652 replies to this topic

[thetime]

cheers liam, does sound alot simpler than I thought it would be.

so tempted looks amazing.

[Uncle Liam]

Make it happen...

Definitley worth it.

[Cristall]

mr_monkey, on 13 November 2011 - 04:47 PM, said:

can someone please let me know the best website to buy tickets from for this?

thanks a lot

www.szigetfest.co.uk is the official website for UK, works good.

thetime, on 13 November 2011 - 06:06 PM, said:

hi guys been looking around the different sites, but whats the best way to get to sziget from the airport?

The citypass, which was newly introduced last summer, involved free shuttle busses from the airport to the festival site. If you buy a citypass, I think that's the easiest way. If you don't have a citypass, I believe you can also go with the shuttle busses. You just have to pay for them, but unfortunately I don't know how much.

With public transport you can take bus 200 to Köbánya-Kispest (that's the last stop of the bus). From there you change to the metro (only one direction, as it's the starting/end point of line 3) to Deák Ferenc Tér, where you should change to metro 2 to Déli Pályaudvar. Get out at Batthyány Tér, from where you should follow the masses taking the train to Szentendre or Bekásmegyer. The stop closest to Sziget is called Filatorigát.

Also you can take a cab, but only take cabs from taxi companies that can be trusted, like City Taxi or Fö Taxi, which has a ticket box just outside the hall. In the ticket box Fö Taxi sells tickets with fixed prizes, a ticket to Sziget should be about 5500 forints (less than 15 quid with the current exchange rate). On the festival site you can also find cabs that ride for fixed prizes. If you'd like to have a cab in Budapest, Fö Taxi is also a good one (for their number, check the ticket box). But whatever you do, never get into a taxi from the streets! It's always more expensive than calling a taxi company, and also there are quite some taxi drivers that may try to rip you off!

[thetime]

You think it's best to camp or is the hotel the way to go?

Is there hotels within walking distance, been looking at hotel ring.

[slumberjack]

Hi,

I'm from the UK and my only experience of an European fesival is Sziget 2011 which I loved!  Will probably head back in 2012 but I'm also considering going to Exit too.  Can anyone with experience of both let me know how they compare?

[Cristall]

thetime, on 15 November 2011 - 12:03 AM, said:

You think it's best to camp or is the hotel the way to go?

Is there hotels within walking distance, been looking at hotel ring.

If you want something at walking distance, I'd recommend to go camping. It's much more fun! And because you can camp somewhere between the stages, there's no long walk to the camping or anything like that. Also there's plenty of trees on the island, so if you fear the sun burning on your tent, you can just put your tent somewhere in the shadow. But the earlier you arrive on the festival, the more choice you have.

But if you really want a hotel, I'd recommend to take one in the city center. With public transport you can easily reach the festival, or you can take the Sziget ferry from Batthyány Tér or Margit Hid And during daytime you are close to all thermal baths, shopping streets, ruin bars, touristic highlights and everything that makes Budapest such a wonderful city!

[jmcevoy2]

Just a few questions, I've never been Sziget before and there's about a group of 12 of us planning to go this year.
When do the early bird tickets/tickets in general usually sell out?
We're planning on getting there early to get a nice spot, is it easy to get a spot by the river surrounding the festival?
What's the prices for food/drinks (beer) like inside the actual festival? Is it a rip off like general UK festivals or reasonable?
When's the best time to get cheap flights there? We're thinking of buying tickets/flights around January/February.
Also, any rumours? Hoping for Stone Roses and Primal Scream.
One last one, how much money would you recommend daily (in GDP please) haha.
Thanks!

[Uncle Liam]

In Gross Domestic Product? Erm... Something like 0.0000000000000000001% or maybe less?

[FunkyIdioteque]

We have our apartment booked. Can anyone who went last year comment on their flight prices? I went in 2010 and picked up a Malev flight from London to Budapest for £92 return. This year the Malev flights look very pricey, with Easyjet looking best at a still expensive £160-180ish. Just wondering whether they're likely to come down in price at all or whether i should just book now? Appreciate any feedback from last year.

[thetime]

I think prices are likely to come down, as flights in June at the minute are only around the 80 quid mark, and for August around 130+.

[Homer]

Unless there's a sale, Easyjet just get more and more expensive as they go on...

[Cristall]

jmcevoy2, on 17 November 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

When do the early bird tickets/tickets in general usually sell out?

Tickets usually don't sell out. Early bird tickets are available until end of April. Early bird tickets are 30 euro (26 quid) cheaper than normal tickets.

jmcevoy2, on 17 November 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

We're planning on getting there early to get a nice spot, is it easy to get a spot by the river surrounding the festival?

