Budapest in June 2024: events, things to do and travel tips
A complete visitor's guide to Budapest in June
- things to do
- May 19, 2024
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June, the first summer month, is a great time to visit Budapest. Some go to parks, some to the baths, but if the sun is out, you won’t find a park without people lying down and having picnics. And there are a lot of things happening, whether you’re a tourist wanting to visit Budapest, or whether you’re looking for the best local events.
Have a look below to find the best tips for when in Budapest: what’s the weather like, what are the best events in June 2024, and what things to do that month.
Staying over for the next months?
Read our guide about Budapest in July 2024 and our complete guide about Budapest in August 2024 (if you stay for August, make sure you don’t miss the firework on St. Stephen’s Day!)
Going to Budapest? Travel smart.
• Get a miniBUD transfer to the city center
• Stay in Budapest with Booking.com
• Find the cheapest flights with Kiwi.com
• Get an Airalo eSim to use your phone
• Find the best tours in Budapest with GetYourGuide and Viator
• Get a Budapest Card for free public transport and entry to the best attractions
Budapest events in June 2024
Now, here’s a list of the best events happening in Budapest in June. You’ll find the most popular music concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and more.
➡️ Quick links to Budapest events in June 2024:
• The Danube Carnival
• Budapest Music Festival
• Margaretsziget Outdoor Theatre
• Rosalia Festival
• Water Tower
• St. Margaret Monastery Ruins
• Concerts in Budapest in June
• Budapest Opera
• The Night of the Museums
• Museum of Fine Arts in June
• Hungarian National Gallery in June
• Museum of Ethnography in June
• Records Fair at Szimpla Kert
🎉 The Danube Carnival
• When: 7-14 June, 2024
• Where: Margaret Island, Erzsébetliget Theater, Kobuci Garden, Musem Garden, Pomáz Art Center
• Full program here
The Danube Carnival is a 25 year old international event that celebrates Budapest’s culture with folk dance and music from Hungary and from around the world. For one week in June there will be twelve events in total happening in Budapest – mostly performances by national and guest ensembles. You’ll be able to see things like a folk dance competition on Chain Bridge, an international dance teaching event on Kobuci Garden, or a Carnival Parade in Museum Garden. This is, in fact, the place where a great number of events will take place: eight, in total.
🚣 SUP Budapest Festival: Paddle event
• When: June 29th
• Where: Duna Café Grill & Bar (meeting point)
• Program here
For the ones that don’t know, SUP means Standup paddleboarding. And on that day, you’ll get to rent one (or bring yours) and to paddle through the Danube, starting in Római and finishing in Kopaszi-gát.
You can buy your ticket online or register from 8:00 AM at the venue of the start. One ticket with SUP rental will cost HUF 18,990, and renting a life jack is HUF 3,990.
Margaretsziget Outdoor Theatre
• When: June-August
• Where: Margaret Island
• Full program here
If you go to Budapest in June and if you like outdoor shows, this one’s for you. Every year, Margaret Island has different performances during summertime, be it music concerts, theater or ballet. Here’s the program for June:
• Opening concert- National Philarmonic Orchestra: June 4
• Jazz and Wine weekend (music concerts and wine tasting): June 7-8
• Parade & Concert with Székesfehérvár Ballet Theater and Boban Marković Orchestra: June 11
• Danube Carnival (dance and music): June 14
• Carthago Jubilee concert (Hungarian rock band): June 15
• Bradley Jaden concert (musicals’ singer): June 18
• Anna and The Barbies (electronic music): June 22
• The Barber of Seville (opera): June 29
Red Bull Ládaderbi
• When: June 30th
• Where: Next to Liberty Bridge
• Program here
Also called the Soapbox race, this is an event for brave and creative people, who are ready to race with their non-motorized car, made by their own hands. If you plan to attend the Hungarian Ládaderbi, be ready for a laugh: you’ll see the craziest car models, some getting to the finish the line…and some not.
