In Christmas, Budapest fills up with markets featuring artisanal stalls, traditional sweets, and an unmistakable scent of cinnamon. But Christmas markets aren’t the only reason to visit the Hungarian capital at this time of year. Strolling amidst lights and decorations, you can explore the city’s main landmarks.
Undoubtedly, the most famous ones include the Parliament, Buda Castle, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Fisherman’s Bastion. You can also relax in some of Budapest’s famous thermal baths or admire the city from a cruise along the Danube. We’ll tell you about the best plans to fully enjoy Budapest at Christmas.
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Explore the Christmas Markets in Budapest
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest attractions of Budapest as Christmas approaches is its outdoor markets. You can enjoy them at different points in the city, but here we will talk about the main ones you shouldn’t miss during your visit:
Christmas Market at St. Stephen’s Basilica
In St. Stephen’s Square, located in front of the Basilica, from mid-November to the end of December, you’ll find Budapest’s most famous Christmas market. With a small ice rink for skating in the center and a huge fir tree with lights illuminating the entire market. Take a stroll among its stalls to buy Christmas decorations, many of them made of wood and handmade. You can also enjoy light shows projected onto the facade of the Basilica.
Christmas Market at Vörösmarty Square
This is the largest Christmas market in Budapest, located in one of the city’s most commercial squares. It is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and cafes. In the center of the square, from mid-November to the end of December, stalls are set up with ornaments, Christmas decorations, and traditional Hungarian food such as goulash and lángos. The aroma will surely whet your appetite!
Christmas Market at Városháza Park
Also located in the center of Budapest, near the two previous markets, you can visit the one at Városháza Park. It is characterized by its environmentally friendly decorations made from recycled materials. In addition to food stalls and ornaments, the program of this market also includes performances by Christmas carol choirs, musical concerts, and magic shows.
You will also find a small Christmas market in City Park, next to Vajdahunyad Castle. If you have time, outside of Budapest, you’ll find Advent Óbuda, the least touristy market filled with local families.
Ice Skating in City Park
Have you ever dreamed of skating on a frozen lake? It’s one of the best plans that even locals never miss in Budapest at Christmas. This lake, renovated in 2011, is surrounded by a picturesque landscape at the foot of Vajdahunyad Castle (built in 1890) and is perfect for a romantic outing. Inside the castle, you can visit the cultural center where the Hungarian hockey hall of fame is located.
On the lake shore, you can rent your skates, and children as young as three years old can enjoy supervised skating lessons. If you feel tired after your ice skating session, you can head to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, which are just a five-minute walk away.
Relax in Budapest’s Thermal Baths
Did you know that in Budapest, you can find one of the best thermal baths in the country right in the city center? The Széchenyi Thermal Baths are located in City Park, right next to a large ice skating rink and Vajdahunyad Castle. These baths are the perfect combination of two springs, from which medicinal waters emerge, distributed among 3 outdoor pools and 15 indoor ones. Inside the facility, you can rent or buy swimwear and towels if needed.
Visit the Main Decorated Landmarks
From mid-November, the city dresses up for Christmas and fills its streets with lights. One of Budapest’s main attractions is its architecture, so during Christmas, they place great emphasis on decoration. Budapest at Christmas covers all its grand buildings with decorations to immerse you in the holiday spirit at this time of year.
While not all buildings are decorated, there are some noteworthy ones you should visit, such as the Budapest Parliament. Its entire interior is adorned with lights surrounding the main staircase, the former Upper House, and the dome hall. Or Heroes’ Square: after passing through Andrássy Avenue, which is also decorated.
You can finish your route in the square, whose surroundings are delicately adorned with lights and Christmas decorations as well. These are just some of the decorations to highlight, although the entire city is enveloped in a dreamy Christmas atmosphere. That’s why we recommend visiting other historical monuments such as Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, or the Hungarian National Opera.
Taste Hungarian Christmas Gastronomy
The Christmas markets of Budapest are filled with traditional Hungarian food, and you won’t be able to stroll without trying some of their delights. The national dish is goulash, halfway between soup and stew, made with beef, potatoes, carrots, and paprika. You’ll find many more types of soups, such as halászlé, a spicy river fish soup with paprika and onions, which is very popular at Christmas.
You also can’t miss lángos, nicknamed the ‘Hungarian pizza’. It’s actually a dough fried in oil topped with sour cream, cheese, and other ingredients of your choice. If you like the combination of vegetables and meat, try the töltött paprika, peppers stuffed with rice and minced meat. Or töltött kaposzta, cabbage rolls with the same filling. Paprikás csirke, chicken stewed in cream and paprika, is also very famous.
The list of typical Hungarian dishes is extensive, but we have to save some room for Hungarian sweets, don’t you think? One that is always present at Christmas is the rolled cake called bejgli, filled with either walnuts or poppy seeds. Another classic for the season that you’ll find at the markets is kürtőskalács, also known as “chimney cake.” It gets its name from its smoking chimney-like shape. It’s prepared by rolling the dough onto a cylinder and cooking it over fire embers. Choose your favorite topping: sugar, chocolate, almonds, and many more!
Now that you know everything you shouldn’t miss in Budapest at Christmas, when are you planning your visit to the capital of Hungary?
