Things to Do in Budapest in May 2016

Budapest Event Guide May 2016

Things to Do in Budapest in May brings you lots of interesting events and fun things to do in Budapest during this month.

Since days are warmer and longer the city is bursting with events and fun things to do all around. In May Budapest becomes truly alive with lots of festivals, concerts, open air theater and all sort of outdoor activities to do for locals and tourists alike.

Budapest weather in May is pleasantly warm, days are sunny and longer, temperatures rise and the whole landscape blossoms. Despite of the warmer weather I recommend you bring a light jacket for chilly nights, sunglasses and suncream. Do not forget your bathing suit, as you shouldn’t miss the thermal baths nor outdoor pools!!

Please find below our top picks’ list of things to do in Budapest in May, you might be interested in doing what locals do and going where locals go besides sightseeing while visiting Budapest.


Night Spa at RudasBaths

When: Every Friday and Saturday Night of May, 2016. From 10:00 pm to 4:00 am.

Where: Rudas Baths – Budapest 1013, Döbrentei tér 9.

Price: 4,600 ft.

Rudas Baths is one of the remaining Turkish baths in Budapest. It was built during the 16th century and still preserves the unique architecture, its Ottoman interior and Turkish character.

It opens its doors every Friday and Saturday night to enjoy a quiet spa experience. Visiting Rudas baths at night can be a unique thing to do in Budapest in May. In 2014, Rudas Bath went through an extensive renovation resulting in a brand new wellness area with four new pools and a rooftop terrace and a rooftop pool. You will also find a Reastaurant & Bar that caters a Turkish-Hungarian fusion kitchen.

How to get there: The best way to get to Rudas Baths is taking trams 18 or 19 (from Bathyanyi tér Red Metro Line) as well as buses 5, 7, 8 and 86 to Dobrentei tér. (at the foot of Elizabeth Bridge on the Buda side).


Dinning Cruise with Live Music

When: Every day in May, 2016

Where: Meeting Point. Danube Palace, Zrinyi u. 5.

A romantic dinner cruise with live music on the river Danube is a wonderful thing to do in Budapest in April. These cruises offer a great 4 meal course of traditional Hungarian food created by the well known Hungarian chef, Klöter Gregor-Grex.

The musicians, members of the Rajko Orchestra, as well as the famous violinist Zsigmond Vidák entertain guests with melodies of classical and traditional Hungarian music as they witness fabulous night views of Budapest at the background.

Do not miss the opportunity to get enchanted by the spectacular night views of Budapest world cultural heritage panorama. From a river tour like this, you see Budapest from a different perspective: the illumined bridges, the Parliament,the Buda Castle and Citadella are simply stunning at night.

More information: Check the Dinner Cruise Website for detailed information on dates, menu and prices.


Classical Music Concerts at Budapest Basilica

When: Every Tuesday and Sunday of May, 2015. 8:00 pm.

Where: St. Stephen’s Basilica

Cost: 30-56 Euro

Saint Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most stunning neo Classical buildings of Budapest.

Its great acoustics makes it the perfect place to enjoy a series of beautiful classical music concerts where the organ and the flute are the main players together with outstanding performers.

How to get there: The best way to get the Basilica of Budapest is taking Blue Metro Line 3 and getting off at Arány János station.

More information: Check the Basilica’s organ Concerts Website for detailed information on dates, concerts and prices.


WAMP Arts and Crafts Fair

When: May 22, 2016.

Where: Erzsebet tér.

WAMP is a local design festival that takes place at least once a month, usually on Sundays where young Hungarian designers and craftsmen exhibit their creations. This is the perfect place to get to know Hungarian Fashion, emerging Hungarian designers and to buy unique colorful and authentic gifts.

If you happen to be in Budapest at this time, don’t miss this festival! Take advantage of this fair to look for unique souvenirs for relatives and friends.

How to get there: The best way to get to WAMP in Erzsebet tér is taking Blue Metro Line (M3) and getting off at Deák tér station. Erzsebet tér is just in front of Deák tér.


Gouba Bazaar – Art Street Market

When: Every Sunday of May, 2016 10 am- 7 pm

Where: Gozsdu udvar. VI District. Király utca 13

Entrance: Free

GoubaArtMarketGouba is a Sunday street market where you can find interesting, colorful, creative and fun arts, crafts, books, antiques and gastronomy. From Spring to the end of Autumn this is the place where every Sunday young Hungarian musicians, ceramists, painters, jewelers and artists in general exhibit their own creations.

The bazaar takes place at Gozsdu Udvar, a beautifully renovated courtyard on Király utca (Budapest Jewish Quarter). If you are looking for something fun to do on Sundays, Gouba bazaar is the place to be.


Buda Hills by Budapest Chair Lift

When: May 2016.

Where: Zugligeti út 97.

János Hégy is a wonderful place located in one of the most beautiful areas of Buda Hills from where you can admire the entire city of Budapest.

You can reach János Hill by chairlift (libegő).

The ride takes about 15 minutes through a leafy green forest with fantastic views of surrounding neighborhoods and Budapest.

