For the the past three decades, the picturesque ground of Buda Castle, also host to the Budapest Wine Festival, has hosted the Budapest Festival of Folk Arts, where international folk artists come to perform, teach and share their passion for folk culture. Organisers of the event reaches out to artists from countries such as China, Uzbekistan and Mongolia - who are also the guest nation to host the 2018 festival - which means that the festival is rich with representations of folk culture from all over the world, and not just Hungary. 

The event runs from a Thursday to Sunday every August and is packed with games, craft activities and musical and theatrical performances to keep you busy for over the weekend. Try your hand at one of the many workshops set up by the experts and discover a skill you never knew you had. From embroidery and pottery to wood carving and weaving, there are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained. There is also of course a fair where you will be able to purchase some handcrafted treasures to take home as a memento of the festival, but it should be noted that the festival mainly accepts cash payment.

Ticket prices for the festival are more than reasonable: an adult day pass will cost you 2500 HUF and a child's ticket is less than half of that at 1000 HUF. However, with so many activities and such a vast spread of gastronomy to test out at the festival, we recommend getting a four-day pass and enjoying the whole festival. A four-day pass will cost you 6500 for an adult ticket and 2500 for a child's. Divento recommends buying a four-day pass and staying for the whole weekend in order to have enough time to fully embrace all of the activities and shows taking place. Additionally, the event closes with a spectacular fireworks display over the Danube on the Sunday evening, which isn't worth missing!

Attend the Festival of Folk Arts in Budapest and spend a weekend immersing yourself in a cultural event you won't find just anywhere.

Festival of Folk Arts

Buda Royal Palace

August (Annually)