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Budapest in Winter – 22 magical things to do in winter in Budapest
Having explored Budapest in various seasons, trust me when I say that there’s something undeniably special about this city in winter. The iconic thermal baths turn into a proper warm hug and the Christmas markets take care of the festive spirit.
The cold brings a special kind of magic, turning the streets into a canvas of sparkling lights and the iconic thermal baths into cozy warm hugs. The Christmas markets take care of the festive spirit while Buda Castle gets all mysterious in the winter fog.
Budapest is a city that somehow manages to make even the chilliest temperatures feel warmly inviting. Let’s explore all the reasons why you should visit Budapest in winter and the best things to do on your winter escape.
In a hurry? Book your Budapest winter essentials:
Budapest is pure magic in winter and these are the musts:
Széchenyi Baths or Gellért Baths
Parliament Building
Danube Dinner Cruise
Christmas Markets tour
Budapest Card
Why visit Budapest in Winter
Budapest is generally an affordable destination, but prices go even lower in the winter making it the perfect low-budget travel destination. Or if you want to splurge, it allows you to treat yourself to an affordable luxury hotel.
Besides, can you imagine taking those vacation pictures without the pressing crowds? In winter you can. There are way fewer tourists during the winter months making it more comfortable to visit the main attractions without having to get up at dawn.
But ultimately, winter in Budapest is a magical season with twinkling holiday lights and festive decorations, especially in December.
The Budapest winter experience is not one you will forget easily. It is not just a city, it is a feeling. This might be why I find myself going back time after time.
Where to stay in Budapest in winter
Anantara New York Palace Budapest
ICONIC LUXURY
Home to the famous New York Café, it offers unparalleled elegance and impeccable service.
COSY AND WARM
With a hot tub and private sauna, this apartment is perfect to warm up after a day of exploring.
CENTRAL AND TRENDY
A trendy hotel with a beautiful interior, great amenities and a fabulous location.
Read next: Where to stay in Budapest
22 incredible things to do in Budapest in winter
There are so many things to do in Budapest in winter. Some of them, like visiting Buda Castle and the Parliament are must-dos all year round, but other things are only possible to experience in winter. So let’s dive into the top things to add to your Budapest itinerary from top tourist sites to hidden gems and specific winter activities.
Warm up at the thermal baths
Locals have soaked in the city’s steaming water for centuries and it is a not-to-be-missed experience whether you go for a weekend to Budapest or a week.
If you can only visit one, I suggest going to Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Budapest’s most popular bath where you can soak in the 36-38ºC water breathing in the crisp winter air. I recommend you book your Széchenyi tickets in advance to avoid long queues. For a unique experience, take a beer spa and bath combo.
If you have the time, try out some of the other thermal baths in the city. Gellért Baths are set in an impressive 1918 Art Nouveau building belonging to the Hotel Gellért and is recognized by its deep turquoise tiles and Instagram-worthy indoor pools. Again, I recommend booking Gellert Bath tickets in advance to skip the line.
Rudas Baths are less touristy and the octagonal cave-like Turkish section dates back to the Ottomans in the 16th century and is the most popular. It is accessible for men on Monday and Wednesday to Friday and women on Tuesdays. On the weekends it is mixed.
Book your thermal retreat:
Take a dinner cruise on the Danube
Going on a dinner cruise on the Danube River is a must to add to your Budapest winter itinerary. It is a great way to see the city from a different perspective, especially after dark when the city lights up. This Danube cruise is fantastic and it includes dinner, drinks, and live music with Hungarian folk dance for a cultural experience.
Book your evening:
Visit the Hungarian Parliament
Sitting on the banks of the Danube River, the Hungarian Parliament is the most iconic building in Budapest. It was built in 1904 and resembles a majestic palace. Inside, you will be met with an incredible opulence with large halls covered in gold-draped ceilings and columns, and colorful frescoes.
Book your tickets in advance and bring an ID. I highly recommend you book this audio-guided tour.
Book your tour:
Join a Budapest food tour
Budapest is pure heaven for foodies with a delightful influence of different European and Middle Eastern food.