🍷 Rosalia Festival
• When: 31 May – 2 June
• Budapest City Park
• Full program & registration here
The Rosalia Festival sort of kicks off the wine festival season. You can relax and enjoy a nice atmosphere with a picnic in Városliget (the city park), while savoring a variety of wines, including rosé, champagne, and French selections. There are nearly 40 wineries in this festival, accompanied by some bites and Hungarian specialties. But the event isn’t just about the tasting wine: there’s also live music performances and DJ sets starting in the evening, making it a proper summer event.
🎸 Concerts in Budapest in June
• June program here
There are many concerts and Dj sets in Budapest in June 2024. Here’s the highlights for the month:
• Swing à la Django (official), Óbudai Kulturális Központ – June 1st
• Charlotte Sands – Turbina Kulturális Központ – June 4th
• Dropkick Murphys, Budapest Park – June 11th
• Coldplay, Puskás Aréna – June 16th
• Scorpions, Papp László Budapest Sportaréna – June 29th
• Oscar Mulero, Alkotótábor – June 28th
🏛️ The Night of the Museums
• Complete program will be posted here
• When: 22 June
• Where: several museums
While the final program is still being finalized, some things are known already. For a fairly low price, you get to enter many museums in Budapest on the evening/night of the 22nd of June. And you can also use the museums bus to hop on from museum to museum.
In order to check temporary and permanent exhibitions within the event, you can buy the ticket at any participating museum (or at the BKK offices in some metro stations). Usually there’s also nearly other 2,000 events happening; and more than 50 museums will join the Night of the Museums, like the Budapest History Museum, Buda Castle, the National Gallery or Matthias Church.
🩰 Budapest Opera in June
• Complete June program here.
Here’s a list with the main events in Budapest Opera in June:
• The Pygmalion effect: ballet (Boris Eifman / Johann Strauss II) – June 1st
• Reformed Hymns XXI: solo and choirs – June 1st
• War and Peace: opera (Prokofiev) – June 2, 5, 7
• Golden Age – Slavs: symphonic concert – June 2nd
• Aida: opera (Giuseppe Verdi) – June 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 25, 26
• 8TH Iván Nagy International Ballet Gala – June 9th
• The Spinning Room: opera – June 13, 15, 16, 19, 23
• Le Corsaire: ballet – June 20, 22 (2x), 29, 30 (2x)
• Rigoletto: opera – June 27, 29
🖼️ Museum of Fine Arts in June
• Entire program here.
Temporary exhibitions in June:
• Kertész, Moholy-Nagy, Capa… / Hungarian Photographers in America (1914–1989) – the Hungarian-American photo history with over 30 photographers: André Kertész, László Moholy-Nagy, Martin Munkácsi, and Robert Capa.
Permanent exhibitions in June:
• Halls of the Museum of Fine Arts (Romanesque, Renaissance, Baroque)
• Ancient Egypt
• Variations on the Baroque – Art in Hungary (1600-1800)
• Classical Antiquity
• European Sculpture 1350-1800
• European Art 1250-1800
🖼️ Hungarian National Gallery in June
• Entire program here.
Temporary exhibitions in June:
• Sean Scully: UNINSIDEOUT – a retrospective of Sean Scully’s works, an Irish artist famous for his large-scale abstract paintings.
• My Story. Early Memory of the Holocaust in the Works of Eyewitness Artists – dedicated to the Holocaust in Hungary, this exhibition is made of drawings, prints, and albums that try to represent what happened on those years.
• When Dolls Speak – Retrospective Exhibition of Margit Anna (1913–1991) – celebrating Margit Anna, a leading figure in Hungarian painting of the 20th century, the Museum displays 220 of her paintings and graphics.
Some of their permanent exhibitions:
• Variations on Realism – From Munkácsy to Mednyánszky – collections from local and international sources of Mihály Munkácsy’s art.
