Top 7 Things to do in Hungary in August:

1. Sziget Festival, Budapest

Now in its 30th year, Budapest’s very own island festival is still the biggest and the best in the region, this year bringing the likes of Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons and Foals to larger stages.

As ever, there’s far more to Sziget than just music, with circus, dance, theatre, art, games, sport, discussions and workshops all taking place, among a wealth of other activities.

The coolest way to the site is by boat (€5), some 25 minutes from Jászai Mari tér at the Pest side of Margaret Bridge.

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Enjoy more : Sziget Festival, Óbuda Island. 10-15 August.

2. Beartooth & While She Sleeps, Budapest

US hardcore punk joins forces with Sheffield metalcore for a night of relentless noise at Buda’s rock roadhouse, the Barba Negra.

WSS are no strangers to Budapest, and now they return to promote their fifth studio album, Sleep Society. Headliners Beartooth are a five-piece from Ohio who throw a few catchy melodies in with the thrash.

Enjoy more: Beartooth & While She Sleeps, Barba Negra, Budapest. 15 August.

3. Festival of Folk Arts, Budapest

Hungary's largest folk art festival, the biggest in the Carpathian Basin, involves almost 1,000 Hungarian and foreign craftspeople gathering at Buda Castle. Admission is free.

This year's Guest of Honour is Czechia, whose masters demonstrate traditional folk crafts such as weaving, blueprinting, percussion woodwork, embroidery and wool processing.

Enjoy more: Festival of Folk Arts, Budapest. 18-20 August.

4. World Athletics Championships, Budapest
Only one down from the Olympics, the World Athletics Championships brings together some 2,000 of the planet’s fastest and most prodigious sportsmen in one brand new stadium built for the occasion at the tip of Csepel island.

A cable camera from 40 metres up will be recording all the track and field action, while the marathon route will take in the most beautiful sights of Budapest, Andrássy út, Chain Bridge and Heroes’ Square, where the race starts and finishes.

Enjoy more: World Athletics Championships, Budapest. 19-27 August.

5. St Stephen’s Day Celebrations, Budapest

While celebrations to mark Hungary’s national day take place across the country, Budapest’s stages the biggest events, from the procession at St Stephen’s Basilica to the huge firework display over the Danube from 9pm.

Stake your place on the embankment early, or book a table at a hotel or restaurant with a view e.g. you can see the 20 August Fireworks at Sky Garden Roof Terrace of Mystery Hotel Budapest.

Enjoy more: St Stephen’s Day Celebrations, Budapest. 20 August.

6. Sundeer, Királyrét

Sundeer is a ceremony inspired by the assemble of wisdom keepers, shamans, healers, medicine people, teachers and artists from different parts of the world. This International Gathering of Wisdom Keepers has been organised annually since 2015.

This year they will meet again on the hills of Királyrét, 50km north of Budapest. Their aim is to share in community the ancient wisdom, knowledge and deep experience of different cultures and the natural world.

Enjoy More: Sundeer, Királyrét. 23-27 August.

7. Savaria Historical Carnival, Szombathely

The western Hungarian city of Szombathely hosts its annual Savaria Historical Carnival, the largest of its kind in Central Europe, dating back to 1961.

Some 300 events await an estimated 100,000-120,000 visitors at 25 venues, with legionnaires in Roman combat gear, fearless gladiators, medieval knights and Hungarian heritage preservers in authentic costume.

The highlight is the torchlit procession on Friday and Saturday evenings, when hundreds march through the city centre dressed in Roman togas and tunics.

Enjoy More: Savaria Historical Carnival, Szombathely. 24-27 August.

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To see a great selection of daily events just follow this link.


Words by Peterjon Cresswell for Xpatloop.com
Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com