Budapest is one of the must-see cities in Europe, renowned not only for its beautiful architecture, but also for its fantastic cultural venues. If you’re looking for cultural entertainment, you’ll find a big variety of cultural venues that host the city’s rich and bustling artistic life.
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Best Cultural Venues in Budapest
One interesting fact about Budapest is that it’s home to a very large number of cultural venues. There are more than 40 theaters and concert halls, a prestigious Opera House, and over 100 museums and galleries. You surely can’t get bored here! There is a wide array of cultural events to choose from and almost all of them are located on the Pest side, in downtown Budapest.
Best Music Venues in Budapest
From theaters and museums to concerts and music festivals, Budapest has it all. Especially music! If you are a music lover, you’ll have a great artistic experience in Budapest. So here is where you should go if you want to listen to music in Budapest:
Vigadó Music Theater
Vigadó is the second largest concert hall in Budapest. The building was erected in the mid 19th century as a replacement for another concert hall that burned down. At that time, it was the most important cultural venue in Budapest, where celebrities like Liszt, Brahms, and Debussy were frequently performing.
During the Second World War, Vigadó suffered great damages, but was later on restored to its original beauty. The building is located in a small square, along the Danube promenade.
Compared to other venues in Budapest the acoustics of the hall is not so good. However, the auditorium is superbly decorated and deserves a visit. Unfortunately, Vigadó doesn’t offer tours, so you will have to attend a performance in order to see it.
The concert hall is currently the home of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, so they have very good folk dance performances here.
The Hungarian State Opera
The Opera House is one of the most stunning cultural venues in Budapest. Located on Andrássy Boulevard, the famous Hungarian Opera House was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1884. The building exceeds by far the beauty of Vienna Opera House, after which it was modeled.
Although not very big, the auditorium has the third best acoustics, after Scala in Milan and the Paris Opera House. I had the opportunity to attended several performances at the Budapest opera and loved the level of interpretation. The subtitles are in Hungarian, so you’ll have to read about the subject before the performance.
Some may argue that Hungarian opera productions are not as extravagant as the ones in the USA. That may be true, but for $50 you can get the best seat in the house, as opposed to $350 in Los Angeles.
If you are in Budapest in December, you can watch the Nutcracker ballet in this venue. Even if you are not a fan of this style of music, visiting the Opera is a must if you have more than 3 days Budapest. Guided tours are available daily between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
The Palace of the Arts
The Palace of the Arts is the newest and most grandiose addition to the already wide variety of venues in Budapest. It is located in the Ferencváros district, between the Soroksári road, the Grand Boulevard and the Lágymányosi Bridge.
Although a little off the tourist route, the Palace of the Arts is really worth a visit. The easiest way to get there from the city center is to take Tram No.2 from Margaret Bridge all the way to Millennium Cultural Center (which I believe is the last stop).
Home to the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Festival Theater, and Ludwig Museum, the cultural center is a very beautiful venue and quite unique in Budapest. The National Concert Hall is huge has one of the largest organs in Europe.
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The Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music
Located in the beautiful Liszt Ferenc Square, this magnificent Art Nouveau building serves as the Budapest’s music conservatory. The building bears the name of its founder, Franz Liszt, the famous Hungarian-born composer. The Academy opened its doors in 1875.
Its first location was in Liszt’s apartment, then later moved to into a building on Andrassy Boulevard. Finally, in 1907, it took residence in the beautiful building where it is today.
Liszt Ferenc Academy has two beautiful auditoriums: a green-and-gold main hall and a smaller hall for chamber music and solo recitals.
Best Music Festivals in Budapest
Budapest Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is the largest and most prestigious cultural event in Budapest. It takes place in April each year throughout Budapest in over 40 cultural venues, including various public squares and parks.
The festival starts with a very beautiful opening parade on the streets of Budapest. The event includes classical music, opera, ballet, and theatrical performances.
The Summer Music Festival at Vajdahunyad Castle
The Summer Music Festival and is held in the mock castle of Vajdahunyad, in City Park, between July and August each year. The event includes a series of classical, jazz, swing and gypsy music.
