4 Best Performing Arts Venues in Budapest, Hungary

Round and colonnaded in front and square in back, Hungary's massive, preeminent national theatrical venue is a spectacular blend of modern and classical, flanked by an even grander neighbor, the Palace of the Arts (Müpa). There are nightly performances on at least one of two stages inside the theater.

The spacious square out front and to the side is something to behold—though, admittedly, different folks behold it differently. The large reflecting pool contains a toppled-over, life-size ancient theater facade and three eternal flames. The bow of a ship, which you can walk on, overlooks the pool. Elsewhere scattered about the square—some on benches, others standing—are eight metal statues of late, great Hungarian thespians of the 20th century, each performing a legendary role.

Nearby the theater is a compellingly round structure that's aptly nicknamed the Tower of Babel and that houses a small exhibit gallery. In no time you can walk up the path that winds around its outer perimeter to the top for a modest view of the Buda hills and of the surrounding new architecture on the Pest side. Kids love to get lost in the fascinating little labyrinth of hedges at the foot of the tower. Explore the grounds or come for a show. English subtitles are available for some performances, but it is always best to double-check.

With a repertoire of blockbuster international popular musicals like Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia!, as well as Hungarian classics like Liliomfi, this 800-seat venue also features performances with English subtitles.

When high culture was dominated by the German-speaking Hapsburgs and Latin (Hungary's official language for 900 years) was Europe's lingua franca for the intelligentsia, Pest's Hungarian Theater was the first major Hungarian-language theater company in the city. The venue, designed by Adolf Láng and built in 1897, seats over 1,000 and now features mostly contemporary Hungarian and foreign drama on its main stage. The emphasis is on youth and family programs as well as experimental theater. Check ahead to see if performances have English subtitles as all performances are in Hungarian.