For a local experience, book a food tour with a local guide. Tours vary, but typically last 2-3 hours and you get to taste 6-8 different dishes with drinks.
Book your foodie adventure:
Feel the Xmas spirit at Budapest Christmas Markets
Browsing the Christmas Markets is the highlight of December in Budapest.
Don’t miss out on the biggest market on Vörösmarty Square with over 100 festive wooden stalls where you can find anything from local handicrafts to traditional Christmas foods and sweets. It is an excellent example of Budapest’s holiday spirit that breathes into the city leading up to Christmas.
In front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, you will come across another favorite of mine. The festive stalls surround an ice skating rink with a giant Christmas tree in the middle. It is a lovely place to warm up with mulled wine as you look for hand-made goods like mittens and scarves. Why not take a Christmas walking tour including a visit to the basilica – it is worth visiting!
For a more local experience, I suggest checking out the Obuda Christmas Market. It is located a bit off the beaten path just north of the Buda side of town. The Christmas Market has an ice skating rink and a colorful, traditional carousel. They often organize live music too making it a unique experience to add to your holiday memories.
If you have more time, you should also explore the ones at Castle Hill and Erzsébet Square. I highly recommend taking a walking tour of the Christmas Markets for a local’s insights and deeper cultural experience.
Book your holiday spirit:
See the Light Show at St. Stephen’s Basilica
This is one of the top Budapest December perks! Not only can you browse the Christmas Market, but every 30 minutes between 17:30 and 20:00, there are projected light shows on the basilica’s facade showcasing Christmas narratives.
Some of these are 3D shows and you can purchase 3D glasses at any of the stalls. Make sure you also step inside the basilica! I recommend this Christmas walking tour that also includes a visit to the basilica, or just grab the Basilica tickets here.
Book your tickets:
Warm up with some Pálinka
To warm up on a cold winter day, try Hungary’s national drink, Pálinka. This is a fruit brandy with around 40% alcohol. The Hungarians have enjoyed this drink since medieval times, so it is a good excuse to learn about the country’s history and culture.
You can join a tasting experience where you learn more about the history of Pálinka.
Book your tasting:
Have a night out at Szimpla Kert, the original Ruin Pub
Budapest has several ruin bars. These are bars set in ruined buildings, something that became popular in the city in the early 2000s. Szimpla Kert was the first of its kind and started as an experiment that turned into a great success. If you are looking for unique things to do at night in Budapest, Szimpla Kert is the place to be.
I suggest joining a pub crawl and visiting several ruin bars. This is a good way to get an introduction to the best ones and meet other drinking buddies to take it further into the night with.
Visit the Hungarian State Opera House
The extravagant Hungarian State Opera House has been open to the public since 1884 and is a must-visit in Budapest. It can be visited as a guided tour or by going on a show. I have done both and enjoyed it all. It was especially unique to see the lavish opera house come to life during a show when all senses were activated. So why not dress up and experience the opera house at its best?
Go Ice skating at Europe’s biggest ice rink
Budapest boasts not only the biggest ice skating rink in Europe but also one of the oldest, so going for a swirl while visiting the city makes a lot of sense. To add to the experience, the rink is located right in front of Vajdahunyad Castle making it the most picturesque ice skating location in the country.
Explore the Fisherman’s Bastion
The fairytale-like towers of the Fisherman’s Bastion are among the top things to see in Budapest in the winter. Built at the beginning of the 1900s with a Neo-Romanesque influence, it is easy to imagine yourself striding through medieval Budapest as you enjoy some of the city’s most beautiful views.
Visit Buda Castle and Várkert Bazár
The 13th-century Buda Castle sits on top of Buda Hill overlooking the city across the Danube River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to museums like the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery.
Below the castle sits the majestic Castle Gardens, known as the Várkert Bazár. This is one of the most Instagrammable places in Budapest and even in winter, it is lovely to stroll around and take in the views of the city across the river.
Visit some of Budapest’s museums or art galleries
When looking for indoor things to do in Budapest hitting the museums and art galleries can’t go wrong. There are several war-themed museums like the Holocaust Memorial Center and the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum or you can dive into art at the Museum of Fine Arts.
