1. Overview of Sziget Festival
2. How to Enjoy the Festival
3. Getting to the Festival
4. Camping Experience
5. Amenities
6. The Sziget Beach
7. Unique Attractions
8. Festival Costs
9. Weather Challenges
10. Exploring Budapest
Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary is one of the largest music and cultural celebrations in Europe, offering a unique blend of music and love.
Located in the beautiful city of Budapest, Hungary, the island of Obuda transforms into an island of freedom, welcoming all kinds of festival-goers for a week filled with unforgettable experiences.
As Sziget Festival approaches, Vishanth from VisualizationBlog shares incredible insights and tips gathered from his two visits!
Note: The Sziget Festival is currently scheduled to continue in August 2022. Additional details can be found on the official website.
The Complete Guide to Sziget Festival
Having attended the festival twice, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking an extraordinary week off filled with live performances by your favorite bands.
Sziget Festival offers a rich music experience within a vibrant and culturally colorful atmosphere. It provides adventure and excellent music, pushing attendees out of their comfort zones while enriching their lives.
What makes Sziget special is its community vibe. You often begin the week surrounded by strangers and ultimately forge lasting friendships by the end of the festival.
How to Enjoy the Sziget Festival
For the best experience, camping is highly recommended. However, for those who prefer convenience, staying in a hostel or hotel ensures access to clean facilities and warm showers. It’s a trade-off between comfort and a deeper festival experience.
On both of my trips, I stayed for the full 7 days, once in a hostel and once while camping. Every moment spent at the festival is worth it!
Getting to the Sziget Festival
Public Transport
If you’re traveling from the airport, the first step is to head into central Budapest via public transit. Once you clear customs in Terminal 2A or 2B, look for the “Information and tickets” booth in arrivals.
I highly recommend purchasing a Budapest Card at the airport. This card offers unlimited public transportation access, free museum entries, and various discounts. It’s ideal for anyone spending time in Budapest.
After reaching central Budapest, hop on the HEV train on the Buda side, which takes about 10 minutes to reach Filatorigát. Just follow the crowd to the festival entrance.
Suburban trains run approximately every 15 minutes, making access easy.
Camping Experience
During my second visit to the Sziget Festival, I decided to camp on the island. This choice not only enhanced the experience but also presented unique challenges due to living conditions.
Upon entering the festival, you receive a Sziget passport that allows you to partake in various activities and earn stamps as you explore. It felt reminiscent of a nostalgic gaming experience! Despite being there for 7 days, I realized I wouldn’t be able to collect all the stamps.
Camping allowed me to discover a different side of the festival that beautifully complemented the vibrant culture of Budapest.
My camping days typically started with lively chatter from fellow campers, leading to exciting adventures each day. Many prefer to relax around their tents, but I chose to explore every inch of the island.
Each day revolved around either finding friends or venturing out solo to discover more about the extensive island, which can be tricky to navigate at times.
The festival boasts numerous stages that showcase bands starting early in the day, around 11:00 AM. Film screenings in both Hungarian and English add to the richness of the festival’s offerings.
Amenities at Sziget
We camped near the main stage, where we had access to a variety of clean, mechanized toilets. There were charging stations available for phones, utilized primarily by ‘Szitizens’ to keep connected.
The most significant challenge was taking showers, as the queues could be quite long. Morning routines tend to take about an hour, but the showers were surprisingly well-maintained, with some providing warm water.
The Sziget Beach
The Sziget Beach, a hidden gem on the island, became a favorite spot of mine. Though I only visited once during my first trip, I spent nearly every day at the beach during my second visit, enjoying stunning views.
The beach offers Shisha (Waterpipe), refreshing non-alcoholic beverages, mats, and cushions for lounging, alongside daily yoga classes and massage therapy.
This year, the beach became a refuge as temperatures soared to forty degrees in Budapest, providing a cool escape for many festival-goers.
You could often find me relaxing here, sipping Chai and soaking in the serene atmosphere.
