Buda Castle Buda Castle, Budapest
Visit the charming Matthias Church in the Buda Castle Budapest and enjoy a Sunday evening organ concert free of charge.
Matthias Church is not only the most visited and most popular Roman Catholic church in Budapest, its seven-hundred-year-old history also serves as a symbol of the capital’s rich historic past.
Beautiful architecture, unusual painted interior make this church worth visiting on the Buda Side of Budapest.
Matthias Church also hosts regular organ and other classical music concert series.
Yet, one of the most popular concert series is called the “Sunday Night Organ Concerts”. These free organ recitals happen only once a month and always on a Sunday.
UPDATE: Kindly note that due to Covid, the concert series is not available for the foreseeable future. That said, the organ is in use at many masses in the church and there are concerts featured in the programme on a monthly/ weekly basis depending on the season. We suggest checking the programme of upcoming events at Matthias Church directly in Budapest (at your hotel reception, at a concert agency, on the church website, etc.)
Organ Concerts in Matthias Church, Buda Castle District
Apr 15, 2024 from 7.30pm • Zsolt Kiss
May 6, 2024 from 7.30pm • Slavomir Kaminsky
More concerts in Matthias Church, Buda Castle District: classical music concert series.
More organ concerts in Budapest city: upcoming Organ Concerts in Budapest Basilica
Further dates for organ recitals not confirmed yet for 2025. The Church holds regular organ masses on Sundays for those who wish to participate in the mass (in Hungarian). Kindly note that during the organ mass tourists cannot visit the church.
The complete organ system has 111 stops, 7771 pipes and 18 tubular bells. The largest pipe is 10.6 m long and weighs almost 175 kg, while the smallest one measures 8 mm and weighs only 60 g.
The organ can be played by up to four organists at the very same time, using four consoles attached to it. The organ in Matthias Church, called as the “King’s Organ”, is the largest musical instrument in Budapest, and therefore is able to fill the finest acoustic space in the whole city.
If you are interested in other organ concerts too, visit the the neo-classical St. Stephen’s Basilica, where you can enjoy the excellent acoustics of the church every Thursday, during the St Stephen’s Basilica Organ Concert series performed by one of Hungary’s most talented pipe organ players, Kolos Kovats.
Matthias Church & Tours
The current Roman Catholic church was founded by King Bela IV.
When the Mongol invaders left Hungary in 1242 in complete ruins, King Bela IV decided to move the royal residence to Buda Castle.
Since the 16th century, Matthias Church (or as it was originally called The Church of Our Lady) has been the Coronation Church of Hungary.
Matthias Church is located in the heart of the Buda Castle district, where there are many other sights nearby that are well worth visiting. The Castle Hill is also great for walks and admiring the beautiful historic buildings and other riverside attractions of Budapest.
If you want to make the most of your time in Castle Hill, we recommend visiting Buda Castle and the Fisherman’s Bastion, as well as Matthias Church.
Take a tour in the historical Buda Castle District, including a visit inside the Matthias Church. Book a ticket to the popular Matthias Church with a Castle District walking tour to get to know more secrets of this beautiful attraction.
Hi Is the Mattias Chruch going to be open during Christmas?
Dear Tuly Sarah,
Thank you for contacting us regarding Christmas opening hours of Matthias Church in Budapest.
Dec 1-21: Open as usual (Mon-Fri: 9 am – 5 pm, Sat: 9 am – 12 pm, Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm)
Dec 22: Open 1 pm – 4 pm
Dec 23: 9 am – 2 pm
Dec 24: Closed
Dec 25: Closed
Dec 26: 1 pm – 5 pm
Dec 27-30: Open as usual (Mon-Fri: 9 am – 5 pm, Sat: 9 am – 1 pm, Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm)
Dec 31: 9 am – 5 pm
Jan 1: 1 pm – 5 pm
For more details on opening hours in the Buda Castle please go to https://budacastlebudapest.com/christmas-buda-castle-budapest/
Have a great festive stay in the Hungarian capital!
Hello, how can i book 2 seats for the Free Organ Concerts in Matthias Church?
Dear Kai,
Unfortunately, in 2021 there are no free organ concerts scheduled for the month of August.
