SEPTEMBER | BIGGER PICTURE
Sziget down
on it
What: Sziget Festival
Where: Óbudai-sziget, Budapest
Attendance: Around 565,000
Dates: 7-13 August 2019
At nearly three times the attendance of Glastonbury
(575,000) Sziget is overwhelmingly large in scale, but
matched in stature by its sense of occasion.
Access attended the event with Hungexpo – our
chosen method of transport being a manned boat, setting
off from central Pest. Many other entry methods are
available, with almost half of all visitors coming from
outside Hungary and choosing to arrive on a dedicated
‘party train’ service (with resident DJs).
The festival started in 1993, hailing from an
underground student movement. Originally called
Diáksziget (Student Island), the first event was organised
by music fans in their spare time and ran well over
budget, taking until 1997 to repay the losses. From 1996 to
2001 it was sponsored by Pepsi and renamed Pepsi Sziget.
The festival still has a heavily sponsored element,
with Mercedes-Benz taking over areas including the VIP
section. This no doubt helps fund an impressive line-up,
that this year featured Foo Fighters, The National, Martin
Garrix, Post Malone and Florence and the Machine.
A wealth of nearby hotels are reasonably priced by UK
standards. Top of Access’ tip list is the occult-themed
Mystery Hotel and the warm, homely feeling Kempinski
Hotel. Elsewhere, the Budapest Marriott also impressed
with its bold, brutalist stylings, and high-end service. All
these properties are near the Danube on the Pest side of
town and offer extensive opportunities for groups, with
meetings and event facilities.
• hungexpo.hu/en
• marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/budhu-budapest-marriott-
hotel/
• mysteryhotelbudapest.com
• kempinski.com/en/budapest/hotel-corvinus/
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