But it doesn’t stop there. Budapest is home to a wealth of unique and quirky museums like the Selfie Museum and the Cat Museum making even a rainy day fun.
Ride the Christmas Light Tram
When visiting Budapest Hungary in December, you will notice trams lit up with Christmas lights. 5 kilometers of LED lights are wrapped around them creating the ultimate Budapest Christmas vibe. They are part of the regular tram system and cost the same as a normal tram ticket which you can purchase in any vending machine or get for free with the Budapest Card.
Treat yourself to a Chimney Cake
Do you like your sweet treats? I certainly do and one you must try when visiting Hungary in winter is Chimney Cake, also known as Kürtőskalács.
It is delightful, sugarcoated dough that has been wrapped around a cylindrical baking spit and baked over hot charcoal. They come in different flavors from cacao to vanilla and cinnamon.
Feel the magic at Lumina Park
From fall through February, Lumina Park makes nights in Budapest truly magical. The fairytale park is lit up by different artistic creations of thousands of solar-powered LED lights.
Accompanied by music, this is one of the wonderful things to do on Margaret Island, Budapest’s most unique park. To spark up the night, round it off with a Danube cruise with a glass of bubbles.
Take in the views from Gellert Hill
The views from Gellért Hill are spectacular. While it is a bit of an uphill walk, there are plenty of viewpoints presenting you with magnificent photo opportunities. I recommend timing it with the sunset for the ultimate experience.
Fuel up on hearty Hungarian Cuisine
Hungary dishes out some fantastic winter comfort foods, with Goulash Soup being the most famous. It’s available year-round but it really cranks up the heat during the Hungarian winter months.
Other winter favorites include Húsleves (meat soup), Bableves (bean soup with meat), Töltött Káposzta (meat-stuffed cabbage), and Rakott Káposzta (Hungarian-rice lasagna) – it tastes better than it sounds, trust me.
Sip hot chocolate at New York Cafe
The Italian Renaissance-style New York Café claims to be the most beautiful café in the world and I am not going to argue that. With marble columns and an intricately decorated ceiling, it is like entering a palace. It is one of the best cafes in Budapest and their hot chocolate is to die for!
Enjoy the Christmas lights at Deák Ferenc
Also known as Fashion Street, this is Budapest’s main shopping street and lights up like nowhere else during the festive season. Do your Christmas shopping in unique boutique shops and high-end designer stores or just rejoice in their festive Christmas window displays.
The street itself is decorated with colorful lights and a beautiful Christmas tree. Taking a stroll down Deák Ferenc is one of the more fun things to do in Budapest in December.
Watch the fireworks over the Danube on New Year’s Eve
The best places to see the fireworks over the Danube are from the riverbank or going on a boat trip to see them from the water. For the best city views, head to Gellért Hill. Budapest New Year’s celebrations continue after midnight at hot nightclubs like Akvárium Klub and Pontoon.
Party the night away at Instant-Fogas
This is the ultimate party scene in Budapest. It is Europe’s largest ruin bar and hosts 7 nightclubs in one place. Whether you love Rn’B, electronica, or rock, you will find your beat at Instant-Fogas. Start your night with a pub crawl before hitting the dance floors.
Winter holidays and events in Budapest
24th of December
Christmas Eve (Szent-este)
Most shops and attractions close in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. It is essential to make dinner reservations and most restaurants have a set Christmas menu.
25th of December
Christmas Day (Karácsony napja)
Shops, attractions, and most restaurants are closed.
26th of December
Boxing Day (Karácsony másnapja)
Most shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions are closed.
31st December
New Year’s Eve (Újév)
Expect shops and attractions to close earlier on this day. Dinner reservations are essential.
1st of January
New Year’s Day (Új év napja)
Shops, restaurants, and tour operating hours might be affected.
6th of January
The Epiphany (Vízkereszt)
Opening times as normal. (I CAN’T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND THE DAY DOESN’T APPEAR ON ANY PUBLIC HOLIDAY LISTS SO I ASSUME IT’S ALL BUSINESS AS USUAL)
14th of February
Valentine’s Day (Valentin nap)
Opening times are not affected.
