Mercure's travel guides

Hungarians take public holidays seriously, so if you want a glimpse of the national psyche these are great times to be in the capital. August 20 commemorates the founding of the Hungarian state while October 23 marks the 1956 uprising against the Soviets; March 15 honours the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence against Austrian-Habsburg. If you're here between June and the end of August, look out for fantastic open-air theatre during the Budapest Summer Festival. In October, the Budapest Autumn Festival sees contemporary art exhibitions and dramatic performances take place all over the city.

Budapest Christmas Fair

Vörösmarty Square and others
http://www.budapest.com/things_to_do/budapest_events/major_events/budapest_christmas_fair.en.html

Description:

In the winter, the city chills with glacial skies and the constant threat of snow hanging in the air. This is the perfect time and place to get into the Christmas spirit, particularly when the annual markets are set up. The tiny wooden stalls congregate in Vörösmarty Square but smaller markets can be found throughout the city. There's an emphasis on arts and crafts, so you'll be able to treat family and friends with gifts of wooden sculptures, artwork and jewellery, while enjoying mugs of steaming mulled wine and paper bags of roasted chestnuts. It sounds as if it's a scene from a Dickens' novel, but the atmosphere of the market – particularly in the early evening – will affect even the most Scrooge-like.
November 19 - December 29, 2011

Pálinka Festival

Buda Castle, Budapest, 1014
+36 1 487 7380
http://www.budapestipalinkafesztival.hu

Description:

Pálinka is a fruit brandy made from berries, plums or apricots, and its eye-watering potency can be sampled as either an aperitif or night-cap – or both, depending how much you like your liquor. This four-day festival showcases more than 300 types of this drink, which can all be sampled against a musical backdrop of jazz and gypsy folk music. The festival takes place in the heart of the city, in Buda Castle, and you'll receive a tasting glass and a voucher to use at any one of the stalls on admission.
May 2012

Sziget Festival

Obudai Island, Budapest
http://www.sziget.hu/festival_english

Description:

To call this simply a 'music festival' would do Sziget an injustice; it is so much more. Every year, the small island of Obudai, sandwiched on the Danube between Buda and Pest, plays host to the festival. Forget about muddy music events that are more about endurance than enjoyment; Sziget offers top-notch facilities, including plenty of bars and food, stalls selling local and international wares, cash machines, and even Internet access on-site. The event is split into five main stages (with smaller ones dotted around the island) and has attracted the likes of REM, Alanis Morissette, The Prodigy, The Sex Pistols, Jamiroquai and even Robert Plant. It's well organized, and friendly but not overwhelming. If you like music, or even if you simply like relaxing in the sunshine with a live soundtrack nearby, this is definitely a must-see event. Campers can start pitching from 10am the day before the festival officially starts; those with a day ticket can enter the site at 2am on the day that ticket is valid, and have to leave by 8am the following day.
August 8 - August 15, 2011