Performances are on Mondays and Thursdays evenings. Attending the open-air concerts is a very pleasant way of spending a beautiful summer night in Budapest.
Other Music Festivals
Other world renowned music festivals in Budapest include the Hungarian Folk Dance Festival (held in the Buda Castle), the Jazz Festival, and the Sziget Music Festival. And while we are at the subject of festivals, don’t forget to check the best gastronomic events in Budapest when visiting the city.
Best Theater Venues in Budapest
Theater plays a very important role in the city’s artistic life and is the most popular form of art in Budapest. Unfortunately, because of the language barrier, this form of art is restrictive for visitors.
If you are interested in attending an English performance, check out small theaters like Scallabouche and Theater on the Roof. They put up English productions once in a while.
The following cultural venues are however the most famous theaters in Budapest and can be toured without attending a performance.
The National Theater
The National Theater opened in 2002, after many years of planning. The building is stunningly beautiful and has an arc-shaped glass façade decorated with statues of nine muses.
Designed by architect Mária Siklós, the theatre has a very unique, moving stage that can be raised at 72 different points. The park surrounding the theatre building is equally beautiful and has a so-called Ziggurat, a maze, and several statues of famous Hungarian actors.
The park has two very interesting elements: a mock ship that seems to be floating towards the Danube, and a very unusual water fountain in the shape of a fallen building façade.
The Comedy Theater
Vígszínház, as the locals know it, is one of Hungary’s oldest and most beautiful theaters. Designed in a French Neo-baroque style by the Fellner and Helmer studio in Vienna, opened in 1896 as the result of the ever-growing demand for bourgeois entertainment in Budapest. The theater plays both national and international plays and musicals.
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Best Museums in Budapest
Budapest has a great number of museums, many of which are world renowned. From history, to science, art and many more, there is a museum for every age and taste. If you like visiting museums but don’t have too much time in Budapest, I would suggest visiting at least three of these cultural venues:
The National Hungarian Gallery
Located in the Buda Castle, the National Gallery houses the largest public collection of fine arts in Hungary. Displays include medieval and Renaissance stone carvings fragments of 11th-15th century, architecture and marble carvings from king Matthias’ palace, great collections of late-Renaissance and Barroque art.
The Gallery occupies restored buildings which formed part of the Royal Palace in Buda Castle. There are 4 floors of treasues tracing Hungary’s art history. Reserve at least 3-4 hours for visiting the museum.
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is located in a neoclassical style building dating from the beginning of the 20th century. The museum has six departments: Old Sculpture Gallery, Old Painter Gallery, Egyptian, Antique, Modern art, and Graphics.
If you like visiting museum, this museum will surely impress you. It has a very large collection of international art (over 100,000 pieces), as well as a collection of female artists from the 17 century.
The Museum of Applied Arts
The Museum of Applied Arts is located a couple of tram stops away from Petőfi Bridge, on Üllői Boulevard 33-37, in one of the most iconic buildings in Budapest. This Art Nouveau construction with its outstanding ceramic tile roof was the third of its kind in Europe.
The museum houses European decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the present day and has some of the finest pieces of Esterhazy treasury – the most influential aristocratic family in Central Europe.
The gift shop of the museum is a great place to buy some authentic Hungarian souvenirs from Budapest, so don’t miss it!
Here you have it: list of the best cultural venues that you should miss when visiting Budapest.
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Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
I couldn’t agree more. Budapest is a wonderful destination. We stayed in a room at the Intercontinental with a view over the Chain Bridge. I only had to look out the window to feel like the world was a great place to be. I would add one destination to your list though. It is not in the centre or especially easy to get to and I can’t remember the name but it was a park where a lot of old soviet era statutes had been taken and were now on display. We had a fascinating morning there.
Archana Singh
Budapest is a dream come true for any architecture or history lover. I was there in October last year, and I couldn’t stop clicking. I loved their Budapest Opera House. It’s so grand and so beautiful. Your post reminded me of my time there.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Budapest is so high on my European travel wish list. We were hoping to travel there this year along with Vienna but it’s not happening. Their architecture is just stunning. What beautiful places to have some culture and enjoy a show.
