Sziget 2020

The first half of the lineup for Hungary’s biggest music festival was announced in the middle of February, a couple of months later than usual. The diverse list of performers (who will make an appearance on Budapest’s Óbudai Island between 5 and 11 August) includes the likes of Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Major Lazer, The Strokes, Foals, Foster The People, ASAP Rocky, Glass Animals, and Jon Hopkins, making sure that each festival-goer (of which there were around 530,000 last year) finds something suitable for their taste.

Same Station, New Name

Following the recent refurbishment of the northern section of metro line M3, the local government of District 13, together with BKK, the city’s public transport company, has decided to rename the line’s ‘Árpád Bridge’ station to ‘Árpád Göncz City Centre’ – a rather misleading designation, as Budapest’s proper city centre is found a good 4 kilometres to the south. Previously bearing the name of Árpád, grand prince of the Magyars, now the station carries the name of Hungary’s first president, who held the office from 1990 to 2000, and died in 2015.

Rail is the Way

In late January, Hungary’s government has created a new institution called Budapest Development Centre, with the aim to unite under one central policy workshop all matters of long-term urban development and transport investments in the capital and its larger metropolitan area. Headed by Dávid Vitézy, the former head of BKK, the centre’s mission will be to focus future projects around a clear concept, such as making rail a more integral part of the region’s public transport system, and transforming the suburban railways into mixed-purpose metro lines.

Restaurant of the Year

Every year, the international jury of the Volkswagen-Dining Guide Restaurant of the Year Gala votes for the top Hungarian culinary establishments, picking their favourite venues and food artisans in 12 categories. This year, the ‘Restaurant of the Year’ award went to Tamás Széll and Szabina Szulló’s Stand Restaurant, the ‘Chef of the Year’ title was awarded to Ádám Mészáros (from Onyx), while Anyukám Mondta has been voted as the ‘Best Countryside Restaurant’ of 2020. For the full list of awardees, visit the Dining Guide website.

If you want to make sure that your efforts pay off and the lifestyle change works out for you, take the following 5 tips into consideration. Zsolt Madarász, Life1’s personal trainer knows what you go through. According to his experience, most clients seek help at the gym in the first weeks of January, and as the weeks proceed, he witnesses how and why they decide to give up on their plan. “You may encounter some bumps on the road to a successful lifestyle change, and that is demotivating” – he says. But it is not impossible, all you have to do is take Zsolt’s tips!

#1 Be realistic

One of the biggest and most common mistakes is when someone sets unreal goals. It is important that you know what you can achieve and focus on one goal at a time. Also, don’t forget to reward yourself after reaching a daily fitness goal.

#2 Work on your time management

A lifestyle change won’t come without new responsibilities: adding more physical activity to your life, trying a new, healthy diet (that might include conscious grocery shopping and more time spent in the kitchen), and organizing how to spend your active relaxation take time. It is a challenge to fit them all into your everyday life, and if you can’t manage it, you are destined to fail. A possible solution could be to get a calendar and write a to-do list.

#3 Be patient and imperceptible

Life1’s personal trainer says impatience is the worst enemy of those seeking a healthier lifestyle. They expect fast results because of their enthusiasm, and when they can’t see an immediate change, they get disappointed. Some of them even decide to give up on the whole transformation plan. Give yourself time, take small steps, be patient and you’ll get where you want to be.

#4 Be in the know

Before jumping into your new, healthy lifestyle, gather all the necessary information. Read informative books, visit reliable websites or talk to people that inspire you (friends, family members, colleagues), because they could help you with useful tips and share their experience. Finally, feel free to turn to professional dieticians, personal trainers who can save you time, money, and disappointment.

#5 Make it a source of joy

Probably the most important thing is that your lifestyle change should be fun and enjoyable. If you hate the process and only stick to it because it feels like an obligation, it won’t take you anywhere. Learn to cook healthy but flavoursome, pay attention to serving. Fresh, healthy, delicious nutrient meals can become your new guilty pleasure. Make cooking your creative hobby, because cooking well is a gift from life. Think about your workout routine the same way. Find what suits you, something that helps you both physically and mentally. It is up to you to discover the fun side of exercising, so try as many sports as you can.

