Budapest is alive with the sound of music. Churches around the city are opening their doors for free concerts this holiday season, featuring best-loved Christmas tunes and carols alongside orchestral and organ arrangements of Bach, Mozart and famous Hungarian composers. However religious (or not) you may be, it’s always nice to find a spot of cheer during the cold winter months.

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Inner City Parish Church

Located on the Pest side of Elizabeth Bridge, this unique building represents several historical eras of architecture in Budapest. The church is a popular tourist attraction, and normally requires paid admission to enter. However, several free concerts will be held in the church throughout December, including the Otrada Choir of the St Nicholas Chernoovstrovsky Women's Monastery. Dates include 5, 10 and 25 December. 

Address: District V. Március 15 tér 

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Kelenföld Church of St Gellért

St Gellért, consecrated in 1992, is a rather modern-looking church located in District XI near Kelenföld station. On Sunday, 8 December, the NobilArt singing group celebrate ten years of singing together with a concert at 6pm, after Evening Mass which also involves the choir. 

Address: District XI. Bartók Béla út 149 

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St Anne’s Church

Built in 1761, this church is the emblematic building of Batthyány tér. The parish was founded all the way back in 1390, destroyed by the invading Turks, and finally re-established in the late 1700s. In more recent years, St Anne’s Church has a long tradition of Christmas concerts. This year’s concert falls on 10 December, with a performance of Bach organ music from 7pm-8pm.  The event is the fourth and last in a series stretching back to September, with the inclusive aim of popularising this form of recital: 'Organ Music for All'. 

Address: District I. Batthyány tér 7 

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Kelenföld Reformed Church

This church in the south Buda district of Kelenföld was built in 1928-29 according to the plans of István Medgyaszay, who was a student of Art Nouveau master Károly Kós. The building’s interior has a Transylvanian wood carving pattern, which is one of its most striking features. On 7 December, as part of the Kelenföld Baroque Evenings series, there will be an evening of Johann Sebastian Bach cantatas. 

Address: District XI. Október 23 utca 5 

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Great Teresa Parish Church of Avila

This church rubs shoulders with unusual neighbours, considering its location in the middle of the party district, alongside the Jewish Quarter. But it welcomes all participants to enjoy the Christmas concert on 18 and 25 December, at 5pm and 10am respectively, featuring the Budapest School Cantorum. 

Address: District VI. Pethő Sándor utca 2 

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Inner City Church of St Michael

The towering Baroque St Michael’s Church has been a landmark in Pest since the 1700s. A number of free concerts have been held here since August, with the Benyus Family Christmas Concert to come on 22 December. The Benyus family is made up of ten brothers and members of the extended family, with nearly 30 years of singing experience together. 

Address: District V. Váci utca 47B 

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Alsóvíziváros St Elizabeth Parish Church

The Baptist Capuchin Monks’ church is located on Fő utca, near Batthyány tér. On 15 December there will be an evening of organ music, featuring the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Christoph F Bach and César Franck, played by István Nagy. 

Address: District I. Fő utca 32 

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Kálvin tér Reformed Church

The largest Reformed church in Budapest, and second largest Protestant church, is built in a Neo-Classical architectural style, with an illuminated clock tower. As part of a series of monthly organ concerts, on 8 December at 5pm, Anasztázia Bednarik will be playing. As a special event at 6pm on 22 December, the Kálvin Choir will be singing an arrangement of Christmas songs. 

Address: District IX. Kálvin tér 7A 

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