Must-see entertainment in Hungary

  • Hungarian State Opera House

    Budapest

    The gorgeous neo-Renaissance opera house is worth a visit as much to admire the incredibly rich decoration inside as to view a performance and hear the…

  • Facade of Ferenc Liszt Music Academy, Erzsebetvaros.

    Liszt Music Academy

    Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

    Performances at Budapest’s most important concert hall are usually booked up at least a week in advance, but more expensive (though still affordable) last…

  • Palace of Arts

    Budapest

    The two concert halls at this palatial arts centre by the Danube are the 1700-seat Béla Bartók National Concert Hall (Bartók Béla Nemzeti Hangversenyterem…

  • Giero Pub

    Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

    This basement bar, presided over by Gizi néni (Aunt Gizi), is the place to come to listen to Gypsy music, as Roma musicians play the real deal from about…

  • Aranytíz House of Culture

    Budapest

    At this cultural centre in Lipótváros, there are wonderful mixed traditional táncház (folk music and dance workshops) from 8pm on Saturday that run till…

  • Budapest Jazz Club

    Budapest

    A very sophisticated venue – now pretty much the most serious one in town – for traditional, vocal and Latin jazz by local and international talent. Past…

  • Jedermann Cafe

    Budapest

    This lovely and uber-chilled old-style cafe and restaurant at the southern end of XI Ráday utca turns into a great music venue at night, focusing on jazz,…

  • Trafó House of Contemporary Arts

    Budapest

    This ultrahip stage in Ferencváros presents a mixture of music, theatre and especially dance, including a good pull of international acts. It also has a…

  • Cowboy Show

    Great Plain

    The highlight of a trip to the Kiskunság National Park is the chance to see the puszta cowboy show at Bugac. In addition to making noble Nonius steeds…

  • Erkel Theatre

    Budapest

    Budapest's modern (and usually considered ugly) second opera house, southwest of Keleti train station, has reopened after a massive facelift that has…

  • Fonó Buda Music House

    Budapest

    This venue has táncház (folk music and dance) programs several times a week, especially on Wednesday at 6.30pm and Friday at 8pm, as well as concerts by…

  • Gödör Klub

    Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

    In the bowels of the Central Passage shopping centre on Király utca, Gödör has maintained its reputation for scheduling an excellent variety of indie,…

  • Budapest Music Center

    Budapest

    Hosting a fantastic line-up of mainly Hungarian jazz and classical performances, the Budapest Music Center comprises a classy 350-capacity concert hall …

  • Jazz Kocsma

    Szeged

    The kind of small, basement music club that no self-respecting university town would be without. Gets pretty crowded during the academic year for live…

  • Municipal Cultural House

    Budapest

    There’s folk music and dance at what is also called the FMH at 7pm usually on alternate Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays (see the website). A children’s…

  • Pótkulcs

    Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

    The 'Spare Key' is a fine little drinking venue with a varied menu of live music most evenings and occasional táncház (Hungarian music and dance). The…

  • Átrium

    Castle District

    This wonderful new theatre in Buda stages many of its both Hungarian and foreign plays and musicals with English surtitles, opening up Hungarian drama to…

  • Organ Concert

    Eger

    There are half-hour organ concerts at Eger Basilica daily from May to October.

  • Budapest Operetta

    Budapest

    This theatre presents operettas, which are always a riot, especially campy ones like The Gypsy Princess by Imre Kálmán or Ferenc Lehár’s The Merry Widow,…

  • Akvárium Klub

    Budapest

    This place delivers a varied program of Hungarian and international live music, from indie, rock, world and pop to electronica and beyond. The main hall…

  • Toldi Artmozi

    Budapest

    An arthouse cinema and cafe by day, a hipster nightclub by night, Toldi is a unique hangout for Budapest's trendy, film-loving crowd. Films are usually…

  • Urania National Cinema

    Budapest

    This tarted-up film palace is an art deco/neo-Moorish extravaganza showing mostly arthouse films in their original language with Hungarian subtitles. It…

  • Budapest Puppet Theatre

    Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

    The city’s puppet theatre presents shows designed for children at 10am or 10.30am, and 2.30pm or 3pm. Performances usually don’t require fluency in…

  • Mu Színház

    Budapest

    Virtually everyone involved in the Hungarian modern-dance scene got their start at this landmark place in south Buda, where excellent performances can be…

  • National Theatre

    Budapest

    This rather eclectic venue is the place to go if you want to brave a play in Hungarian or just check out the theatre’s bizarre architecture.

  • Óbuda Society

    Óbuda & Buda Hills

    This very intimate venue in Óbuda takes its music seriously and hosts recitals and some chamber orchestras. Highly recommended.

  • Puskin Art Mozi

    Budapest

    The long-established ‘Pushkin Art Cinema’ shows a healthy mix of art-house and popular releases.

  • Groupama Arena

    Budapest

    Rebuilt on the site of the Flórián Albert Stadium opposite Népliget bus station, branded Groupama Arena is home to Ferencvárosi Torna Club (www.fradi.hu),…

  • Roncs Bár

    Debrecen

    A ruin bar that would do Budapest proud, the 'Wreck' has random old stuff – guitars, bikes, a disintegrating light aircraft – strewn both within a large…

  • A38

    Budapest

    Moored on the Buda side just south of Petőfi Bridge, the A38 is a decommissioned Ukrainian stone hauler from 1968 that has been recycled as a major live…

  • József Katona Theatre

    Budapest

    The József Katona Theatre is the best-known playhouse in Hungary, hosting a varied repertoire of performances, from Shakespeare plays and Waiting for…

  • Budai Vigadó

    Castle District

    The artistes of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble (Magyar Állami Népi Együttes) perform at this venue, also known as the Hagyományok Háza (Hungarian…

  • Bethlen Square Theatre

    Budapest

    This small and atmospheric theatre puts on drama, dance and puppet shows. There’s a good cafe, a gallery and the celebrated Central European Dance Theatre…

  • Ladó Café

    Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter

    An unassuming place by day with decent food (mains 3950Ft to 6650Ft) and excellent service, the Ladó comes into its own at 8pm most nights when it hosts…

  • Csokonai Theatre

    Debrecen

    Three-tier gilt balconies, ornate ceiling frescoes and elaborate chandeliers: the Csokonai is everything a 19th-century theatre should be. Musicals and…

  • József Katona Theatre

    Kecskemét

    This attractive 19th-century theatre named after the eponymous local boy who brought new life to Hungarian theatre stages dramatic works, as well as…

  • Pécs National Theatre

    Pécs

    Pécs is renowned for its opera company and the Sophianae Ballet, both of which perform at this theatre. Advance tickets can be purchased from the theatre…

  • László Papp Budapest Sportaréna

    Budapest

    This purpose-built 12,500-seat arena named after a local boxing great is where big local and international acts like Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart and Metallica…

  • Pesti Vigadó

    Budapest

    Pesti Vigadó, the Romantic-style concert hall built in 1865 and recently renovated, hosts classical concerts and other performances in opulent surrounds.

  • Petőfi Theatre

    Sopron

    This beautiful theatre with National Romantic–style mosaics on the front facade features both contemporary plays and Hungarian and foreign drama.

More destinations you need to see