Hi everyone,
My sister and I are traveling to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in late November. We want to attend a concert or the opera in at least one of these cities. We would appreciate any suggestions for how to purchase tickets on-line, if we need to do this in advance, which city would you choose to see the opera, and any other thoughts. Thank you all so much.
My sister and I are traveling to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in late November. We want to attend a concert or the opera in at least one of these cities. We would appreciate any suggestions for how to purchase tickets on-line, if we need to do this in advance, which city would you choose to see the opera, and any other thoughts. Thank you all so much.
Check the opera in Budapest. Good music, excellent hall which would be worth a visit just to see it, and you can get the tickets online. Their website is very good. You can actually pick your exact seat - no need to stand in line and this is available in English, avoiding language issues. You pay with a credit card and pick up the tickets by presenting your acknowledgement at will call.
If your travels take you through Bratislava, there is also a very nice concert hall there with excellent programs.
Prices at either of the above are very reasonable compared to the USA.
Remember to have some 'formal clothes'. Generally, black clothes will do.
If your travels take you through Bratislava, there is also a very nice concert hall there with excellent programs.
Prices at either of the above are very reasonable compared to the USA.
Remember to have some 'formal clothes'. Generally, black clothes will do.
There are several places you can buy tickets to the opera or ballet in Prague, these are a couple:
http://www.opera-rkm.cz/
which just goes to
http://www.ticketsonline.cz
but so do some of the venue's own websites, so that seems to do. They don't seem to have concerts on there so much, some are on
www.ticketpro.cz or maybe their own websites if you really want top concerts. But I think ticketsonline has the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
If you just want smaller concerts in churches or something, there's no need to buy those in advance, and you probably can't for many of them. The Klementinum is a good place to go and has a lot of good chamber music, but you don't need to buy those in advance much.
http://www.opera-rkm.cz/
which just goes to
http://www.ticketsonline.cz
but so do some of the venue's own websites, so that seems to do. They don't seem to have concerts on there so much, some are on
www.ticketpro.cz or maybe their own websites if you really want top concerts. But I think ticketsonline has the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
If you just want smaller concerts in churches or something, there's no need to buy those in advance, and you probably can't for many of them. The Klementinum is a good place to go and has a lot of good chamber music, but you don't need to buy those in advance much.
If you decide to go to an Opera in Vienna, you can easily check what is available online and book tickets. Just "google" Vienna Opera.
There are 2 main venues that I remember, the Staatsoper (State Opera) and the Volksoper (People's Opera). As I recall, some of the lighter opera's are performed at the Volksoper.
One thing worth knowing is that they do sell Stehplatz tickets (standing room) about 80 minutes before the performances at the Staatsoper. These tickets only cost a few euro (3 or 4 I think). Of course the drawback is that you are standing.
There are 2 main venues that I remember, the Staatsoper (State Opera) and the Volksoper (People's Opera). As I recall, some of the lighter opera's are performed at the Volksoper.
One thing worth knowing is that they do sell Stehplatz tickets (standing room) about 80 minutes before the performances at the Staatsoper. These tickets only cost a few euro (3 or 4 I think). Of course the drawback is that you are standing.
Hi allsd,
I bought tickets last year for the Budapest opera through jegymester:
http://www.jegymester.hu/index.jsp?lang=ENG
We saw Madame Butterfly last Thanksgiving. The seats were in the very top last row, and we fantastic given it is a small opera house (and a steal for about $6 US - yes $6)./ Just make sure you aren't seated partially behind a pole. We just picked up the tickets at the willcall. Enjoy.
I bought tickets last year for the Budapest opera through jegymester:
http://www.jegymester.hu/index.jsp?lang=ENG
We saw Madame Butterfly last Thanksgiving. The seats were in the very top last row, and we fantastic given it is a small opera house (and a steal for about $6 US - yes $6)./ Just make sure you aren't seated partially behind a pole. We just picked up the tickets at the willcall. Enjoy.
