With Christmas in full swing this year, it's time to switch off, relax and give in to seasonal indulgence. You can also get active, skate, explore a magical castle or soak in a panoramic spa. Here are 12 great tips to enjoy Advent in Budapest – one for every day of Christmas!
1/12
Browse a Christmas market
The beautiful hand-crafted wares and shiny decorations
are back on view at the Basilica and Vörösmarty tér, Budapest’s main downtown Christmas
markets.
Delicious food, light shows, Advent wreathes and other cosy activities also await.
Proof of vaccination required to enter.
2/12
Enjoy a winter show
What could
be more Christmassy than taking the family to a show? Performed by Budapest’s
amazing Recirquel cirque danse team – no linguistic skills required – Kristály takes the audience into a
magical winter world. Running over several days in a special marquee, the entertainment
forms part of Müpa Christmas, with a skating rink alongside.
3/12
Explore Vajdahunyad Castle
Backdropped by the City Park ice rink, Disneyesque Vajdahunyad
Castle is cannot fail to
be a spectacular Christmassy setting. Over Advent, special activities include guided
tours, walks and baking workshops but even if your Hungarian isn’t up to it, a
stroll around this strange landmark should do the trick.
4/12
Ride the Christmas tram
Climb on board Budapest’s shiny Christmas tram and feel the festive atmosphere while city lights whizz by. Different routes
run on different days until 6 January, so do check the schedule, but the number 2 line along the Danube embankment on Mondays and Wednesdays must be the most magical.
5/12
Sip hot chocolate
Take a break from shopping with a sweet, soothing hot chocolate.
Set aside Christmas responsibilities and indulge yourself with a marshmallow
hot chocolate at Ahoy or choose a classic
version from the Nothing Coffee-Aztek Choxolat! selection. If you feel like getting cosy, then pop into the Csészényi
Kávézó and sit right beside the traditional stove.
6/12
Skate away
Before all the rich Christmas feasting, you can get a
little fitter and enjoy outdoor winter sport at several rinks around Budapest. The
main one in City Park is backdropped by the Disneyesque Vajdahunyad Castle while Müpa’s allows you to skate then take in a show.
7/12
Snack on roast chestnuts
After a
winter walk or skating, it’s great to gather around the nearest chestnut vendor
and have them place a warming little bag into your mitts. Then, of course, you
can hardly wait for the shell to cool down just enough to unwrap the delicacy.
It’s okay to be a bit messy – no-one can wait to get to the heart of the matter.
8/12
Soak in the Rudas
Experience real
Advent relaxation in Budapest by visiting a spa and soaking your tired limbs in
thermal waters. The Rudas, right
on the Danube, also has an upper pool with wonderful views of the city decked
out in festive lights.
9/12
Stroll around Buda Castle
Let’s hope
for beautiful snowy days, when the narrow little streets of the Castle District
glow under atmospheric street lights and people’s window decorations brighten
up the Baroque façades. To pop in to warm up somewhere, buy a delicious hot drink on your walk at the
4minutes Café on Országház utca.
10/12
Take in a church concert
Let the spiritual atmosphere of Christmas surround you
with a live performance of classical music in one of Budapest’s beautiful churches.
Concerts are takin place at Matthias Church and St Stephen’s Basilica,
to name but two.
11/12
Warm up with mulled wine
Admire the
wonderful lights of the city decorated for Christmas with a warming glass in
your hands. Pick up a mulled wine at Czakó Kert and head up to the Philosophers‘ Garden,
with Budapest spread out down below.
12/12
Zoom on the Christmas trolley
Riding
Budapest’s bright Christmas trolleys,
done out like Santa’s grotto inside, is not only fun, you can also help children
in need by donating a small, wrapped gift being collected on board. Services
run on several routes until 19 December.
