With summer now upon us, we’ve put this list of top 20 highlights together for you to get the best out of the sweltering season. Spas, ice cream, festivals and outdoor sports, they’re all here. Note that many events and places require you to be carrying an Immunity Certificate – always check before you head out. Enjoy!
1/20
Admire amazing doorways
Thanks to ace photographer Krisztián Bódis, we have been
chronicling some of the most beautiful entranceways in Budapest, from
striking wrought-iron gates to esoteric Art-Nouveau doorways full of
winding shapes and mosaic detailing. If you’re looking for easy
and unique sightseeing around the city, with fewer tourists around, why not go treasure-hunting
for these gorgeous lesser-sung attractions?
Check out the details here and here!
2/20
Attend a festival
For
a long time this spring, it was
uncertain whether staging
any kind of festival would be possible this year – and,
certainly, the larger ones (most notably Sziget) will
be missed. On the bright
side, smaller, more family-friendly ones
can
take place. Around Budapest this summer, you’ll find Kolorádó (23-26 June), the Waldorfeszt (1-4 July), the Bánkitó
Fesztivál (8-10 July), the LB27
Reggae Camp (27-31 July) and the Katlan
Festival (23-25 July).
3/20
Bring your bike to I Bike Budapest
On 26 June, cyclists
will
be able to ride
around parts of Budapest otherwise
busy with traffic at other times.
The I Bike Budapest rally will be held for
the first time
after 2019 on the route between the lower Buda
embankment
and City
Park,
and the parade will end this time with the traditional
raising of cycles.
4/20
Browse an outdoor market
Even before the pandemic, outdoor produce markets across the city
were experiencing a renaissance – now with even more
universal appreciation of safe shopping, their popularity has
only grown. Check out places such as Pancs Gasztroplacc, Czakó
Market, the Római parti Piac, the Zugló Bread Community, the MOM
Organic Market, Bókay Piac, a Szimpla Háztáji market and the
Infopark Produce Market.
5/20
Catch a live band
At last, we can finally enjoy the thrill of live music again! With
the exception of Dürer Kért, which has just
moved, all the major concert venues in Budapest are active
once again. There are loads of great options to choose from – we
recommend checking out Budapest Park, Barba Negra Track, the A38
Boat, Kobuci kert, Akvárium Klub, TRIP Boat, the Fonó Club,
and the Budapest Jazz Club just to scratch the surface. Looking for
specific performances? How about Képzelt Város x TÖRZS at the A38,
or 30Y hisztori + ESTI KORNÉL at Budapest Park? Or maybe Grand
Mexican Warkock at Kobuci kert as they return to Budapest?
6/20
Go to a historic castle
There are several castles near
the capital that have been recently renovated, so it’s worth paying them a
visit even if you’ve seen them before. Among the one we have written are Brunswick Castle in Martonvásár, Schossberger Castle in Tura, Teleki-Tisza Castle in
Nagykovács and Klebelsberg Castle in Pesthidegkút.
7/20
Hike around Alsó-Jegenye
One of our favourite excursion destinations is the idyllic Alsó-Jegenye Valley, located just outside the city. A relatively easy,
5.6-kilometre hike can be completed in about an hour and a half, with
romantic views of the gorge, waterfall and wooden country bridges.
The last stop on the tour is the castle of Solymár, which stands on
the top of 180-metre high Mátyás Hill.
8/20
Join the Night of the Museums
On 26 June, you can enjoy all kinds of
special activities taking place for
Night of the Museums. Almost 250 institutions have so far registered
for this major cultural event, the first of national significance following the reopening of the city. After a year of absence, visitors
can once again enjoy the annual nighttime ritual of exploring museums after
hours, on the Saturday closest to St John’s Day, the
shortest night of the year. Concerts, guided tours, interactive
events, family activities and other
surprises will be waiting for all ages.
9/20
Pack a picnic
Nothing is more classically summer than a picnic, and it’s also a
Covid-safe way to have a little group fun. As we are finally able to
reunite with our friends and family, it’s time to pack up our
favourite snacks and find a green area in town to enjoy some rustic
outdoor dining. Not sure where to go? We've made a list of 12 top picnic
spots in Budapest to give you some ideas!
