If you ask me, one of Budapest's strongest essences is its cultural life, of which I sometimes get the impression I could never get enough. If you are interested in what is happening here in the contemporary art scene, this is among the first places you should check out. Even if things of this kind are not much of your cup of tea, I recommend you pick something from the programme of Trafó House to see this very formative face of the city as well.
The program of Trafó is usually very well-curated hosting performances of internationally recognised local and occasionally international artists on a daily basis. It serves as a hub for local dance, theatre, performance, visual arts or music. I recommend it as a first step towards indulging deeper in the city's contemporary cultural life.
Note that theatre plays are mainly in Hungarian, so dance, music or exhibitions would probably be better choices if you don't speak the language.
As you enter Trafó, there is also a little café where you can settle down before or after the shows and have a good cup of coffee or a glass of wine to tune in to the mood. Trafó has a very special atmosphere. Being there, I feel that there are endless things to do and see, which keeps me coming back frequently.
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