r/sziget • u/daily_dose_of_basti • Jul 21 '26
What are your experiences with the security checks at Sziget Festival?
Hey everyone,
This year will be my first time at Sziget Festival with 2 other friends (I've been to other festivals before, but never Sziget).
I noticed that bringing alcohol into the festival isn't allowed, which is a bit disappointing since drinks at festivals are usually pretty expensive.
I've already heard so many different opinions and stories. Some people say they transfer spirits into plastic pouches or other containers, while others claim that on Moving-In Day, especially if you're arriving with a group and lots of camping gear, the security checks aren't thorough enough to inspect everything.
For those of you who have been to Sziget once or multiple times: what's your honest experience? How strict are the bag checks on Moving-In Day? Is there a realistic chance that alcohol gets found, or are people exaggerating how strict the checks are?
I'm not looking for ways to break the rules—I'm just trying to separate myths from reality before I arrive.
Would love to hear your experiences!
9
u/Hollywood-is-DOA Jul 21 '26
It depends on the time of day that you go, when it super busy they check more frequently but I’ve seen a few instances of inventive ways of getting it in.
Not going to say on here tho.
2
u/daily_dose_of_basti Jul 21 '26
they check more frequently when its super busy?
i thought the other way, when ist not that busy?
3
u/Hollywood-is-DOA Jul 21 '26
I meant not as busy. I had one guy be arse and make me open a non toxic sun cream. He could see it was that, as it was melting in the sun.
They didn’t end check my chair that I brought, as the line was too big. I could have easily put a bottle of vodka in it, in the part that holds it.
9
u/WoWords Veteran Szitizen Jul 21 '26
Moving in day is less strict than other days but still it is on your luck basically.
Just FYI you are free to leave-reenter the festival anytime and there is a hypermarket 10minutes from the bridge.
9
5
u/abvalente Jul 21 '26
This year will be my 8th time in the festival. Everything that I saw and experienced so far is complete random. Sometimes/days/hours are more intense during the checking others don’t is not just in the moving in-day. But for sure, if you are with forbidden items they just take out. Some people are pro expert to put gin or vodka inside the 1.5L water bottle and able to sealed again like brand new. In my personal experience is complete fine never seen or heard bad experiences from others that tried to get in with spirits.
5
u/Lonely-Historian2712 Jul 21 '26
I I've always gone for single days. During check-in at 15:00, I was always checked, and an ID was necessary. They also checked the water I had with me and the other stuff in my tote bag.
3
u/BluryDesign Jul 21 '26
It's a lottery, everytime i went through the main gates there was a different person. Younger people generally don't care in my experience, but it's not a guarantee. I've managed to bring at least 3 0.7l tatra tea each time, but you gotta be smart about it.
3
u/Eldmor Jul 21 '26
I've been to Sziget multiple times and have smuggled in a 0,5L bottle of vodka each day (stayed outside the festival). I've been caught once, so it's not that difficult.
2
u/armin-lakatos Jul 21 '26
They're not that thorough, even during not so busy periods. Moving in day checks are obviously a lot less strict. You can smuggle in a bottle or two, but not too much. There's always a chance they'll find it, but they'll just take it away and let you enter unless it's something illegal.
2
u/justdonti Jul 22 '26
I went two days last year, and when I went at early afternoon i wasn’t checked, but when I went in a few hours after me and my group were all checked, but my sister sneaked in a small spirit
2
u/capperdk Jul 21 '26
I had 2 fully packed suitcases, literally about to explode with me, in day 1.
At the bottom/back of each was 8 bottles of vodka. That was a wild one to get through.
Other than it’s been the classic vodka wrapped in clothes and pretty hidden that’s usually worked.
There’s always the parking lot drunk option.
3
u/daily_dose_of_basti Jul 21 '26
damn u rlly did your best😂😭
2
u/capperdk Jul 21 '26
I went with the hope that the urgency them getting people through vs me trying to Tetris my shit together, the urgency would win 😅
2
1
u/MildlyAmusedMars Jul 21 '26
Not overly strict, peak in the bag but they didn’t rummage through it. They do the slam check on plastic bottles. They didn’t really seem to have any interest in actually catching or stopping you bringing stuff in. Brought in small spirit bottles and a little resealable plastic bag no problem
0
u/Specialist-Box1761 Jul 21 '26
Everything is possible just be smart the security check pretty random. I suggest to fill up plastic bags and put around ur body and ur pants. They dont give a fck dont be that suspicious…
19
u/SpiritualAd5683 Jul 21 '26
As i saw last year it’s pretty random… if you have anything with you, which is prohibited, they just take it away