Busójárás Carnival in Mohács: UNESCO Folklore Festival

See the masks and hear the rattlers at Hungary's biggest spring carnival

The Busójárás is a UNESCO-listed carnival in Mohács where adults don woolly sheepskin cloaks, carved masks and decorated stockings, then parade with loud rattlers and clapper bells to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring. A private minibus picks you up from your hotel, carries you to the festival with an English-speaking guide, and returns you at the end of the day. The 10-hour outing fits the full carnival experience into one booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Experience Busó carnival traditions

• Hotel pick-up
• Private transfer to Mohács
• Witness Busó carnival festivities
• See woolly sheepskin cloaks and masks
• Observe traditional rattlers and bells
• Learn legend of scaring away Turks
• Celebrate end of winter and spring arrival
• Return transfer to hotel

The experience

What makes Busójárás different from Rio or Venice is its origin story: according to legend, 300 years ago masked men dressed in sheepskin scared away Turkish occupiers who had taken the town. That act of trickery became tradition, and now the Busó people, adults in full costume, gather each spring to repeat the ritual. The woolly cloaks, hay-filled trousers, carved wooden masks and ritual rattlers have stayed the same for centuries, and UNESCO recognized the custom as intangible cultural heritage.

Your hotel pickup means no arranging transport to Mohács. A professional driver and English-speaking guide handle the route. The minibus is air-conditioned and spacious, so the journey itself is comfortable. You arrive in time to move through the crowds, watch the parades, and stand close enough to hear the clapper bells and the roar of the rattlers as the masked figures process through the streets. The timing is flexible, so you can stay as long as the crowds hold or leave when you've seen the main processions.

The 10-hour day is built around the carnival itself, not around a guided lecture or a museum visit. You are watching a living tradition unfold in the streets of a town where it has happened every spring for three centuries. The guide explains the history and the ritual elements as you move through the event, but the experience is the festival itself: the masks, the noise, the energy of hundreds of people in costume celebrating the turn of the season.

What’s included

• Private hotel pickup and return transfer in an air-conditioned minibus.
• professional driver and English-speaking guide for the full 10-hour outing.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explore Hungary

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a private minibus and guide to navigate the Busó processions in Mohács on your own schedule, rather than joining a group departure at a fixed time.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Busó carnival and why do people dress up in masks and sheepskin?

The Busó carnival is a spring festival in Mohács where participants wear carved wooden masks, woolly sheepskin cloaks and hay-filled trousers, then parade through town with loud rattlers and clapper bells. The tradition dates back 300 years to a legend in which masked men scared away Turkish occupiers. Now it marks the end of winter and celebrates the arrival of spring. UNESCO recognizes it as intangible cultural heritage.

How long does the carnival last and when does the tour pick me up?

The tour runs for 10 hours total, including hotel pickup and the return journey. Your hotel pickup time is flexible and arranged with the operator, so you can coordinate it with the carnival schedule and the rest of your day in the region.

Will I need to speak Hungarian to understand what's happening at the carnival?

Your guide speaks English and travels with you throughout the day, explaining the history of the tradition, the meaning of the masks and costumes, and what you're seeing as the processions move through the streets. You won't need to speak Hungarian.

Is the minibus comfortable for a long day out, and can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

The minibus is air-conditioned and spacious. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with small children. Strollers and wheelchairs are also accommodated, and all areas and surfaces at the carnival grounds are wheelchair accessible.