With Halloween and All Saints' Day gone and Advent's first Sunday less than a month away, we can officially prepare for Christmastime. The city will be decked in fairy lights soon, giving you another reason to schedule a visit. Christmas markets are also about to pop up: see when you can sip on your first glass of mulled wine in and around the Hungarian capital!
Advent Festival at the Basilica 2023
Voted Europe's best Christmas market three times, the Advent festivities filling the square before St Stephen's Basilica will be back in full swing from November 17th, stretching into the new year ( January 1st).
More details here.
Vörösmarty Classic Xmas 2023
The Christmas fair on Budapest's focal Vörösmarty tér is probably the most renowned of all. Opening its stalls on November 17th, you can enjoy the festive spirit, a massive Christmas tree, mulled wine, chimney cake, and a free train ride (if you are a child) until December 31st.
More details here.
Advent in Óbuda
Óbuda is a charming part of the city with cobblestoned streets and small-town vibes. No wonder that its Christmas market is more on the intimate side, too. On its main square (Fő tér), you can immerse yourself in a friendly and cheerful atmosphere seasoned with the smell of mulled wine between December 1st and 23rd.
More details here (Hungarian-only).
+1 Festivities in Szentendre
If you are up for a day trip from Budapest, Szentendre should be on the top of your list. It is an adorable little riverside town, only an hour away from Budapest (take HÉV 5 from Batthyány tér). Its narrow streets and romantic corners will not only host a vibrant Christmas fair but also cultural and artsy programmes, which you can indulge in between December 2nd and January 7th.
More details here (Hungarian-only).
