The biggest party of Europe takes place on an island in the Danube, right in the centre of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Every August thousands from all over Europe head to what has become the biggest summer event of the continent. Over 1000 bands and artists perform on 60 stages: pop, rock, metal, hiphop, dance, world music, theatre, performance arts and everything in between.

Why do tens of thousands of people from all over Europe head to the Sziget festival year after year?

LOCATION
The location of the festival in the heart of one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. You can be in the city centre within 15 minutes! You can leave and enter the festival island as often as you like.

GREAT WEATHER
during the summer Hungary has the same climate as Spain. Forget about ponchos, bring some suncream instead! The wide variety of good food and beverage for cheap prices (a pint of beer will set you back £1,50- £2,00, a good meal is only £3-£3,5).

THE INTERNATIONAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE FESTIVAL
This is where East-Europeans party shoulder to shoulder with people from West-Europe. Only 25% of the visitors come from Hungary itself!

CAMPING
The ability to place your tent wherever you like, wether it’s next to your favourite stage or at the banks of the Danube river.

VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
Whether you want to learn belly dancing, do some bungee-jumping, learn Hungarian, take a dip in the swimmingpool, watch a movie, sing karaoke or just play football, it’s all possible at Sziget. There’s so much going on that sometimes it’s hard not to forget there are bands playing too!

THE DIVERSITY OF BANDS AND DJS
There are many, many musicians performing on the number of stages. There is always something going on somewhere on the island. Any kind of music, any kind of entertainment.

ISLAND
The fact it’s on an island and the sheer size of the island. There’s so much to see and do you can’t really see every part of the island in just one week.

The 20th edition of the Sziget festival will take place from August 6th ’till the August 13th. With a camping ticket you can stay on the grounds from August 6th 10.00 - 12.00 August 13th. The 6th of August is the so called Hungarian Day. The majority of the cafe’s and partytents are open and on the Mainstage a popular Hungarian act will be performing and also an international talent contest will take place on the island, the best thing about the first day though, is that everybody's still fresh and full of energy, the first day is always on of the best!. The actual festivities will commence as from August 8th with complete festival programme on all stages. There's a special focus on ’Meetingpoint Europe’. The days are far gone that Sziget used to be an exclusive Hungarian affair. The Hungarians still constitute the majority of the visitors, but there are also thousands of French, Dutch, German, Italian, Romanian, British visitors. And also hundreds of Belgian, Finnish, Austrian, Polish, Scandinavian, Spanish, Slovak and other Eastern European visitors have found their way to Budapest.

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SCHEDULE SZIGET 2011
4th and 5th of August: No festival activities yet, but for 10 euros a day you can camp on a camping on the festivalsite. These additional campingtickets can be purchased at the entrance to Obudai Island only.
6th of August: Hungarian Day. Party's all over the place
7th of August: Day Zero: Special programme yet to be announced
8th of August: Festival day 1
9th of August: Festival day 2
10th of August: Festival day 3
11th of August: Festival day 4
12th of August: Festival day 5
13th of August: The end. Visitors are requested to leave the grounds at 10.00 a.m.

Up-to-date information can be found at Szigetfestival's Facebook page!

LOCATION
Sziget (the Hungarian word for Island) is held at a big island in the river Danube north from the city centre. From the city centre, the festival is easily reached with the HEV-subway, which departs every 10 minutes. The subway also runs during the night, although less frequently. On the major routes in the city centre, special nightbusses depart every 15 minutes. Weektickets for public transport are available at all subwaystations. These tickets are valid day and night for an entire week on all busses and subwaytrains and will only set you back €12.The only entrance to the festivalsite is the bridge that connects the island to the mainland. It is open 24/7. Another option to get from the city centre to the festival is to take the ferry. A ferry leaves every 30 minutes from the backside of the island to Margitbridge (Pest side) and Bátthyány Tér (Buda side) and back. Of course, you can also just rent a bike!

CAMPING
The festival grounds open on August 6th 10.00 a.m. for people with a Camping Ticket. On the 4th and 5th it is also possible to stay at a campingsite on the Sziget island outside of the festival grounds for 10 euros a day. Tickets for these days can be bought at the entrance. As from August 8th the festival grounds are open and you can camp there if you have a festival ticket that includes camping. The toilets, showers and washing basins are cleaned several times a day. A more enjoyable way to wash yourself (or just cool off a bit) are the ancient bathinghouses all over Budapest. The hot water springs not only provide you with hygienic relief, they also serve as the perfect antidote to a hangover. The backside of the island is more tranquil. Here you can find tennis courts, volleyball fields, ping-pong tables and a swimmingpool.Lots of lush trees grow on the island, offering you the shade you will be searching for once temperatures sore up to 30 degrees Centigrade. In case you come with a camper or caravan you can stay at the special campervancamping, located at the right hand side of the entrance. During the festival, you’re allowed to leave the grounds with your camper or caravan only once. Together with the regular camping ticket you will need to have an additional camper/caravan ticket.

THE GROUNDS
The days are far gone that Sziget was an exclusive Hungarian event. Nowadays tens of thousands Europeans come to the Hungarian capital to see over one thousand bands perform on about 60 stages. Rock, dance, world music, punk, electro, funk, blues, traditional music and classical music; there’s something to be found for everyone. But Sziget offers more than just music: film, a fairground, art, spirituality, sports, courses, the most diverse restaurant, shops, little bars and teahouses... all of this in the midst of the beautifully lit campingsites. The majority of the international acts perform on the mainstage before a 30.000 strong audiance. The Worldmusic Stage is one of the best programmed stages in its own right, drawing over 15.000 visitors for every performance. At night there are several parties on different locations serving the likes of all partygoers. This year over 400.000 thousand (one third Hungarian) visitors in total are expected over the span of one week. The prices for commodoties have hardly risen and a beer will cost you just about one-and-a-half euro. A meal goes for 3 to 4 euro (including a wide offering of vegetarian meals!). Although the grounds are huge and the number of camping sites is enormous, the Sziget tickets including camping sell out quickly.

