The Hungarian capital is now home to Time Out Market Budapest, the food and cultural hub that brings the best of the city together under one roof. Located within the historic Corvin Palace on Blaha Lujza tér, Time Out Market Budapest features 11 kitchens, three bars and five event spaces, for around 540 seated guests. Find out more!
Easter is a time of traditional family get-togethers in Hungary, with eggs, lamb, rabbits and ham familiarly prominent – although Hungarians also do things a little differently. Easter Monday is synonymous with locsolás, a medieval ritual in which the menfolk sprinkle women with water or cheap perfume, first reciting a poem asking permission to do so. More prevalent in the countryside – where entire buckets of water are thrown with abandon – this spring rite still takes place around Budapest.
Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays, with many supermarkets also closed on the Sunday, but most restaurants, cafés and bars should be operating as normal. Table reservations are particularly recommended.
Family-friendly things to do this Easter
Over Easter weekend, Budapest Zoo is transforming its Cave Hall (Barlang terem) into an eco-friendly playground, a five-station maze and beeswax workshop. Look out, too, for the Easter bunny when you visit the Plant Café. Over on Margaret Island, a craft tent (10am-3pm) will be set up at the Petting Zoo, with animal demonstrations at 1pm. You’ll find it halfway up the island, near the Pest side.
In City Park, traditional games, craft workshops, a bunny petting zoo, puppet shows and old-school amusements number among the mainly free attractions. A certain amount of Hungarian might be needed for some of them at this rural Easter fair – otherwise, kids can crack on with the various slides and rides. Depending on the weather conditions, you can also soar over Budapest in a balloon tethered to a small hill near the Széchenyi Baths.
Down at DinoPark (Vak Bottyán utca 75 A-C, 1191 Budapest), younger ones can go in search of eggs over the Easter weekend – dinosaur eggs! Between April 3-6, kids can follow an Easter trail past giant reptiles to get to the treasure. The regular themed playgrounds, Dino hurricane and velociraptor races also await from 10am. You’ll find DinoPark at the KÖKI centre by Kőbánya-Kispest metro station at the end of the M3 metro line.
Dining & relaxation
Tailoring their lavish weekend brunches to the Easter celebrations, Budapest’s top luxury hotels will be laying on a fine spread this weekend. At the Gresham Palace, the KOLLÁZS bistro will be offering an all-afternoon Easter Sunday splurge on seasonal goodies (Ft 39,000/€100, 6-11s Ft 19,500/€50) until 5pm. Unlimited sparkling wine and mimosas are included, as well as lively music.
Spago Budapest at the Matild Palace, overseen by star Hollywood chef Wolfgang Puck, is laying on an Easter experience (Ft 37,500/€96 + 15% service charge, 7-12s Ft 18,750/€48 + 15% service charge) from noon to 3pm on Sunday. Guests can look forward to braised lamb shoulder, home-cured Easter ham and exquisite chocolates from Damascus chocolatier Ghraoui, along with unlimited sparkling wine.
Running on both Sunday and Monday (noon-3pm), the Easter brunch at DNB at the Marriott comprises a hot and cold buffet, carving station, a children’s corner and dessert selection, plus free-flowing wine and sparkling wine. Easter Sunday runs at Ft 29,900/€77 + 15% service charge, Easter Monday Ft 25,500/€65 + 15% service charge, children 6-12 charged at 50%.
To celebrate Easter in the heart of Pest, Time Out Market Budapest is offering a selection of themed dishes between April 4 and 12. Spring flavours and festive creations bring fresh colour to this popular gastronomic hub on Blaha Lujza tér, where seasonal delicacies reinterpret traditional Easter favourites with a modern, urban twist.
Visitors can look forward to stand-out dishes such as spring lamb with wild garlic and green pea gnocchi at Szaletly; smoked gravlax served with homemade brioche, egg, fresh vegetables and horseradish cream cheese at Bigfish; and pork knuckle with egg salad, wild garlic, horseradish and buttery brioche at Casa Christa.
Before overindulging on lamb and chocolate, head to the iconic Széchenyi Baths for an Easter sauna ritual – or rather, three interconnected rituals, each a 15-minute session interspersed with fresh vegetables and spring lemonades. The three sessions cost €24 per person on top of admission to the baths, and run on Good Friday, April 3, from either 1pm (then 2pm & 3pm) or 5pm (then 6pm & 7pm).