Did we get you inspired? Do not hesitate to start a new, healthy lifestyle as soon as possible! Visit Life1 Fitness clubs, the first occasion is free between 1 and 20 January! Find all the necessary information online!

Anker’t

Anker’t will take you to 2020 with the hottest R’n’B, Latin and pop party in town: Oops New Year’s edition with all the songs that are made for dancing. Join this very special queer house party embracing all kinds of love and let’s celebrate the New Year with love! DJ Zsolo and DJ XOXO will spin the records so you may want to kick off those heels at some point! Tickets are now on sale! 1500 HUF till 30 December, 2000 HUF at the door and if you want VIP treatment with a bottle of Kristinus prosecco or Brebis champagne and access to the VIP area, get your ticket for 5000 HUF through tixa.hu.

Downtown NYE @ Instant-Fogas

The city’s biggest ruin bar complex, Instant-Fogas raises the stakes by organizing not one, but several parties to celebrate the end of 2019 and the arrival of the New Year. From 25 to 31 December every night brings another concert experience starring popular entertainers from the Hungarian music scene: Colorstar, Random Trip, Hősök and JumoDaddy, just to mention a few. It’s not a concert series, it is like a mini festival in downtown Budapest! Tickets go for 5000 HUF in advance and 6000 HUF on the spot, pre-sales start on 29 November. Weekly passes will be also available for purchase for 12 000 HUF via Cooltix. The list of locations is complete with LARM, FRAME, Robot, UnterWelt and Liebling. Note: tickets are only valid for a one-time entry!

Happy NYE @ Heaven Club

Downtown Budapest’s newest and most glamorous party venue invites you for an authentic house party experience on 31 December: the playlist of Heaven Club’s Happy NYE will only feature songs that make your body dance and your soul happy. Party through the night and welcome the new year in the company of the city’s merriest crowd, moving to the greatest tracks of Avicii, Alvaro Soler, Justin Timberlake, The Chainsmokers, Pharrell Williams and others! To spice things up, the DJ will be accompanied by a skilled saxophonist as well, promising us with a truly unique New Year’s Eve celebration. For more information check out the event’s FB page.

Stop the Time – Psylvestrance @ Dürer Kert

If you’re of the opinion that there’s no better time of the year to experience a collective state of bodily transcendence than New Year’s Eve, then you’re in luck, because Psylvestrance is here to transport your mind into another realm! Organized by goa.hu, Forever Psychedelic, and Psybaba Records, the 31 December party will be held at Dürer Kert, featuring an international lineup of psychedelic and goa trance producers, including Pixel from Israel and Cosmo from Slovakia, Martin Audio Ltd soundsystem, and mind-blowing visuals. Doors open at 9 PM. Early bird tickets are available from 4,000 HUF.

A38 NYE

Not everyone has the budget for welcoming the New Year on a luxury cruise ship – some of us will have to do with a repurposed Ukrainian stone carrier ship docked on the river Danube. Thanks to the A38 NYE party’s rich lineup of Hungarian electronic music producers, we don’t really mind! Organized by the Bladerunnaz and Next Level teams and starting at 10.30 PM, the event will feature no less than 18 performers (including Dublic, Chris.Su, Statik, DJ Ren and Maddow) spread over two rooms, supplying party-goers with a heavy dose of bass music, from dubstep and dnb to riddim, trap, jumpup, bass house, neurofunk, liquid, and jungle.

Jazz New Year’s Eve @ Budapest Jazz Club

Looking to ring in the New Year in style this year? Instead of spending the night at home in your pajamas or a dark and crowded party venue, why not celebrate with classy tunes, and a five-star culinary experience? Budapest Jazz Club’s Jazz New Year’s Eve combines contemporary jazz and a friendly atmosphere with international dishes served throughout the evening and traditional stuffed cabbage with sour cream at midnight. Ensuring the good vibes will be SoLaTi Band, Elsa Valle Afrocanado, and the Tálas Áron Trio. A full night ticket goes for 24,900 HUF.