FACILITIES
Lots of facilities are to be found on the island:, a doctor and pharmacy on hand at all times, ATMs, cellphone loadingdocks, shops, free internet (100 computers), a swimming-pool (VIP camping only), telephone and a 24/7 information desk. Sziget is a festival with a laidback vibe, but please be careful with your personal belongings. It is recommended not to leave any valuable belongings in your tent. Also it may be wise to get to know your neighbours, social control is good and you'll probably meet some nice people along the way. You can also get badges which you can hide in your luggage. There will be gates at all entries/exits and once a badge crosses a gate, the alarm will go off. A limited number of lockers are for rent on the island, but they are usually taken very quick. But there are also other luggage storage facilities, which we think are trustworthy, because we haven't received any complaints about them yet.

THE CITY
Budapest is one of the most beautiful and most exciting capitals of Europe. You better pay the city a visit – it only takes fifteen minutes to get there from the festival grounds. Apart from the touristic parts like the centre of Pest and the castle of Buda, there are lots of special underground bars and clubs to be found in the city. The hills surrounding the city are perfectly fit for mountain biking and they have great parks, warm watersprings, museums, shops, swimmingpools, etc...

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NON-CAMPING TICKET - 195 EURO
This ticket is valid from the 8th of August 6.00 AM until the 13th of August 10.00 AM: day -1 and day 0 are NOT INCLUDED! You can enter and leave the terrain as many times as you want but it's not allowed to sleep on the terrain or use the camping facilities. Early bird ticket can be bought until April 30th 23.59h Budapest time. After that non-camping tickets will cost 195 euro. Buy your tickets here!

TICKET WITH CAMPING - 225 EURO
This ticket is valid from the 6th of August 10.00 AM until the 13th of August 10.00 AM. You can enter and leave the festival as many times as you want, use the camping facilities and you can put your tent anywhere on the festivalground, except for well-marked areas where this is not allowed. Early bird ticket can be bought until April 30th 23.59h Budapest time. After that tickets with camping will cost 225 euro. Buy your tickets here!

CAMPERVAN/CARANVAN TICKET - 130 EURO/VEHICLE
Campervan/caravan tickets are necessary if you want to spend the nights in your camper/caravan on the festivalgrounds. These tickets need to be bought in combination with a ticket including camping and are only available for motor homes, caravans and other vehicles transformed into sleeping places (not including station wagons with bent down back seats). Buy your tickets here!

DAY TICKET - 45 EURO
Day tickets are valid from 2.00 AM on the given day until 8.00 AM the next day. Only with more than one day tickets on consecutive days you are allowed to camp on the island. Early bird day tickets are available from March until April 30th 23.59h Budapest time. After that day tickets will cost 45 euro. Buy your tickets here!

ADDITIONAL TICKETS
VIP CAMPING - 120 EURO
Separate guarded camping on the festival island with a.o. swimming pool, safe deposit, internet, Wi-Fi, grocery store, cellphone charger, snackbar, 24/7 reception, security and cleaning service. Only valid in combination with a ticket with camping. Buy your ticket here!

CAMPING ALTERNATIVA - 39 EURO
Reservation for a camping place at Camping Alternativa at the east side of Sziget festival island. The camping area can only be entered with the Camping Alternativa wristband and provides the following facilities: Telephone charging point, (good) Italian restaurant, lounge area, permanent guarding and extra showers. Only valid in combination with a ticket with camping. Buy your ticket here!

GUARDED VIP PARKING - 60 EURO
Reservation on the guarded VIP parking at 400 meter of the festival entrance. Parking is allowed from 4 August 8.00 AM until 11.59 PM on 14 August 2011. Price includes one free carwash. Buy your ticket here!

GUARDED BUDGET PARKING - 38 EURO
Reservation for guarded parking at Zay Ut at 1,9 kilometer from the festival entrance. Parking is allowed from 4 August 8.00 AM until 11.59 PM on 14 August 2011. The car can leave the parking but there is an extra fee of 2 euro every time the car re-enters the parking. Buy your ticket here!

PRIVATE LOCKER RESERVATION - 25 EURO (MORE INFO SOON)

BUDAPEST POOLPARTY ON 4 AUGUST (MORE INFO SOON)

BOATPARTY ON 5 AUGUST (MORE INFO SOON)

 

Wristband: Upon arrival at the entrance of the festival you have to change your e-ticket for a wristband. This wristband is your festival pass and will be checked every time you leave or enter the island and on the festivalgrounds as well. Don't take it off for the duration of the festival. You can put your tent almost everywhere on the island, except for some well-marked areas. If you want to be in the midst of things, place your tent near the stages; if you would like a good night's rest after a day of fun and music, set up your tent near the riverside.

For questions about the bookings/payments: clientcare@paylogic.nl

OTHER SERVICES
PROGRAMME

You can get a free booklet of the festival and a map of the grounds containing info on the artists and stages, programme and general info at the entrance, the infodesk and at dozens of other locations.

ATMS AT SZIGET
Apart from the branch of the K&H bank there are 10 ATMs on the island that are opened 24/7 and are filled up regularly. You can withdraw cash with almost every bankcard. By getting your money from an ATM, you always get a better rate than for changing your euros at a money exchange office.

LUGGAGE ROOMS
In case you want to make use of the Luggage Rooms, don't not wait too long! They are popular and fill up quickly, even though the capacity of the rooms has increased last year.

LOST AND FOUND
Report any lost goods at the Information Centre or call the non-stop Lost and Found-line. You can call this hotline throughout the course of the festival or afterwards during working days until the 15th of September from 10.00 AM until 6.00 PM: Tel:+36 20 425 6066.

