Hungarian State Opera House

The Hungarian State Opera House on Budapest's grand Andrassy Avenue is one of the most beautiful in Europe, a lavish neo-Renaissance building of gilded balconies, frescoed ceilings and a great chandelier, with acoustics ranked among the finest anywhere. Whether on a daytime tour or dressed up for a performance, its opulent interior is a highlight of the city.

Background

Miklós Ybl designed the house, first called the Hungarian Royal Opera House. Work began in 1875 with money from the city of Budapest and Emperor Franz Joseph I, and the doors opened on 27 September 1884. The company soon had between about 45 and 50 operas in its repertory and gave about 130 performances a year, and Gustav Mahler was director from 1888 to 1891. After renovation from 1980 to 1984, it reopened on 27 September 1984, exactly 100 years after the first night. The horseshoe auditorium holds 1,261 people under a bronze chandelier of 3050 kg, and 1970s measurements ranked its acoustics third in Europe after La Scala and the Palais Garnier.

Source: Wikipedia, "Hungarian State Opera House"

Highlights

• The auditorium - the gilded horseshoe of balconies under a frescoed ceiling.
• The grand staircase and foyer - the marble and gold ceremonial spaces.
• A performance - opera and ballet in one of Europe's finest houses.
• The guided tour - the daytime tour of the opulent interior.

When to go

Year-round; daytime tours run for those not attending a performance, and the opera and ballet season fills the calendar. Book performances ahead for the full experience.

Before you go

It is seen either on a guided tour or by attending a performance, so plan which. Recently restored, it is dazzling, though tours are short. Tickets for performances are excellent value compared with Western Europe.

Nearby

Andrassy Avenue, St Stephen's Basilica and the House of Terror are along the same street.

Key facts