JanosHillLookOutBudapestJános hégy is the highest point in the Buda Hills where you can walk up to Elizabeth lookout and enjoy 350°breathtaking views of the city and surroundings, have a relaxed walk or even take a ride back to the city on the children railway.

The chairlift to János hegy (John’s hill) works daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday to Sundays and Public Holidays.

The chairlift runs depending on weather conditions (It doesn’t operate on windy, stormy, foggy or rainy weather)

Cost: 1000 Ft per adult per ride. And 600 Ft per child per ride.

Return Ticket: 1,400 Ft for adults and 800 Ft for children. Children under 3 years old can travel free of charge.

How to get there: The easiest way to get to Zugligeti Libegő station is to take bus number 291 at Nyugati Station, get off at the last stop and walk up about 200 mt. On the right side you will find the Zugligeti Libegő station (Next to Zugligeti campsite where there is a yellow tram car that works as a campsite shop).

More information: Check the map and timetable here.


May Day – National Holiday

When: May 1st, 2016

Where: City Park, Népliget, Margaret island, Orcy Park.

May 1st used to be celebrated in Hungary as the International Labor Day during the Communist regime. On this day huge parades took place along the biggest city’s avenues.

Nowadays, May Day is mainly a family oriented celebration. In Budapest, this is the day when friends and families get together and spend their time in one of the many parks where there are always concerts, fun fairs, crafts fairs and fun activities for all.

Every May 1st Hungarians officially welcome Spring enjoying nature, going to Normafa Hill to eat some rétes (strudel), to John’s Hill by chairlift to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the highest point of the Buda Hills or to the popular celebrations for children and families at Tabán (between Gellért Hill and Buda Castle) and Orczy Park.

If you happen to be in Budapest on this day, grab some snacks and head to one of the many places Hungarians will be celebrating May Day.


Budapest Palace of Arts

When: May 2016.

Where: Komor Marcell u. 1, Budapest IX District

xPalaceofArtsofBudapest.jpg.pagespeed.ic.f1R-zwJkfcThe Budapest Palace of Arts offers an amazing variety of cultural events all year round. Musical concerts from diverse genres, opera, dance performances, art exhibitions and art workshops among many other kind of events take place in the Palace of Arts.

If you are interested in any type of art, visit Budapest’s Palace of Arts and enjoy Hungarian’s rich cultural life.This is truly one of the things to do in Budapest in May 2015 you shouldn’t miss.

How to get there: The best way to get the Palace of Arts is taking tram number 2 and getting off at Közvágohíd (Millenium Kulturalís Központ)

More information: Check Palace Arts Events for detailed information on current programs.


Sail along the Danube

When: From May to September, 2016

Where:Romai Part, Budapest III district.

xkajakonDanube.jpg.pagespeed.ic.QrFsHqsm0WRomai Part is a charming riverbank in Budapest’s District III. It is a popular place for dining, strolling around, riding your bicycle, renting a kayak or a boat and sailing along the Danube.

There are lots of terrace restaurants where in summer locals enjoy the cool breezes of the Danube as well as Hungarian summer delicacies such as langos, palacsinta (pancakes) and fried fish (hake). If you are willing to spend an afternoon as a local and with locals, come to Romai Part.

How to get there: take the HÉV train from Batthyány tér and get off at Római Fürdő station. Walk to the riverbank.

Alternatively, you can go by boat, public boats operate from April to October, you can take the boat at Batthyányi tér dock and get off at Romai Fűrdő dock. To get back to the city check the timetable at Romai Fűrdő dock.


Cultural Night at the Budapest Opera House

When: May 2016

Where: Hungarian State Opera House. Andrassy út 22

Time: 19:00-22:30

The Hungarian Opera House proudly presents the following performances in May:

Erika Miklósa as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

More information: Check the Hungarian Opera House  website for detailed information and prices.

How to get there:You can reach the Opera House easily using the yellow metro Line 1. There is a station right across the Opera house , as you come up the station the opera House is just in front of you on Andrassy út 22.


Travel by Boat as a Local

When: From May to September, 2016

Where:From Budapest’s Docks to Romai Part, Budapest III district.

If you want to enjoy a ferry ride along the Danube, just the way locals do, take one of the ferries that run from Petőfi bridge (Boraros tér dock) to Pünkösdfűrdő dock.

xDanubeBoatTrip.jpg.pagespeed.ic.iEjLwoGy9vThis is a very nice tour that covers the length of the city and costs you a little bit more than a metro single ticket, all depends on where you get on and you want to get to.

There are stops at Batthyányi Tér and Jászai Mari tér where you can get on and there is also a stop at the Margaret island where you can get off and look around if you wish.

I recommend you take the ferry at Petőfi tér then you will have the opportunity to take beautiful pictures of the Chain Bridge, the Buda Castle and the Parliament. Get off at Romai Part stop, stroll around or if you wish just go until the last stop (Pünkösdfűrdő)where the ferry turns back and takes you where you got on.

Tickets are sold on board.

More information: Check the Hungarian Ferries Website for detailed timetable and prices.



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Budapest Events Calendar:

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