LUGGAGE PROTECTION
At the Information Centre you can rent badges for minimal costs. These badges are supposed to be hidden in your bag or other luggage and will make the alarm go off when they are going through the gates at the exit of the festival grounds. In this way potential thieves can be caught and detained.

MEDICAL CARE
First aid is located left from the Mainstage. Qualified medical staff, a drugstore and ambulances in case of emergency are all present on the island. There also is a medical base at the Boathouse (close to the Metal Stage) and there will be 21 First Aid Officers patroling the island at all times. These officers are to be identified by their white t-shirt with the following text: ’Help Alapítvány’ on the front and ’Els_segély’-First Aid’ on the back. You can always address the security officers of Incal in case one needs medical attention

HANDICAP
For people with a handicap facilities are available. At several locations on the festival grounds there are specially equipped toilets and showers. These locations are marked on the map of the festivalgrounds. For people with a sight impairment free company is available. For this service you will have to apply 24 hours in advance – call: +39 70 3765351. Programme leaflets in braille are available at the Infotent. Thanks to the contribution of the Hungarian Crisis-Intervention Center Union, a bus with special trained personnel for adapted transport will be in service from 13.00 to 24.00 hrs. For more info call: +36 13 72 0650.

Sziget provides the following services for people living with disabilities:

-the whole area is accessable on wheelchair
-Special toilets and shower (marked on the map)
-A stand in the crowd in front of the Main Stage for people living with
disabilities only
-free shuttle bus from Batthyány tér (Buda side centre) in every two hours
-free parking (limited)
-wheelchairs are availabe for festival usage
-guide service for the blind and weak sighted (24h/day)
-detailed program with Braille signs

ABILITY PARK
An area where everybody can have an experience how it feels
like lacking a certain ability: wheelchair ramp, black room etc.

CAMPING
In case you want to camp in Budapest prior to and after the festival, there are four campings to be found in de city. Római is the largest and comes with a swimmingpool and is on a nice location near the Sziget festival grounds and Danube river.

LAUNDERETTE
You can leave your dirty laundry, and pick up your cleaned laundry, at the Infostand. Of course you can also go to town to one of these launderettes:www.laundry.hu

OTHER FACILITIES ON THE GROUND
Next to a large number of clothing- and souvenir shops, bars, restaurants, teahouses, tokos and internetshops you can also find a.o. a photoshop, postoffice, a bank, marriage-tent, bloodbank, tennis courts, volleyball fields, a swimmingpool, ping-pong tables, courses, pottery, wet t-shirt and wet boxer contests, rabbis, vicars and dentists.

BICYCLE STORAGE
You can ride your bike on the Buda embankment to the entrance; we will take care of it for free until you leave for home. At the storage place operating on the festival site free of charge (at the usual place: the tennis court of the Caravan campsite), smaller reparations and maintenance can also be done on your bike if it is necessary or if you really want it.

BOAT SERVICE

RADIO 1 BOAT – SZIGET boat service every day from 12.00 to 04.00, on the Pest side. A ferry leaves every 30 minutes from the backside of the island to Margitbridge (Pest side) en Bátthyány Tér (Buda side).

BUSLINE
In operation every day from 11.00 pm to 5.00 am. The ticket costs 350 Ft.
- from Sziget towards Árpád bridge, Buda bridgehead – Margit bridge, Buda and Pest bridgehead – Nyugati Railway Station – Oktogon – Madách Square – Móricz Zsigmond Square end station

TAXI
you can make use of it at the reasonable transfer prices as usual on Sziget. Look for the dispatcher service in the carpark. If you have any questions or remarks in connection with the service, look for the dispatcher on duty by the taxi drost, or call the central number (06-1- 2 111 111, nonstop).

MEETINGPOINT
In order to have a fixed point… The Meeting Points are in the open space area in front of the main entrance and on the Sziget area next to the Information tent.

 

SZIGET HOTLINE
+36 1 436-9229
+36 1 436-9230

Town Centre
lots of current services in one place for you to get along easier.

● Inside box office
open every day from 08.00 to 16.00. You can also buy your daily ticket here.

● Information
(with all the relevant answers and laundry service). Knows every secret and you can also bring your laundry here for the laundry service!

● Public Relations Office
If you have a problem, we will help you solve it. If you have any good ideas, please tell us. Whether you have any remarks, or you have suffered any atrocity, the employees of the organizing office will be glad to be at your disposal.

● MÁV-START ticket office and stamping
MÁV-Start Zrt. provides information service regarding railway travel, as well as the possibility for Sziget guests to buy railway tickets to inland or foreign destinations. The MÁV-START pavilion is located near the Sziget Information tent (on August 9 and 10 from 14.00 to 20.00, during the time of the festival from 11.00 to 20.00 every day. On the closing day there are no opening hours!). At the same place, anybody can buy tickets with a 20% discount on any inland relations.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the ticket bought on leaving providing a 50% return discount is only valid for the way back if you show the SZIGET entry ticket (the wristband) simultaneously!
About the details of the discount, inquire personally in the pavilion or on the MÁVDIREKT telephone number (06) 40 49 49 49, as well as on the website www.mavstart.hu.

● Diákhitel (Student Loan) Tent
Have greater and greater ambitions! Your efforts will be helped by Student Loan. Get higher and higher with the help of the compartment tower built by you. After five compartments you will get a present. Look for the ’Topclimbers’ in the Town Center!
By means of the freely usable and easily accessible Student Loan, with responsible thinking, you will get the chance to reach your goals and to have a self-contained, independent and colourful student life. Have a look at the details here: www.diakhitel.hu

● Photo Pavilion
You can buy a film, a battery, a disposable camera or a cassette for your camera. You can have your pictures developed, your batteries recharged, your photos saved on a CD from your digital camera. In order to retrieve your lost documents we will make the photos free of charge.

● Marriage Tent
As old as Sziget, with undiminished popularity. Just the way we have got used to it and the way we like it. Not just because it goes for a lifetime, but also because it’s always an important patch of Sziget. The experienced and dexterous registrars expect the marriageable unisexuals, bisexuals, monoecious, amphibious, one and all in the Marriage Tent.

