What is the best way to experience Budapest’s nightlife?

Visiting Budapest’s nightlife scene is an experience that should be on the to-do list of every tourist. It offers a vibrant atmosphere, plenty of awesome places where you can party and dance, and enough nightlife attractions to keep anyone entertained. Whether you are looking to go out and have a few drinks, hit the casino, discover the city’s hidden underground bars and music scene, or take advantage of some exciting and cultural events, there is something for everyone in Budapest.

But with so much going on, it can be difficult to decide which is the best way to experience Budapest’s nightlife. To make it easier, below you can find an overview of the best ways to experience the city’s nocturnal adventures.

1. Explore the traditional ruin bars

One of the best ways to get a genuine taste of Budapest’s nightlife is to explore its traditional ruin bars. These unique drinking establishments can be found all around the city, with more than 20 of them having opened their doors in recent years. Most of them are located in abandon buildings, warehouses, and even old family homes, giving them an authentic touch that makes them even more special – compared to regular bars.

Each ruin bar comes with its own unique style and atmosphere, so it can often be difficult to decide which one to visit first. Luckily, many tour companies offer ruin pub tours through some of the most popular bars, such as Szimpla Kert, Instant, Fogász, and U-Medence. During the tour they will introduce you to some of the best drinks and snacks, tell you about the bar’s unique history and architecture, and let you in on some local secrets – guaranteeing a truly unique experience that you won’t forget easily.

2. Visit Budapest’s most popular clubs

Budapest has grown into a clubbing hotspot in recent years, with all sorts of nightclubs hosting events, featuring some of the most famous DJs and artists in the world. Some of the top clubs located in Budapest include Akvárium Klub, Corvintető, A38 Ship, El Flamingo Street Club, Instant – which also happens to be one of the top ruin bars – and Lofi Club.

These clubs are often open until 4 am or 6 am in weekends – and on some occasions until 10 or 11 am – making them ideal for a late-night party and dancing amidst friends. On top these popular venues there are also plenty of bars offering live music, small hidden secrets and alternative dancefloors for those seeking something a little bit different.

3. Go from bar to bar during a pub crawl

Sometimes when visiting a new city it can be difficult to explore all it has offer. But if you want to sample different flavors of nightlife in Budapest without having to worry about organizing everything (or getting lost on your way from one club to another), then you ought to consider joining a pub crawl with an experienced guide.

A pub crawl will take you through some of the most interesting bars in town. Accompanied by a guide you will learn interesting facts about each bar while drinking some of the best beers around. They popular pub crawls offered are Original Budapest Pub Crawl with Open Bar from GetYourGuide, CultureBrew Pub Crawl, and Wetterling Pub Crawl in Budapest – which also offers discounts for groups above 10 people. All tours will allow you to experience the unique local sense of humor and get to know other travelers from around the world.

4. Celebrate with Hungary’s most popular musicians

Music is an important part of Hungarian culture and there are plenty of festivals throughout the year celebrating it. One of the most popular events is called Strand Festival, which happens during summertime in Budaors – located just 15km from Budapest city center. This multi-genre music festival offers exciting musical performances from Hungarian artists such as Bye Alex and Kiscsillag among others. In addition to concerts, visitors can also enjoy fairground rides and watch fireworks – creating an exciting atmosphere that’s perfect for those seeking even more excitement during a night out in Budapest.

The Verdict

No matter what your preferences are there’s no denying that Budapest has plenty to offer when it comes to experiencing its nightlife culture. Whether you want to explore its vibrant ruin bars, visit some exciting nightclubs, join a pub crawl, or attend a music festival – there is something for everyone – guaranteeing anyone a great night out in Budapest city center.

If this excites you and you want to start experiencing the city’s nocturnal adventures for yourself then why not start by booking a Budapest: Original Pub Crawl with Open Bar from GetYourGuide? With one of their experienced guides leading the way you will get to visit some of the city’s best ancient pubs while drinking free beer along the way – making it an ideal option for those who want to sample Hungarian culture and make some new friends during their holiday in Budapest city center.