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Budapest Opera House
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Budapest Opera House
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Budapest Opera House awaits you with rich musical programmes throughout the year in. The architecture of the building in itself worth a visit.
Visiting Budapest Opera House, if you don't have time to attend a performance: Tours in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian or Hungarian (you can request Dutch, Serbian and Croatian language tour) start every day at 15.00 and 16.00 all the year round. Tours start at the right-hand entrance at Hajós út. Tickets for a guided to tour of the Hungarian National Opera House:
History and Architecture |
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Statues of the world greatest composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi adorn the main facade. Seated statues of Franz Liszt and Ferenc Erkel, the first director of the Opera House stand on the sides of the main entrance. Wrought iron lamps decorate the main entrance. Two imposing stone sphinxes guard the main entrance. On the right you'll find the entrance for artists, while on the left there's a carriage-way and entrance to the Royal Staircase. |
In the niches at the first floor level statues of the four muses of opera reside.
The interior of the Budapest Opera House
The interior boasts a impressive foyer with a double grand staircase and grey marble columns supporting the arches. Works of famous Hungarian artists decorate the interior of Budapest Opera House.
Beautiful frescoes and statues represent mytological motifs. Mosaic tiles cover the floor that resemble on ancient Greek mosaics. The three-storey high, horseshoe-shaped main auditorium can seat nearly 1,300 people.
On the ceiling you can see Karoly Lotz's breathtaking frescoes depicting Olympus and the Greek gods. A huge gilded chandelier hangs down from the ceiling. Every level has a different layout and decoration. Gold and red dominate the lavish auditorium that reflects elegance.
Do visit the buffet in the break not just for a glass of nice Hungarian wine, but it's a splendid site in itself. On the ceiling you can admire main events from Dionysos life. Landscape paintings by Árpád Feszty decorate the sidewalls.
During the reconstruction between 1980-84 the Opera House regained its original splendour to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its opening.
The Budapest Opera house soon became one of the leading cultural venues of Europe. Ferenc Erkel composer of Hungary's national anthem and founder of the Hungarian opera was the first director. Gustav Mahler also directed the opera house and personally directed two Puccini operas here. Other famous conductors include Otto Klemperer or Sergio Failloni.
Budapest Opera House - Programes and Tickets
You can choose from 50 major performances, including operas and ballets during the main season between September and mid-June. In 2006 you can view performances like the Verdi's Aida, Mozart's Don Giovanni, Puccini's Madame Butterfly or Wagner's Parsifal.
Two other notable events are the New Year's Eve Opera Ball and the Opera Ball held in the carnival season usually in February. Several programes of the Budapest Spring Festival take place in Budapest Opera House.
Tickets are affordable, the price ranges from 400 HUF to 9,900 HUF. To get a good seat you'd better book in a couple of days in advance. Cheaper tickets are usually available until the last minute but they for seats with poor view of the stage.
Tips to buy ticket to Budapest Opera House with a good view:
If yoo want to sit in a box make sure you ask your ticket to the front row. The second and third rose are not elevated so people sitting in front of you can block your view. For gallery seats buy ticket for the middle, on the sides you won't be able to see most of the stage.
Where to Buy Tickets to the Budapest Opera House:
- Ticket office of the Opera House: on the Hajós Street side near the sphinx
Tel: + 36 1 353 0170
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat: 11.00 to the beginning of the performance (to 17.00 pm on days when there's no performance)
Sundays and holidays: 11.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to the beginning of the performance.
- Ticket office of the Erkel Theatre Address: Köztársaság tér 30., VIII. district, Tel: + 36 1 333 0540
Opening hours:
Tue-Sat: 11.00 to the beginning of the performance (to 17.00 pm on days when there1s no performance)
Sundays and holidays: 11.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to the beginning of the performance.
- Other ticket offices in Budapest
What to Wear in the Opera in Budapest
In Hungary people always dress up when they go to a theatre or to the Opera. Women usually wear nice evening dresses, while men wear dark suits. Wearing jeans and a T-shirts doesn't mean that you'll be sent home from the entrance, but it1s not nice to feel out of place because of your clothes.
My advice is that put on something simple, but elegant. Make sure though that you feel yourself confident and comfortable in your dress.
You can buy your opera tickets online on this page.
Other Attractions Nearby
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Walk along the sycamore tree- lined Andrássy Avenue and you can admire fine villas, elegant palaces and buildings of cultural importance. Spacious squares, like Jókai tér or Liszt Ferenc tér lie on both sides of the boulevard with benches inviting you to have a rest. |
Andrássy Avenue also offers plenty of cafés and restaurants, if you feel like having a hot drink with a cake or something more substantial.
The beautiful Drechsler Palace opposite the Opera House today is the home of the Hungarian Ballet Institute.
Nagymező utca crosses Andrássy Avenue near the Budapest Opera House. Because of the numerous places of night life entertainment like the Moulin Rouge and various theatres and the Operetta Theatre the street has been long called Pesti Broadway.
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Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music offers an alternative to a night at the opera. It has a large concert hall with excellent acoustics. Besides its classical music performances the Art Nouveau building represents another good example of Budapest's great architecture. |
Where Andrássy út crosses the Grand Boulevard the buildings form an octagon shape square, hence it's name is Oktogon. From here continue strolling on Andrássy Avenue and on its end you'll reach the imposing Heroes' Square with the Millennium Monument.
TIP: see a guide to other main attractions in Budapest.
Where to Eat near Budapest Opera House
Andrássy Avenue offers a wide selection of fine restaurants and cafés. We've listed some of them to help you make a choice.
Bombay Palace
Fine Indian cuisine in the Budapest branch of the international restaurant chain. Browse our list of other recommended indian Restaurants in Budapest.
Address: Andrássy út 40., VI. district
Tel: +36 1 332 8363
Abszint Café and Restaurant
A posh restaurant with French cuisine.
Address: Andrássy út 34., VI. district
Tel: +36 1 332 4993
Belcanto
A first-class restaurant just a short walk from Budapest Opera House. The waiters join the choir of guest musicians and sing with them.
Address: Dalszínház utca 8., VI. district
Tel: +36 1 269 2786
Café Művész
For Vienna-style coffee house feeling pop into Művész. Altough both the coffee served here and the service seemed better days a while ago its grand interior decor is worth a visit. See other coffee houses in Budapest.
Address: Andrássy út 29., VI. district
Tel: +36 1 352 1337
See also our page about Best Restaurants in Budapest or our recommendation of Hungarian Resturants in Budapest.
Return from Budapest Opera House to Budapest Sightseeing or
Homepage of Budapest Tourist Guide.
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