During this time of global financial crisis value for money becomes a higher priority. We have one foolproof tip for avid fans of music and youth culture: it will definitely be worth their while to come to Budapest from the 12th to the 17th of August when the Sziget Festival (which includes two warm-up days) will be welcoming visitors from across Europe.

Sziget Festival – unique

A narrow iron bridge arching across the river Danube leads to one of Europe’s favourite summer events, the Sziget Festival. Beyond the bridge a new world opens up: an island, a beautiful 76 hectare park, where the organisers build a festival town for one week every year with the capacity to welcome 80 thousand festivalgoers at any one time, with facilities to satisfy all visitor requirements.

All this in the heart of the Hungarian capital, enjoying outstanding transport links and yet isolated from the urban environment. More than a thousand programmes are on offer across 55 venues. Guests can recuperate from a hard night of international concerts and partying in the high standard camping on-site.

The festival’s gastronomic palette is also unique: as well as Hungarian specialties, visitors can sample a variety of international cuisines and get a taste of Hungarian wines, and the characteristic local pálinkas and fruit-brandies. The festival atmosphere is exceptionally friendly and relaxed, whilst the prices are exceptionally modest. Everything is set for a memorable one-week cultural holiday at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, on the sunny shores of a beautiful island on the Danube. Although it is all too easy to fill the whole day with the staggeringly varied programmes covering every cultural media on offer, the tourist attractions and world famous spas of the magnificent, historic Budapest are also worth a visit.

Sziget Festival – colourful

Sziget Festival offers the most diverse line-up of all European summer festivals, featuring wide-ranging programmes in numerous venues such as outdoor stages and large tents. International superstars follow one after the other on the Main stage, including Faith No More , Manic Street Preachers , The Prodigy , Placebo , Fatboy Slim , The Offspring , Snow Patrol , Klaxons , Bloc Party , Ska-P , Maxïmo Park , The Subways , The Ting Tings and many more. The World Music Main stage will be hosting amongst others Khaled , Amadu & Mariam , Calexico , So Kalmery , Speed Caravan , Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club , 08001 and Figli Di Madre Ignota . There will also be a main stage showcasing Hungarian acts. The large programme tents are generally themed according to musical category. In the 2700m² main tent partygoers can enjoy the best in electronic music, such as Armin van Buuren , Pete Tong , Paul Oakenfold and Eric Prydz .

International stars will also be appearing on the stages of the dedicated Hard Rock and Indie tents which have the capacity to accommodate 5- to 600 people. Due to high demand the organisers have increased the size of the tent presenting Roma music. The venue showcasing Gay and Lesbian culture boasts a spectacular turnout every year and hosts mind-blowing dance parties that go on to the small hours of the night. Amongst countless other venues and programmes there will be a jazz and blues pub, an Afro-Latin stage, Balkan stage, folk-dance venues, classical music concerts, literary nights, comedy and stand-up, circus and jugglers, art exhibitions, film screenings, theatre and dance performances, an adventure park, and a nightly performance from the world-famous and breathtaking Catalan street circus La Fura Dels Baus. Every night multiple dance parties will ferry tireless partygoers’ right through the night and into the next day.

In 2010 the Southern-Hungarian town of Pécs will be the European Capital of Culture, on account of which visitors can get a taste of the colourful programmes that will be on offer next year at two separate venues.

The organisers take great pride at showcasing NGOs in the areas of tolerance, human rights, environmental protection and prevention. 120 NGOs interested in the above themes will introduce themselves and organise programmes in the area entitled Civil Sziget.

A new addition at this year’s festival is the Hungaricum Village, where visitors will be able to sample Hungarian culinary specialities, view and even buy craftwork and applied arts products.

Festivalgoers are guaranteed to be spoilt for choice amidst the vast array of programmes on offer. For detailed listings go to www.szigetfestival.com .

Sziget – the highest standards

The sleepover festival pass includes access to the camping site and all related services. For the first time the festival is introducing a VIP camping area, which will group all high-end camping facilities in one place – without reducing the quality and quantity of services available to other campers.

Toilets, hot water showers, grocery store, café, internet, laundry, luggage lockers and safe deposit will provide heightened comfort in a gated and guarded area. This outstanding service is available for €80 supplemental to the ticket price. There is also an option for caravan camping for an extra €100 per vehicle, which can be purchased on location with the camping ticket. Sziget organisers do their outmost to provide a secure and comfortable environment for a week of carefree entertainment for all visitors.

Dozens of pubs offer a variety of drinks from lager to cocktails, numerous restaurants from Hungarian to international flavours. Post office, bank, money exchange, internet tent, ATMs, tourist and travel information, customer services and complaints desk, laundry, free luggage lockers and safe deposits, pharmacy and first aid station are just some of the services provided to ensure a pleasant experience. A 1,200 strong security force is ensuring the safety of festivalgoers, 400 medical staff, and a team of police officers from a number of countries under an international cooperative scheme. As well as recycling, Sziget employs 600 cleaners who will do everything from mosquito and tic control to dust elimination on main roads for the comfort of visitors. There will be 1,500 toilets provided and 400 free showers available in the camping area with a 25 thousand person capacity.

The festival pays special attention to those living with disabilities; the grounds are entirely obstacle free with dedicated disabled infrastructure: a wheelchair viewing platform at the main stage, Braille programme magazine, and support staff available on demand for those with special needs. Visitors can experience the difficulties faced by those living with disabilities in the ability park where they can challenge themselves in the wheelchair obstacle course, the pitch black room, and other programmes aimed at those interested in gaining an insight into living with disability.

Sziget – more for less

All of the above is available for a price significantly below the average of European festivals: one week of parties, more than 200 international performers as well as exciting Hungarian programmes, with services of the highest standard and camping facilities are available for only €150 until 30 April and still only €180 after. (Without camping the one week pass is €120 and €150 respectively). But ticket prices are only one side of the equation, cheap tickets are often balanced by expensive services, drinks and food on the grounds. In contrast, at the Sziget Festival all basic services (toilets, showers, luggage lockers, camping, medical services, etc.) are included in the ticket price. (Extra services can be purchased in addition: VIP camping for €80 and caravan parking for €100.)

All additional expenses are also astoundingly cheap compared to the European average whilst being of an equal if not higher quality. Thirsty festivalgoers can drink a pint of beer for €1.5 or sip a Cuba Libre or Mojito for €4, and can munch on a hamburger for €2 or a large slice of pizza for €1.5. A large variety of meals are available for the very friendly average price of €4 and a large soft drink costs only €1.3. And since the Hungarian currency has weakened significantly against the Euro, visitors can get 15-20% more for their money.