Budapest in August: Sziget, the 20 August Long Weekend, and the Last of the Long Evenings
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August in Budapest is as hot as July but drier. Afternoons average 28.0 °C, and the month brings 61 mm of rain against July’s 75 mm.
It is also the month with the most fixed dates in the Budapest summer: a Grand Prix on the 1st, Sziget in the second week and the national holiday on the 20th. Pick your week by those, not by the weather.
📋 At a Glance
| Daytime average | 28.0 °C, 0.1 °C below July |
| Night average | 16.6 °C |
| Rain | 61 mm, against 75 mm in July |
| Sunset | About 20:19 on 1 August, about 19:27 on the 31st |
| Sziget | Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 August 2027 |
| National holiday | Friday 20 August, a three-day weekend |
| Schools | Holiday all month |
July’s Heat With Less Rain
| July | August | September | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean temperature | 22.5 °C | 22.3 °C | 16.9 °C |
| Mean daily maximum | 28.1 °C | 28.0 °C | 22.5 °C |
| Mean daily minimum | 16.7 °C | 16.6 °C | 12.2 °C |
| Precipitation | 75 mm | 61 mm | 52 mm |
Source: HungaroMet, station Budapest Pestszentlőrinc, 1991 to 2020 reference period.
August is July without the worst of the rain. The heat is the same within a tenth of a degree, but 14 mm less rain falls. If you are choosing between the two for weather alone, August is the slightly safer bet for outdoor plans.
The drop comes right after. From August to September the afternoon average falls 5.5 °C, one of the two steepest month-to-month drops of the year. The last days of August are the end of full summer. Our September guide has what comes next.
The Three Dates That Shape the Month
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 1 August | Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, race day | Hungaroring, Mogyoród |
| Tue 10 to Sat 14 August | Sziget Festival | Óbuda Island |
| Fri 20 August | St Stephen’s Day, national holiday | Citywide |
Sources: Sziget Festival, 10 to 14 August 2027, and Hungaroring, Hungarian Grand Prix 2027, checked 24 October 2026.
The Grand Prix closes the first weekend. The race weekend opens on Friday 30 July, so most of it sits in July, but race day is the 1st. That weekend is one of the busiest of the summer, and rooms around it go early.
Sziget takes over the second week. Five days on Óbuda Island, in the north of the city. Our Sziget guide covers getting there and back. Even if you are not going, the festival fills hotels and late-night transport that week, so book early or plan around it.
20 August is a Friday in 2027. That gives Hungary a three-day weekend, 20 to 22 August. The national day traditionally ends with fireworks over the Danube, and the city’s riverbanks fill hours before. Shops close on the holiday itself. Our 20 August programs guide explains how the day works, and the fireworks viewing guide has where to stand. If you would rather be by the water, the Lake Balaton celebrations are the alternative.
The Evenings Get Shorter Fast
August is the month you notice the light going.
| 1 August | 20 August | 31 August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | 05:21 | 05:46 | 06:00 |
| Sunset | 20:19 | 19:48 | 19:27 |
| Civil twilight ends | 20:55 | 20:21 | 19:59 |
| Daylight | 14 h 58 m | 14 h 02 m | 13 h 27 m |
Times computed for Budapest, 47.4979 N 19.0402 E, in CEST, rounded to the minute.
Over the month sunset moves about 52 minutes earlier and the day loses about an hour and a half. On the 1st a terrace dinner at half past eight is still in daylight. By the 31st it is dark by eight. That is the reason to book rooftop bars and sunset spots earlier in the evening as the month goes on.
Heat, Water and Shade
The rules from July still hold. Walk before ten, spend the hottest hours inside or in the water, and come back out after six. Our heat wave survival guide has the details for the hottest days.
For water, Palatinus on Margaret Island is the classic lido, and the natural swimming lakes near the city are a short trip out. For thermal water, Széchenyi and the rest of the open baths are in our baths guide. Go in the morning or after five, when the pools are calmer.
Gellért is closed, with the operator expecting to reopen in 2028.
Source: Gellért Thermal Bath, reopening expected in 2028, read on 24 October 2026.
Who Should Not Come in August
- Anyone who wants a quiet city. Sziget week and the 20 August weekend are two of the busiest stretches of the year.
- Anyone booking Sziget week or the national day weekend late. Rooms tighten on both.
- Anyone who struggles in heat. 28.0 °C is an average. Heat waves go well above it.
- Anyone after the cheapest trip. August is high season. Our cost guide has the numbers.
The Month Either Side
Behind you: July has the same heat, more rain and the Grand Prix weekend that spills into 1 August.
Ahead of you: September is 5.5 °C cooler in the afternoon, drier again, and the city empties of holiday traffic.
The Verdict
August is full summer with fixed dates. Decide on Sziget first: go for it, or keep away from 10 to 14 August. Decide on the national day second: the 20 to 22 August weekend is a celebration if you want one and a crowd if you do not. If neither matters to you, the last ten days of the month give you summer heat with a calmer city, and evenings that are shorter but still warm.
For a first visit, our three-day itinerary is the frame, and the neighborhood guide helps you pick a base away from the festival traffic.
📱 Been to Budapest in August?
Festival dates and national day programs change year to year. Tell us what you found and we fix the page.
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Good to know
What is the weather like in Budapest in August?
Hot and mostly dry, close to July. The long-term averages from the Hungarian national weather service, measured at Budapest Pestszentlőrinc over 1991 to 2020, are a mean of 22.3 °C, a mean daily maximum of 28.0 °C, a mean daily minimum of 16.6 °C and 61 mm of rain. That is 0.1 °C off July's heat and 14 mm less rain. The bigger change happens inside the month: by the last week the evenings are noticeably shorter, and September averages 5.5 °C less in the afternoon.
When is Sziget 2027?
Sziget Festival 2027 runs from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 August, on Óbuda Island in the Danube, according to the festival's own site. It is one of the largest music festivals in Europe, and for that week the city around it is full. If your trip is not about Sziget, either avoid those dates or book early and pick a neighborhood away from the northern end of the city.
What happens in Budapest on 20 August?
20 August is St Stephen's Day, Hungary's national day and a public holiday. In 2027 it falls on a Friday, so it starts a three-day weekend. The day traditionally brings official ceremonies, a festival program in the city and fireworks over the Danube in the evening. Shops are closed on the holiday. The program for 2027 is published by the organizers closer to the date, and our 20 August guides cover the best viewing spots and how the day works.
Is August a good time to visit Budapest?
Yes, for summer energy, and less so for a quiet city. August has warm evenings, the lidos open, Sziget and the national day, but it is also high season with hot afternoons. The first and last weeks are calmer than the middle. If you want summer warmth without the festival crowds, aim for the last ten days of the month.
What should you pack for Budapest in August?
Light summer clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle, plus a swimsuit for the lidos and baths. Nights average 16.6 °C, so a thin layer is enough for most evenings. If you are going to Sziget, add shoes you do not mind getting dusty and a rain layer for a sudden shower.