Vicky and Buddy
I would visit any of these venues just for the architecture alone! But to be able to see an opera or listen to music as well makes it even better. The inside of the academy of music is especially beautiful.
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)
What fantastic buildings! We’ve long admired the history and architecture of Budapest, and its cultural history is just as impressive. Can you imagine attending a performance by Debussy at the Vidago Theater? It must have been quite the experience. We’re definitely pinning this for later. Thanks for the handy, uhm, Liszt!
Anda Galffy
Hahaha, good pun!
Sandy N Vyjay
Budapest is such a charming town with such magnificent buildings. The place has been on our bucket list and figures prominently in out itinerary for East Europe that we already have ready, but has to see the light of day. The museums and theatres are of special interest to us not only because of the architectural styles of the structures but also what experiences they hold within.
Rhonda Albom
I must admit that my time in Budapest was limited to less than a day when I was on a bus tour in my 20’s. I was not too concerned about the arts and culture back then (nor will I say how long ago that was.) Your post tells me that I have to return to Budapest and experience it in a whole new light (and for way more time). The architecture, arts, and music would be of most interest to me as I don’t speak Hungarian.
Samantha Sparrow
Budapest is really high on my bucket list, even more so now I’ve read this! I’m super interested in visiting music venues (it’s also why I want to go to Vienna), but I cannot imagine seeing anything more intricate or beautiful as the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music – it’s very special.
Megan Jerrard
I love Budapest! Though I didn’t take in any of these venues unfortunately. I would love to head back and enjoy a concert at Vigadó Music Theater, or the Hungarian State Opera. The architecture of each of your venues is reasons enough to visit itself, from the beautifully history, to something like the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall which is stunningly modern! The National Theater building though seems to be the most fascinating – very unusual, but very interesting!
Lolo
After visiting the Romanian Athenaeum, I am hooked and want to see more theaters! Also saw a lovely one in Munich at the Residenz! Hope to make it back to Budapest one day and add one of these to the itinerary!
Christina
Budapest is a city with such graceful architecture, which you’ve captured really well on a beautiful sunny day! I enjoy listening to Liszt and would love to go to a Franz Liszt concert in Budapest one day.
Danijela
Didn’t know that there are more than 40 theaters and concert halls, how interesting!
The Vigadó Music Theater looks so charming, would love to visit. It might be even better that it doesn’t allow tours, since the experience of going to a performance there must be memorable.
Also, I love the history behind it. Oh, it must have been fascinating to see Brahms himself perform at the theater! 🙂
Hannah
I love how every building is a work of art. I have seen the Hungarian State Opera house, but didn’t get to see a performance sadly. I also love the modern architecture of the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall at the Millennium Cultural Center – understated and elegant. I’ve only been to Budapest in winter, but would love to go back in summer and attend the summer festival – sitting in parks listening to jazz and gypsy music sounds great!
Ruth
This is great Anda! We fall in love with Budapest. I think my husband mentions the city every single week. When visited, we didn’t have a lot of time to explore the musical side of the city. We saw the opera house and our guide made sure we understood why the building is so important to the city. I know I will be back so, hope to visit some of these places in the future. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Anda Galffy
You can never get enough of Budapest, right?
Travel Lexx
Budapest has so much to see and do – there is a real variety of activities and places to visit. I am considering going back soon so this will come in useful for my culture fix! The National Hungarian Gallery looks great!
Anda Galffy
My husband is Hungarian, so we go back there every year. I can never get enough of this great city.
Anu
Of all the places you mention in this post, I have only been to Hungary State Opera. Looks like I need to plan another trip to Budapest soon enough.
Lisa
Been way too long since I’ve been to Budapest but I remember visiting a lot of the sights you mentioned. Such a great city! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Jessica
Such gorgeous photos! I had no idea Budapest was filled with so many music venues, for example. And the festivals sound fantastic! My husband has been to Budapest once, I’m going to have to force him to go with me because I’m dying to go! I hear the local food is amazing, too ?
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels
I’ve been to Budapest but I haven’t had the time to see a play or a concert at one of these venues #theweeklypostcard
Esther
I absolutely adored the museum of applied arts when I visited Budapest, I would absolutely visit it again!
