For anyone who thinks Oktoberfest needs an upgrade, Hoptoberfest Beer Festival (Sörfesztivál) in Budapest (Budapest) is bringing the craft revolution. Taking place over three days, from October 3-5, 2025, at a real working brewery on Maglódi Road (Maglódi út), the festival is free to enter. The only catch: to drink, you’ll need to buy an official festival glass.
A Historic Beer District Comes to Life
Hoptoberfest unfolds in the legendary brewing quarter of Kőbánya (Kőbánya), where Hungary’s largest breweries took root in the 19th century. Beneath the city lies the famed Kőbánya cellar labyrinth, stretching for miles underground—a true gem of Hungarian beer heritage.
Events for Everyone
Visitors can go behind the scenes at HopTop Brewery, exploring everything from select ingredients to finished brews. Dive into beer history with Csaba Katona’s “Beer Culture” talks, and taste unique brews from One Beer in “the Cauldron,” including Szilárd’s wild flavors. This year’s featured beer: the Munich-inspired Munich Helles, honoring Bavarian traditions.
Live music flows alongside the beers, featuring acts like Tom White and the Mad Circus, Nehézlemez Workshop (Nehézlemez Műhely), and beats from DJ Bodon. Families are welcome—kids can catch Ferenc Kőhalmi’s musical magic show, join a badge-making workshop, or ride the carousel on “Kids’ Island.”
Festival Schedule Highlights
The party kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. with the taps flowing and the first brewery tours. Saturday pulses with children’s programs, barrel-aged beer tastings, and nighttime brewery tours. Sunday’s afterparty features the “Beer Rescue” event—leftover beers are sold at discount prices, and a garage sale wraps things up.
Hoptoberfest isn’t just a festival—it’s a meeting point of Kőbánya’s beer-soaked past and bubbling present. It welcomes beer lovers, families, and anyone wanting to experience the city’s cultural and gastronomic beer legacy.
