Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ary Hungarian cooking is now firmly to the fore, alongside some brilliant international
cuisine. Hand in hand with this gastronomic renaissance is Hungary's superb
wine
, often
overlooked abroad, but the quality of which often comes as a surprise to many visitors. Ca-
tering for a wide range of tastes, Budapest's
nightlife
is also very much of a draw. Generally
trouble-free, welcoming and accessible, it ranges from the city's distinctive “ruin pubs” in
decaying apartment blocks or courtyards to
táncház
(dance houses) where Hungarians of all
ages perform wild stamping movements to the rhythms of darkest Transylvania, and interna-
tionally renowned artists such as Márta Sebestyén appear in an informal setting.
There's plenty to offer in terms of
classical music and opera
, too: world-class ensembles
and soloists can be enjoyed in the Palace of Arts' state-of-the-art concert hall or the grander,
older settings of the Music Academy and Opera House. Fans of
pop
,
rock
and
world music
can discover a wealth of local talent, especially on the folk scene, alongside big international
names, but the biggest event of the year is the
SzigetFestival
, held on an island just north of
the centre in August, which is one of Europe's largest musical celebrations.
