Friday, 11 August
Sziget Festival
Sziget, one of the biggest music festivals in Europe, brings some banging acts to Óbuda Island between 10-15 August. Florence + The Machine, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Mumford & Sons, Lorde, Macklemore, and Billie Eilish are all must-sees on The Island of Freedom. But we have also rounded up the best up-and-coming acts and astonishing variety shows. For all the basic good-to-knows, check out our article here.
Get tickets here.
French Food Festival
Between 9-11 August, experience French elegance and unique flavours at Kazinczy Street's food court. That means wine, champagne, and divine snacks, everything that made French gastronomy on the list of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. Expect acoustic live music in the background, bringing the feeling of meandering by the Seine.
More details here.
Zoo Festival 2023
Budapest Zoo, one of the world's oldest zoos, turned 157 on August 9th. The occasion calls for a celebration, which will take place in the form of a 5-day-long festival. Join family activities, concerts, and evening visits between 9-13 August (9 am - 9:30 pm).
More details here.
Oppenheimer at the Városháza Open-air Cinema
See the most hyped film of recent months (no, not Barbie, the other one) in a unique setting: the courtyard of a 5th district townhouse. Oppenheimer, the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his development of the atomic bomb, will be screened in an open-air cinema with English audio and Hungarian subtitles.
Get tickets here.
Saturday, 12 August
Craft Market
Budapest's Palace Quarter has a lot to offer: coffee shops, hidden gardens, and historic palaces jazz up any stroll here. And on August 12th, you can even join a crafts fair at Craft Head - Brewpub & Bistro and stock up on goods made by Hungarian designers. Get your hands on unique ceramics, crocheted toys, plants, artwork, and clothes, which all make a better souvenir than a magnet.
See the list of vendors here.
Daytime party at A38
A38, once a cargo ship, now a concert venue, hosts a daytime party on Saturdays from 4 PM to 10 PM. That means you can hang out on the terrace overlooking the Danube with a cocktail in hand (pay one get two until 6 PM) while listening to local and international DJs. The event is curated by the reliable Lick The Click and LavaLava crews.
Get tickets here.
Stargazing
It's shooting star season between 3-13 August! And you can join in two extra special events in Budapest. On 11 and 12 August, you can sign up for a SUP tour and paddle from the Római-part to the Egyfás-sziget in the sunset. On the island, you can wind down and gaze up to the night sky for meteor showers amid acoustic music, campfire, and yummy bites. You are welcome to spend the night and paddle back in the sunrise, but you can opt for heading back at midnight.
If you prefer staying in the city, you can head to the Svábhegy Observatory. Their annual Stargate event allows visitors to explore the observatory at their own pace. You can arrive as early as 5 pm and stay until 11 pm. Tickets can be purchased on-site.
The Blues Show on the Quay
Every summer weekend, a section of the Pest-side Quay turns car-free and gets flooded with pop-up events. This Saturday (7:30 pm), you can catch a fire show. Expect a performance with pyrotechnical effects, blazing instruments, and tap dance in shoes on fire, with a pinch of blues melancholy. The event is free, but donations are welcome.
More details here.
Sunday, 13 August
Szimpla Kert Farmers' Market
Being a true gem in the middle of Budapest' Jewish Quarter, Szimpla Kert's farmers' market has been ruling the roost for 10 years now. Every Sunday (9 am - 3 pm), the city's iconic ruin pub is transformed into an open-air market to give space to 30-40 Hungarian producers and their goods. Fill your basket with cheese, honey, jam, syrup, fruit and vegetables and meat of mangalitza and game, freshly picked and dried mushrooms, truffle specialities, spices, and sandwich spreads. Once you are finished with your shopping spree, settle down upstairs for a hearty brunch.
Yoga on top of the Tunnel
Start your Sunday with a morning flow on top of Budapest's iconic landmark, the Tunnel! Here, you can perfect your warrior poses and give your body a good stretch backdropped by the reopened Chain Bridge, the Danube, and the Gresham Palace. Petrfalow will guide you through asanas, and after the flow of movements, you can wind down with relaxation and meditation. To sign up, drop an email at: szappan.petra@gmail.com.
More details here.
WAMP Design Fair
The Hungarian design fair WAMP pops up at Várkert Bazár this August. From 10 am to 6 pm, you can get your hands on custom-designed clothes, jewellery, and accessories by Hungarian designers. You can also try gastronomic treats and create something from scratch at one of the creative workshops. The goal is also to be a community space with sustainability in mind.
Feel free to bring your whole family (including your dog). There is no entry fee.
+1 Paddling contest on the Danube
If you're up for a fun event and a little adventure, sign up for a paddling contest at the Danube Bend. On August 13th, you'll have the opportunity to float along the Danube River, from Nagymaros to Verőce, all with a thrilling purpose: to finish first. Whether you bring a SUP, floating mats, inflatable figures, or swim rings as your vessel, the choice is yours (life vests are provided). As you compete for the gold medal, don't forget to take in the breathtaking sights – from the majestic Visegrád Citadel and Solomon Tower to the charming neighbouring islands.
More details and registration on the Hungarian website!