Unique Attractions at Sziget
The Labyrinth
Entering the Labyrinth requires you to come with a question in mind. Engaging in activities and answering questions facilitates an insightful journey. It proved to be a fascinating experience; however, I ended up with more questions than clarity.
The Foam Party
One exciting new feature introduced in 2015 was the Foam Party—a pool of foam paired with dance music. Foam cascades from above every fifteen minutes, creating an exhilarating atmosphere I frequently revisited during the festival.
This lively event was a fantastic alternative to enduring long showers on the island.
The Street Acts and Circus
Street performers could be found throughout the island, showcasing captivating dance and magic acts. The Circus attracts international talent, providing cool performances. A street theatre also takes place, though I regrettably missed it.
The festival integrates various non-music artists, distinguishing it from traditional music festivals.
The Ability Park
At the Ability Park, attendees participate in activities that simulate experiences—like walking blindfolded or using a wheelchair for basketball. This engaging experience fosters empathy and gratitude for life.
The LGBTQ Centre
The LGBTQ center, known as Magic Mirror, hosts regular discussions on LGBTQ issues and showcases performances from the community. A couple of friends from my camp even had an informal wedding there, emphasizing the openness of the environment.
Sziget also prioritizes eco-friendliness, striving to become increasingly sustainable each year.
Bungee Jump and Giant Wheel
The festival includes thrilling activities such as bungee jumping and a giant wheel. Numerous artworks designed by local artists add character to the festival, with opportunities for yoga, table tennis, and even Rubik’s Cube challenges available.
Enjoy crowd-themed color parties, confetti explosions, and bubble balloon festivities that enliven the Main Stage daily.
As the day winds down, popular acts typically take to the stage, where attendees gather to enjoy vibrant live performances.
Sziget Festival Lineup
During my first visit, the lineup featured impressive acts, including Blink 182, Queens of the Stone Age, Skrillex, Stromae, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, all of which left a lasting impression.
The following year, my focus shifted more towards the overall experience than the lineup. However, standout performances from Robbie Williams, Avicii, Kings of Leon, and Alt-J still made the event unforgettable for music lovers.
Costs of Sziget Festival
A beer typically costs around 2 euros at the festival, which is comparable to prices for cold coffee—quite reasonable for a festival atmosphere.
Many festival-goers opt to shop at a nearby supermarket, ‘Auchan’, for affordable meals or to stock up on water to bring into the festival.
Auchan also sells economical tents, ideal for those needing a temporary shelter for the week.
- For more information visit the Sziget Festival Website
- 7 Day Szitizen Prime Package costs 235€
- 5 Days Sziget Festival Pass costs 199€
The Weather and Struggles of Sziget
Most days were scorching hot, and the island was incredibly dusty. Many participants struggled to breathe comfortably at times, reflecting the ruggedness of the festival experience.
Heavy rain fell on the last evening of the festival, which I fortunately missed; however, it would have made camping quite challenging.
Hot Tip: Consider bringing a mask, which can provide some relief in dusty conditions.
Exploring Budapest Beyond the Festival
During my time outside the festival, I dedicated most days to exploring Budapest, enjoying local cuisine, and attending the festival in the afternoons.
Budapest is a vibrant destination with countless attractions, making it worth the visit.
Top Choices of Things to Do in Budapest:
- The Parliament
- The Ruin Pubs
- The Natural Thermal Spring Baths
- The Magnificent Architecture
During my visit, I was captivated by the city, leading me to sometimes skip the festival in favor of enjoying everything Budapest has to offer, including its exciting nightlife.
Both festival experiences were incredibly different, yet each was memorable and enriching. Throughout my travels in Budapest, I truly got Szigeted.
Author Bio: Vishanth is a Research Assistant at The University of Gent and a passionate traveler. He shares his travel insights and life experiences through his website, www.vishualization.com, aiming to inspire and connect with others. His recent adventures include solo travel and volunteer work with animals and children.
