Classical Concert Tickets in St Stephen's Basilica Budapest

St Stephen's Basilica in Budapest

St Stephen's Basilica is the largest church in Budapest and one of the city's landmark buildings. Named after Hungary's first king, it was built in the neoclassical style over most of the second half of the nineteenth century and finished in 1905. Its dome, about 96 metres high, is the same height as the Parliament, a symbolic balance between church and state.

Inside, marble, gilding and painted ceilings create a setting that suits a classical concert. Many visitors first come to the Basilica for the interior or the view, and a concert here adds the best possible reason to sit down and listen. Concerts in the basilica are among the most popular things to do in Budapest in the evening.

The Ave Maria, Air, Alleluja concert programme

This programme is a collection of works that almost everyone knows. It typically includes Bach's Air, Handel's Rejoice from the Messiah, Albinoni's Adagio, Vivaldi's Winter, Gounod's and Schubert's Ave Maria, Franck's Panis Angelicus, Massenet's Meditation from Thaïs and Mozart's Alleluja.

Performances are given by professional musicians and soloists, and the exact line-up and pieces can vary by date. Because the music is so familiar, the concert is a good choice for people who are new to classical music as well as for regular concert-goers, and the church's acoustics give the music a warm, enveloping sound.

Seating: Category A or VIP

Your ticket is for a seat in the basilica, and the booking panel lets you choose between the options. Category A seating is in the area right behind the VIP section and offers a very good view of the musicians. VIP seating is the closest area, with the best view of the concert.

Both categories give you the same programme and the same sound, so the choice is about how near you want to sit. If you would like to see the performers clearly and take in the details of the musicians at work, VIP is worth considering. Otherwise Category A is a comfortable choice with a very good view.

Planning your evening: getting there, time and what to wear

The basilica stands on St Stephen's Square in Pest, a short walk from the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út and Deák Ferenc tér metro stations, so getting to St Stephen's Basilica is simple from most of the centre. Choose your date and start time in the booking panel; on rare dates a concert may move to another church, and your voucher will say where.

Arrive around 20 minutes early to find your seat. Smart casual clothes are fine, and a light layer helps because large churches can be cool. Food and drinks are not included, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not part of the ticket. The dome viewing gallery is a separate visit, not part of the concert ticket.