tickets here.
Sunday, 30 April
Digó x Freyja terrace opening pop up
Digó is a Neapolitan pizza place in Budapest's 7th district, while Freyja is a croissant heaven. So this collaboration is really all you can wish for on a Sunday morning. Settling down on the terrace, you can have a dreamy, coffee-involved breakfast here between 10 am and 1 pm (both on Saturday and Sunday).
Raclette Days at Czakó Framers' Market
On the last weekend of April, local producers are setting up tables at Czakó Piacz (farmers' market) to lay out their freshest produce. That means an abundance of veggies, fruit, jams, cheese, honey, ham, pastries, and flowers. And this time, it also means raclette, which you can have sprinkled with a mixture of spices, on top of a French baguette, with smoked ham and gherkin.
The market opens at 9 am on Sunday and closes at 2 pm. Enter from Tigris utca.
A boat trip to Szentendre
Szentendre is the "city of arts", filled with Mediterranean vibes, cobblestoned lanes, museums, legendary 'lángos' (Hungarian deep-fried flatbread topped with cream and cheese), and lovely cafés. You can't help but love it. It is half an hour's drive from Budapest, but why drive when you can go by boat? MAHART has just restarted its Budapest-Szentendre-Budapest service, so you can sign up for a day trip on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. And the 5,500 HUF return ticket for adults is a fair price for walking on the narrow alleys or along the picturesque riverfront. See our tips on what to see in town here.
Seksendört (TR)
Seksendört is a Turkish rock band formed in 1999. Their demo recordings spread quickly on the Internet and hit the charts as 'the most downloaded songs'. They released their first album 'Seksendört' in 2005. Budapest is a special place for the band: in 2015, they visited the city to record their new album. They also shot the video clips 'Hangimiz' and 'Yara' in town. After a long break, Seksendört is now back on tour, hitting the stage in Budapest on Sunday.
Get tickets here.
Monday, 1 May
Spring Széll – Modern May Day
May Day, or International Workers' Day, is a bank holiday in Hungary, celebrated on May 1st. You can read about its history here and experience its modernised legacy all over town at the weekend. For example, at the Spring Széll. Széll as in Széll Kálmán tér, where local Nemdebár, 101BISTRO, Pingrumba, Sárkány and Easy Art Space join their forces to offer all kinds of events between 30 April and 1 May (midday -10 pm). The restaurants that form the core of the group will be offering street food, the bars provide street music, and you can also look forward to an arts and crafts fair and a children's corner.
Reopening of the White Raven Skybar
White Raven Skybar has just reopened, which means you can once again ascend to the top of the Hilton Budapest in the Buda Castle and sip a Lychee liquor-involved cocktail on the terrace. While doing that, you can also marvel at the colourful tiles of the Matthias Church, hilly Buda or the Danube bank.
Book a table here.
Contemporary theatre - Hotel of Change
The Trafó House of Contemporary Arts in Budapest is a base for an audience thirsty for unusual and inspiring experiences. Its upcoming performance by STEREO AKT is about a group of disillusioned actors 'looking for a new vocation and opening an inn for burnt-out activists in Budapest. The guests of Hotel of Change fight for a fairer, more liveable, and better world, each in their field.' The documentary theatre piece focuses on activists and their initiatives, giving the staff of Hotel of Change a chance to understand what gives hope in turbulent times.
Get tickets here.
Ziggy Alberts (AU)
Ziggy Alberts is an Australian singer-songwriter and author. He has established himself as one of Australia's leading independent artists. His genuine grassroots story has lifted his artistry into universal acclaim, captivating audiences across the globe. A fun fact is that he boasts Hungarian ancestry, his mother was 9 years old when she moved to Australia with her family. His first time visiting Budapest was in 2015, and he has since toured the continent several times. Next, he is returning on May 1st, bringing his honest original life stories and his new album 'Dancing In The Dark' to the A38 ship. This is going to be his first concert in Budapest.
Get tickets here.
