See all sorts of drama at this theatre complex, from the performances on stage, to the interesting displays in the surrounding garden.
Visit the National Theatre (Nemzeti Színház) on the banks of the Danube and stroll through the surrounding cultural precinct in the Millennium Quarter, between Petőfi and Lágymányosi bridges. Housed in a distinctive round structure, the theatre has an open-air stage as well as a 619-seat auditorium. This modern building you see today was opened in 2002, but Budapest’s National Theatre has a much longer history, going back more than 150 years and moving between several locations.
As expected, performances in the National Theatre are primarily Hungarian, with contemporary plays and literary adaptations. Even if you don’t speak Hungarian, enjoy one of the classics that is regularly performed.
Outside the performance centre, the theatre offers interesting activities for visitors in a landscaped park. This park was designed to act like an extension of the theatre space, providing “drama” in an outdoor setting. You enter the gardens via a limestone arch carved in the shape of theatre stage curtains. Explore the statues of famous Hungarian actors lining the walkway toward a pond with the bow of a ship rising above the surface. Stroll through the large garden maze or climb a spiral ramp to the top of the cone-shaped exhibition hall. From this peak, enjoy a view looking back to the theatre.
Nearby is another cultural showcase, the Hall of Arts, constructed in 2005. This glass-enclosed building offers jazz, dance, opera and classical music performances and has become popular for visitors of all ages. Kids have an opportunity to “play” instruments.
The park around the National Theatre is always open. Check the National Theatre website for times of theatre performances. Reach the theatre via the Suburban Railway stopping at Lágymányosi Bridge station or on Streetcar 2 arriving at Millenniumi Kulturális Központ station.