Nevertheless, we hope you will like your visit in Budapest and the Buda Castle Hill attractions of the city.
And how about in Sep?
Dear Kai,
at the moment there are no organ concerts scheduled for 2021. Thank you for your kind understanding.
Hello, any updates regarding the free concerts ?
Dear Carmen,
Unfortunately, there are no concerts scheduled for this year. Hopefully, there will be some events in 2022.
Have a nice stay in Budapest!
Hello,
Can I book seats for the free organ concerts? I am visiting Budapest 30.03-04.04.2023
Thank you in advance
Hi! Can’t find any more info on the free Sunday organ concerts. Are they on, again? I will be there 19/05/2024. Thank you!
Dear Visitor,
Thank you for contacting us.
Please see the upcoming free concert dates below:
Apr 15, 2024 from 7.30pm • Zsolt Kiss
May 6, 2024 from 7.30pm • Slavomir Kaminsky
Organ masses are held almost every day from 6pm, except Sundays.
Enjoy your holiday in Budapest!
Hi there! are there any upcoming concerts in June please? Thanks
Hello Eric,
Thank you for contacting us about the Matthias Church concerts.
Unfortunately at the moment there are no free concerts confirmed for the upcoming months.
We recommend you check the regular concerts and choose your favorite:
https://budacastlebudapest.com/concerts-in-matthias-church/
Have a nice holiday in Budapest!
My wife and I, from Wales, attended a service in Matthias Church on Sunday 2nd June. A lovely occasion, enhanced by the singing and contribution of a lady assistant. Also, we were very, very impressed by the clear glass panels, suspended from the ceiling, which showed the words / hymns for the congregation to read.
Can you please possibly provide details of this glass information system so that we can consider for a local church – manufacturer, supplier, cost etc. ?
Thank you
Dear Dr J A,
Thank you for your comment.
We have sent you an email with more details.
hi theres any free concert in 12/14 december 2024
Dear Mario,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Unfortunately, there are no scheduled free concerts at Matthias Church this December.
Please find available concert tickets for Dec 13th on the below link:
https://budapestconcert.com/concerts-at-matthias-church-budapest
Enjoy your winter holiday in Budapest!
Hello, Greetings. I’m planning to visit in May, 2025. I have 3 questions:
(1) Do you have any mass/service in English at Matthias Church? If so, on which days?
(2) Your website says that the free organ recitals have been suspended due to Covid. Are they now back on? If so, what are the date(s) in May, 2025?
(3) What is the best way for us to enjoy a recital/concert at the church where the organ is include as part of the performance?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Dear Charlie,
Thank you for your comment on our website.
We have sent you an email with more details.
Enjoy your holiday in Budapest!
hello;
are there any organ concerts scheduled for March 2025?
Thank You
Dear Karen,
At Matthias Church, visiting Buda Castle on Sundays you can experience spiritual and musical enrichment with two mass options: the 12:00 Organ Mass and the 18:00 Guitar Mass Both services are a unique cultural experience in a stunning Gothic setting.
Please note that the masses are sacred, and we kindly ask visitors who wish only to explore the church to visit outside of mass hours. For more concerts at Matthias Church, visit:
https://budacastlebudapest.com/concerts-in-matthias-church/
For a deeper dive into organ music, the Organ Expedition concert series at the Palace of Arts Budapest offers an engaging exploration of the grand organ.
Enjoy your time in Budapest!
Dear BUDA castle Budapest,
I’m enquiring about the possibility of free concerts /masses with music beginning of APRIL 2025.
Would you ba able to email information please?
Thank you!
Dear Kristine,
At Matthias Church, visiting Buda Castle on Sundays you can experience spiritual and musical enrichment with two mass options: the 12:00 Organ Mass and the 18:00 Guitar Mass Both services are a unique cultural experience in a stunning Gothic setting.
Please note that the masses are sacred, and we kindly ask visitors who wish only to explore the church to visit outside of mass hours. For more concerts at Matthias Church, visit:
https://budacastlebudapest.com/concerts-in-matthias-church/
For a deeper dive into organ music, the Organ Expedition concert series at the Palace of Arts Budapest offers an engaging exploration of the grand organ.
Enjoy your time in Budapest!