Margaret Island

Avg. User Rating:

Margitsziget, Budapest, Hungary 1138

Category:
Parks and Gardens, Outdoors
Not right?
Update Address

Show More Info

User Reviews

Results 1-2of 2 Reviews

Margaret Island

by lintrip

Montreal, Quebec

May 26, 2006

Best of IgoUgo This green, car-free oasis, nestled between Buda and Pest, is larger than the actual city center. Connected to Budapest by two bridges, this is the place where you’ll see family picnics, teenagers playing football and children splashing on water ...Read more

From journal Sweet Wine and Soulful Music

Island Festival (Sziget)

by idared

Budapest, Hungary

January 30, 2002

Best of IgoUgo Every year since 1992 the Obudai sziget, a fairly large green island in the middle of the city hosts the largest rock and culture festival of Europe. For 7 days big and small bands from all over the world including Hungary, theatre groups, artists, ...Read more Every year since 1992 the Obudai sziget, a fairly large green island in the middle of the city hosts the largest rock and culture festival of Europe. For 7 days big and small bands from all over the world including Hungary, theatre groups, artists, thinkers, and most of all about 350,000 young people come to the island (sziget=island), sleep in tents and have unrestricted fun for one week.

The festival started out with a very basic budget in 1992, and since then has grown into a huge company, got a new name from the main sponsor (Pepsi), and managed to sign up Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Patti Smith, Boney M, Prodigy, Faith No More and many others for a concert on the main stage. There are about 15 stages all over the island, each of them specializing in one genre. There is Jazz, Metal, Pop, African, World Music, Alternative and more.

But it's not just about music. There is a large theatre tent where groups perform everything from very modern works to ballet and the classics.

The food is very eclectic. There is a special dining area where about 50 tents are set up for the vendors of local and fast food. There is a separate area for the international "restaurants" which is really more a circle of tents of various international cuisines and lots of seating in front of them.

You can well imagine that such a crowd has a significant impact on the environment, but no need to worry. About a month after the event (and following a month of frantic cleaning and replanting of grass) the place is back to its green, serene, wonderful self.

Among Hungarians, "Sziget" is considered *the* event of the year. Not just because it has a cool program and there is a good chance that you can see your favourite band, but because it has that "sziget feeling" (sziget=island, we generally just call the festival "sziget"). You're separated from your organized and disciplined (more or less) life and are free to do whatever you want to do with whomever you want to do it. You can meet new people (everyone just *talks* to each other here!), you can drink, you can dance, you can bungee jump (I almost did...). It's much much much fun! Close

From journal A local's guide to Budapest - work in progress!

Margaret Island

What's Nearby?

Nearby Things to Do

Popular Budapest Hotels

Popular Things to Do in Budapest

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Margaret Island

Island Festival (Sziget)