Budapest is a city that we just can’t stay away from after our first visit! Before traveling here for the Budapest Christmas Market, we’ve actually been three previous times. As you’ll see in this article, it’s a completely different experience than we’ve had in the summertime. Here’s everything you need to know about Christmas in Budapest, all about the markets, and some of our favorite things we ate and drank.
Planning a Trip to the Budapest Christmas Market
While the Budapest Christmas Markets technically start at the very end of November, the month of December is the perfect time to visit. Is this is your first trip to Europe during the holiday season? Then know that it’s best to plan ahead.
The bright lights, delicious food, and hot wine bring some huge crowds to the city. Here are a few important things to know before planning your visit.
- Book as early in the month as possible. As it gets closer to Christmas in Budapest, the city is busier and prices for accommodations go up.
- Traveling from somewhere else in Europe? You can get extremely cheap flights with Skyscanner and by booking ahead! We paid around $30 USD for our flight from Valencia to Budapest during the first week of December.
- The public transport is decent, but we mostly walked and used Ubers to get around. They are technically “Uber” taxis and when booking a car you are given a range for a price on the app. Bolt is also a popular company to use in Hungary that is similar to Uber.
- You’ll also want to plan ahead when booking activities in Budapest this time of year. This is essential when it comes to the famous thermal spas (more on this soon) and dinner reservations at popular restaurants.
- Hungarian Font is the currency used and it can get somewhat confusing if you’re used to Euros. Most places accepted credit cards, but you may want to keep some cash on you for the food and drink stands at the Budapest Christmas Market.
- Be aware that there is a small tax/service charge that is added to the bill at restaurants. Typically, it is around 12-15% and it should be marked somewhere on the menu.
Where to Stay in Budapest Hungary
Picking the right location is so important for visiting the Budapest Christmas Markets. The first thing to know is that the city is broken into several districts.
There is also two sides (Buda & Pest) that are separated by the Danube River. The Buda side is where the Castle is located and more residential, whereas Pest is full of hotels, bars, and restaurants.
If you have the budget for a high end hotel, then definitely book something in district one! Some of the most highly-rated hotels are the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest and InterContinental Budapest. We walked into both these hotels to see the Christmas decor and were completely blown away by how beautiful they were.
Also, don’t worry if you’re on a budget! You can still find plenty of decent accommodations walking distancing from the Budapest Christmas Market. We loved the neighborhood where Hotel Rumor is located. Hotel Oktogon Haggenmacher by Continental Group is great choice as well close to all the action.
Across the river on the Pest side, you’ll find more inexpensive options to choose from. This includes Monastery Boutique Hotel Budapest and Hotel Clark Budapest, which both have amazing views.
Experiencing the Budapest Christmas Market
Now onto the main attraction! Be sure to double check the locations of the Budapest Christmas Markets, as they can change slightly year to year. It’s best to head to the official Budapest tourism website for the most up to date information.
Did you know there are ten Budapest Christmas Markets dotted around the city? Obviously, this can be a little overwhelming if you have limited time.
We recommend starting with the two largest ones and then working your way around to others as you explore. The two most popular markets are directly in front of St Stephen’s Basilica and Vorosmarty Square, and are a quick walk between each other.
However, there are also smaller ones at the Budapest Castle, Fishermans Bastion, and other random spots. Check out the list below for a few of our favorites!
Best Christmas Markets in Budapest
St Stephen’s Basilica: This is the the largest and most visited Budapest Christmas Market. There is a light show projected onto the front of the church every half hour starting at 5:30pm.
Know that there are several different light shows that rotate if you’re making multiple trips. As soon as you get there, walk up onto the steps of the basilica for a photo looking back at the market.
Once you’ve taken it all in, grab a cup gluhwein for your stroll through the market. Our favorite spot for hot wine was at the DiVino stand, which has a full restaurant just around the corner.
Vorosmarty Square: Located in the main shopping area of the city, this was our go-to Budapest Christmas Market to eat at. There are massive rows of food vendors and some smaller craft stalls to enjoy.
Ice Rink in Budapest City Park: Budapest has one of the largest ice skating rinks in Europe! Set next to Vajdahunyad Castle, there is a small market that’s nice to explore in the afternoon.
This is the perfect spot to hit during the day before you go to the big Christmas Market at night. Be sure to check out the stunning Vajdahunyad Castle right beside it.
Fisherman’s Bastion: Definitely visit here on a weekday if possible. While we LOVED the setting over the city, it’s absolutely packed on the weekends during the holiday season.
With that said, the crowds didn’t stop us taking in the views and enjoying the massive Budapest Christmas Market. It’s unique location on the Buda side will truly captivate you!
Don’t Forget the Budapest Thermal Spas
One of the reasons we absolutely love Budapest is for the thermal springs that run underneath the city. Three out of the four days that we visited we went to the thermal spas right when they opened!
On this trip, we were actually traveling with family who had never been to Budapest. These spas were the ultimate morning activity before heading to the Budapest Christmas Markets at night.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath: This is considered the king of all the spas Budapest. With that title, it is also almost always busy, and even more so during Christmas in Budapest.
