Culture

Vibrant youth life, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, cinema, rich history, exciting present: all that in Hungary! Whether you live in the capital or another university town you can choose from a wide range of cultural programmes every season of the year.

The best places to learn about Hungarian culture, art and history are exhibitions. The Hungarian National Gallery ( www.mng.hu/en ) has the largest public collection of fine arts in Hungary but the Hungarian National Museum ( www.hnm.hu ), the Museum of Fine Arts (www.mfab.hu) and the Museum of Ethnography ( www.neprajz.hu/en/ ) definitely makes this list, too.

Hungarian cinema and theatre culture is quite popular; besides Hollywood movies, Hungary offers a wide selection of art films from all over the world. You can choose from various films, dubbed or subtitled, depending on your knowledge of foreign languages. There is a very rich and active theatre life throughout the country. The season starts in September and ends in May. To be on the safe side, you should book your tickets well in advance for the play of your choice.

Classical ballet and contemporary dance are both widely appreciated in Hungary. If you like dance, you should not miss the performances of Győri Balett (Győr Ballet) or Pécsi Balett (Pécs Ballet), or those performed by the ensemble led by Pál Frenák or Yvette Bozsik.

Going to the Opera House ( www.opera.hu ) at least once is a must. Not just because of the imposing building itself, but also for the high quality performances.

Festivals are also essential part of cultural life, and your student experience as well. VOLT Festival in Sopron, Campus Festival in Debrecen and EFOTT in Velence attracts thousands of students from all parts of the country. Sziget Festival is one of the most popular music festivals in Europe, which is held in Budapest. Otherwise, national and international artists are often invited for other gigs all over the country.

If you prefer learning something from the culture of the Hungarian past visit Dance Houses or Community and Cultural Centres.
The dance house movement started in the 1970's with the aim of preserving traditional folk music and dance. Given that this is a shortcut to understand another nation without even speaking the language, dance houses are quite popular among foreigners. Community and cultural centres offer various kinds of programmes to please everyone: club afternoons and evenings, workshops, concerts, sports, etc.

      

International Cultural Institutes

If you miss your home country and start to feel homesick, here is a list of international cultural institutes in Hungary.

Name Address Contact
Armenian Cultural and Information Centre 1054 Budapest, Semmelweis u. 17. +36 1 267 3181
ormenyek@gmail.com
http://www.ararat.hu/
Austrian Cultural Forum 1068 Budapest,
Benczúr u. 16.,
+36 1 413 3590
budapest-kf@bmeia.gv.at
www.okfbudapest.hu
British Council 1075 Budapest,
Madách Imre út 13-14.,
+36 1 483 2020
information@britishcouncil.hu
www.britishcouncil.hu
Bulgarian Cultural Institute 1061 Budapest,
Andrássy út 14.
+36 1 269 4246
bki_budapest@abv.bg
www.bolgarkultura.hu
Camoes Institute 1088 Budapest,
Múzeum krt. 4/C
+36 30 806 3000/2216
clpic.budapest@gmail.com
www.clpcamoes-budapeste.com
Cervantes Institute 1064 Budapest,
Vörösmarty u. 32.
+36 1 354 3670
cenbud@cervantes.es
www.budapest.cervantes.es
Czech Centre 1063 Budapest,
Szegfű u. 4.
+36 1 462 5066
ccbudapest@czech.cz
budapest.czechcentres.cz
Embassy of Belgium - General Delegation of the Flemish Government 1092 Budapest,
Ráday u. 58.
+36 1 219 0676
www.flanders.hu 
Estonian Institute 1055 Budapest,
Falk Miksa u. 22. fm. 2.,
+36 1 386 2462
budapest@estinst.ee
http://www.esztorszag.hu/?langchange=en
Finnagora 1118 Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 16/A +36 1 478 1010
info@finnagora.hu
www.finnagora.hu
French Institute 1011 Budapest,
Fő u. 17.
+36 1 489 4200
info@inst-france.hu
www.inst-france.hu
Goethe Institute 1092 Budapest,
Ráday u. 58.
+36 1 374 4070
info@budapest.goethe.org
www.goethe.de/ins/hu/bud/huindex.htm
Israeli Cultural Institute 1061 Budapest,
Paulay Ede utca 1.
+36 1 889 3330
office@icibudapest.org
www.izraelikultura.hu
Italian Cultural Institute 1088 Budapest,
Bródy S. u. 8.
+36 1 483 2040
iicbudapest@esteri.it
http://www.iicbudapest.esteri.it/iic_budapest/it/
Japan Foundation Budapest 1062 Budapest,
Aradi u. 8-10
+36 1 214 0775
info@japanalapitvany.hu
www.jfbp.org.hu
Nordic House 1052 Budapest, Semmelweis u. 2. +36 1 780 8123
info@skandinavhaz.hu
www.skandinavhaz.hu
Polish Institute 1065 Budapest, Nagymező u. 15. +36 1 311 5856
budapest.info@instytutpolski.org
www.polinst.hu
Romanian Cultural Institute 1146 Budapest,
Izsó u. 5.
+36 1 383 2693
romankulturalis.intezet@upcmail.hu
www.icr.ro/budapest
Russian Cultural Centre 1062 Budapest,
Andrássy út 120.
+36 1 332 2154
mail@ruscenter.hu
www.ruscenter.hu
Slovenský Inštitút 1088 Budapest,
Rákóczi út 15.
+36 1 327 4000
si.budapest@mzv.sk
https://www.mzv.sk/web/sibudapest-en
Yunus Emre Institute 1062 Budapest,
Andrássy út 62.
+36 1 301 00 34
budapeste@yee.org.tr
http://budapeste.yee.org.tr/hu_HU/yunusemreinstitude