Sziget Festival 2023: What is it and how to attend

Sziget Festival 2023 is just around the corner! Are you going to miss out on this exceptional event? Every summer, Budapest becomes the host of this famous festival, which is said to compete even with the Burning Man Festival. This year, the event will take place from August 10 to 15, so get ready to buy your tickets and travel to this city.

At Sziget Festival, there will be 60 stages with incredible artists and musical experiences, but you’ll also have the opportunity to watch artwork, performances, and talks of great interest.

As a curious fact, do you know what Sziget means? This word comes from the Hungarian language and translates to “island”. In this light, it makes sense that the festival is called this way because it is located on an island.

What’s so special about Sziget Festival?

Phew! There are so many things that make this festival special that we don’t know where to begin. But hey, let’s start this section by saying that on this island, you’ll find the perfect place to be yourself.

So, let us explore the key points of this festival:

• As far as its location is concerned, it’s very close to the city center. Therefore, you can even explore Budapest whenever you want without traveling many kilometers.
• It’s the festival that never sleeps! You’ll have access to concerts and musical performances for the duration of the festival, regardless of whether it’s day or night.
• You’ll find endless activities to do, from sports to art.
• The island is surrounded by the Danube and has a special beach for its attendants, where you can relax whenever you want to.
• You can camp, take a nap, or even stay on the island since there are different options for accommodation.
• The Line-Up, art programs, and performances are second to none. The Island of Freedom hosts a wide variety of genres across 60 stages, ready to let you enjoy the festival.

If you want to discover more about what makes this festival special, why don’t you dare to travel? There’s nothing like living these experiences for yourself.

Where is the Sziget Festival held?

Sziget Festival is held in the heart of Budapest, Hungary. Where exactly? Sziget Festival itself is located on a beautiful island named Óbuda-Island.

How long does the Sziget Festival last?

The festival lasts for five days. But if you don’t want to attend for that long, you can choose to buy tickets for 1 day, 2 days, or even 3 days.

Regardless of how long you want to stay at the festival, you’ll find accommodation, food, and recreation options in its facilities and surroundings.

Sziget Festival Line-Up

To know their Line-Up, you can take a sneak-peak at the festival program, but below, we will show you the most renowned artists according to their presentation day:

• Thursday, August 10: Florence + The Machine, Foals, VTSS, Los Bitchos, Son Mieux, Adrenalize, Patrick Mason, Villain, Sub Zero Project, Devin Wild, Sam Fender, Bonobo, The Comet Is Coming, and many more
• Friday, August 11: Imagine Dragons, Yungblud, Jamie XX, Loyle Carner, Adam Beyer, Reinier Zonneveld Live, Ben Böhmer Live, Easy Live, and 20 more artists
• Saturday, August 12: David Guetta, Niall Horan, Moderat, Jeff Mills, Mimi Webb, Two Feet, Troyboi, TV Girl, Kelly Lee Owens DJ, Jungle By Night, Vinicio Capossela, M. Byrd, Asymptote, hadone, Marco Bailey, Paula Temple, SHDW & Obscure Shape, Stephan Krus, and X-Coast
• Sunday, August 13: Mumford & Sons, Diplo, Arlo Parks, M83, Nothing But Thieves, AJR, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and 21 other internationally renowned artists
• Monday, August 14: Lorde, Macklemore, Tale of Us, Caroline Polachek, Sven Väth, Amyl and The Sniffers, SG Lewis, Giant Rooks, and 11 others that we invite you to discover, which will be distributed throughout the different stages of the festival.
• Tuesday, August 15: As leading artists, we find Billie Eilish, Girl In Red, Yung Lean, Sleaford Mods, Mochakk, 070 Shake, Uncle Waffles, I Hate Models, and Kobosil. You can explore the rest of the artists on the Line-Up Sziget website.

How to buy tickets for Sziget Festival

Tickets start at $85 USD, and you can buy them online on the festival website. Additionally, you can get a VIP Upgrade for your ticket, which will give you access to a VIP entrance line, the terrace of the main stage, exclusive areas and areas with bars, bottle service, free WiFi hotspots, free lockers, and premium bathrooms.

Budapest Card, Sziget edition

With this edition of the Budapest Card, you can opt for different benefits during your stay in the city. The prices vary according to the number of days since there are options from 3 to 9 days.

However, what does this card include? Well, depending on which one you want to buy, you’ll get free transportation and movement benefits with bus transfers to the airport and vice versa. In the same way, you’ll have free public transport around the city and a boat transfer to Sziget. In addition, you’ll get discounts on restaurants, spas, museums, and themed tours throughout Budapest.

So, to get one, you can visit the official sales website of the Sziget Festival.

Where to sleep at the Sziget Festival

One of the advantages of the Sziget Festival is that you don’t have to worry about finding the best hostels or accommodations because they take care of that too.

Among the options that you can consider on the island are the following:

• Basic camping: Camp for free.
• Sziget Ville: It starts at $48. Within its options, you can choose outdoor tents, igloo boxes for two people, traditional or deluxe igloos, mini love cabins, luxury cabins, pre-installed tents, comfortable tents, extreme comfort, Eden igloo with electricity and lighting, and more.
• Sustainable camping: Prices start at $20. It’s a camping area in which everyone agrees to keep the environment clean.
• Family camping: Camping areas dedicated to families are located in the southern part of the island. The price starts at $20.
• Park camping: This camping space is located in a closed area of ​the island, very close to the entrance. The price starts at $65.
• Siesta camping: Ideal for those who want to stay on the island for a short time. You can get access from $20 per night.
• Caravan camping: A dedicated place for all those who want to go with their motor-home or caravan to the festival. From $57 you can find excellent services.
• Podpadopolis: The dream of all those who want to stay in a community and enjoy much more comfort, security, and privacy. Includes raised beds with air mattresses, lockable doors, and more. It’ll be like staying in a fairy tale.

The indicated prices are per night, regardless of the number of people to host. However, it’s important to note that each accommodation has a limited capacity.

Are there hotels or hostels available?

Yes. The option recommended by the festival organizers is the Márton Áron Hostel, where rooms start at $840 per night. In its rooms, you’ll enjoy all the basic comforts of a hostel, and you’ll have internet and WiFi.

The hostel is located just 20 minutes away from the festival entrance.

How to get to Sziget Festival

Getting to the island is easy. If you’re traveling by plane, you should ideally arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, and being in the city, you can use apps like “Share Now” to drive a shared vehicle, or if you prefer, you can rent an electric scooter with Blinkee.

One of the preferred ways to get to the festival is through the Sziget Express, the train that even runs through the heart of Budapest. But remember, you must purchase tickets in advance, as it is the busiest means of transportation.

Finally, if you decide to ride on public transport, you can do the following: Take bus line 100E that goes to Deák Ferenc tér M, to later exchange at Deák Ferenc tér to Metro 2 (M2) in the direction of Batthyány tér. Following this, you’ll need to change again to the HÉV commuter train (H5) to Filatorigát.

FAQs about Sziget Festival