We were just in Budapest this past weekend and did an interesting tour of the Opera House, which is beautiful inside. The tour was quite popular and they sorted everyone out into various language groups. We were shown the Royal Box, the box the Empress used to use, the various public rooms etc. It took about an hour and cost about 4000 forint from memory (reasonably cheap). We really enjoyed it. Our guide said they have opera, ballet and classical music concerts at the Opera House (Giselle was on the night we were there) and tickets were very reasonable compared to London prices.
Kay
Kay
It was a little on the chilly side - 40-50s (OK, I am from California), but not the "biting cold" you get on windy, cold, damp days. Gloves, sweater, and trenchcoat were appropriate for strolls at night. A trench was good for the day as well. We had a little rain, so throw in a small umbrella. When that happened, we would just find a cafe or pub, and waited till it passed. I am happy to have a little cold weather and Christmas markets rather than the blazing heat and crowds of summer anyday.
One suggestion, if you will allow me, is the restaurant Fatal. Nothing fancy. But it was cozy and reasonably priced for good hearty meal after a day of sightseeing. Lots of locals seemed to be in the place as well. It is right off of Vaci utca.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...rant-BR-1.html
Have a great time, and just post if you have other questions. We really enjoyed Budapest.
One suggestion, if you will allow me, is the restaurant Fatal. Nothing fancy. But it was cozy and reasonably priced for good hearty meal after a day of sightseeing. Lots of locals seemed to be in the place as well. It is right off of Vaci utca.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...rant-BR-1.html
Have a great time, and just post if you have other questions. We really enjoyed Budapest.
Sorry, I am not at home or I would have included the website in Budapest. I think the one Sandy suggests is the one we also used. Our visit was a great success. I hope you enjoy it as well.
One word about the website; it includes some pop-ups that my security checker blocks. I have one computer that blocks it and one that doesn't. If you have similar problems you may have to use another computer or turn off your security device. That said, I though that the chance to pick the exact seats right from home was great and although the pop-ups are annoying, they didn't present any further problems.
One word about the website; it includes some pop-ups that my security checker blocks. I have one computer that blocks it and one that doesn't. If you have similar problems you may have to use another computer or turn off your security device. That said, I though that the chance to pick the exact seats right from home was great and although the pop-ups are annoying, they didn't present any further problems.
For opera tickets in Budapest, the Jegymester site that Sandy gave you is the way to go. We also bought our tickets through them. When we collected them at the Opera House just before the perfomance there was a sign at the window saying they would only honour tickets bought through the Jegymester site. It also specifically mentioned that they would NOT honour tickets bought through a site with Vienna in the name. I think it was the Vienna Ticket Office but can't be sure of this now. This was only in May this year so fairly recent.
Have a great time on yuor holiday. We didn't go to Vienna, but did do Prague and Budapest and had a wonderful trip.
Have a great time on yuor holiday. We didn't go to Vienna, but did do Prague and Budapest and had a wonderful trip.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the wonderful and helpful suggestions. Sandy, we are also from California, though we now live in Pennsylvania (me) and North Carolina (my sister), so we are looking forward to cool weather, too. We would also be interested in the holiday markets. Any suggestions? Also, do any museums need/issue advanced tickets and would this be needed, as in the Borghese in Rome?
Thanks for all the wonderful and helpful suggestions. Sandy, we are also from California, though we now live in Pennsylvania (me) and North Carolina (my sister), so we are looking forward to cool weather, too. We would also be interested in the holiday markets. Any suggestions? Also, do any museums need/issue advanced tickets and would this be needed, as in the Borghese in Rome?
Hi
the official opera website in Hungary is: http://www.opera.hu/index.php?module=main
unfortunately though, their english site is still under construction... You have to be careful when booking tickets online through other sources because they may charge well above the actual face value of the ticket itself.
Jegymester.hu is also an excellent choice as suggested earlier in the thread.
