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[title]Budapest lights up for Christmas, when Europe’s most beautiful capital puts on its December best and gets festive. Discover the best things to do in Budapest this Christmas!
Where to enjoy Christmas in Budapest
The stellar attraction is, of course, the city’s Christmas markets, from the main downtown squares around the Basilica, Vörösmarty tér, Városháza park and Erzsébet tér, to Buda Castle and City Park.
It isn’t only the showcase boulevard of Andrássy út that gets decked out in Christmas lights for the occasion – from early December, illuminated Christmas trams and trolleybuses zip along main roads and routes.
When do Hungarians celebrate Christmas?
Hungarians don’t have one Christmas, but two! First comes Mikulás on St Nicholas Day of December 6, although some children receive presents left in their shoes the night before. The big family occasion is the evening of December 24 – shops, bars and restaurants close by midday, although high-end hotels serve seasonal meals to visitors who book a table.
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Words by Peterjon Cresswell, based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Budapest’s best Christmas markets
From mid-November onwards, Budapest’s traditional Christmas markets fill the city’s main squares with seasonal flavours and family-friendly entertainment. You’ll find the main ones around St Stephen’s Basilica, on Vörösmarty tér and Városháza park, in the shadow of the Big Wheel on Erzsébet tér, up in Buda Castle and by Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park.
All are free to enter, though you’ll have to buy a take-home souvenir mug for your warming, spicy mulled wine, best enjoyed with a bowl of goulash stirred in giant cauldrons before you.
Wander around the many stalls to find the classic Transylvanian delicacy of chimney cake (kürtőskalács) and gifts made locally by Hungarian craftsmen – each has to receive a certificate of authenticity before being able to ply their wares here.
Once you’ve browsed, shopped, sipped and dined, you can look forward to spectacular 3D light show (daily 4.30pm-10pm, glasses provided) projected across the historic façade of St Stephen’s Basilica, and free ice skating for kids alongside. There’s live music from late afternoon onwards on nearby Vörösmarty tér and old-school fairground rides at Varázsliget in City Park.
The main markets run until New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
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Festive light trails and installations
From the first week of December, regular trams and trolleybuses will be decked out in Christmas lights as they glide along popular routes around the city. A full schedule of times and services will be posted on the transport company website – there’s no special ticket, passengers travel as they would for any regular tram or trolleybus.
If you’re here with the family over the weekend of December 6-7, the legendary Children’s Railway, staffed by youngsters and traversing the picturesque slopes of the Buda hills, becomes the Santa train, all fairy lights and cosy decoration. Tickets can be booked online for specific times.
Peter Pan is the theme of the spectacular light show at the Botanical Gardens (ELTE Füvészkert; Illés utca 25, 1083 Budapest). Famous London landmarks help to transform this popular outdoor attraction into the Garden of Lights. Wrap up warm!
More than 200 dazzling light installations and fairy-tale scenes bathe the path around the Palatinus (Soó Rezső sétány 1, 1007 Budapest) in light, as the century-old pool complex on Margaret Island becomes Lumina Park until March 1. Look out for characters from Frozen, Pocahontas’ forest and the splendour of Versailles.
Spas, shows and ice skating
There’s nothing more magical in Budapest than bobbing in the steaming thermal waters of the famous Széchenyi Baths while the stars shine in the winter sky overhead. Open until 8pm, 10pm on Fridays, the ‘Szecska’ also offers private spa treatments for two and a day’s relaxation in the tropical surroundings of the Palm House.
Seasonal culture takes centre stage at the Opera House, where traditional performances of Tchaikovsky ballet The Nutcracker right run through until January 11, while St Stephen’s Basilica hosts twice-weekly organ concerts until after the New Year.
From the end of November to February, skate amid the magical lights of the City Park Ice Rink, where you can rent skates and, for little ones, Bobby the Seal, the friendly skating aid. The Christmas Markets at Vörösmarty tér, Városháza park and Fő tér in Óbuda also feature rinks.
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