5+1 free things to do in Budapest in March

1. Photographs by Manó Mai

Manó Mai, a Hungarian photographer in the late 19th and early 20th century, served as the appointed photographer to the imperial and royal court. Admired for his expertise in children's portraits, his captivating work is now showcased at the downtown photography centre named after him, Mai Manó House. View his studio portraits and compelling journalistic photos.

See the exhibition between March 5th and April 14th. More details here.

2. Film Club at Gólya: The Northeast Winds 

Curious about post-communism, especially in the birthplace of Soviet Union leader Stalin, Gori, Georgia? On March 8th, make your way to the 8th district hangout Gólya. At their upcoming film club, known for spotlighting social issues and human stories, you can see The Northeast Winds, a documentary by Nikoloz Bezhanishvili. It tells the story of the removal of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin's statue.

More details here.

3. YOU ARE NOT LIKE THOSE exhibition

At the Bura Károly Gallery's new exhibition in the 8th district, you can explore gender and ethnicity from the viewpoint of four talented women. Coming from diverse backgrounds, they touch on overlooked aspects of female and Roma narratives. Well, these topics are definitely not absent from the displayed photos and paintings! On the contrary: they vividly intertwine these themes, challenging societal expectations and assigned roles.

See the exhibition between March 7th and April 26th. More details here.

4. St. Patrick's Day Parade

For those with Irish roots, March 17th means one thing only: St. Paddy's Day. Luckily Budapest gets its fair share of the celebrations, and you can enjoy a major part of it free of charge. Head to Szabadság tér between 1-5 pm, and immerse yourself in the revelry: green hats, shamrocks, dancing, the lively music of fiddles, tin whistles, and bodhráns, face painting, Guinness, and Irish food await in abundance. At 2 pm, a parade sets off from the square crossing Kossuth tér, Akadémia utca, Zrínyi utca and reaching St. Stephen's Basilica, then heading back to Szabadság tér.

More details here.

5. Matti Varga Photo Exhibition at the Hotel GIN

Discover the intriguing and free photo exhibition by young Hungarian talent Matti Varga at the hip downtown Hotel GIN. No need to sign up, just walk in and wander among the unusual shots hanging in the lobby, corridors and even a few rooms. Matti's images are dreamy and nostalgic, offering a fresh perspective on everyday situations –sometimes entirely out of context. What also makes the collection exciting is that it's deeply personal, like a visual diary, capturing the artist's emotions influenxed by the outside world.

See the exhibition between February 29th and May 31st.

5+1 Easter on Bartók Béla út

With Easter around the corner, the cultural centre and art gallery B32, just steps away from Gárdonyi térinvites us to free family-friendly events. Starting at 10 am on March 30th, join an array of workshops, including egg painting, print crafting, a magician show, treasure hunt, spring flower box creation, and biscuit decoration – the choice is yours. Although the event details and registration forms are in Hungarian, assistance is available at b32@ujbudakozpont.hu.

More details here.

(Cover photo: Kőrösi Tamás - We Love Budapest)