● Game House
On boardgames with huge boards, you can spend the time you don’t want to or simply just can’t spend with anything else.

● Théba Art Tent
From the students of the Théba school, you can learn to make Ciano-type, which is a very beautiful, old and hardly known photographic procedure giving a blue picture. You can use your own photos or our negatives and you take the finished work with you right away. You can make your own monotype, which is a special graphic procedure, it’s colorful, uses inking, and you can make something like the great ones, with total freedom. We will help you to press the finished creation on white sheets with a graphic cylinder. We will dry it and you can already frame it and take it home. In this tent, you will have the chance to potter as well. From excellent clay, the Master’s apprentices will pot-throw, pot-ear and decorate glasses, plates and smaller pots. If you feel like making a sculpture, there is a chance for that too. We would like you to take away everything you make the same day so that nothing will go wrong with it. Come, we are expecting you, real works of art are born here every morning.

● Post Office
Magyar Posta Zrt. (Hungarian Post Inc.) operates an outpost branch on Sziget Festival this year as well, ensuring the comfort and carefree relaxation of those wishing to have a good time. At the Post Office pavilion we are expecting the following services:
- exclusive sale of stamps, envelopes, phone cards, mobile recharging cards, postcards, raffle tickets
- taking over postcards and letters
- occasional stamping
- personal stamp taken on the spot, direct ordering, taking over

● Lost & found
If you found something, please hand it in at the Info Tent, and if you lost something, look for it here as well. It is very important that you should definitely report lost belongings, because even more lost items can be found with the help of the security system in operation. The hotline of lost items: +36-20 425 6066, which you can call non-stop during the time of the festival, then, until September 15, between 10.00 and 18.00 on weekdays.

● Learn to speak Hungarian! Hungarian Language First Aid Tent
From 10.00 to 22.00 every day, the colleagues of Balassi Bálint Institute will help those foreigners who are capable of completing a cram-course in the Hungarian language. This is all for their sake so that they won’t mix up one beer with ten beers, or ’I love you’ with ’ich liebe dich.’ Or else, the most important, nicest and most useful words without a stake, only if life wants to examine you…

● Green Info Point
At the Green Zone Info Point you can inquire about the GREEN ZONE environment protection program, the environment protection activities at the events and especially on Sziget, and the programs connected to environment protection.
Here you can take part in waste exchange activities and other games, and you can meet young people committed to green causes. Moreover, you can claim your own garbage bag for your tent.
Opening hours: 11.00-23.00

● Laundry Service
During one week camping your clothes might need a laundry. You find the help at the Information – here you can drop your dirty clothes and pick them up clean. Laundry service is provided by Liliom Textilecare Saloon. On two further external spots you can use the self-service laundry, see
www.laundry.hu

● Dog Pensions
If you have decided to bring your dog to Budapest, please remember that dogs are not allowed on the festival. You have the chance to place it in a dog pension. We have collected some of the available addresses but always make sure to ask about free spaces in advance.

Kippy kutyapanzió (web.axelero.hu/kippy) Kippy Dog Pension
Address: Budapest, XVI district, Attila str. 53. (Rákosszentmihály, 10
minutes from Örs Vezér square )
Phone +36-20-965-7101, +36-1-404-9155
Price/day: HUF 1800/day
Available space: 1 space for a smaller dog in the apartment from 9th of
August, 2 spaces for larger dogs outdoors from 11th an 13th of August.
Vaccination documents required.

***
Hotel Vau (http://www.kutyapanzio.com/)
Address: Budapest XVII Orgoványi str. 6 (Felsőbabádi str. on newer maps)
Phone: +36-1-258-34-19, +36-70-510-94-64
Price/day: HUF 2 000/day
Also accepting cats and Euros.

***
DreamDog (http://www.kutyaoktatas-panzio.hu/)
Address: Budapest, IV.district. Újpest Központ (Újpest Center)
Phone:+36-70-317-1159, +36-70-771-5048
Price/day: HUF 3000/day
Pats are placed in the apartment. Only for lap-dogs. Vaccination documents
against rabies, ticks and worms, combined shot.

***
BERTY KUTYAPANZIÓ (ebpanzio.hu) (Berty Dog Pension)
Address: 1214 Budapest, Barackfa str. 32.
Phone: 06-30/500-3415; (1) 276-5928; 06-30/337-5077
Price/day: HUF 1700 in kennel, HUF 2000 in the apartment
Vaccination documents required with valid rabies shot.
20 spaces available in kennels, 5 more for smaller dogs in the apartment.
We also accept cats (4 spaces) with vaccination documents.

***
Airport Kutya & Cica Panzió (http://www.atts.hu/panzio) (Airport Dog and Cat
Pension)
Address: Budapest XVII. district, 5 minutes from Ferihegy 1 Airport.
Phone: +36-20-333-0877, Géza Sajner
Price/day: HUF 2300/day, lap-dogs in apartment HUF 2800/day
Also available for the transport of cats and dogs for HUF 4000-5000
depending on the district.
Available spaces for 3 large and 2 lap-dogs.
Vaccination documents required with valid rabies shot.
Speaks English.

***
Strázsa Kutyaiskola és Panzió (www.strazsa.hu) (Strazsa Dog School and
Pension)
Address: 1101 Népliget, Vajda Péter str. (Next to Építők Sports Complex)
Phone: +36-20-9340808 (Tekla Petneházy), +36-30-9421395 (László Vaskó)
Price/day: HUF 1000 + food costs (depending on body size)
Vaccination documents, valid rabies and combined shots required. Accepts
Euros. Owner may bring dog's food as agreed.