10/20
Party in the sun
Summer is for fun, and Budapest offers all
sorts of open-air daytime parties this year to chase away any
remaining winter blues. Early curfews
during the major lockdowns encouraged people to move late-night
revelries into earlier hours, but that’s not to say young folks
were oblivious to the perks of a daytime party before such
restrictions. Now you can enjoy parties at
venues like CityMatiné, Lick the Click!, Cruisin' Port, Sun & Soda
and Sunday Session.
11/20
Pick lavender
June not only means the arrival of summer, but also lavender, which flowers in fields all outside
Budapest, allowing visitors to pick their own for a modest fee. The
lavender field at Kevélyhegy and the Smaragdfarm in Daruszentmiklós
are
already welcoming guests,
Diósjenő opens from 19 June, the lavender farm in Budakeszi from 26
June and the Lázók Birtok
in Tápiószecső from 10 July. See all our tips here.
12/20
Rent a kayak
There
are many places around Budapest where you can rent a kayak and paddle
along the Danube – mostly along the Római embankment also
lined with outdoor bars. Places include the Béke
Csónakháznál, Rómaifürdő
SE and Yacht
Club Budapest, while further south, Lágymányosi
Spari and the György Kolonics Watersports Centre provide alternatives nearer town.
13/20
Run the Half-Marathon
At the end of August, the 36th annual Wizz Air
Budapest Half-Marathon will take participants 21km around some of the
most beautiful parts of the city. The route passes Buda Castle,
Gellért Hill, the Danube embankment and several scenic bridges.
There are also 10- and 2.3km routes for those who like running but
aren’t quite ready to commit to anything more strenuous.
14/20
See a special exhibition
Nearly a hundred works of art from the Pre-Raphaelite collection in the Tate Britain have come to Budapest, and will
be on display at the Hungarian National Gallery until 22 August. If
you haven’t gone yet, this is an incredible chance to walk among
masterpieces and linger in front of your favourite dream-like
painting.
15/20
Sip cocktails on the rooftop
One
of the best things
about
summer in Budapest is rooftop
bars.
There are more and more venues to choose from, and since most of them
are open terraces, you shouldn’t
need an
Immunity Certificate – but
do check beforehand. The
best suggestions include Leo
Budapest, Intermezzo
Restaurant & Roof Terrace, High
Note SkyBar, 360
Bar and the St Andrea Wine & Skybar.
16/20
Splash at the spa
With temperatures climbing into the 30s, there’s only one thing on our minds: water!
The month of June is especially good for spa enthusiasts, as baths
around the capital are offering 20% off tickets to holders of BKK transport passes. Whether you prefer the luxury of spas or the splashing fun of
outdoor pool complexes, the city is full of options to cool off from
the summer heat.
17/20
Take a city walk
This year we are celebrating our
tenth
anniversary,
so
we’ve
created a series of city walks. Come
with us as we take you around the lesser-known side of Art
Nouveau, then
get lost around the secret passageways of Pest. And with much fewer tourists this summer, you won't have to negotiate selfie-taking Scandinavians to see all the architectural detail!
18/20
Try a world of ice cream
Rocket
salad with
forest fruit, fig mascarpone, chili chocolate or simple hazelnut,
vanilla or caramel – bolder and classic ice-cream flavours can
all be sampled in
Budapest in summer. Outlets such as Erdős
és fiai Cukrászda,
minus11,
Cioccolatte
Fagylaltozó,
Málna
The Pastry Shop and Fragola all merit investigation. Take a look at our Best Of selection here.
19/20
Visit MONYO Land (Closed)
Lovers
of craft beer have something new to celebrate: the opening of MONYO
Land in Kőbánya. Described as a 'Beer Disneyland',
this new open-air outdoor entertainment venue offers concerts, brewery tours, good food – and lots and lots of beer.
MONYO
Land is
still unfinished, but if the Grand Opening night is anything to go by, there should be plenty to look forward to all summer!
20/20
Watch the Euros
Football’s
Euros are now in full swing, with a handful of games taking place in
Budapest, and a Fan Zone and big screens set up around the city so
that you don’t miss a minute of the drama. Running until 11 July,
the tournament involves some of the world’s best teams and finest
players, with Hungary still involved for the time being thanks to their heroic
performance against world champions France. Holland are also due in
town at some stage… We
have produced a comprehensive guide to the best viewing spots
– see here!
