Long one of Europe’s great gay playgrounds, and, along with Prague, a top GLBT destination in Eastern Europe, the beautiful and culturally rich city of Budapest hosts a 10-day Budapest Gay Pride in late June and beginning of July.
After an initial controversy, when the Budapest Police canceled the Gay Pride March in 2011, the festival and parade has become a very popular and successful event. Pride festivities now take place in early July – this year’s dates are July 2-3, and the festivities take place the week before. A comprehensive list of arts and cultural events, including film screenings, parties, workshops, art exhibits, LGBT rights and political debates, women’s pride and men’s pride celebrations, and much more begins on Friday the 24th. of June.
The big event is on Saturday afternoon, July 2, when the Budapest Gay Pride Parade marches through the city, followed by the Budapest Gay Pride Festival.
Budapest Gay Resources
Expect the popular bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops in the area to be busier than usual during Pride week. Check out online resources on Budapest’s gay scene, such as the Gay Guide to Budapest GayGuide.net and the Gay Guide to Budapest NightTours. Also take a look at the excellent visitor site produced by the city’s official tourism organization, the Budapest Tourist Service Center.