GIVING BLOOD
Give blood and save three lives!
On each day of the festival, Hungarian Red Cross welcomes everyone wishing to help, between 10.00 and 18.00, opposite the boat house. For the registration, we are asking you to bring your ID card (also your address card) and your Hungarian social security card.
Thank you!

BLOOD SUGAR MEASURING
Blood sugar measuring and advising free of charge at the stand of the Egy csepp figyelem (One drop of attention) Foundation, next to the Adventure Castle. On Friday August 11th from 14.00 to 18.00, on Saturday the 12th from 14.00 to 19.00, on Sunday the 13th from 14.00 to 19.00. Pay a drop of attention to your health!

SPLASH before & after the party!
Cool down on in the Dagály on Monday, in the Római on Thursday, in the Pala on Friday, in the Csillaghegyi on Saturday, for half price, on the other days of the week with a 20% discount.
In Pünkösdfürdő, the cheapest open-air pool of Budapest, there is a 20% discount on each day of the week!
Entry with a Sziget armband.
You can check out the opening hours on the different websites.

You can check out the addresses of the pools and the opening hours at www.budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu

Dagály strandfürdő
Bp. 1136.Népfürdő u 36.
www.dagalyfurdo.hu

Római Strandfürdő
Bp.1031. Rozgonyi Piroska u 2.
www.romaistrand.hu

Palatinus strandfürdő
Bp. 1138. Margitsziget
www.palatinusstrand.hu

Csillaghegyi strandfürdő
Bp. 1038. Pusztakúti út 3.
www.csillaghegyistrand.hu

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*SZIGET-BUDAPEST CITYPASS*

Budapest, the home of Sziget festival, is a magnificent city, famous for its spas and blessed with splendid public transport. Sziget festival has now made a deal with the city council in order to make it easier for Sziget visitors to also discover the wonders of the city and enjoy the healing waters and the many great swimming pools to escape the summer heat for only 29 euro!

And there’s more! From now on  www.2budapest.com will publish updated free info about Budapest’s best hidden secrets and everything you need to know to experience the best the city has to offer.

Sziget-Budapest Citypass offers:
- Unlimited public transport within the city borders of Budapest with tram, trolley, metro, bus, nightbus, inter-local train (HÉV) and the cogwheel railroad.
- One free entrance to a spa / bathhouse of Budapest.

- After that 20% discount at the spas and bathhouses of Budapest.
- Free entrance to the open-air swimming pools in Budapest.
- Free trips with the Sziget ferry from Sziget to city centre.
- Free trips with the Sziget boats to the swimming pools at Margit island.
- At least 50% discount on Budapest museum tickets.
- Discount fare (10%) from City Taxi (+36 12 111 111).
- 20% discount at Budapest Zoo (www.zoobudapest.com).
- 30% korting at Amusement Park of Budapest (www.vidampark.hu).

Price: 29 euro for 13 days. From 2 August (00.00) till 14 August (24.00h)

 

Vouchers for the Citypass are available from in the webshop. In case you already bought Sziget tickets (to avoid extra booking costs) you can order the citypass HERE !The vouchers can be changed for wristbands in Budapest on the train stations, the airport or at the festival entrance.

One of the great things about Sziget is that it takes place in the heart of one of Europe's most vibrant cities: a unique combination of nineteenth century chique and a modern undergroundscene. You can easily combine a visit to the coffeehouses, the baths, the opera and the innercity sightseeings with splendid poolparty's, the infomous ruin bars and gardenclubs.

The inner city itself is beautiful. The old Buda castle district on one side of the Danube and the 19th century city of Pest on the other side.

Budapest never sleeps. At Hajogyari Sziget (next to the festivalsite) you can find a whole range of clubs spinning everything from techno to latino and old school disco.. but most party's kick off downtown. Clubs like Merlin, Rio right at the Danube riverside.. or big party's at the Citadel (which has the best view over the city) on the Gelert Hill all put on great shows to make you dance the night away..

You can find up-to-date info about Budapest at www.2budapest.com

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HOSTELS
Hostel Góliat **
Kerekes ut. 12-20, Budapest
Triple rooms in Hostel Goóliat. Close to city centre and close to the Sziget festival island.
Showers and lavatory on each floor (separated ladies/gentlemen).
Price
Per bed:
4-5 August: 28 euro (for 2 nights)
4-13 August : 125 euro (for 9 nights)
6-13 August: 98 euro (for 7 nights)
13-14 August: 28 euro (for 2 nights)
Single days, 1-2-3-14-15-16 August, on request: 14 euro per night
Mail to info[a]ostfest.com

Per room (maximum 3 persons):
4-5 August: 84 euro (for 2 nights)
4-13 August : 375 euro (for 9 nights)
6-13 August: 294 euro (for 7 nights)
13-14 August: 84 euro (for 2 nights)
Single days, 1-2-3-14-15-16 August, on request: 42 euro per night.
Mail to info[a]ostfest.com

Price include all taxes but you have to bring your own towels.

City Hostel Buda
Single, double, triple rooms available. Each room has a shower, but the toilets are on the corridor. More information and bookings on the following website: Budapest Hotel Service.

APARTMENTS
We have a special deals with Budapest Apartment Service who offer cheap and well located apartments in Budapest during Sziget period.

Check the available apartments here!

HOTELS
We have found a great 3 star hotel in Budapest centre that offers good quality for hostel prices. The hotel is a 15 minute walk from the Jewish centre (nightlife)/5 minutes with the metro and 40 minutes from Sziget.  The hotel is in the Embassy district 5 minutes from Heroes Square and Citypark (Baths, fun park, zoo, etc.) and the main street of Budapest: Andrássy Avenue. We can only offer 7 day and 9 day packages (4/6 August- 13 August), or the single days 4,5,13,14 and/or 15th August. Included tax, excluded breakfast. 
Price
Per double room:
4-5 August: 90 euro (for 2 nights)
4-13 August : 399 euro (for 9 nights)
6-13 August: 310 euro (for 7 nights)
Single days, 1-2-3-13-14-15 August: 45 euro per night

Buy Hotel Benczur packages in the webshop.

