1/20
Hop on your bike
More people are riding bikes in Budapest than ever before, for school, work or leisure. Public transport is more cycle-friendly, the embankments in town on both sides of the Danube are more welcoming to two wheels, and even GoogleMaps now has cycle routes on its planning functions. Recommended spring jaunts include the recently completed Budapest-Szentendre trail or the East-Pest circuit could both make good
destinations.
2/20
Visit Budapest Photo Festival
Between 25 March and 8 May, the annual Budapest Photo
Festival presents a contemporary overview of Hungary and elsewhere, with exhibitions across the capital's
museums, galleries and cultural institutes. Look out in particular for Martin Parr's Life's a Beach at the Műcsarnok (pictured), Fading Europe by Antonio Benítez Barrios at the Cervantes Institute and Zoltán Molnár's Chaospace Station at FUGA.
3/20
Admire spring flowers
What better sign of spring than flowers in bloom? As well as City Park and Margaret Island, there are several botanical gardens and arboretums in town, the most notable being ELTE's in District VIII and the Sas-hegy Visitor Centre in Buda.
4/20
Run Telekom Vivicittà
Telekom Vivicittà is one of the most popular running events in Budapest, being held on 26-27 March. As in previous years, Saturday will still be about shorter distances and families, while on Sunday, hardier lovers of longer distances will be able to stretch their legs.
5/20
Take in Bartók Spring
Launched in the spring of 2021, on the 140th anniversary of the birth of Béla Bartók, the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks seeks to represent the composer’s spirit, creativity and outlook in countless genres, from contemporary classical music through world music, jazz and dance to visual art and pop. Events run from 1 April to 5 May, this year's venues including major arts centre Müpa, top nightspot the Akvárium Klub, the historic Várkert Bazár and the Museum of Fine
Arts. The
Budapest Ritmo World Music Festival also forms part of Bartók Spring.
6/20
Wonder at Sakura
When the Japanese
cherry trees, sakura, blossom in the ELTE Botanical Gardens, visitors can spread out the picnic blanket and admire their beauty at this annual festival inspired by Japanese
customs. On 2-3 April, weekend activities include Japanese martial arts demonstrations, a traditional Japanese weapons
exhibition, a drum show, a literary evening, and a Japanese kokeshi doll workshop
and exhibition.
7/20
Discover Hieronymus Bosch
The unique world of painter Hieronymus Bosch holds many unresolved mysteries even now, more than 500 years after the master’s death. This selection of nearly 90 artworks includes 11 hand-painted images that make up nearly half of his entire pictorial oeuvre, presenting eternal human themes. Questions of faith and truth arise, along with scenes of hedonism and restrained desires. The exhibition opens from 8 April at the Museum of Fine Arts and runs until 17 June.
8/20
Stroll Tóth Árpád sétány
Every spring, the blooming ornamental cherry trees lining Tóth Árpád
sétány become a place of pilgrimage. The tradition of strolling along this
promenade atop Buda Castle is age-old, beside panoramic walls where decisive
battles once took place. With plenty of benches, it's ideal for romantic
strolls, lazy jogs and outings with toddlers in tow.
9/20
Celebrate with Mary PopKids
Indie band Mary PopKids would have celebrated their tenth birthday a while back, although the pandemic got in the way of their feel-good pop, soul, funk and electronica. Led by the ever inventive Kamau Makumi, MPK have played Hungary’s major festivals and concert venues. For this anniversary occasion on 22 April at the A38, they will be joined by Madrian, Perrin & band, the duo Dictator & Hussar, the Obroni team and DJ Salvador Deli.
10/20
Visit the Opera House
Now newly renovated, the Opera House has not only been returned to its former glory but features the latest technological features to improve the experience of both performers and audience. Among the highlights in its reopening spring season are Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet Maylering in late March, Wagner’s opera Götterdämmerung, performed with English surtitles in May, and Verdi’s Don Carlos, with English surtitles in early June.
11/20
Beat the Cogwheel Rail
In one of the more unusual sporting events taking place this spring, participants have to beat the Cogwheel Railway on its 4.5km journey up the steep slopes of Buda. True, the bright red train first ran back in the 1860s, but it only takes 14 minutes to reach the upper terminus of Széchenyi Hill from Városmajor park down below. And even if the steep gradient wins out, you can still join the Children’s Railway at the last station and take it easy. The race starts at 9.30am on Saturday, 23 April.
12/20
See the Budapest Spring Festival
Taking place over a fortnight or so from 29 April to 15 May, the 42nd Budapest Spring Festival focuses on contemporary culture, staging concerts, performances, literary talks, workshops and exhibitions at many locations across the capital. The full programme will be announced before the end of March.
13/20
Bid farewell to Kistehén
After 20 years and several albums,
alt-rockers Kistehén say goodbye with a farewell show on 29 April at Budapest Park, for which László
Kollár-Klemencz and his merry men are preparing a few surprises among their classic
numbers. The band will be joined by members of Fran Palermo, Platon Karataev
and Ricsárdgír, whose careers they helped inspire.
14/20
Make a splash
While 1 May may no longer be the officially opening date of the lido season in Budapest, with the weather warming up, you can take the kids to family-friendly pool complexes such as the now year-round Palatinus on Margaret Island and the Római Baths in Óbuda.
15/20
Follow the Food Truck Show
Back after an absence of two years, the food trucks roll into Kincsem Park racecourse once more between 6-8 May, providing the finest street food Budapest has to offer. As grills sizzle, horse races, greyhound races, children’s activities, bands, street musicians and artists entertain the hungry masses.
16/20
Join Budapest100
This year’s Budapest100 is being held at its traditional time slot of May. Within the framework of this architectural and cultural fixture, in which experts show visitors round parts of the city otherwise inaccessible the rest of the year, you can get to know individual buildings in the Castle District and discover the stories behind them. The event takes place over the weekend of 14-15 May, taking in traces of former sieges, historic streets and centuries-old façades.
17/20
Get moving to Analog Balaton
Budapest-based electronica duo Analog Balaton
mix pop/rock melodies with danceable rhythms, a combination that has earned the
pair prime spots at major festivals such as Fishing on Orfű and Bánkitó. A
show at Budapest’s prestigious Akvárium Klub sold out in 2019. If anything
though, their popularity has soared since the pandemic. On 21 May at
the Kobuci Kert, Analog Balaton
close the club season and open summer’s festival one.
18/20
Rock out at Tool
Concluding their
huge, 54-date world tour here in Budapest at the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna,
LA alt-metal rockers Tool promote their award-winning album Fear Inoculum. The band last played Hungary 15 years ago.
19/20
Sup at the Kraft Beer Festival
The team behind Budapest Beer Week are again organising the Kraft Beer Festival at top nightspot Dürer Kert between 26-29 May. With small-batch Hungarian producers brought to the fore, this four-day celebration is mainly aimed at domestic consumers. Eschewing grandeur, this is a laid-back occasion for all true beer lovers, complete with live music and food trucks.
20/20
Dine at the Gourmet Festival
After circumstances imposed a two-year fast, the exciting
culinary offerings of the Gourmet Festival will again be ready for sampling at the Millenáris. Budapest’s best
restaurants, wineries and confectioners will all be featured, allowing visitors
to pick and choose without having to spend a fortune. The event takes place
over the last weekend in May, 27-29.
