A trip to Budapest's most festive venues

Budapest's emblem in terms of bars, ruin bars or ruin pubs are establishments located in abandoned buildings in the city. Although they are called bars, they are actually a little more than that. First appearing around ten years ago, they are completely endemic to the country and can take many forms, from a post-apocalyptic bar to a carpeted nightclub or a beer garden with an extravagant decor. The idea is that the ruin bar is based on its own concept. Often this is linked to the place where it is located.

For example: Fogas Ház, which literally means "The house of teeth", is a ruin bar located in a former dentist's surgery. The place is a mix between an art gallery and a nightclub. Here you'll meet a lot of wealthy locals who come to talk decoration over a large glass of beer. There's no need to worry about arriving too late, as the bar closes at 6am, leaving plenty of time to grab a salami pizza for breakfast. The place is not far from Eresébet krt., easily accessible by tram.

For the second ruin bar, we went back to its origins with Szimpla Kert, the first bar of its kind in the city. The decor seems to be based mainly on LED lights and zany objects in a bohemian spirit. You can get completely lost in it without even having had a drink. It's a labyrinth of atmospheres and rooms of all kinds. There's a whole host of concepts inside: gardens, a cinema and even a local farmers' market on Sundays! As well as these original features, you can of course enjoy the bar and its many cocktails until 4am.

Sziget means 'island' in Hungarian, and the festival bears this name because it is located on the island of Obuda. The event takes place every year and has a real reputation among festival-goers. And with good reason, it caters for all kinds of audiences. In 2023 we'll be seeing artists such as Billie Eilish, David Guetta and Imagine Dragons who, despite their different genres, are listened to all over the world and by many different people. Then there are artists who appeal to both the general public and fans of more specific genres, such as Nothing But Thieves, who win over both the pop-rock and indie-rock scenes, and YUNGBLUD, whose pop-punk has recently made appearances on the metal scene in the company of Bring Me The Horizon.

Life at the festival never stops, with concerts lasting from early afternoon to dawn and the party going on too. Some even describe it as the Hungarian version of Burning Man! And if you feel like taking a break, there are plenty of other activities on offer. From conferences to art shows to simply relaxing on the beach, there's no shortage of entertainment. In addition, the festival's location makes it easy for festival-goers to explore the city centre between shows. Day tickets cost £55 and camping is free. As far as transport is concerned, you can get there by any means possible (bike, bus, car, etc.), and the festival website lists all the routes.

Whether you're in the contemporary, popular streets of Pest or on the cobbled, bucolic hills of Buda, you can always find a rooftop bar to admire the view from above. The most talked-about in town is undoubtedly the High Note Skybar in Pest. From its huge terrace, you can admire Saint Stephen's Basilica. It's an ideal way to start the evening, with the sun setting over the city - everything looks so much better from this point of view, doesn't it? Be warned, though, that everything comes at a price: the place is still very popular, so it's hard to get a good seat, and the cocktails aren't cheap.

The A38 Ship is much more affordable. Although not as high, it is no less original. The bar/restaurant, perched on the top of an old Soviet cargo ship on the Buda side, offers local dishes and all sorts of drinks and cocktails at reasonable prices, unlike many other Rooftops. But the most interesting thing is the live concerts by bands from all over the world and the DJs who add an incredible atmosphere to the place.

Partying means dancing non-stop, which is why we've selected two good places to sway into the morning. We're staying on the rooftops with The Corvin Club, another reference to Budapest's famous bird. The club is located on the roof of a shopping centre, which doubles up as a giant terrace. The music is mainly electro. The building is not very attractive, but the young people of the city know the place particularly well. Nightclubs with a view like this are very unusual and well worth a visit.

For the second club, we're once again heading to a rather unusual venue, as the party is taking place on a party boat. The ticket offers much more than entry, as you can choose the open bar option, which gives you unlimited access to all the drinks in the bar for the evening. The other advantage is that, at the end of the party, a bus will take you to a nightclub where you're guaranteed entry without queuing, making the cruise worthwhile almost purely for that, given how difficult it can be to get into some of the city's clubs. That said, even without this, we can't deny ourselves the chance to admire the whole city illuminated as we cross the river.

Yes, I said the thermal baths, these public baths open at night to transform into a Spa Party. From 9.30pm, the pool becomes an open-air rave party, complete with light shows, DJ and bar. With the water at 38 degrees, you can even dance the night away in winter, with your dance steps warm at the bottom of the water and your glass kept cool. All you need to enjoy this historic Hungarian tradition until 2am.