"Making Christmas, making Christmas is so fine" - sing the citizens of Halloween Town in the bone-chillingly good The Nightmare Before Christmas, and we can't argue: it's the best part of the year! Christmas fairs, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts... but what else is there? What else can we look forward to in the forthcoming cold days? Well, Budapest offers a heap of great things to see, do - and eat - in the winter season: steaming hot baths, The Nutcracker, ice skating and special streetcars are just tip of the, um, iceberg. Come with us and you'll see...
1/11
Chimney cake
Chimney Cake ('kürtőskalács' in Hungarian) is a special kind of sweet dough, that is coated with sugar and baked in a special oven then coated in different toppings like chocolate, walnut, coconut or cinnamon. The smell fills the crisp air at winter markets throughout Budapest. It's a popular Hungarian sweet and here is a pro tip: it tastes better if you share it with your friends.
2/11
Mulled wine
If this isn't your first Christmas since you began drinking alcohol, you might already be familiar with the most popular winter liquid warmer: mulled wine ('forralt bor' in Hungarian). If you are from a Scandinavian country, you might know this magic potion as glögg (or glühwein for Germans). The essence of this drink is the red wine and the spices: cinnamon, cardamon, orange or lemon, nutmeg - but the recipe is ever-changing and the more you experiment with it the more likely you'll find the ideal version. You can try it at every Christmas fair. If you want something warm but non-alcoholic, have a hot chocolate, there are loads of great versions in Budapest:
3/11
Ice skating
Let's face it, there isn't a more romantic thing than taking your crush on a skate-date, especially if you are the reincarnation of Adelina Sotnikova. It doesn't even matter if you fa(i)ll, what matters is that you are together, sticking to each other to keep your balance, listening to Christmas songs and laughing at your partner and the others who are also having a hard time or showing off their extensive skills. It also strengthens your body, so don't hesitate to go to the ice rink at City Park or another of Budapest's many ice rinks.
4/11
A streetcar named Christmas
It's becoming more and more of a tradition that trams are decorated with white and blue lights for the Christmas season. The Christmas trams usually run from the first days of December to the end of January, and you don't have to pay any extra fee to feel like you are taking a ride with Santa Claus. The trams which are decorated with nearly 30,000 lights are usually number 2 and 2A, but you can easily spot them - after all, they glow in the dark!
5/11
Roasted chestnuts
If there is a typical Christmas snack, this is it. You just have to wait for it to cool down enough to be be able to peel away the tough outer skin, and voila - you can enjoy the sweet, tender inside. Yummy! We can't imagine a Christmas without it.
6/11
The Nutcracker
Throughout December, the Hungarian State Opera House, which is also the home of the National Ballet Institute, will present its traditional Christmas-time ballet: The Nutcracker. It is surely a not-to-be-missed event, not only for avid ballet-lovers but for everybody, who loved (or still loves) the most Christmasy ballet story of all time. A really memorable experience for the whole family. But if you want to see Vainonen's enchanting ballet, be quick - there is only a really small number of tickets left.
7/11
Christmas fair
We can't deny that Christmas is not only about love and forgiveness but also about the last minute present buying rush and running out of ideas of what to buy for our loved ones. Christmas fairs are a good way to refill your energy bars with mulled wine and bump into things that would make a good present - be it ceramics, unique toys, honey, local produce, and arts and craft. They also make a great meeting point and you can get something delicious to eat too. We would go for the anual Christmas fair at Vörösmarty Square, the advent festivities at St. Stephen's Basilica or the special WAMP Christmas design and gastro fair.
8/11
Sledding
If you are tired of the mulled wine, Michael Bublé and Christmas fairs, what about a sledding party? A rush of adrenaline will surely warm you up even if the temperature goes below zero and snow falls.. The top spot in Budapest for sledding is Normafa, just a shot away from the top of János Hill, the highest hill you can find in Budapest. Enjoy the ride! Ps. This spot is also great for building snowmen and snowball fights.
9/11
Winter soaking
A pool of hot water always sounds charming - and when the temperature goes below zero outside, it's more than tempting to soak in it. If you are fed up with the busyness of the silly season or you're just plain cold, visit one of Budapest's hot thermal baths and forget about the whole thing. If you like your bath hot and cold at the same time, go to Széchenyi Bath and immerse yourself in one of the outdoor pools - steaming hot water and falling snow; isn't it a lovely pairing? Let's not forget that it also does good for your health and most of the baths have extra goodies like saunas as well.
10/11
Organ concerts and midnight masses
Both organ concerts and midnight masses take place at St. Stephen’s Basilica and both are among the most memorable and romantic experiences you can have in Budapest during wintertime. The richly ornamented Basilica hosts organ concerts on Monday, Thursday and Friday - reserving a ticket is strongly advised as these events are usually sold out days beforehand. The acoustics of the place is magical, you won't miss a sound and the environment will make you feel like you've stepped into a historic wonderland. The same goes for the Christmas Midnight Mass, which attracts many non-religious people - so you should go, even if you aren't a Catholic. For a lot of Hungarian families, it's a Christmas tradition, to go to a Christmas Midnight Mass. If you are afraid of not getting a seat at St. Stephen's Basilica, go to Matthias Church - it is just as beautiful, as the other, but not as popular. Dress warmly as it will surely be cold in both.
11/11
Christmas lights on Andrássy Avenue
Not only the trams light up when it's the Christmas season, but whole streets too! If you want too feel a bit like the actors in Chariots Of Fire, walk through the entire Andrássy Avenue by night. It's just - a whole new experience. Even though Travis Bickle said in Taxi Driver that 'all the animals come out at night,' forget about that, because in Budapest, the magic happens at night - especially under the mistletoe!
For more information on what's on during the winter season, take a look at our huge upcoming events section which covers everything happening in Budapest that's worth mentioning.
