This richly decorated monument is located on Budapest’s most famous street, the Andrássy Avenue. It was built in 1884 in Neo-Renaissance style, and famously houses a chandelier that weighs 2.1 tons. Its style is eclectic in the sense that it combines Renaissance harmony and geometric forms with the Baroque grandeur of gold ornamentation and wall paintings. The architect, Miklós Ybl, took the Parisian Opera as a model so it was designed following the trends of the era. The exterior has more of a classicist feel with its pure architectural elements giving it a typical look of any European capital of the past. At that time only wealthy people could experience this beautiful place, but it has since become a venue open to everyone, offering student discounts, tours, and other kinds of events. Many world-famous singers have performed on this stage, like Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo.

Photo gallery

Ornate painted ceiling with golden details and chandelier inside the Hungarian State Opera House.
It was built in 1884 and famously houses a chandelier that weighs 2.1 tons
Auditorium with red velvet curtains and golden balconies inside the Hungarian State Opera House.
Many world famous singers have performed on this stage, like Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo
Close-up view of gold-decorated balconies with red velvet seats inside the Hungarian State Opera House.
At the beginning, tickets were so expensive that only wealthy people could afford to visit the Opera
Grand marble staircase with red carpet and chandeliers inside the Hungarian State Opera House.
The architect Miklós Ybl took the Parisian Opera as a model, therefore it was designed following the trends of the era
Exterior facade of the Hungarian State Opera House with statues and arched entrance on Andrássy Avenue.
The Budapest Opera is truly one of the most beautiful opera buildings in the world
The Hungarian State Opera Street View

Filmed at this location

The Hungarian Opera House was featured in Woody Allen’s Love and Death, and was also used in 1972 as a setting for the film Bluebeard starring Richard Burton and in 1989 for The Phantom of the Opera starring Robert Englund. In 2014, Adrien Brody was filmed performing on its stage for the series Houdini. Jennifer Lawrence also performed on the Opera House’s stage for the spy movie Red Sparrow in 2018. For the TV series The Alienist, shot in the same year, it doubled as New York’s MET. Furthermore, Progressive Productions also shot several projects in the Opera House, for example, a TV commercial for APT Tours and another commercial for Monmilk.