We loved the adventure pool that has different water features and a rotating jets. Read more about our experience at the famous Szechenyi Thermal Bath.
Gellért Thermal Bath: This is another amazing thermal spa known for its indoor Art Nouveau style pools. This is a nice contrast to Szechenyi for the winter, as the main pools there are outside.
Our favorite part of Gellert is the “blue room,” but there are so many different places to enjoy and relax. Also, know some of the saunas are hidden around the complex near the changing rooms. Make sure to take a look at the map hanging on the wall so you don’t miss any pools or saunas! You can also read our informative article here about Gellert Baths.
Rudas Thermal Bath: It took until our third visit to Budapest to make it to Rudas, and that was a complete mistake! After a full morning of soaking here, it instantly become one of our favorite thermals.
One thing to note is there are certain days here for men and women only. However, on the weekend it’s mixed for both genders.
The rooftop pool thermal overlooking the city is definitely a highlight. Visitors will also love sauna world and dipping into one of the oldest Turkish baths in the city.
Keep in mind there are different prices depending on the time and day of the week you visit. You can still get a walk-in ticket without booking in advance. Yet, you will have to be there as soon as the spa opens, which can be as early as 6am!
What to Eat & Drink at the Budapest Christmas Market
Budapest is a massive city filled with so much incredible cuisine. When it comes to the Christmas Markets in Budapest, you’ll find no shortage of great food and drinks to taste.
Some of our favorites include langos, stuffed cabbage, various sausages, and of course the national dish of goulash. Honestly, this is just scratching the surface of all the delicious treats you’ll see at the Budapest Christmas Market!
There are so many hearty Hungarian specialties to try it will make your head spin. We also enjoyed the incredible cakes and strudels throughout the market.
As we mentioned, you’ll want to drink the local gluhwein that comes in all sorts of flavors and spices. If you’re looking for a sit down style restaurant, you can find some of our favorite places to eat below.
- Gettó Gulyás ristorante per Gulasc
- Tabáni Gösser Étterem
- Tabáni Kakas Vendeglõ
- Firkász Restaurant
- Retro Lángos Budapest
- Ruszwurm Confectionery
2 Day Itinerary For Christmas in Budapest
We had four full days on our visit, but many travelers will include Budapest as a short stop on a longer European holiday tour. One popular route is to go from Budapest to Bratislava Slovakia, and then continue on to Vienna Austria by train.
Luckily, it is possible to have an amazing visit if you only have a couple of days in in the city! Here’s a sample itinerary for exactly what we would do with two days at the Budapest Christmas markets including more sights and activities.
Budapest Christmas Day 1
- Wake up early with a Good Morning Budapest Ticket to Szechenyi Thermal Bath. They have a nice cafe there to grab something to eat when you get hungry, or you can pack a snack to take with you.
- Take a walk from there to the Vajdahunyad Castle. This is a must-see in itself and there is a small Budapest Christmas Market here to see. This is also where the giant ice rink is located!
- If you need to stop by your hotel, now is a good time to do so. You can drop off your wet clothing from the thermal spa and get your layers on for a night out.
- Visit the main Budapest Christmas Markets at St Stephen’s Basilica and Vorosmarty Square. Something you may not realize is that it gets dark early here in the winter. This means that by around 4 or 5pm the markets are already in full swing. Keep in mind they will get more crowded as it gets later into the night.
- Have dinner at Gettó Gulyás ristorante per Gulasc. Be sure to make a reservation in advance, as this is one of the most popular places to eat in the Jewish Quarter.
- Head to the ruin bars for a drink to cap off the night. No trip to Budapest is complete without visiting the original ruin bar at Szimpla Kert!
Budapest Christmas Market Day Two
- Go to Gellert or Rudas thermal spa in the morning. We can’t stress this enough, but being there when they open will give you a completely different experience than when it’s super crowded. For example, we were at Rudas at 6am ready to get in the thermals! Bring a backpack to keep your wet clothing in if you plan to head straight out into the city afterward.
- Once you get hungry for lunch, head to Tabáni Gösser Étterem or Tabáni Kakas Vendeglõ. Both are absolutely delicious and located next door to each other. Yet, if we had to pick only one, we would say Tabáni Gösser is the winner for their amazing duck and veil paprikash.
- Plan to walk just a short distance after lunch to the Buda Castle. There is actually an elevator (location) so you don’t have to walk all the way up. You can also take this popular tour by booking in advance.
- After exploring the castle, make the easy stroll to Fisherman’s Bastion. Visit the cute Christmas market atop the city, walk along the walls, and admire the historic Matthias Church. This is also where you can get the one of a kind cream cake from Ruszwurm Confectionery.
- As long as you’re not too cold after Fisherman’s Bastion, make your way down to the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. This is one of the most iconic bridges in the city that will take you back over the Danube River to the Pest side.
- Once across the bridge, you will be close to the main Budapest Christmas market again! Spend your evening popping between the different stands and eating food at the local vendors.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own Budapest Christmas tips? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