• Gothic Art in the Hungarian Kingdom, 1300–1500 – a great collection of winged altars, panel paintings, and wooden sculptures from the Kingdom of Hungary, between the years 1300 and 1500.
• Late Gothic Winged Altarpieces – wooden sculptures and panel paintings from the Middle Ages.
• Nude Sculptures from the Turn of the Century – naturalist and art noveau marble statues (by Hungarian artists), from the first twenty years of the last century.
• Art in the 19th Century – Hungarian fine art from the 19th century, with 150 paintings, 40 sculptures, 40 medals, and 33 applied art objects.
• Shifts – Updated! – an exhbition about the history of Hungarian art after 1945, focusing on certain artists and collectives.
• Modern Times – Hungarian Art Between 1896 and World War II
🖼️ Museum of Ethnography in June
Entire program here.
Temporary exhibitions in June:
SHIPIBO-KONIBO. Portraits of my blood – black and white photos works from David Díaz, and indigenous photographer form the Shipibo-Konibo community of Peru, capturing a personal view on the Shipibo-Konibo culture.
• I find thee with God, my brother! – Gypsy stories – photo exhibition, manuscripts and tape recordings made by Kamill Erdős (1924–1962), a known researcher, also called “the Blonde Gypsy”.
• Yanomami. Spirits. Survivors – photo exhibition – photo exhibition by Claudia Andujar, a Hungarian-origin photographer renowned for her work with Amazonian tribes. Exhibition in collaboration with São Paulo’s Vermelho Gallery.
• Together: Images of Inaktelke 2000-2002 – exhibition showing the life of a village in Kalotaszeg and its community.
Some of their permanent exhibitions:
• ZOOM: A Change in Perspectives
2000+ artefacts and many hundred thousand photos, drawings, audio recordings, films, and manuscripts.
• Ceramics Space: Ceramics of the World – over 35,000 ceramic objects from five continents exhibited in a different way – divided into two parts, like the hemispheres of the human brain.
💿 Szimpla Kert's Music and Record fair
• Entire Szimpla’s program here
• June 1st, from 12 to 6 PM – record fair
Find new vinyl records and old treasures. This fair happens every month at Szimpla kért, the oldest and most famous run pub in Budapest.
Things to do in Budapest in June
Besides the seasonal events, there are so many other things to do in Budapest in June. We’ll look at historic places to visit, what food to taste, which thermal baths to try, parks to vist, bars and clubs, and much more. Read on to seem them.
1. Museum hopping
There will be the Nights of Museum presenting you an evening/night to visit many museums for a reduced price. But if you’re not there that day, still consider visiting some museums. Budapest is a city full of history, and has many exhibitions about both Hungarian artists and international ones, about its recent history from the 20th-century, etc. etc. And if you want to find days when Museums are for free, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list:
Free Museums
(on selected dates, for adults under 26 or children under 18 accompanied by two adult parents or caretakers)
Free on June 2nd (first Sunday of June):
• Natural History Museum
• House of Terror
Free on June 15th (third Saturday of June):
• Hungarian National Museum
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Hungarian National Gallery
• Hungarian Folk Museum
Free on June 29th (last Saturday of June):
• Budapest History Museum
• Aquincum Museum
• Hungarian Technical and Transport Museum
2. Budapest Parliament
For sure you’ve seen or heard about this one before. The Budapest Parliament, a symbol of Hungary, is also one of the largest in the world.
It was built in the years of 1885-1992. On the outside, you’ll find a beautiful and majestic building with Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, and Neo-Baroque elements. And on the inside, there’s an impressive 691 rooms, housing the Hungarian Assembly and the Hungarian Holy Crown.
