Halloween is a holiday that, year after year, seems to be more deeply rooted in European culture, which sees how its traditional All Saints’ Day is losing importance to the detriment of Halloween. 

It is a fun festivity in which people take advantage of the occasion to dress up in terrifying costumes, scare their friends and enjoy different plans to what we are used to the rest of the year. 

We wanted to compile some of the best activities that Budapest has to offer to anyone who dares to spend a terrifyingly fun night. Are you up for it? We have something for everyone.

Haunted Budapest: Ghost Hunt Outdoor Escape Game 

Fear does not only wait for you behind curtains that seem to move on their own, in the whisper at the end of a dark corridor or in a call on a phone without a line. It can also appear behind any corner, even in the busiest corner of the city. 

In this game you can forget about guides and no one shouting at you what to do. Follow the instructions at your own pace, and enjoy a novel experience that will allow you to be part of a different and fun night out. 

Available in English and German, you will be able to move, following the instructions of the App, through haunted stories, legends and ghosts of the Vajdahunyad Castle, the House of Terror or the Heroes’ Square among other emblematic places of the city. 

You don’t even need an internet connection, you just need to have the app, go to the starting point of the game, Hősök tere, 1146, and from there, start chasing ghosts, but remember that you must hunt everything that hides in the shadows, and not them you.

Nightmare in Budapest Interactive Horror Experience 

If you prefer to stay away from the cold Hungarian night, we invite you to spend some time at one of the best horror experiences in the country. Their events are famous for their realism and the fear they arouse among their users, but on Halloween they outdo themselves, year after year.

From the 28th to the 31st of October you can enjoy an unparalleled experience in ‘The Nightmare’. There you will find horrifying creatures, flesh and blood, that will try to hunt you down, chase you and search for you until they find you. 

It is an immersive experience that will delight horror lovers. It is located at Rákóczi út 30, 1072, the entrance fee is around 20 euros and it is worth every penny you pay for it. Do you dare to accept the challenge?

Halloween in the best Ruin Bars 

Ruin Bars are as famous in Budapest as the Parliament or Heroes’ Square, and as such, they are considered a monument in the tourist guide of the Hungarian capital. The crazy decor, the layout and the great atmosphere are the strong points of this meeting point. 

These bars have become a reference point in the Hungarian nightlife. So much so that they have evolved and you can enjoy them in a thousand ways; from an afternoon coffee to a live music concert. 

They always have something to offer, but the scariest night of the year always has an ace up its sleeve and in many of them you can find special events, offers, parties or concerts. Even if they haven’t organised anything, which is strange but possible, it’s always a good opportunity to get away and enjoy the great atmosphere of the best Ruin Bars. 

And what are these options? The Ruin Bars are like the spas and thermal baths of this city, they are numerous, well known and very good. We can highlight just a few of what we consider to be the best options;

Szimpla Kert

Kazinczy u. 14

The ruin bar of all ruin bars. It is the best known, the most atmospheric and the most creatively decorated. It is a must on your route through Budapest.

Kőleves kert (Kőleves Vendéglő)

Kazinczy u. 37-41

In the beating heart of the Jewish quarter beats this ruin bar, established as a meeting place, with a decade-long history. It has a pleasant courtyard where you can enjoy a beer and a cuisine based on organic and quality products. 

Dürer Kert

Ajtósi Dürer sor 19-21

We leave the party district behind to get to a ruinous bar that has a history that is written in golden letters within the history of the city of Budapest. Built in the 19th century, it has been a nuns’ school, the headquarters of the communist party, the property of the university and, since 2008, the most historic ruin bar in the Hungarian capital and with an extraordinary atmosphere. 

Instant-Fogas Complex

Akácfa u. 51

This ruin bar complex houses a great diversity of decorations and musical styles inside. It is an ecosystem in itself, with some 18 bars, several dance floors and two gardens. Here you can spend Halloween night surrounded by your favourite music and partying.

Halloween Parties in Spas and Thermal Baths

A completely alternative plan for Halloween can be to spend the night in a spa. Some open their doors to enjoy their facilities until the wee hours of the morning, others prepare parties in their pools and places like Széchenyi thermal bath have a big surprise in store for their visitors. Looking for details? You’ll have to wait for the most haunted night of the year. 

Halloween Run 

If you’re a runner looking for something different, on November 4th get ready for the scariest and most fun run you’ve ever participated in. 

Get ready for scares, screams, fear and races, lots of races. The organisers invite you to become a zombie, witch, warlock or wizard in what is the latest Halloween event on the calendar. 

Starting from Budapest X. Elöd u. 1., KÖSZI, Rottenbiller Park, choose your favourite mode and run away from the ghosts;

• School Halloween race 700 m (above ground)
• Family Halloween Run 700 m (above ground)
• Halloween21 (21km) (individual and relay) (consists of 3 7 km circuits)
  Halloween14 (14 km) (consists of 2 7 km circuits)
• Halloween7 (7 km) (2.3 km in tunnel) 
• Halloween Circle (4.3 km) (2.3 km in tunnel)
• Try Hard (2.2 km) (1 km in tunnel)

Halloween on your palate

To round off our alternative plans, how about dining in one of the world’s best restaurants? It’s not all ruin bars and spas in Budapest. The city has seven Michelin-starred restaurants. In fact, one of them has two. 

Another, Salt, has a Michelin star and a green star, which is just as hard to come by and rewards places that have a strong awareness of sustainability. These are just two examples of the best restaurants in the city.

Stand

Székely Mihály utca 2

This restaurant takes sophistication to another level. Its two chefs, co-owners of the restaurant, extol and magnify its Hungarian roots through a cuisine that fuses the traditional and the avant-garde.  Not for nothing is it the only restaurant in the city with two Michelin stars. 

As is usual in places of this category, the service is on a par with the extraordinary food. Special mention should be made of the desserts and the local wines which, if you are a wine lover, will pleasantly surprise you.

Rumour

Petőfi Tér 3

The layout of the restaurant is as original as the content of the dishes. It has 21 seats located around a bar that surrounds an open kitchen from which culinary gems emerge. 

Chef Jenő has been inspired by cultures and spices from all over the world in a culinary journey that is far from over. He reinvents himself time and time again, and the refinement of his cuisine tells the story of his travels through the kitchens of countless countries. 

As in the previous restaurant, the desserts deserve a special mention, which is already something to highlight when we are talking about a place with a Michelin star. Diners can enjoy the preparation of the dishes through glass windows that offer a clear view of the kitchen.

Accommodation on Halloween

We love scary things, but where you don’t want to be scared is where you spend the night. You want to be able to spend a quiet night, comfortable, warm and in the best facilities. You have nothing to worry about, because here we bring you the best hotel to spend one of the scariest nights of the year; Amberlyn Suite Hotel.