Happy Birthday, Budapest!

Please note, that the event is in Hungarian!

If you would like to visit Pesti Vigadó, we offer you our Historic walk tours in English

Tündérpalota (“Fairy Palace”), Díszcsárda (“Ornate Csárda”), Redoute and Vigarda are just some of the names once used for Pesti Vigadó’s palace on the banks of the Danube, one of the finest achievements of Hungarian Romantic architecture. Its ground floor once housed a café, a restaurant and an exhibition space, while its upper floor featured a series of ceremonial halls.

These rooms hosted not only concerts, balls and exhibitions, but also major historical events. Hungary’s first representative National Assembly convened here in 1848, the royal banquet following the coronation was held here in 1867, and the document uniting Pest, Buda, Óbuda and Margaret Island was ceremonially signed here in the autumn of 1873. On 17th November 1873, the Council of the newly formed capital took over the administration of the city, marking the birth of Budapest.

To commemorate the anniversary of this event, art historian Márk Görbe will lead a tour of the building. He has a personal connection to the venue: during the Millennium celebrations, his ancestors leased the Vigadó, its café and its famous kiosk. This personal guided tour explores the history of the building, its artistic decoration and the artists behind it, while also offering a glimpse into the remarkable world of the grand balls once held here.

The guided tour lasts approximately 60 minutes.

In addition to the guided tour, the ticket includes admission to all exhibitions, which may be visited independently after the tour.

Please arrive 10–15 minutes before the tour begins.