Ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup 2018 kick-off in Russia, football fever seems to be spreading in Budapest as well: not only has the Hungarian capital lent some of its iconic places to the music video of the official World Cup song, but several venues are waiting football fans with great atmosphere, giant LED screens, and drink promotions to accompany the matches that will be held between 14 June and 15 July. Below, we have collected some of the best places to watch the World Cup.

Szabadság Square – Foci Mozi 

Szabadság Square is always a busy venue during the summer, as it hosts several other events, such as the Belfeszt, a festival celebrating downtown Budapest; this summer, however, for a month the square will be transformed into the official Fan Zone of the 2018 World Cup, with two giant projectors, where fans can follow all of the matches of the tournament. It will be open every day between 1pm and 10pm. The fan zone, organized by City Center Foci Mozi, Young, and Trinity, is set to host up to 300,000 visitors over the course of the month with games, special guests, family and children programs, table football, foot tennis, teqball and video games.

Szabadság Square, European Championship, 2016. (photo: Foci Mozi / Facebook)

Budapest Park – Nagyszünet

Budapest Park is also awaiting football fans of the capital with broadcasts of all the matches of the World Cup in June and July live in its venue, Nagyszünet, on the left side of the Park. On the night of the Final, the whole Budapest Park will be free and open to fans to celebrate the winning team together. Nagyszünet, an isolated small place within Budapest Park, can be recognized by its striped sunbeds: for a month, everything here will be about football – and the drink promotions, free wifi and power sockets are just extras.

(photo: Budapest Park – Nagyszünet / Facebook)

Terasz

Terasz, located on Március 15 Square in front of KIOSK in the city center, with an amazing view of the Danube and the Buda Hills, offers barbecued snacks and great atmosphere, where you can chill on the grass barefoot, watching the football games and – according to their Facebook page – enjoy the best spritz in town. And, of course, football on a big screen. However, they will not screen all of the matches, so it is worth checking their schedule here.

2017 FINA World Championships. (photo: Terasz / Facebook)

A Grund

The Grund, located in the heart of Budapest’s VIII. district, is everything that a venue can be: pub, music bar, street food and co-working space… and it even has a mulberry tree in the middle of the backyard. You won’t miss any matches during the month of the World Cup, as football fans can follow all of the games on a huge LED screen in the backyard, surrounded by the Grund’s lovely, colorful walls, couches and ‘big talk’ tables.

photo: Grund / Facebook

Kobuci Garden 

Moving on to the Buda side of the capital, the cosy Kobuci Garden in the heart of Óbuda, in the courtyard of Zichy Castle, is one of the best venues to watch the matches of the World Cup. All of the games will be broadcast live in the garden, and entry is free, of course. Kobuci also offers drink promotions for everyone who wants to join the football craze and root for their favorite teams with other football fans.

European Championships, 2016. (photo: kobuci.hu)

Treffort

Located in the garden of the Faculty of Humanities of Budapest’s oldest university, Eötvös Loránd University, Treffort offers a 12 square meter LED wall with several additional screens so you can follow the games everywhere you sit. The venue also has drink offers, snacks and a great atmosphere – after all, football lover students of the university will surely be regulars in Treffort in the next month. In fact, the bar itself is open long before the matches, and stays open late.

Champions League final, 2018. (photo: Treffort / Facebook)

+1: Czech Beer Festival – Westend Rooftoop 

Although the XI. Czech Beer Festival is only taking place during the group phase of the World Cup, between 14-28 June, it is probably worthwhile to pay a visit to the Rooftop Terrace of Westend, where – in addition to the great Czech beers and culinary delicacies – sport enthusiasts can enjoy the games on a 28 square meter screen.

2016 European Championship (photo: Westend / Facebook)