For the techno lovers: the top 7 party places in Budapest
Put on your dance shoes and darkest clothes and visit Budapest’s loudest techno clubs –electronic music and rave parties for everyone.
There’s a reason people often call Budapest ‘little Berlin’ nowadays, and it’s not the diversity, the German precision, or a wall splitting the city in half. The reason is the flourishing nightlife, especially in the area of electronic music. Every year, thousands of rave lovers visit Budapest to attend the city’s countless techno parties. Thankfully, there are more than enough places in the capital that cater for these needs – so we’ve collected the 7 best party places in Budapest for you!
1. Akvárium Klub
We have to start our list with one of the most popular and musically diverse clubs in Budapest. Located beneath the pool and the park of Erzsébet Square, even the facility itself is a sight for sore eyes. It’s stylish, modern, clean and has three different rooms for different types of events. The biggest names of the techno scene have already been performed on the stage of the main hall: Oliver Koletzki, Maceo Plex, Tale of Us, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, and Enrico Sangiuliano – just to name a few. The 320-m2 main hall fits 1280 people and is equipped with a Martin Audio sound system, so if you’re looking for a quality techno party, Akvárium Klub is your place.
Come here if: you’re looking for a fancy place with huge headliners.
Prices: a beer is around 800-900 HUF (2,50 EUR) // normal ticket prices are between 2000-8000 HUF (6-22 EUR) depending on the event.
How to get here: Located at one of the busiest public transport hubs of Budapest, you can reach the venue by Metro line 1,2,3, as well as multiple trams and buses
2. Lärm
It’s time to go way deeper underground. Compared to the glamour of Akvárium, Lärm offers a totally different experience. With its small, pitch-black rooms and lesser-known DJs, this is a true underground techno club where the main attractions are you and the bass. Here the stroboscope’s light barely breaks the dark, so you won’t even recognize the people standing next to you. Situated in the same building as Instant (one of the most popular clubs in Budapest), Lärm has similar, ruin pub characteristics, for example dimly lit and furnished rooms for chilling. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for a techno party on weekdays as it’s open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Come here if: you’re looking for an authentic underground techno club – even on weekdays!
Prices: a beer is around 900 HUF (2,50 EUR) // ticket prices are between 1000-3500 HUF (3-10 EUR).
How to get here: Get off from the 4-6 tram at Király utca or Wesselényi utca and walk about 4 mins.
3. CAT Budapest
If you like electronic music but prefer bright colors to darkness, CAT will be your thing. They operate on a pretty wide musical spectrum, so if you want to avoid ending up on a 90s dance floor, it’s best to look up their event calendar before you visit. Located on the busiest street in the city centre, Gozsdu udvar, you just cannot miss this place and its cat-themed interior design. When you arrive, you’re greeted by a “Nice to MEOW you” message, and as you descend the stairs, you’ll find yourself looking at a black panther, Hello Kitty, and many other pixelated cats on the walls. They also have a special Sunday Dance party, so you really can’t say Budapest isn’t prepared to provide techno delights all week long.
Come here if: you’re into upbeat techno music, bright visuals, and Sunday dances.
Prices: a beer is around 800 HUF (2,5 EUR) // normal ticket prices are around 2000-3000 HUF (6-9 EUR).
How to get here: It’s about 5 mins walk from Akvárium Klub, so you can take Metro lines 1,2,3, trams, and various buses to get here as well.
4. Cinema Hall
Revived from the former Dürer Event Hall, Cinema Hall opened in 2019 with the largest techno headliners right off the bat, which was a smart move on the management’s part, as the venue itself isn’t exactly an eye-candy – some might even say it looks more like a gym. But in return, it boasts amazing audio and light system and is surprisingly spacious, which makes it perfect for big events. And performers such as Joris Voorn, Eelke Kleijn, Rodrigez Jr., YOTTO, and Nick Warren attract big crowds, so a spacious interior was indeed necessary.
Come here if: you’d like to dance on spacious dance floors to the music of world-famous DJs.
Prices: a beer is around 700-800 HUF (2 EUR) normal ticket prices are between 2000-8000 HUF (6-22 EUR) depending on the event.
How to get here: You can reach the venue from multiple directions, but the trolley bus line 74 stops just out front, so you cannot go wrong with that.
5. Arzenál
If you’re a real rave-head, you might already have a feeling that we’re missing something. It is known that there’s just a no better place for an authentic rave party than an abandoned factory building. Budapest was lacking in this category for a long time, but Arzenál finally filled the gap in 2019. Based in a former arms factory (“arsenal”) it’s got those industrial rave vibes that are so famous in other countries, especially in Germany. Also, their events are rarely public, so if you’d like to get in, you need to know someone!
Come here if: you’d like to experience a real industrial rave.
Prices: ticket prices are around 3000 HUF (9 EUR).
How to get here: it’s pretty far from the city centre, so you need to get to Boráros tér first, then take the bus 23 for 7 stops.
Open: only opens for the parties
6. A38
Time to sail out! – but not literally of course, as A38 is a fixed event ship that never leaves the shore of Buda. However, it’s still one of the most popular event venues in Budapest, and for a very good reason. Thanks to its size and many rooms, it’s a concert hall, an exhibition hall, a gallery, a restaurant, a bar, and a club in one place. Their code word is ‘perfection’ which characterizes their techno party palette, too. They have an electronic music event almost every day of the week and most of them are free. Check their event calendar on Facebook and enjoy the best DJs in a special atmosphere on the Danube, outdoor or indoor, all year long!
Come here if: you’re either in the mood for an early night chill session or a hardcore boat rave.
Prices: a beer is around 800-900 HUF (2,5 EUR) normal ticket prices are between 1500-3500 HUF (6-22 EUR) but they have a lot of free events as well.
How to get here: Take tram 4-6 and get off at Petőfi híd stop.
7. Aether
If your heart beats with the bass, your pupils pulse with lights: here’s another genuine underground techno club for your dark-hearted self. Aether has been the crown jewel of Budapest’s rave life since 2015. It’s not just a club, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a movement that supports the netherworld of common time (4 quarter note pulses per bar – the base rhythm of techno music). Performers like Captain Knuckles, Sobek and Monolit all have ties with Aether and its movement. Its cubicle-themed visuals offer a completely unique experience even compared to much larger and fancier venues, while the function-one sound system takes care of the cleanest sounds and deepest basses.
Come here if: you’re a real bass-head who’s into stunning visuals.
Prices: a beer is around 800 HUF (2,5 EUR) normal ticket prices are between 2000-4000 HUF (6-11 EUR) depending on the event.
How to get here: It’s in downtown Budapest on Király utca, approximately 5 mins walk from Erzsébet tér (M1, M2, M3, trams and buses).
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