Budapest Beer Festival Guide

Between the 5th and 10th of June, Szabadság tér in Budapest's city centre will be one of the best places to head to, thanks to the Downtown Beer Festival and its endless quantities of constantly flowing and delicious cold beer.

First organised in 2011, this annual event is considered the national beer festival of the year and it's not just limited to the beer lovers or hoards of stag parties that head there. Each year, the festival showcases more than 40 musical acts during the five-day event, great local food and amazing beers from Hungary and from elsewhere in the world.

More than 250 craft beers will be on offer in 2019, from craft breweries as well as brewery powerhouses like Heineken and the Dreher Beer Factory.

While entry is free, to sample these fine brews you will have to buy one of the festival pitchers, which will set you back £4 and mugs of beer start at a pound! Sounds like stag do heaven.

Date: June 5 – 10, 2019 ( generally held at the same time each year)
Admission: Free
Location: Szabadság Square
Includes: 250 local, imported and craft brews, 3 high-quality beer mugs, food trucks and street food and concerts

The XI. Czech Beer Festival is a great opportunity for your stag party to taste fine Czech beers and food while in Budapest.

The venue is located on the roof terrace of a centrally located shopping centre, meaning you'ill have no problem getting to it and stumbling to all the nearby bars and clubs afterwards.

The festival is enjoyable in the summer heat and a great way to kick-start your stag party.

You can taste around 100 specialty beers made by the following large and micro breweries:

Ferdinand Pivovar, Nymburk Pivovar Postřižinské pivo, Bernard Pivovar, Mazak Micro Brewery, Velicky Bombardák Micro Brewery, Zichovec Micro Brewery, Permon Pivovar, Raven Craft Brewery, Frankies Micro Brewery, Břeclavské Micro Brewery, Pivovar Kout, Kocour Pivovar, Pilgrim Brewery, Hradecky Klenot Pivovar, Zubr Pivovar, Holba Pivovar, Litovel Pivovar, Černa Hora, Budweiser Budejovice, Staropramen, Jihlava Pivovar Ježek, Havlíčkův Brod Rebel, Pivovar Rychtář, Lobkowicz, Primátor, Konrád, Bohemia Regent, Svijani, Pernstejn, Eggenberg, Bohemia Regent, Žatec, Nova Paká, Krusovice and Pilsner Urquell.

Date: June 19 - 23, 2019 ( generally held around the same time each year)
Admission: Free - purchase your drinks and food
Location: WestEnd Shopping Center – Roof Terrace
Includes: 100 speciality beers, food stalls, cultural programs, concerts and football matches

Long before the rest of the world started to catch onto the craft beer trend, one country that was pioneers of delicious brews was, and still is, Belgium. And, that craft is not only celebrated in Belgium but also in Hungary, especially during the annual Belgian Beer Festival.

For all beer lovers out there, this festival is the places to go to, especially if you are celebrating a stag do. With hundreds of different beers from Belgian breweries, you will certainly be able to find the right one or to..or three for you.

The annual Belgian Beer Festival will grace stag do groups in September with over 200 different types of Belgian beer from 45 breweries on offer.

One of the stand-out beers is the Kastel Cuvée du Chateau 11%, which has only recently become available in Hungary.

Besides beer, you can nibble on delicious ham and cheese as well as Belgian chocolate. Food stands will also be there serving up a storm and ensuring there is plenty of fuel for those beer-laden bellies!

The festival is held both indoors and outdoors at the Bálna building, just by the Danube, not far from the Grand Market Hall.

Date: September 1 - 2 (Generally around this tile each year, however in previous years the festival was held in May
The different tickets available:
Beer Lover - ticket contains 4 beers and a festival glass for about £10.20
Beer Fanatic - ticket contains 6 beers and a festival glass for about £13.75
BE[ER]HERO - ticket contains 15 beers and festival glass for about £27.30
Beer taster -ticket contains 20 small beers and the mini tasting glass for about £21
Extra beer coupons can be purchased for about £1.80 each
Location: Sörház utca 39, at The Whale’s Terrace overlooking the river Danube

Beer lovers and stag parties can't complain about a lack of beer festivals in Budapest.

After the Downtown Beer Festival, The Czech Beer Festival and The Belgian Beer Festivals, it's then time for some German flare with the city's own Oktoberfest in Kincsem Park.

And, it has Stag Weekend written all over it!

The best craft breweries from Hungary, Bavaria and other countries will be present during this four-day event, offering a choice of 300 beers. Seriously, we don't think a stag party will complain about this one!

With more than 50 performers, there will be Hungarian performers, bands and DJs and more to keep you entertained and get the party started.

In the Bavarian Gastro Court, you can have a taste of Bavaria with traditional dishes like Wiesn-Hendl, roasted pork knuckle grilled sausages and Bavarian pretzel.

You can also taste Hungarian delicacies and street food.

Date: October 4- 7
Admission: Daily £5.50 or for the four days £8.20
Location: Kincsem Park (Horse Racing Track) district X., Address: Albertirsai út 2-4., Budapest 1101
Includes: Great food, greyhound, horse and harness racing, beer halls and
lots of concerts by Hungarian performers, bands and DJs

Because several beer festivals scattered throughout the year were not already enough for the beer-loving Hungarians, Budapest has also dedicated an entire week to the stuff!

Budapest Beer Week (BPBW( is a week-long international craft-beer festival held in pubs, bars and other venues around across the city in May. It brings together 60 Hungarian microbreweries as well as guest breweries from Germany and the Czech Republic.

The main events include an 'all you can taste' tasting session for a fixed price, live music events and after parties Dürer Kert with the best underground bands and DJs of the region.

More than 60 breweries offering offer 200 beers are included in the tasting sessions.