The Vienna opera ticket site also sells tickets for the Budapest Opera. Here is a link: http://www.viennaticketoffice.com/budapest_en.php
The Hungarian Money can seem daunting, eg: 10$ is about 8000 HUF... this useful currency convertor may help work out the prices and is already set from US$ to HUF
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic...eststagweekend
It is advisable though booking beforehand to make sure the dates coincide with your trip.
enjoy your trip
roberto
the official opera website in Hungary is: http://www.opera.hu/index.php?module=main
unfortunately though, their english site is still under construction... You have to be careful when booking tickets online through other sources because they may charge well above the actual face value of the ticket itself.
Jegymester.hu is also an excellent choice as suggested earlier in the thread.
The Vienna opera ticket site also sells tickets for the Budapest Opera. Here is a link: http://www.viennaticketoffice.com/budapest_en.php
The Hungarian Money can seem daunting, eg: 10$ is about 8000 HUF... this useful currency convertor may help work out the prices and is already set from US$ to HUF
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic...eststagweekend
It is advisable though booking beforehand to make sure the dates coincide with your trip.
enjoy your trip
roberto
hi allsd,
we have been to both the prague and budapest opera houses, and of the two I preferred the one in Prague - it was a bit cheaper too.
the official web site is www.opera.cz.en. They have both ballet and opera playing at the end of Nov.
both Prague and Budapest will be a LOT cheaper than vienna.
there is a recommendation on another thread for a restaurant next to the budapest opera metro in B'pest called "Callas" that sounds very good.
we really enjoyed the restaurant that is attached to the opera house in Prague. it was much more modern lighter food that you usually get in Prague and we didn't book in advance. we got a cab there and afterwards walked back into town.
have a great time,
regards, ann
we have been to both the prague and budapest opera houses, and of the two I preferred the one in Prague - it was a bit cheaper too.
the official web site is www.opera.cz.en. They have both ballet and opera playing at the end of Nov.
both Prague and Budapest will be a LOT cheaper than vienna.
there is a recommendation on another thread for a restaurant next to the budapest opera metro in B'pest called "Callas" that sounds very good.
we really enjoyed the restaurant that is attached to the opera house in Prague. it was much more modern lighter food that you usually get in Prague and we didn't book in advance. we got a cab there and afterwards walked back into town.
have a great time,
regards, ann
Hi Again,
RE: Christmas markets, my favorites have been in Vienna, Prague and Munich. So you are in luck on your trip. There is one in Budapest at the far end of Vaci Utca, but it is small in comparison. In Prague, my favorite was in the Old Town square. It is the best place to buy wooden toys, puppets, and wine glasses. I really loved the market at Rathausplatz in Vienna (right off the ring). The large trees in the park are each decorated in a different way and are beautiful at night. We mostly bought glass X-mas ornaments here, Oh and gummy bears (really good, they didn't make it home). I would suggests visiting these places after dark. This is when they are at its best. The locals seems to visit it too. So grab a wurst, a mug of warm mulled wine, and mix right in. I have also heard there is a nice market near Schonbruhn, but we didn't make it to that.
Our trip this Thanksgiving is to Cambodia and Thailand, so I think it will be warmer for us!
RE: Christmas markets, my favorites have been in Vienna, Prague and Munich. So you are in luck on your trip. There is one in Budapest at the far end of Vaci Utca, but it is small in comparison. In Prague, my favorite was in the Old Town square. It is the best place to buy wooden toys, puppets, and wine glasses. I really loved the market at Rathausplatz in Vienna (right off the ring). The large trees in the park are each decorated in a different way and are beautiful at night. We mostly bought glass X-mas ornaments here, Oh and gummy bears (really good, they didn't make it home). I would suggests visiting these places after dark. This is when they are at its best. The locals seems to visit it too. So grab a wurst, a mug of warm mulled wine, and mix right in. I have also heard there is a nice market near Schonbruhn, but we didn't make it to that.
Our trip this Thanksgiving is to Cambodia and Thailand, so I think it will be warmer for us!
