Gyula doesn’t do boring. This historic spa town packs its calendar with exhibitions, concerts, theater, food fests, museum workshops, sports, and a stack of guaranteed and optional programs. The medieval Gyula Castle and its open-air Castle Theater (Gyulai Várszínház) keep the cultural flame burning from spring to fall, while the famed Gyula Castle Spa (Gyulai Várfürdő) remains a national favorite. Pálinka, sausage, and standout festivals? That’s the Gyula package—pretty much every month brings a headliner event.
November Kicks Off Loud
November 8 lights up with GyulaKultKlub hosting György Ferenczi and the 1st Pest Rackák (Ferenczi György és az 1-ső Pesti Rackák); the Ladics House dives into The Empress’s Cup (Császárné csészéje); the romantic Candlelit Castle Tours (Gyertyafényes vártúrák) return; and the city library runs a bead-stringing club (Gyöngyfűző). The spa adds Night Wellness (Éjszakai wellness), and the town salutes Ferenc Erkel’s birthday. Running throughout: Autumn Festival of Museums (Múzeumok Őszi Fesztiválja) and the Almásy Palace (Almásy-kastély) programs like Women’s Salon – Treasures of the Almásy Palace (Női szalon – Az Almásy-kastély kincsei). Portéka pops up at the World Clock with a craft and farmers’ market, while The Palace by Candlelight (A kastély gyertyafényben) literally puts the palace in a candlelit glow. La Sposa Caffè throws a St. Martin’s Day feast with new-wine tasting Nov 7–8.
Family Tours and Theater Beats
November 9 repeats The Empress’s Cup and launches Palace Tour with Dachshund Dönci (Kastélytúra Tacskó Döncivel). Guaranteed programs at the castle run Nov 7–9. On Nov 10, the Castle Theater (Várszínház) presents RZ65, Zoltán Rátóti’s solo concert spanning 15 years. November 11 brings the St. Martin’s Day celebration in Németváros plus another Ladics House session.
Mid-November: Music, Mindset, Markets
On Nov 12, Varázsének’s live-music class for moms and babies returns, while Dr. Imre Csernus fires up “Burnout or New Challenges!” (KIÉGÉS helyett ÚJ KIHÍVÁSOK!). Tickets run about $16.20. Nov 13: Komló Restaurant pairs a St. Martin’s Day wine dinner with Bolyki Winery. Nov 14: Romantika Bistro serves Dinner Melodies with Tibi Sztojka, then another Guaranteed Castle Program weekend Nov 14–16. Candlelit Castle Tours, a handicraft workshop and fair at the Mogyoróssy Library, Portéka at the World Clock, The Palace by Candlelight, and Night Wellness all land on Nov 15. Dönci’s palace tour returns Nov 16.
Laughs, Reading, and Even More Music
November 19 doubles up: Sándor Csányi’s “How to Misunderstand Women? 2” (Hogyan értsük félre a nőket? 2) at GyulaKult and Varázsének’s mom-and-baby session. Nov 21 brings Erzsébet Brittich’s “Alone” (Egyedül) book launch and exhibition at the library plus another Romantika Bistro music dinner, and a Guaranteed Castle Program Nov 21–23. On Nov 22: Palace by Candlelight, Night Wellness, Candlelit Castle Tours, and Speaking Flowers – The Treasures of the Almásy Palace (Beszédes virágok – Az Almásy-kastély kincsei). Dönci tours again Nov 23. The library hosts Dr. Lajos Köteles’s “Why Is the Hungarian Countryside Sick?” (Miért beteg a magyar vidék?) book launch Nov 24, then Varázsének and a Museum Open University talk “Do We Need to Rewrite the History Books?” (Át kell írni a történelemkönyveket?) on Nov 26.
Comedy, Theater, and Late-November Lights
Dumaszínház lands Nov 27 with Dániel Mogács’s “Ego,” tickets roughly $16.20–$20.60. Nov 28: more Romantika melodies and Castle Theater: Bring on the Punchlines! (Várszínház: Poénra fel!) at about $13.50. Another Guaranteed Castle Program runs Nov 28–30. On Nov 29: Aristocratic Passions – Treasures of the Almásy Palace (Grófi passziók – Az Almásy-kastély kincsei), Palace by Candlelight, Night Wellness, and Portéka shifts to the Castle Park. Dönci wraps November on the 30th.
December: Sweet, Sparkling, and Stage-Ready
December 4: Nektár Theater brings The Nutcracker (Diótörő) as a music-dance play. Dec 5: Michael Cooney’s farce “Who’s Living Here?!” (Nicsak, ki lakik itt?!) hits GyulaKult with tickets around $21.40–$24.10. The 16th Gyula Honey Festival (Gyulai Mézfesztivál) runs Dec 5–6, and Guaranteed Castle Programs Dec 5–7. Dec 6 goes full throttle: Night Wellness, Cellar Exhibition – Almásy Treasures (Pincetárlat – Almásy-kastély kincsei), Palace by Candlelight, Candlelit Castle Tours, Portéka in the Park, and Egy Pillanat Caffé’s 5th Santa Party. Dönci tours Dec 7. The Castle Theater hosts “Herb Books – Life’s Big Questions” (Füves könyvek – Az élet nagy kérdései) Dec 9. On Dec 11: Attila Kökény and Viktor Rakonczai present “An Advent Evening With Us” (Egy Adventi Este, Velünk), tickets about $37.70–$40.40, plus the Ladics House’s 3D printing club: Christmas prep with a 3D printer.
Advent Weekends and Holiday Glow
Guaranteed Castle Programs: Dec 12–14 and Dec 19–21. Dec 13 delivers Candlelit Castle Tours, a candlelit palace, Night Wellness, Women’s Salon – Almásy Treasures, and Portéka in the Park. Dönci returns Dec 14. Dec 16: the Castle Theater stages János Háy: The Dog-Keeping Girl (Háy János: A kutyatartó lány). Dec 17: Museum Open University explores Árpád-era treasures. Dec 20 stacks Night Wellness, Portéka, The Palace by Candlelight, Candlelit Castle Tours, and Speaking Flowers. Dönci tours Dec 21, and more Guaranteed Castle Programs roll Dec 26–28. On Dec 27: Palace by Candlelight, Night Wellness, Aristocratic Passions, and Candlelit Castle Tours; Dönci closes the year Dec 28.
New Year, More Gyula
Guaranteed Castle Programs run Jan 2–4, 2026; Night Wellness, The Palace by Candlelight, and Candlelit Castle Tours pack Jan 3; Dönci tours Jan 4. The Ladics House’s 3D club returns Jan 8 with body scanner training. Museum Open University dates: Jan 28 (magical tools in the Roman world), Feb 25 (Herod, Jesus, and the Holy City), Mar 25 (March 15, 1848), Apr 29 (Generals or Martyrs?). Also: GyulaKult hosts Magda Szabó: Abigail (Szabó Magda: Abigél) on Feb 25 (about $24.10–$26.80), The Illusion Masters on Feb 27, Dachshund Meet-Up 2026 (Tacskótalálkozó 2026) at the Almásy Visitor Center on Mar 21, and the Medivid Agility and ParAgility Festival Apr 24–26.
Count: 48 Reasons to Visit
Across 48 listed picks, Gyula’s blend of history, wellness, music, theater, books, markets, and candlelit magic is relentless. Pick a weekend. Any weekend. The town will take it from there.