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Sziget review by The Guardian

Sziget festival: in search of Europe's fields of dreams

Why traipse through Glasto's swamps when you can watch your favourite bands play on an island in the Danube? Garry Mulholland travels to Hungary to find a festival gem.

It's a balmy midnight in Hungary and you are walking through a forest lit with fairy lights. To your right there's an impromptu 50s-style sock hop, DJed by a man in a tuxedo who has set up his turntables in the front of an original Mini Cooper that's been cut in half. To your left, delighted whoops are greeting a buff gay dance troupe doing an energetic routine to the strains of Enough Is Enough by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. In front of you, a drunk couple who can't be any older than 17 are trying to duet on Paradise City at the heavy metal karaoke. You're just about to make up your mind whether to stick with one of these or proceed to your original destination of the Roma tent, when your nose catches a whiff of chilli noodles, then chicken burrito, and then what appears to be a giant hog roast.

Read more...

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Lonely Planet has chosen the A38 Ship to be the 'World Best Bar'. The club is located in an old Ukrainain freighter. Besides the modern popvenue it also provides 3 roof terraces and a luxury restaurant with a beautiful view of the city and the Danube.

Tickets costs EUR6,50.

LINE-UP:
Baskerville (NL)
Boef en de Gelogeerde Aap (NL)
More TBA

Show A38 Ship on a larger map

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Watercircus Spa Party tickets cost EUR39,50.

More info soon!

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Why is Festivalcard useful?

- By issuing secure contactless payment devices, visitors get a safer and more convenient payment mechanism, so they do not have to worry about carrying their purse with them all the time. This way, it is also less likely that someone would lose all their cash.
- Should you lose your card (following a simple card-registration), you can immediately disable your card, and transfer the amount of money left on the card to a brand new card. You will not have any problems with too many coins or torn banknotes anymore.
- Smoother service: all you have to do is touch the card-reader terminal when paying. Each payment takes 2-4 seconds only.

You can read more about the rules of using the festivalcard here.
You can read more about the data management here.

- What is the card for?

- What can I buy using the Festivalcard?

- Can I use the card everywhere?

- Where can I purchase a card?

- Do I need to register the card? If yes, where and how do I register?

- How long is the card valid?

- Is this the only way I can pay at the festivals?

- How does the Festivalcard work?

- How can I check the amount of money I have on my card?

- What happens to lost or stolen cards? Can I disable my card? Am I the only one who can use it?

- Are they going to ask for a PIN-code when I pay?

- What happens to the money left on the card when the festival is over, how do I process a refund?

- Whom should I turn to if there is a problem with my card?

- How and where can I recharge the card?

- So I should give a tip seperately, if I want to?

- Is there a minimum or a maximum sum of money I can have on my card?

- Can I receive a receipt of my purchase?

- If I bought a T-shirt and I would like to return it, what can I do?

- Can I have more than one Festivalcards?

- Is my Festivalcard going to be compatible with my Budapest Card (card issued by Sziget)? Am I going to be able to pay with it in the city, too?

 

- What is a Festival Watch?

- Works like a contactless card?

- Is it safe?

- Where can I purchase the watch and top it up?

- What happens when a festival is over?

What is the card for?
Festivalcard is the official, cashless currency of Sziget Cultural Management Ltd. for the summer-festival season. You can use your Festivalcard at Budai Gourmet, VOLT, Heineken Balaton Sound and Sziget Festival.

What can I buy using the Festivalcard?
Since traders, pubs and restaurants do only accept the Festivalcard as a means of payment in 2011, practically you can purchase every product sold by merchants at Sziget.

Can I use the card everywhere?
You can use the card at Budai Gourmet, VOLT, Heineken Balaton Sound and Sziget Festivals. One Festivalcard is valid for all four festivals, however your balance cannot be transferred from one festival to the other. So if you have used your card at Budai Gourmet, and have some money left on it, you are not able to spend it at VOLT Festival – you can, however, recharge your card to use it again.

Where can I purchase a card?
Every visitor gets their card with their wristband, with a balance of zero Forints – so you do not have to pay for your first card. The card is activated after registration or after having recharged it for the first time.

Do I need to register the card? If yes, where and how do I register?
You may use your card for payment without registration, however we would strongly encourage you to register your card as only registered cards can be disabled (e.g. if your card gets lost), and you can only transfer your balance to another card if your card is registered.
You may register your card: in SMS at +36 20 66-99-777, by sending the word REG, the cardnumber and a PIN-code consisting of four numbers chosen by you (e.g.: REG 123456789 1234) or online.

How long is the card valid?
The card can only be used for payment at the given event, throughout the duration of the event, in commercial units provided by Sziget Cultural Management Ltd.

Is this the only way I can pay at the festivals?
Yes, Festivalcard is the only valid currency at Budai Gourmet, VOLT, Heineken Balaton Sound and Sziget festivals. Merchants are not going to accept cash. The last point where you can still pay in cash the ticket sales points.

How does the Festivalcard work?
The balance of the Festivalcard can be recharged with a sum of your choice, but the maximum amount is 240 000 HUF. You may recharge your card as many times as you wish. The card can be recharged by bankcard or cash, so you do not even need to have cash on you. If you recharge by bankcard, be prepared for a 100 HUF additional prize for each recharge. All you need to do is tap the card against the cardreader terminal. Each payment takes 2-4 seconds only. If you would like to give a tip, let the barman/cashier know in advance. Festivalcard is a contactless card, so you should never punch it and be careful never to break it.

How can I check the amount of money I have on my card?
You can always get information about your up-to-date balance at our Top Up Points, moreover you may check your balance before every payment at the cardreader terminal of each merchant, so you can always make sure you have enough money on you to pay for the item of your choice.

