Entertainment

OperaClassical MusicDance HousesBlues, Jazz, RockCircusCinemas

Hungary is a paradise for culture vultures. In Budapest there are several musical events to choose from each evening. Besides the traditional opera, operetta and concerts, there are rock and jazz concerts, folk dancing, pantomime, puppet shows, movies in English, discos, floor shows and circuses to keep you entertained.

Excellent cultural performances can also be seen in provincial towns such as Eger, Gyor, Kecskemet, Pecs, Szeged, Veszprem and Szombathely, all of which have fine theatres. Information about events is readily available at tourist offices. Some useful words to remember are szinhaz (theatre), penztar (box office), jegy (ticket) and elkelt (sold out).

In mid-June many theatres close for the summer holidays, reopening in late September or October. Summer opera, operetta and concert programmes especially designed for tourists are more expensive than the normal programmes for regular subscribers in winter.

On the other hand, there are many summer festivals from late June to mid-August, though the period from 20 August (St Stephen’s Day) to late September is culturally dead.

Going to the cinema (mozi) in Hungary can be hit or miss as the programmes advertised outside may be coming attractions or even what’s showing in some other cinema across town. To avoid unwelcome surprises, write down in Hungarian the name of the film you think you’re going to see with a large question mark after it and show it to the ticket seller before you pay. Also be aware that many foreign films are dubbed into Hungarian, so again, try asking the ticket seller if the film is dubbed (szinkronizalt or magyarul beszelo), or only has Hungarian subtitles (feliratos) and retains the original soundtrack.

Admission prices are low in comparison with those in the West. The English-language papers in Budapest list what films are being shown in their original language in the capital, but elsewhere around the country you’re on your own. Unfortunately films by such noted Hungarian directors as Istvan Gaal, Miklos Jancso, Andras Jeles, Robert Koltai, Karoly Makk, Pal Sandor and Istvan Szabo are likely to be in Hungarian with no subtitles, see them at a good art cinema at home.

Plenty of movies and theatres are in Budapest. A ticket costs about 600-1000 Ft, depending on location. In my opinion you will find the best movies at Dunaplaza Shopping Center and at Corvin.

Mozimusor - movies
Szinhazmusor - theatres
Hangverseny - Concerts

Some of the movies are subtitled, others are translated.

There is a free 100 page booklet printed on each Thursday with all programs/concerts/movies for the next 7 days. Available at public places, pubs, Tourinformat Deak ter (very center of town where all metro lines meet). The name is PESTI EST.

The tourinform office is situated next to McDonalds in Deak ter, the office is a very good place to pick up instructions, maps, brochures, programs all free!

Some of the movies/entertainment links, or what is in town?
Pesti musor