The earlier you get there, the easier it is. But don't camp too close to the Danube, as the water level may rise...
Camping tickets are valid from monday, but the island opens on saturday (with entrance fee of 10 euro per day too early) and lots of Dutch already come on that day. I also got there on saturday this year, it's very nice to explore Budapest on these days without missing anything from the festival. I went to a party in the Szechenyi spa on saturday, drinking beers in the warm pools is so nice! But there are many great other parties too.

jmcevoy2, on 17 November 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

What's the prices for food/drinks (beer) like inside the actual festival? Is it a rip off like general UK festivals or reasonable?

It's reasonable. I believe a beer was 530 Forint (with the present exchange rate £1.50) for half a liter. Good meals you can get from about £4.

jmcevoy2, on 17 November 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

When's the best time to get cheap flights there? We're thinking of buying tickets/flights around January/February.

I don't know, I never flew to Budapest. Roadtrips are much more fun!

jmcevoy2, on 17 November 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

Also, any rumours? Hoping for Stone Roses and Primal Scream.

Nothing yet... But last summer they got the reunion of Pulp, so I think they're keen on getting Stone Roses this year.

jmcevoy2, on 17 November 2011 - 10:24 PM, said:

One last one, how much money would you recommend daily (in GDP please) haha.

That totally depends on how many beers you drink! Or would you prefer buckets with cocktails?

[Mullin]

slumberjack, on 16 November 2011 - 10:53 AM, said:

Hi,

I'm from the UK and my only experience of an European fesival is Sziget 2011 which I loved!  Will probably head back in 2012 but I'm also considering going to Exit too.  Can anyone with experience of both let me know how they compare?

Hey,

I've been to Sziget a few years back, with Exit Festival just gone and both are amazing in their own ways! Main differences are generally the music and timings - Exit generally starts at 9pm and goes through till the sun is up. Sziget was 3pm, I think...
There's a 'beach' at Exit on the banks of the Danube for campers so when you wake up in the baking hot heat (it's hotter than Sziget for camping!), you can grab a towel, lie on the beach and when it gets too warm go for a swim in the Danube if you dare (there's lifeguards all along).

Each is cheap, not yet overrun with English, but most people speak some English at both festivals. Food is good and well priced, beer generally cold and with Exit we spent the last days before our flight home in Belgrade exploring the city (felt Novi Sad did not have as much to offer personally), same with Budapest.
Even met up with locals from each city on nights out (Exit) and at the festival (Sziget) who took us around the sights and recommendations. The last night in Belgrade was spent in an apartment block where a room had been converted to a bar 3 stories up, you name your favourite spirits and there would be a cocktail created for you. Porn plastered all over the toilet walls and a building full of friendly locals all there to have a drink and enjoy!


Looking now for another festival to check out somewhere for this summer - although it could be hard to beat our experiences of both these festivals!

[jmcevoy2]

Thanks a lot Cristall helped a lot!!

[slumberjack]

Thanks Mullin!

[Cristall]

jmcevoy2, on 22 November 2011 - 11:46 PM, said:

Thanks a lot Cristall helped a lot!!

Ur welcome!

[Cristall]

On Facebook Sziget is asking for your opinion on the line-up. Tell them what acts you want to see!

[Cristall]

This movie was published by Sziget yesterday

Edited by Cristall, 02 December 2011 - 06:18 AM.

[marcwilson87]

I'm thinking about going and camping the whole 7 days (if anyone thinks this is a bad idea please let me know!) As a Glastonbury alternative

Anyone have any idea who might headline? So many bands around this summer; The Boss, Metallica, Bjork, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Sabbath, Stone Roses, plus a shite load more! I'd like to have them all haha

Seriously though, does anyone remember roughly how much tickets cost last year!?

[Cristall]

I think Sziget has to be one of the best Glastonbury alternatives (honestly, I don't know many other festivals as diverse as Sziget) and camping for seven days is the best way to do it! There's plenty of shadow on the festival site (another thing in common with Glastonbury, you get to camp on the festival site!) and there are plenty of showers, although I recommend to go to one of Budapest's spas or pools several times during the week. That's something certainly no other festival can beat!

But if you feel more comfortable renting an apartment or staying in a hostel, that's not bad either. Budapest has quite some good cheap apartments and hostels and staying in the center of Budapest makes you feel even more like you are combining the festival with a city trip in a beautiful city.

I have no clue what the headliners could be, but the first names would be announced this month. Among them I expect at least one headliner...

Last year early bird camping tickets cost €170 (about 145 quid), but for the 2012 edition those will be €195 (about 166 quid). That makes about 24 quid a day, now compare that to the British festivals!