What happens to lost or stolen cards? Can I disable my card? Am I the only one who can use it?
You can only disable registered cards, and your balance can only be transferred from one card to another if it is registered. Lost or stolen cards can only be disabled if they have been registered previously. Cards can be disabled in the following ways:
send the word STOP and your PIN-code of four numbers in an SMS to the the following phone number: +36 20 66-99-777-es (e.g.: STOP 1234) or go to the site www.metapay.hu/fesztivalkartya to disable your card. In case you have registered, but your mobile phone got lost too, you can disable your card online. Look for T-Home internet-caravans at VOLT and Heineken Balaton Sound festivals, and go to the internet-tent at Sziget to be able to use computers Each newly requested Festivalcard costs 500 HUF. You can request a new Festivalcard at the Top Up Points, after having disabled your lost or stolen card. The balance of the disabled card (in the moment of having disabled it) will be transferred to your new card 30 minutes after the disable. The balance of lost cards will be transferred to your new card at Helpdesk-points. If you find a lost card, please leave it at one of our Top Up Points.

Are they going to ask for a PIN-code when I pay? What happens if I forget the code or if I can't remember it: is my card going to be banned then?
No, the unique PIN-code you gave throughout the registration process will only be asked for if you would like to disable your card. When paying, all you have to do is check if the number on the screen of the cardreader-terminal is correct, and then tap your card.

What happens to the money left on the card when the festival is over, how do I process a refund?
Throughout the festival, you can always change the balance of the card back to cash. You can get your money back until the last day of the given festival. You cannot use the balance on your card at the next festival, however your card itself remains valid and rechargable.

Whom should I turn to if there is a problem with my card?
Hostesses are going to be available to help card-owners at Festival-card Top Up Points, and a customer-service is available with experts twenty-four hours a day at the Helpdesk.

How and where can I recharge the card?
The balance of the Festivalcard can be recharged with a sum of your choice any time. Each festival has a number of Festivalcard Top Up Points where you can always recharge the card. We paid attention to the importance of having plenty of Top Up Points within a reasonable distance at every festival.

So I should give a tip seperately, if I want to?
You can give a tip using your Festivalcard just as if you were paying in cash or by bankcard.

Is there a minimum or a maximum sum of money I can have on my card?
The balance of the card can always be recharged with a sum of your choice at any Recharging Points, but the maximum amount is 240 000 HUF. When recharging your card, you may use cash or bank/creditcard.

Can I receive a receipt of my purchase?
Of course you can, merchants are still required to give a VAT-invoice if requested by the customer, and they have to give a receipt after each purchase.

If I bought a T-shirt and I would like to return it, what can I do?
You can go back to the merchant you brought the item from, who will act according to the current laws, and return your money.

Can I have more than one Festivalcards?
Yes, you can have more festivalcards, but after you received your first – free of charge – Festivalcard, you must pay 500 HUF for each additional Festivalcard

Is my Festivalcard going to be compatible with my Budapest Card (card issued by Sziget)? Am I going to be able to pay with it in the city, too?
No, Festivalcards are not compatible with Budapest Cards. Festivalcards can only be used at Budai Gourmet, VOLT, Heineken Balaton Sound and Sziget festivals.

 

Party proof wallet – Pay with your Festival Watch
This summer all festivals organized by Sziget are entirely cash-free. The official currency is the Festivalcard. Festival goers will pay electronically via Festivalcard or can use their Festival Watch to pay!

What is a Festival Watch?It is a cool looking limited edition reloadable secure payment device embedded in a watch using near field communication.

Works like a contactless card?Yes, a simple tap of your watch, just like you would do with your Festivalcard, is all it takes to pay at check out. The reader terminals will display the total of your payment as well as the remaining balance on your Festival Watch. No payment errors, no paying twice.

Is it safe?Yes, it is. Have a blast, and your Festival Watch won’t bash! It is rain and shower resistant and also beer and mud proof. And since it is securely wrapped around your wrist at all times, it is also thief resistant.

Where can I purchase the watch and top it up?Your Festival Watch is available for sale for 30 EUR at all Festival Card Top Up Points and at the Volt Shop locations. At the Festivalcard Top Up Points you can immediately load your watch with cash, or use your credit or debit card at the widely available top up locations.

What happens when a festival is over?Residual amount on your watch can be reimbursed during festival opening hours until the last official day of each festival at all Top Up Points. And the best of it all, the watch will sure go home with you along with all your lasting fun memories…

By redeeming and using your Festival Watch, you automatically accept Sziget Kulturalis Menedzser Kft’s Regulations and Meta MPI Kft.’s data management code.

Regulations and data management code can be assessed online at www.sziget.hu/fesztivalkartya, the www.metapay.hu/fesztivalkatya and at the festival’s ticket offices.

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The D7 Passport will guide it's owner through the vibrant downtown streets of Budapest, and while doing that will get it's owner substantial discounts around every corner. The discounts are available at D7 Passport Check-in points, and are obtained by using one of the numbered Visas (discount-vouchers) from the D7 Passport that can be easily ripped out.

The list of the D7 Check-Ins is constantly rising. Check the latest offers by browsing the categories.

Choose your visa according to your needs and time.

D7 Passport prices:

- XL visa - 30 € - (72 visa)

- M visa - 20 € - (36 visa)

- S visa -10 € - (12 visa)

D7 Passport usage conditions:

    •    The 2012 D7 Passport is valid till 2013.04.30 and can be used till then without any time restrictions

    •    The D7 Passport Check-in Points can decide individually on the daily restrictions of the D7 Passport. All D7 Check-in Points have a profile page on our site, which will state their discounts and restrictions

    •    The Visas in the D7 Passport can be used without any time restriction within the validity of the D7 Passport

    •    The D7 Passport in not personal, it's transferable

    •    The Visas in the D7 Passport have equal value, any of them can be used with any discount

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Top tips for a safe festival…

 

ü Lock your stuff away – it isn’t safe in your tent

ü Make sure someone knows where you are

ü Drink some water, wear a hat and use some sun-cream…

ü Change money through official exchange offices or banks

ü Don’t get involved in any way with drugs

ü Carry this card, just in case

 

In case you need assistance from your Embassy, please come to one of our locations mentioned above. There you will find employees from one of the participating countries who will try to help you finding a solution for your troubles. You will recognize them wearing a blue E4U t-shirt or cap with the text: ‘Consular assistance’ written on it. Although they might not speak your own language, they will be able to help you with information and advice on what to do next.