#TheWeeklyPostcard
Neha Sharma
Budapest is such a wonderful city and I really regret that my only visit there was so short. I spent two nights there after a visit to Prague, but I did get to witness some fantastic National Day celebrations at the Castle and along the river. This post reminds me of some the reasons to go back! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Kim-Ling
Budapest is on our bucket list and this post is making us want to go even more! The architecture there looks beautiful – I love the windows in the Vigadó Music Theatre and the Opera House looks so opulent! The National Theatre looks absolutely amazing too, especially the shop element! As someone who loves music, the music festivals sound great, especially the open-air summer concerts. This post has made me so excited to visit Budapest one day and experience all the culture and beautiful sights it has to offer!
Usha
Budapest looks and sound absolutely wonderful. The photographs look stunning. The architecture is magnificent, reminds me a bit of Vienna. Would love to visit Budapest.
Anisa
I didn’t get a chance to see many of these because I was only in Budapest for two days. I love the architecture of the National Theater. Hope to make it back to Budapest at some point.
Anda Galffy
Well, then more reasons to return to Budapest, Anisa.
jill
We used to have a neighbor who traveled around Europe regularly and she claimed Budapest as her favorite European city. It always sounded so exotic to me when she would talk about going there. Beautiful photos of a place I’d love to go to someday!
Emese
Great article, Anda! I actually recognized the photo before reading the title. Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing these cultural gems of Europe.
Linda Bibb
We were in Budapest for four days and I feel like we just scratched the surface of the city. It was our first time there. Even before we checked into our hotel we began to talk about returning for a longer stay.
Budapest has even more to offer than I had thought. Did not know we could have taken a tour of the opera house. It looked so pretty from the outside and I’d like to see the interior as well. But gracious, $50 for the best seats at the opera? What a great opportunity, if for nothing else than to appreciate those acoustics! Have you ever attended a performance there?
Anda Galffy
They have great performances at the Budapest Opera House, Linda. Really worth attending.
Mar Pages
Gosh, everything looks so beautiful. The academy of music looks stunning! I have a soft spot for stone statues and carved buildings, and Budapest looks like a living museum of those. 🙂
Anda Galffy
Thanks,Emese. I discovered Budapest only after I left Romania. Isn’t this funny?
Natalie
I like the architecture of some of those buildings, and love the idea of attending some of the festivals! I’ve lived in Europe for four years now, and one of my favorite things about it has to be the festivals. They are so cultural and usually tons of fun!
Jen Joslin
Thanks for the great info. I would love to go to the Budapest Opera House!! So European 🙂
Kathrin
I LOVE Budapest. It’s one of the most stunning cities in Europe. I’ve only had three days there, so I didn’t have the chance to visit any theatres or museums but I’m planning to revisit the city soon. Definitely going to include some of the places you mentioned then!
Karla
I only hear Budapest in movies but I haven’t really been here. I love their architecture and the rustic feel of their tourist spots. Would love to come here too.
Traveling Rockhopper
Budapest is a wonderful city! I was there a long time ago, but already think to visit it again and refresh old memories 🙂
Natasha Amar
I love the interior of the Academy of Music- so beautiful! And the Budapest Opera House looks very grand as well. Seems like Budapest is a great city for those who like music, art and culture- I can see I would totally enjoy being there.
Sabrina
I do love Budapest! I was there once and I’m looking forward to visiting it again as soon as possible. Thank you for this post!
Lisa Wood
I couldn’t get over the price difference for the best seat in the house in Budapest compared to Los Angeles!!
I used to visit a lot of art galleries when I was in my late teens – especially loved the ones in Canberra and Sydney {Australia}.
Love your pictures of Budapest and the description of what to see – sure sounds like the place to be for Music, Arts, and Culture 🙂
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Lisa. I hope you’ll visit Budapest someday.
Connie Reed
I had no idea that Budapest is such a culturally-rich city. I’ve never been there, but when I do go, I’ll plan to attend at least one music event.
Vlad
I’ve only visited the Opera and it’s absolutely gorgeous! We actually wanted to buy tickets for a show, but all of them were sold out 🙁
Anda Galffy
I can imagine they were sold out. Hungarians love to go to the Opera.