Shows, concerts and cultural attractions – Budapest is always buzzing. Each week, we gather all of the important happenings taking place in our favourite city so you can plan ahead. See what you can get up to on the bank holiday weekend.
Friday, 26 May
Spanish Food Fiesta
Fans of Spanish gastronomy, this is your call. Downtown outdoor spot Botellón is bringing a thematic event, offering treats from the best tapas bars in the city (UnoMas, Pintxo, Bontxo, La Nube, Ultramarinos Martinez, Macarena). Expect gambas, croquetas, patatas bravas, and all the other mouthwatering bites Hispania is famous for, washed down with ice-cold sangría. Live music by 3Coyotes will liven up the party every day from 6:30 pm.
More details here.
Downtown Wine and Champagne Festival 2023
Here is to an event where it is socially acceptable to do some serious day drinking. Top-notch Hungarian wineries bring their best bottles to Szabadság tér, champagne flows, and the smell of street food wafts through the air. Entry is free, but you need to buy a tasting glass on the spot before you start on the wine (HUF 3,499 - 4,999). The festival is open from midday to midnight every day (24-29 May).
More details here.
The Grand Budapest Hotel at the cinema
Immerse yourself in the world of Wes Anderson with a classic. The Grand Budapest Hotel, starring Adrian Brody, Jude Law, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton, goes on the big screen at Bem Cinema this Friday. You will get to see how every fancy guest gets involved in the art theft of the century. The film will be screened in the original language with Hungarian subtitles.
Get tickets online here or on the spot.
Saturday, 27 May
SANTSAT
The outdoor season has finally kicked off, and at Santsat you can enjoy it in a unique location, the Gödöllő Botanical Garden. This mini-festival, just outside Budapest, brings you music, yoga and nature to connect with yourself and the community. DARĀGE, Route 8, Terra Kontra DJs, Adis Is OK (SANTSAT), and Telemala (SANTSAT) are all taking the stage, promising chilled vibes.
Get tickets here.
Budapest Beer Week 2023
Picture a whole week dedicated to craft beer! Now open your eyes and get a ticket to Budapest Beer Week, which is precisely that. The festival celebrating different types of craft beer and breweries will be between May 22nd to 28th. The main events, such as unlimited tasting sessions and afterparties, will take place on May 26th and 27th in Dürer Kert, with an Encore Day closing the festival on Sunday.
More details and tickets here.
Second-Hand Clothing Fair on Madách Square
Things will liven and brighten up in the city centre on May 27th (12 pm - 5 pm) when second-hand and vintage clothes take over a chunk of Madách tér. Downtown bar Telep once again welcomes visitors in their spring sale: you can spend a pleasant and warm Saturday afternoon buying or selling stuff and find hidden treasures.
Sunday, 28 May
Children's Day
This Sunday is International Children's Day, and the whole city seems to celebrate it. So grab the family by the hand and take them to the Gozsdu Courtyard, Lupa Beach or the Children's Railway for free and fun activities.
LUNAR collection launch party
LUNAR (a fresh and contemporary Hungarian brand) brings new prints, hats, scarves, T-shirts, ceramics, bags, and notebooks to Hannabi Studio. Their latest collection, BLOOM, has just launched, and you can buy a piece first-hand. The mini-market comes with tasty bites, live music and a tattoo session.
The provocative world of Jan Saudek
28 May is your last chance to view the exhibition of the Czech master of provocation Jan Saudek. Discovered in the early nineties, the now world-famous photographer's work is presented in a comprehensive collection of erotic images combining the worlds of painting and photography. Plan a visit to Kunsthalle before you miss it.
More details here.
Monday, 29 May
Madame Tussauds Budapest
Madame Tussauds Budapest has just opened, so you can be among the first ones to discover it. Meet (and take selfies with) 50 celebrities, such as Lionel Messi, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and 17 Hungarians. We have toured the wax museum, have a sneak peek here.
Get tickets here.
Board Game Day
Játszóház Projekt is all about board games. But forget Monopoly and shabby basements, and expect approximately 10 m3 of games, ranging from quick 3-minute party games to 3-hour strategic ones, all pre-approved by the team. If you join the birthday party this Monday at Dürer Kert, you can pick any of them and spend your time playing outdoors with a beer or two. Don't worry if you are a first-timer, as a team member can help with the rules. Everyone is welcome (tickets are mere HUF 400-800), and there is no age limit.
More details here.
Chinatown Terrace
If you are a fan of Southeast Asian cuisine, a visit to Budapest's Chinatown is a must. They have opened their terrace for the season, offering food and tables al fresco (every day between 5 pm and 11 pm). Laid out is Chinese street food at its best: pancake, dim sum, teppanyaki, oden, Cantonese curry, rice noodle roll, shaved ice, tong sui, and other special treats you can hardly find anywhere else in the city. Find more food recommendations here.
More details here.
