GEOGRAPHY

Szeged is located in the very south of Hungary, close to the Serbian and Romanian borders — approximately a 2-hour drive (ca. 180 km) from Budapest.

AIRPORTS OF HUNGARY

There are two international airports in Hungary: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) and Debrecen International Airport (DEB). The Hévíz–Balaton Airport (SOB) has limited international connections.

We strongly recommend flying via Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport for the most convenient connection to Szeged.

The best hubs when flying from the United States to Budapest are Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Munich, and Vienna.

The best hubs when flying to Budapest from China, Japan, and Korea are Frankfurt, Vienna, Doha, Istanbul, and Dubai.

COMING BY LAND FROM ROMANIA AND SERBIA

Hungary is a member of the EU and the Schengen Area.

Romania is part of the EU but not fully integrated into the Schengen Area. Passport and customs control are required at land borders, including those with Hungary. Border crossing point: Nagylak – Nădlac I (M43 / A1).

Nearest international airports in Romania: Arad International Airport (ARW), Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport (TSR), Oradea International Airport (OMR).

Serbia is outside both the EU and Schengen — full passport and customs checks apply. Border crossing point: Röszke – Horgoš. Nearest international airport in Serbia: Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG).

PUBLIC TRANSIT GUIDE

Trains are an easy, affordable, and direct way to reach Szeged with no transfers required.

Route 1 (starting at the Budapest Airport): Ferihegy Station (Ferihegy vasútállomás) ⟶ SZEGED

Take a taxi, Bolt, Uber, or Bus 200E from the airport to Ferihegy Train Station (Ferihegyi Repülőtérre vezető út, 1185 Budapest). Board a direct train to Szeged. Note: Train stops are brief — be ready to board quickly! Travel time: 2h 04m – 2h 26m.

Route 2 (you are in Budapest): Budapest-Nyugati Station (Budapest-Nyugati pályaudvar) ⟶ SZEGED

Take a direct train to Szeged from Budapest-Nyugati station (Teréz körút 55, 1062 Budapest). Travel time: 2h 26m – 2h 47m.

The address of Szeged Railway Station (Szeged pályaudvar) is Indóház tér 2, 6725 Szeged.

Tickets: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en or via the MÁV mobile app (available in English and Hungarian).

For your safety, we recommend purchasing tickets only through official MÁV channels.

All rounds of the Live Phase of the II International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition will feature a full symphony orchestra on stage — a valued collaboration with the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged that we are especially proud to present.

The Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged is the leading symphonic ensemble in South-East Hungary. Its origins date back to the 18th century, with the first opera performance in Szeged taking place in 1790. Since then, the city has continuously supported a group of professional instrumentalists.

In 1919, the orchestra was formally established as part of the Szeged Philharmonic Association. Among its principal conductors was Ferenc Fricsay, who led the ensemble from 1934 to 1944 and played a key role in shaping its artistic direction.

In the 1940s, the orchestra worked with several notable guest conductors, including Willem Mengelberg, Erich Kleiber, and Pietro Mascagni, who conducted a performance of his Cavalleria rusticana.

The orchestra remains active today, continuing its work as a cultural institution with a long-standing tradition.

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the II International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition (IFFCC), held in partnership with the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged.

The deadline for applications is 13.07.2025.

Take the podium!