It is time to add another item to your winter bucket list as a new and pretty spectacular ice rink enters the scene. Crowd-favourite concert venue, Budapest Park, decided to pack up its stage for the season and turn into a winter wonderland. The dance floor transformed into a huge (we mean 1500-square-metre huge) ice rink, with a Christmas tree in the middle and dazzling lights all around. We were first in line to try it, and take it from us: with upbeat music playing and hot chocolate or hot cocktails to gorge on, you are in for quite an experience. Here is all you need to know.
If you are in Budapest during the winter, well, lucky timing! December is the time of the year when a lot is going on, and we don’t only mean Christmas markets. Ice rinks are popping up everywhere in the city, even in the most unexpected places. That is what happened recently at Budapest Park, the open-air concert venue, where you might have danced a night or two away to songs of popular Hungarian bands and the biggest sing-along tunes of the last decades.
The ice rink
Now, you can do the same, but with your skates on! They decided to follow last year’s lead and turned the place into a winter wonderland, with a 1500-square-metre ice rink being its showstopper. We were eager to try it as soon as we entered, just to realise that it actually consists of two separate rinks, which are connected by an awesome ice corridor.
Christmas tree and hot cocktails
But it is not only the ice rink that instantly puts you in a festive mood. The whole setting is just right: the colourful, summery decorations gave way to festive lights. A huge Christmas tree was set up. Vibey tunes fill the air (watch out for retro parties hosted by the resident DJ). Aperol Spritz is replaced by heart-warming cocktails (such as Hot Widow made of pálinka, whipped cream, and cinnamon) and mulled wine - with hot chocolate available for children. You can also grab a hot dog or a Wiener schnitzel sandwich in one of the two covered and heated areas, and take a break to warm up.
Bring the whole family
Ice World is a great spot for a first date, a fun activity with friends, but also a perfect family adventure. You can opt for a family ticket, and there is no entrance fee for children under 6. Also, a play corner was set up to entertain the little ones between laps. And speaking of laps, children can borrow delightful penguin figures to help them keep their balance.
Skate rental and tickets
You can bring your skates or rent a pair on the site. Then just pop all your unnecessary belongings into the cloakroom and go all in on practicing those pirouettes. You can buy tickets in advance (single ticket prices range between HUF 1,499 - 2,490), however only on the Hungarian site (select 'Normál' under 'Jegyek' for weekdays and 'Kiemelt' for weekends (including Fridays) and school holidays. If you haven't managed to master the Hungarian language yet, worry not: you can get tickets on the spot as well (or you can always email park@budapestpark.hu).
Opening hours
Budapest Park's Ice World is open everyday until 31 January, but different entrance fees apply for weekdays and weekends (including Fridays and school holidays).
- Monday to Thursday: 5pm-9pm
- Friday: 5pm-10pm
- Saturday: 10am-10pm
- Sunday: 10am-9pm