School holidays
Hungarian kids have their school break around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Exact dates vary each year but they usually add up to about two weeks. Other European countries will also have school holiday breaks during this time so expect a higher influx of visitors.
Carnevale – Farsang
Farsang, Hungary’s carnival season, is a lively pre-Lenten celebration deeply rooted in folklore. It aims to welcome spring and ward off evil spirits, featuring festive parades, masquerade balls, the UNESCO-recognized ‘Busójárás’ festival, and plenty of doughnuts. Dates vary annually.
Budapest winter temperature and weather
Winter in Budapest officially starts on the 22nd of December and lasts until the 20th of March. But it can feel pretty wintry already in November and once March comes along, you can feel the spring in the air.
The weather in Budapest in December, January, and February is often very windy which can make it feel a lot more chilly than the temperatures suggest. Luckily, it rains less in winter than in the milder spring and fall months.
| Month | Max&Min Temperature | Average Rainy Days | Average Sunshine hours |
| December | 4°C/ 39.2°F – 0°C/ 37.4°F | 6 days | 1 |
| January | 3°C/ 37.4°F – -2°C/ 28.4°F | 5 days | 2 |
| February | 6°C/ 42.8°F – 0°C/ 37.4°F | 5 days | 3 |
| March | 11°C/ 51.8°F – 3°C/ 37.4°F | 5 days | 4.5 |
Does it snow in Budapest?
Snow is rare, but due to the low temperatures in Budapest, especially in January, you might experience a delicate layer of snow over the city.
What to pack for winter in Budapest
Budapest can get quite chilly in winter so make sure to layer up, this way you’ll be prepared for indoor and outdoor activities and attractions.
Good quality waterproof boots and warm socks are a must. Grab a (preferably long) winter coat, a compact umbrella, gloves, scarf and hat, warm layers, but also sunglasses and sunscreen as the winter sun can be especially sneaky.
How many days in Budapest in the winter
I’d recommend spending around 3 to 5 days in Budapest in winter. This timeframe allows you to explore the main attractions, experience the local culture, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the city, while also leaving enough time to explore Christmas markets, relax in thermal baths, and experience the city’s winter charm.
Getting to Budapest
Budapest is the main arrival point for anyone coming to Hungary and is well-connected to neighboring countries and the rest of Hungary by bus and train.
By air: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, often referred to as Ferihegy, is the biggest and most frequented international airport in Hungary. It has connections to a multitude of international and national destinations. It is only 30 minutes by shuttle from the airport to the city center.
By boat: The Danube River makes Budapest accessible by boat from neighboring countries on the Danube like Vienna and Bratislava besides other local destinations located on the riverbank.
By car: Located centrally in Hungary, Budapest is easily reached from all neighboring countries by car. It can be hard to find free parking in the city center, though, so booking a hotel with private parking is ideal.
By bus: Traveling by bus to Budapest is convenient and budget-friendly from other Hungarian destinations and neighboring countries like Slovakia and Austria. Some of the bus companies that frequently travel to Budapest are FlexiBus, RegioJet, and ArdaTur.
By train: Budapest Keleti station is the city’s main inter-city train station which daily connects with 25 European capital cities. The train station is 3 km from the city center but well connected with metro lines 2 and 4.
Getting around Budapest
Budapest is a walkable city, but there are many ways you can speed up between attractions. The trams are easy to use and one of the most iconic ways to get around and you can access free public transport with the Budapest Card.
Other ways to get around are hiring a bike for the day or joining an e-bike tour of the city. There are also e-scooters for rent on the street, all you need to do is download the app of the specific e-scooter company and pay to unlock it.
You can also jump on the hop-on-hop-off bus which will drop you off at the major tourist sites. It includes an audio guide, a walking tour, and a Danube River cruise.
Planning a trip to Budapest?
Budapest is a fantastic city with a rich blend of history, culture, picturesque views, a vibrant food scene, lively nightlife, and relaxing thermal baths. With so much to explore and experience, make sure to check out the articles below for my top recommendations when visiting Budapest!
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