Fine-tune your Budapest break by sampling the delights of the city's annual summer music festival.

Celebrating its 17th year in 2008, the event begins on July 2nd with an Operett Gala before Gounod's Romeo and Juliet brings the festival to a rousing close a month and a half later on Margaret Island.

Other opera on the bill includes Puccini's celebrated Manon Lescaut, also on Margaret Island.

Dominican Court in the castle district and the Basilica are among other venues showing classical concerts well into the summer evenings.

The Hungarian capital is often lauded for its commitment to music; its autumn festival draws contemporary acts to the city while a spring festival combines all genres.

However, the musical calendar is crowned at Christmas when the Lights of Christmas festival fills Budapest's magnificent Matthias church with seasonal concerts.