Any tickets we should pre-purchase?

If you're interested in touring the fascinating Parliament you should buy tickets in advance, the website offers timeslots and you select the English tour guide--can't go in without a guide, expect to go through security clearance. Other than that I have only purchased tickets in advance for the Opera and Operett, which has delightful musical comedies that are well-worth seeing and tickets are quite cheap, and the theatre itself is just gorgeous, definitely a place where you'll be surrounded by the Hungarian people.

Christa,
Thank you for your advice! I will get those parliament tickets ahead. Do you have any advice on how to select an opera or operett and/or musical comedy? If it's a comedy is it in English? (wondering how it would be humorous unless it's either in English or physical comedy?). Are all the opera's and operett's (is that a shorter opera? sorry for the ignorance here) in the evenings I presume? About how much would that cost?

Thank you!

Tracy

Tracy, also take a look at the concerts at the Liszt Academy -- less expensive than the Opera and tickets may be more available. Near Oktagon metro, lots of restaurants nearby. I'm hoping to go when we're in Budapest the week after you.

I'm glad you asked this question because I'll be in Budapest 4/28-5/2 myself and just went on the Operettszinhaz website, www.operett.hu--google "Budapest Operett English" otherwise you'll get the Hungarian-only version. It doesn't appear that the programme for early May is up yet so you might want to check back, and now I am toying with whether I want to see Gone With the Wind while I'm there. This theatre is a couple of blocks away from the Opera haz on Andrassy, and they show light musical comedies, matinee and evening performances. Last May I was thoroughly delighted by The Duchess of Chicago, and for about $22 US I had a front row seat--I actually don't recommend that, it was my best option when I bought the ticket, because there are surtitles above the stage and I spent the whole show looking up at them.

The Opera website is www.opera.hu and May is up, though I am not tempted by anything. If you want to tour the Opera house--I did that one trip and then last year actually attended an evening opera, Otello--they offer that at 3 and 4 pm, definitely worth seeing. I visited after the Terror House, which is a bit further down Andrassy.

The Hungarians like their arts and the performances are still pretty much not about the tourists. But you have to book things very, very, very early. If you are interested PM me and I will share my favorite venues and a few secrets about seating in the venues.