Looking at the parliament is already an amazing experience. The façade seen from the river or from the Parliament gardens is pure arquichectural beauty, and you can get the best views of it from Batthyány Square, Géllert Hill, or Margaret Bridge. But there’s also the option of going on a tour:
Parliament tours
With a tour to Budapest Parliament you’ll get to learn about its history, architecture and everything that’s inside. Lasting around 45 minutes, prices are as follows:
• EEA citizen: HUF 6,000 (HUF 3,000 for ages between 6-24)
• Non-EEA citizen: HUF 12,000 (HUF 6,000 for ages between 6-24)
Opening hours in June: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055
3. Széchenyi thermal baths
In June, Budapest’s thermal baths are a great retreat, especially if you’ve been walking for 1-2 days and need to rest your legs.
Known for the mineral-rich waters and the beauty of its buildings, these baths will provide you not only health benefits, but also an experience second to none. You’ll have the feeling of what being a local can be like.
There are many thermal baths that you can visit: Gellért Bath’s, with its Art Nouveau, and Széchenyi Thermal Bath’s outdoor pools, are the most popular. If you visit them, make sure you go when it’s less crowded. But there are other options too – check the best thermal baths in Budapest.
• Read more about the Széchenyi thermal baths
Location: Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146
• Read more about the Gellért baths
Location: Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118
4. Budapest Opera House
Be sure to also visit the Hungarian Opera House in June, even if you don’t get in. It’s one of the most famous buildings in Budapest, and one of the most beautiful too. We’re talking about neo-Renaissance, opulent interiors, and also a lot of history.
For a better experience you can go on a tour to the Opera. But some people even prefer to attend a performance live. June 2024’s program has world-class shows, with Giuseppe Verdi and Sergei Prokofiev among the most famous names.
Budapest Opera Tours:
If you want to avoid long lines when buying your Opera tour, make sure you get your ticket online here.
Prices at the place:
• Individual ticket: HUF 9,000
(Groups: HUF 5,000 per person)
* Lasts 60 minutes and ends with a 10-minute concert interlude.
Location: Budapest, Andrássy út 22, 1061 Hungary
5. Try the local food
There’s a lot to be said (and tried) when it comes to food in Budapest.
One way to explore the local markets, like the Great Market Hall, and the best restaurants in Budapest. Make sure you look for paprika, whether you’re buying cooking products, souvenirs, or trying local specialties; and don’t skip skip the classics: goulash soup, lángos, and dobos cake are some of the most famous. To beat the warm weather, you might want a refreshing fruit soup (yes, you heard it right!); or go for local wines, like Tokaji Furmint, Egri Bikavér, or Fröccs—a mix of soda and white wine.
But if you prefer, there’s also some great food tours to help you navigate the local cuisine.
Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie tasting
Go on this local food tasting event for a sommelier-led experience with 5 fine Hungarian wines and some of the country’s best artisan cheese and charcuterie.
6. St. Stephen’s Basilica
If you haven’t heard about St. Stephen’s Basilica, surely you’ll be surprised when you see it. It’s a majestic, beautiful neo-classical monument, standing in Budapest city center.
This basilica was built in 1905 as a tribute to Stephen I, Hungary’s first king, and is 96m tall, offering a great view over the city. But its interior is even more amazing that the outside: you’ll find beautiful frescoes and a breathtaking sight of the dome from within. Oh, and the relic of King St. Stephen’s mummified right hand is there too.
Entering St. Stephen’s Basilica – skip the line to get tickets:
If you want to visit Budapest Basilica in June, you’ll probably find yourself on a long line to get your ticket. Considering buying your entry ticket online, or even get a tour to the Basilica.
Entry prices at the place:
• Church: HUF 2,300
• Terrace & Treasury: HUF 4,300
• Church, Terrace & Treasury: HUF 6,000
*a discount applies to children 18, students and seniors (over 65, EEA citizens).
7. Budapest Grand City Tour
Here’s another great way to explore the city: by taking a Grand City Tour. By doing this you’ll be simplifying things, as the tour already takes you to places like Buda Castle District, the inside of Budapest Parliament, and the Heroes Square, Szechényi Thermal Baths, Budapest Zoo, Andrássy Avenue, Budapest Opera House or St.Stephan’s Basilica.