 

Enjoy the Music (but be careful with your belongings)!

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ABOUT THE ENTRY
Purchasing the entry ticket only entitles you to enter the event if you accept the regulations of Sziget and take notice of the fact that keeping them is checked by the organizers.

Camping Tickets are valid from 6 August 10:00 a.m., Non-Camping Tickets are valid from 8 August 06:00 a.m. Both types are valid to 13 August 08:00 a.m. Day ticket holders can enter the festival site from 02:00 a.m. to midnight on the day indicated on the ticket, and can stay until 08:00 a.m. the following day.
Tickets bought in advance will be exchanged for a wristband on entry. You must wear the wristband (weekly or daily) on your wrist all the time throughout its validity. It will be checked by organizers on entry and exit, and also on the area of Sziget, constantly.

   
IMPORTANT IMFORMATION CONCERNING WRISTBANDS
Day ticket
- you can enter the event on a given day from 2 am until midnight, the day ticket entitles you to reside at the festival until 8 am the next day.
- you can only enter the camping area if you have day tickets valid for two or more consecutive days. We cannot guarantee a tent spot but you can use the shower rooms.

Camping ticket
- you can enter Sziget with it from 6 August 10:00 a.m.
- you can sleep in a tent or in a caravan,
- you can use the shower rooms and washing facilities,
- visitors arriving with a caravan must purchase a caravan camping ticket as well.

Non-camping ticket
- you can enter Sziget with it from 8 August 06:00 a.m.
- it does not entitle you to reside at the festival on Day Zero.
- You cannot sleep in the area of Sziget and you cannot stay in a camping tent or a caravan.
- Furthermore, you cannot use the shower rooms.

If you sleep on the island with the reduced priced non-camping ticket, you take notice of and accept the fact that you must pay the difference between the non-camping and the camping ticket to the controllers, otherwise you will lose your non-camping ticket and you cannot raise any demands towards the organizers or the security staff.

In case your entry ticket / wristband is no longer valid, but you would like to stay, you can buy another wristband on the area of Sziget, in the town centre or from the wristband controllers. If your wristband is invalid and you do not buy another one, you are obliged to leave the area of Sziget.
The entry ticket / wristband cannot be transferred to another person. A wristband counts as a valid entry pass only if it is worn on the wrist. WRISTBANDS that are DAMAGED (glued, cut, with a patent undone, broader than the hand) are INVALID. Ticket forgers and those participating in forging will be prosecuted. Damaged and lost wristbands cannot be replaced. 
Visitors aged under 14 can only enter the event with adult guidance (children aged under 10 can enter free of charge).
For the sake of your own safety, crowdsurfing (when the audience carry fans over their heads towards the stage) is forbidden on Sziget. If you're caught crowdsurfing, the security staff will lead you out to the edge of the given site. If you get caught again, you will have to leave the area of Sziget!
It is forbidden to enter the area of Sziget with any transport. In order to approach the event, we ask you to use public transportation, as well as the boat and taxi service!

WHAT CANNOT BE BROUGHT IN WITH YOU?
Glass objects, striking and cutting devices, umbrellas or any other objects endangering others’ physical health are FORBIDDEN to be brought into the area of Sziget. According to valid laws, you are not allowed to carry objects specifically endangering public safety (knives with a blade longer than 8 cm, switch knives, gas sprays, black jacks etc.), it is qualified as an offence.
IMPORTANT: Alcoholic drinks may not be brought into the area of the festival. Products of such nature must be handed to the security service at the entrance in custody. Non-alcoholic drinks and food may only be taken into the festival in non-commercial quantities.

 
WHO CAN VISITORS TURN TO?
With your remarks, complaints, ideas concerning hospitality, the staff or anything else, you can turn to the employees of the Information Tent and the PR Office. 

We ask you to hand in lost & found objects at the Information Tent, you should look for your lost objects at the same place (also on August 16, until 2 pm). After the event we will keep lost & found objects until September 15. You can inquire about them on the telephone number +36-20/425-6066.

Don't bring dogs!
 It is strictly forbidden to bring dogs to the festival. We kindly request you to leave your dog at home or use the services of one of the dog kennels in the nearby vicinity. Here are contacts to a few local kennels.

OTHER
 - A sound and film recording will be made of the event. Everyone who appears on the recordings can be namechecked only with their agreement, however they may not have any claims to the makers of the recordings or the organizers of the festival. 
- Film and sound recordings about the programs can only be made with the written agreement of the organizers.
- Visitors are allowed to take photographs.
- On the area of Sziget it is forbidden to carry out any commercial or advertising activities without the written permission of the organizers.
- Intoxicated and under 18-year-old guests cannot be served with alcohol
- We draw attention to the prevailing laws which say that the consumption, possession and sale of narcotics is strictly forbidden on the area of Sziget.
- Visitors are strongly asked to take care of natural values and not to drop any litter.
- The organizers take no responsibility for possible damages occurring in persons or valuables.
- There are several left-luggage offices and a safe deposit at the Boathouse in operation on Sziget, free of charge. The security staff takes responsibility only for objects left at these places. We cannot take responsibility for valuables left at other places, therefore we recommend the use of storage places.

IT IS FORBIDDEN AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO SWIM IN THE DANUBE!
The event will also be held in the case of bad weather.

The right to make changes in the program is reserved.

We ask you take care of yourselves and each other.

We wish you a very good time!

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