While there's no specific gay neighborhood in Budapest, the city has plenty to offer the gay visitor. Budapest has a wide selection of bars and clubs, restaurants and cafés and baths and saunas, which are gay-friendly or frequented mostly by gays and lesbians. Budapest is one of the most popular cities in Central and Eastern Europe for gays and lesbians. The city is also seeing a revival of the monthly gay parties attracting gays and lesbians from neighboring countries.
Celebrate with Budapest's annual Gay Pride Festival, which is usually held on the first Saturday in July, and proceeds along Andrássy Avenue, between City Park (Városliget) and Elizabeth Square (Erzsébet tér).
Discover 'The Colorful - Gay and Lesbian - Budapest' with budapestUNDERGUIDE, a bespoke tour company offering unique guided tours in Budapest.
The following is a list of popular gay- and lesbian-friendly venues updated for 2012:
Gay Saunas
Magnum Sauna
Magnum is the largest gay sauna in Budapest with steam rooms, dark rooms, glory holes, showers for two, cabins, fitness room and a lounge area with a bar, TV and Internet. Relaxing massages are also available. Features dark out parties on Fridays and various shows on Saturdays, starting at 8 pm.
Opening hours:
Monday - Thursday: 1 pm to midnight
Friday: 1 pm to 4 am
Saturday & Sunday: non-stop
Address: Csepreghy utca 2, Budapest
Location: Pest, District 8
Phone: (+36-1) 267-2532
magnumszauna.com
Sauna 69
Features a Finnish sauna, Jacuzzi, steam bath, cabins, glory holes, dark rooms and relaxing massages. There is a TV room, a bar and Internet access. Hosts monthly parties.
Opening hours:
Monday - Thursday: 1 pm to 1 am
Friday: 1 pm to 2 am
Saturday & Sunday: 1 pm to 6 am
Address: Angyal utca 2, Budapest
Location: Pest, District 9
Phone: (+36-1) 210-1751
szauna69.hu
Cafés & Restaurants
Amstel River Café
A small Dutch café attracting tourists, hetero regulars and gays alike.
Address: Párizsi utca 6, Budapest 1052
Location: Pest, District 6
Phone: (+36-1) 266- 4334
amstelrivercafe.com
Café Eklektika
A favorite with gays and lesbians as well as their friends with occasional live performances and DJs. The outdoor terrace opens when the weather gets warm.
Address: Nagymező utca 30, Budapest 1065
Location: Pest, District 6
Phone: (+36-1) 266-1226
Pizzeria Club '93
Address: Vas utca 2, Budapest 1087
Location: Pest, District
Phone: (+36-30) 630-7093 (Mobile)
Gay Bars
Action Bar
A popular cruising bar with live shows and striptease on Fridays.
Address: Magyar utca 42, Budapest 1053
Location: Pest, City Center, District 5
Phone: (+36-1) 266-9148
action.gay.hu
CoXx - Men's Bar
A recently updated cruising bar downstairs and a gallery and netcafé upstairs.
Address: Dohány utca 38 (corner to Nagydiófa utca), Budapest 1072
Location: Pest, City Center, District 7
Phone: (+36-1) 344-4884
coxx.hu
Cafe&
A cozy café, open for breakfast.
Address: Dessewffy utca 30, Budapest 1066
Location: Pest, District 6, near Oktogon
cafeand.hu
Funny Carrot
Address: Szép utca 1/b, Budapest 1051
Location: Pest, City Center, District 5
Phone: (+36-20) 942-9419 (Mobile)
funnycarrot.hu
Habroló
A lounge-like bar with a small stage for drag shows.
Address: Szép utca 1/b, Budapest 1051
Location: Pest, City Center, District 5
Phone: (+36-20) 211-6701 (Mobile)
habrolo.hu
Le Café-Mystery
Address: Nagysándor József utca 3, Budapest 1054
Location: Pest, City Center, District 5
Phone: (+36-1) 312-1436
mysterybar.hu
Why Not Café & Bar
Overlooking Gellért Hill, outdoor seating in the summer.
Address: Belgrád rakpart 3, Budapest
Location: Pest, District 5
Phone: (+36-70) 557-2727
Dance Clubs
Alterego Bar & Club
Features a bar, dance club and shows.
Address: Dessewffy utca 33, Budapest 1066
Location: Pest, District 6
Phone: (+36-70) 345-4302 (Mobile)
alteregoclub.hu
Capella Café
Features a bar, dance club and shows.
Address: Belgrád rakpart 23, Budapest 1056
Phone: (+36-1) 318-6231
capellacafe.hu
Monthly Gay Parties
Confetti
Monthly parties with different themes held in the Orpheum Club at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal. More info: (+36-1) 336-0056
Liberty
Monthly gay parties. More info: partyliberty.net
Lesbian Bars, Parties & Dance Clubs
Vis Major Café
While not exclusively a lesbian establishment it regularly hosts events of lesbian interest.
Address: Szent Istvan körút 2, Budapest
Location: Pest, District 13
Phone: (+36-1) 239-4451
Underground Club
Features a bar, disco, shows and two dance floors.
Address: Teréz körút 30, Budapest 1066
Location: Pest, District 6, next to Müvész Cinema
Phone: (+36-1) 269-5566
Ösztrosokk
Lesbian parties every second Saturday of the month. More info at: osztrosokk.hu
Shops
Blackdream
Fetish and gay accessories.
Address: Maria utca 9, Budapest 1085
Location: Pest, District 8
Phone: (+36-30) 956-9571 (Mobile)
blackdream.hu
Erotika Centrum
This sex shop triples as a club and a cinema.
Address: Dob utca 11
Location: Pest, District 7
Phone: (+36-1) 351-1000
gaybears.hu
O Boy
Underwear for man.
Address: Teréz krt. 35
Location: Pest, District 6
Phone: (+36-30) 99-1906 (Mobile)
oboy.hu
Useful Information for Gays & Lesbians
Gay Helpline (Háttér)
Phone: (+36-1) 329-3380, from 6 am to 11 pm everyday
hatter.hu
Company - Gay Magazine
A free monthly gay magazine with the latest news, reports and reviews. The magazine includes an up-to-date Gay Guide in English.
companymedia.hu
Gay & Lesbian Websites:
budapestgaycity.net - Hungary's gay portal
gaypoint.hu - gay dating site
budapest.gayguide.net - gay & travel guide
budapestpride.hu - annual festival
gay.hu - blogs & articles
labrisz.hu - lesbian association