What’s included:
• From 55 euros per person
• 4.5 hours
• Free cancellation, up to 4 days before
• In English or Spanish
• Takes you to the main sites, including: Budapest Parliament (inside tour), Castle District, Heroes Square, Dohány Street Synagogue, Opera House, etc.
8. Admire the glowing bridges at night
Another way to explor Budapest is actually by checking the city at night, including the Buda Castle, the Parliament, and the main bridges of Budapest: the Chain Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, and Margaret Bridge.
A 1 hour walk along the Danube between Margaret and Liberty bridges will give you stunning views of all fours bridges, and they all glow once the sun starts setting. It’s by far one of the best things to do in Budapest, so get your camera (or phone ready) to capture the essence of the also called “Paris of the East”.
In case you do this walk at night – you’ll also find a glowing Parliament, not far from Margaret Bridge (the building, on Pest side, is better seen from the Buda side). And if you walk close to the Chain Bridge from Pest side, you’ll see a beautifully illuminated Buda Castle on the background.
9. Have fun in Budapest's nightlife
With June arriving, Budapest’s nightlife scene thrives. You’ll find all sorts of bars, and clubs…and lots of the famous ruin bars. Here are some top recommendations we’ve prepared for you:
Ruin Bars: set in repurposed WWII buildings, these pubs are a must-visit. You can’t go to Budapest without seeing at least one. There are many name, like Anker’t, Ellátó Kert, or Instant-Fogás. But the most famous is Szimpla Kert, and that’s the first we think you should go if you’re looking for a local experience
Gozsdu Udvar: this is a courtyward in the Jewish Quarter, a qutie lively one, that works more like a cultural hub during the day, with several stands where people sell their handmade products; but after dark it becomes a busy nightlife spot, with its restaurants, cafes, bars, karaokes and small clubs becoming the main highlight.
Bálna: if the idea is to get a drink along the riverside, without the frenzyness of certain busy areas, Bálna gives you that. Under a scenic setting by the Liverty Bridge, there have bars, perfect for a glass of wine, and a good sidewalk for calm strolls.
10. Go for a stroll in Margaret Island
Exploring Margaret Island in Budapest in June is one of the local ways to enjoy the warm weather. Just thinkg of huge parks and picturesque views along the Danube River, with meandering pathways, idyllic Japanese gardens, a musical fountain, ruins, an open-air theater, a zoo, and much, much more.
June in Budapest is a great time for a picnic with friends, and Margit Island is the best place for that. But it’s also a great place for sports, for a dog walk, for watching some of the best landmarks, or just reading a book.
What you’ll find in Margaret Island: pathways for romantic strolls, castle ruins, a zoo, rose gardens, an outdoor theatre, a Japanese garden, a musical fountain, thermal baths and pools, children playgrounds, sports facilities, restaurants and bars, and more.
Location: Budapest, Jászai Mari tér 3, 1137
Hot deals in June with GetYourGuide
*all deals have free cancellation
Grand Tour with Parliament Visit
€55 | 4.5 hours | English and Spanish
Entry to St. Stephen’s Basilica
€8 | Skip the line | Reserve now, pay later
Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie tasting
€46 | 1.5 hour | Sommelier-led
Budapest Opera tour
€26 | 1h | Skip the line | English or French tour guide | Reserve now, pay later
Entry to St. Stephen’s Basilica
€8 | Skip the line | Reserve now, pay later
Tips to visit Budapest in June
• Get a Budapest Card for free museum entries, discounts, and inclusive public transportation or a Budapest Travel Card for the best public transportation deals.
• Book tickets in advance to skip long lines during the busy tourist season. Find the best activities with GetYourGuide.
• Spend your time outdoors: June’s weather is perfect to enjoy the outdoor shows at Margaret Island, go out at night or take long strolls by the Danube.
