Budapest nightlife

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Photo: MeaganBudapest nightspot

Budapest offers world-class Opera, a real experience
Three top Hungarian folk dance ensembles perform in Budapest
A variety of clubs are based on ships moored on the Danube
The National Dance Theatre is at the top of the funicular next to the President's residency
Evening cruises on the Danube often feature entertainment

Budapest nightlife

Budapest offers a wide range of entertainment from amongst the finest opera in the world to the more exotic.

Hungary has a strong classical music tradition and many churches and other venues offer popular classical concerts.

Budapest nightclubs can be a problem. Most are fine but some have a reputation for ripping off tourists. Avoid places that do not display prices (it's required by law) and politely refuse to buy drinks for women at the bar - unless, of course, it's the one you arrived with!

State Opera House

Almost worth a visit for the building itself, possibly the finest in Europe, on Andrassy ut. There's classical opera and many other world-class performances in this sumptuous building dating from 1875. Tickets are about 25% of the price at Vienna's. The box office is open from 11am on Tuesdays to Saturdays until the performance starts.

National Concert Hall and Palace of Arts

This is a huge performance centre featuring top Hungarian and international artists.

Franz Liszt Academy of Music

Another building that's worth popping in just to see the hallway, or lobby, with its magnificent decor. The Academy in Pest, housed in an Art Nouveau building, is both a classical music school and a venue for top performances.

National Dance Theatre

In a building near the top of the funicular in the Castle district of Buda - it has the President of Hungary's residence next door - the National Dance Theatre hosts classical and contemporary dance by Hungary's top companies.

Folk Dancing

The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the Danube Folk Ensemble and the Rajko Folk Ensemble all give performances in Budapest. The main theatre is the Danube Palace, or Duna Palota, dating from 1895.

Budapest cinema and theatre

There's a number of English-language cinemas in Budapest - Corvin (Corvin koz 1); Kossuth Moz (Vacu ut 14) and Palace Westend (Westend City Centre), all in Pest. In Buda, try Mammut Mozi at Mammut Mall, Lovohaz u. 2-6. Check out their programmes locally

Budapest nightclubs

There's a full range of entertainment, including many clubs on boats moored on the Danube - try the Columbus Jazz Club, at Vigado ter, or A38 Ship, an ex-Ukrainian stone carrier ship and now techno-music and dance venue moored near Petofi Bridge, south from the Liberty bridge.

Other interesting venues include the Feszek Club, described as 'a hidden den of intriguing nightowls' and a cellar hotspot at Kertesz u, at the corner of Dob utca.

The Gödör Klub is a huge underground club with a wide range of music while Moulin Rouge has cabaret-style shows at Nagymezo u. 17. In the same street at number 25, Piaf is a club featuring the French singer's music.

Budapest strip clubs

While Budapest hasn't yet attracted stag nights in quite the same numbers as Prague or Riga, there's an array of exotic entertainment in Budapest. Check out the Royal Palace or P1, the 2009 award-winning stripclub of Budapest.

Mambo claims to be in the most beautiful spot in Buda at the foot of Gellert Hill - although what St Gellert would have made of the entertainment now on offer is anybody's guess!