"Inside of Budapest's Opera House."

The Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, a significant part of the city's cultural heritage, is located on the beautiful Andrassy Avenue. If the reader decides to take a historical M1 line, the metro will take them directly to the opera house (stop: Opera).

In front of the opera theatre stands a monument to Franz Liszt, a major patron of Hungarian opera performances.

The building is a magnificent sight, both from the outside and the inside, with its stunning architecture and lavish interior. The unique features of this opera house are sure to captivate any visitor.

Beautifully painted ceilings, marble columns, and elegant staircases welcome visitors. Inside the concert hall, red velvet boxes reminded me of the Milan opera. However, the Hungarian house is smaller. What struck me was a beautiful chandelier (made in Germany, as a guide indicated). Some large opera boxes have historical significance.

The large Royal Box, facing the stage, was reserved for Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife, Elizabeth, also known as Sisi. Two smaller boxes, located on the right and left sides, close to the stage, were designated for incognito listeners from the aristocracy.

The opera features a restaurant section where food is served before the performance and during intermissions.

Although I was unable to attend an opera performance due to the limited time I had in Budapest, I left with a strong desire to return and experience the hall's acoustics. The ongoing renovations to improve the acoustics only add to the anticipation of a future visit.

The main stage

At the end of the tour, the opera singers gave a brief presentation accompanied by recorded music. It was delightful and a lovely accent at the end of the tour.

The opera offers guided tourist tours in English, Italian, Spanish, German, French, and Greek. These tours, which typically last about an hour, provide a comprehensive overview of the opera's history, architecture, and behind-the-scenes stories, making them a great way to enhance your visit.

There is also a coffee shop and a pastry shop, OperaBistro. It was very unusual to be served a cappuccino with mineral water. I found it to be an enjoyable experience!

For more info, visit www.opera.hu/en/