Sziget Festival in Budapest: 19 Reasons You Can’t Miss It!

Family camping is (you guessed it!) for guests looking for a more family-friendly environment. Free for children under the age of 14! This camping site has a playhouse, nap areas, as well as extra toilets and showers. There are also on site staff who love kids to ensure the campsite is just as fun as the rest of the festival!

This campsite has the basics plus free wifi, luggage rooms, snack bar and extra toilets.

*There are also some glamping options, in which the festival will set up premium glamping tents with mattresses and your own private area.

Sziget Festival Off-Site Accommodation

There is plenty of off-site accommodation if you want to be able to leave the festival behind every night to get some actual rest. But with over 450,000 visitors expected at Sziget 2019, you can bet that Budapest is going to be packed. Definitely plan ahead if you’re looking to secure a hotel or AirBnB.

We’ve heard of people pitching a tent in the basic camping area on site, as well as booking a hostel or hotel room in the city so they could decide spur of the moment whether they wanted a good night sleep or to just pass out at the festival.

Here are some great options for where to stay for Sziget music festival:

Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget – Located on Margaret Island in the Danube River, this upscale hotel has 2 pools, a fine dining restaurant on site and a spa. Worth the splurge if you want some luxury TLC during the festival.

Ibis Styles Budapest City – A great city hotel with funky style and impeccable cleanliness.

Cosmo City Hotel – A good mid-range hotel choice in a prime location for exploring Budapest.

Sziget Hostel – This hostel is only 10 minutes from the festival entrance and dorm beds are only 19 euro/ night with a festival ticket. You can also get a private room for 57 euros for 2 people, which may be preferable if you actually want some sleep. Great place to make friends for the festival!

Meander Hostel – Located in downtown Budapest, this is a great choice if you want to visit the festival, as well as explore the city. Dorm beds are a bit more expensive, starting at 28 euro.

Kodaly Apartment – A cute studio apartment with kitchen, washing machine and of course your own bathroom which is a simple pleasure you won’t get in the festival!

Budapest Downtown Apartments– A selection of apartments for a range of guests. Rent a place with your group to keep costs down and have an after-party house!

Blue Box Apartment – A one bedroom apartment perfect for couples looking for some privacy after the fest.

Sziget Festival What To Wear

• Comfortable walking shoes – Sziget is a HUGE festival. There’s so much to see and do. The last thing you want is to cut your day short because your feet are killing you. Take comfort over fashion and invest in some comfy kicks. Who’s looking at your shoes anyway?!
• Bandana – The grounds of the festival are mostly made of dirt. With almost half a million people walking through during the week, you can bet there’s gonna be a TON of dust kicked up. A bandana will save you from inhaling ridiculous amounts of gross festival dirt. We recommend something like a Buff, they’re cheap, easy and super versatile.
• Costumes – If you love a good festival costume, Sziget festival is definitely the place to break it out! From onesies to sequins to barely there bikinis, you’ll pretty much see everything at Sziget.
• Rain jacket – Even though it gets pretty hot during the day, there’s still a possibility of rain. Having a light rain jacket can keep you from getting soaking wet and ruining your night.
• Remember, between the dust and the color bombs things are bound to get a little messy. Don’t wear or bring anything you don’t mind getting a little dirty.

Women’s Sziget Packing List

• Bodysuits – There’s no more classic festival look than a bodysuit with denim shorts. Just remember to get a bodysuit that has snaps in the crotch area so you don’t have to take the whole damn thing off every time you need to use the bathroom!
• Everlane Mini Wrap dress – The fabric on this dress is so soft and comfortable. Plus wrap dresses are super easy to slip on and off.
• Everlane Cotton Shirt Dress – Standing in the sun alllll day means some seriously burnt arms and shoulders. Cover up with this adorable yellow cotton dress perfect for summer.
• Alternative Apparel Rayon Challis Shorts – Soft, lightweight fabrics shorts, because sometimes a girl just needs a break from denim! These are the kind of shorts you could roll up into a ball, toss in the back of your tent and throw them back on and they’d still look good.
• Band shirt – Rep your favorite artists with some throwback band t-shirts. Just make sure you actually listen to them, otherwise it could make for some awkward conversation with fellow “fans!”
• Felt hat – Not only is a hat a great festival accessory, but it will keep the sun off your face while everyone else is squinting at the stage.
• Soft hoodie – The year we went there was a huge fashion trend of wearing a leather jacket tied around your waist. Taking a leather jacket (faux or otherwise) to a music festival seems a bit odd to me, and even more uncomfortable wrapped around your waist. I would recommend a soft hoodie that can double up as a pillow during warm nights in your tent.

• Everlane Air Tee – Jules is obsessed with these shirts. Light, comfortable and perfect for a hot festival day.
• Swim trunks – There’s nothing better than being able to move from the festival to the foam pit to the pool without having to change your clothes. Being able to stay in the same shorts will just make your festival life easier. Plus, these come in some rad patterns.
• Alternative Apparel Basic Eco-Jersey Zip Hoodie – Even though it stays pretty hot during the day, the temperature can drop at night. A basic hoodie should keep you warm.

What to Bring to Sziget Music Festival

• Sunscreen – Unless you get terrible weather, chances are there’s going to be plenty of sun. Be prepared!
• Toilet paper/ tissues – You never know if the porta potties will run out!
• Snacks – Unlike some festivals which will literally throw away an apple if you try to bring it in (ahem, Coachella), Sziget is fine with you bringing in outside food. Not a bad way to save a couple bucks and keep your energy levels up while you’re stacking out your place at the main stage.
• Water bottle – Bring a reusable water bottle to fill up at refill stations around the festival. Because nobody likes one use plastic! Our favorite water bottles are Vapur, because one they’re empty you can fold them up and put them in your pocket!