• Make sure you visit Budapest main attractions: places like the Parliament, Castle District, or the Opera shouldn’t be missed. Have a look at our Budapest attractions map.
• Use the Mol Bubi bikes for sustainable and cheap travel. They’re pretty convenient and affordable, and you can find them anywhere in the city.
• Don’t forget the glowing Budapest at night. Places like Margaret Bridge, Bálna, Gellért Hill or Bátthyany tér will give you the best views of the city lights.
• Avoid hidden fees when paying in HUF. The currency in Budapest is the Hungarian Forint, which means you’ll likely be charged on hidden fees by your bank or exchange houses. Get a card like Wise or Revolut and save on those extra costs.
• Some basic Hungarian phrases will help you socialize: ‘Szia’ means hello, and ‘Köszönöm’ means thank you.
What to eat in Budapest in June
Also, make sure you explore the food in Budapest in June. Here’s a few ideas of what local people like to eat:
• Hortobágyi palacsinta: Savory pancakes stuffed with seasoned meat and served with a paprika sauce.
• Goulash: A hearty soup with beef, potatoes, carrots, and a flavorful paprika-infused broth.
• Fisherman’s Soup (Halászlé): Spicy fish soup made with fish from the Danube, onions, and paprika.
• Lángos: Crispy fried dough topped with garlic, sour cream, and grated cheese, often found in markets or street food stalls.
• Dobos Torte: A Hungarian dessert with layers of sponge cake filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with caramel.
• Somlói Galuska: A traditional Hungarian dessert featuring rum-soaked sponge cake layered with chocolate sauce, walnuts, and whipped cream.
• Kolbász: Hungarian sausage made from seasoned pork or a blend of meats, often smoked or cured for added flavor.
And what to drink in Budapest in June?
If you haven’t been to Budapest, you’ll find that the city has its own way to fight the warm temperatures that come with summer:
• Fröccs: A refreshing mix of wine and soda water. It comes in different sizes, like the ‘kisfröccs’ (small spritzer), and ‘nagyfröccs’ (large spritzer).
• Palinka: A traditional fruit brandy with flavors like apricot, plum, and pear. Have it as a strong, aromatic shot.
• Törkölypálinka: Similar to pálinka, but made from grape pomace. It has a unique flavor and is often enjoyed as a digestif.
• Szörp: Fruit syrup diluted with water for a refreshing drink. Popular flavors include raspberry, elderflower, and sour cherry.
• Limonádé: Hungarian lemonade isn’t just lemonade: it also has other fruits like strawberry or orange, and can be get some ginger or mint in it.
• Beers: The classic local beers include Soproni, Borsodi, and Dreher.
• Túró Rudi Shake: This is a mix of the popular Hungarian chocolate bar filled with sweetened cottage cheese, mixed with milk or ice cream.
Getting around Budapest in June with public transportation
The public transportation works very well in Budapest, so you won’t really need to rent a car:
• Tramlines 2, 4, and 6 are very convenient, as they access the most central areas in Budapest. You also have 4 metro lines, connecting the city super well, plus the busses and trolleys. For unlmited access to public transport during 1-4 days, consider using the Budapest Travel Card.
• There’s also the MOL Bubi public bike system, which can be accessed via app. There are bike lanes all over the city, and it’s very easy to pick up and drop-off a bike. And it’s cheap too!
• If you prefer something a bit more convenient, there’s no Uber, but BOLT will do exactly the same. City Taxi is another good option.
• For travel to and from Budapest airport to the city center and vice versa, the 100E Budapest Airport Bus is the most popular and affordable option. And reliable too. But there’s also great shuttle options, like the shared MiniBUD.
Bottom line: is June a good time to go Budapest?
June is a really good month to visit Budapest and try different outdoors activities. Temperatures start to raise, and there’s lots of events happening, like outdoor theaters, music concerts, or boat rides. Besides that, Budapest is a great city to explore walking, and June is perfect for that.
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