Programs & Things to Do Recommendations
The last month of the year and the first month of the winter season has a lot in store for visitors to Budapest.
Although the weather is usually cold with average monthly temperature around 2 deg. Celsius/35 Fahrenheit, a range of
- Winter festivals and Christmas fairs,
- Concerts and other activities take place at various spots in the city enticing everyone to brave the unpleasant December weather.
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Table of Contents
Besides Christmas, children are expecting the visit of Santa on St. Nicholas day, 06. December.
Joulupukki, the real Santa comes to Hungary from Finnland for a week. He can be spotted at various places in Budapest, including Vörösmarty tér.
December ends with awesome New Year parties at various venues:
- In the streets,
- On the Danube,
- In bars and clubs, and
- Hotels.
Weather In Budapest In December – What to Pack?
- December is cold with temperatures below zero or a couple of degrees above zero.
- On top of the subzero temperatures it is often cloudy and windy.
- We usually don’t get much snow in December (in previous years there wasn’t any), though some days there is some rain or sleet.
- It’s best to dress in several layers: so do bring warm sweaters, cardigans, or a vest that you can pull on a long-sleeve shirt. A lightweight but warm coat, scarf, winter cap, gloves are must to make exploring the city in the cold more pleasant. Warm socks and comfortable winter boots/shoes (water proof, if possible) can also go on your packing list
TIP: There are plenty of indoor activities you can do in Budapest, away from the cold and wind. See recommendations below!
Popular Activities In December
A sightseeing tour on the Danube with dinner or drinks is the best and most comfrotable way to see the world-renowned attractions of the city.
You’ll be on a warm, spacious ship protected from the biting wind and cold. Have just drinks (cocktail/wines/carft beer) or enjoy a pleasant dinner while cruising the river and admiring the many sights on the embankments.
Christmas Fairs and Other Events in December 2023
Christmas Fair At Vörösmarty Square
Location:
- Vörösmarty tér, Downtown Budapest (On Map)
Date:
- November 17. 2023 – January 01. December 2024
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 11.00 – 21.00
- Friday – saturday: 11.00 – 22.00
- Sunday: 11.00 – 21.00
- 24. December: 10.00 – 14.00
- 25 – 26. December: 12.00 – 18.00
- 29 – 30 December: 11.00 – 22.00
- 31. December/NYE: 11.00 – 03.00 AM
- 01. January 2024/New Year’s Day: 11.00 – 17.00
December is all about Christmas and after that, the approaching New Year.
Budapest is home to one of the most charming Christmas markets in Europe that takes place on Vörösmarty Square in the city centre.
It is easily accessible by public transport from anywhere in the city
- M1 underground (yellow line) at Vörösmarty tér,
- M1, M2, M3 metro lines at Deák tér station,
- Tram 2, 2B on the Pest side of the Danube: get off at Vigadó tér stop).
Quality, Handmade Gifts At The Vörösmarty Xmas Market
Highlights:
The market is a great source for quality handmade gifts: knitted hats, leather products, pottery, jewelry, kitchen utensils, homedecor items, culinary delicacies.
The food court offers typical Hungarian and international dishes:
- stuffed cabbage,
- grilled and roast meats,
- sandwiches,
- strudel, beigli and other pastries and cakes, and of course
- typical winter drinks: hot wine, punch, grog, tea and coffee.
Concerts, the visit of Santa Claus on 06. December between 15.00-16.00, children activities and playhouse (weekdays: 14.00-18.00, weekends: 10.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00) are permanent programs each year.
Drawbacks:
- A bit crowdy and touristy,
- Prices have gone up considerably in the last couple of years
New Year’s Eve Parties
Advent Festival & Fair at Szent István Square, Basilica
Location:
- In front of St. Stephen’s Basilica and in Zrínyi Street (On Map)
Date:
- November 17, 2023 – January 01. 2024
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Sunday: 10.00 – 22:00,
- December 24.: 10:00 – 14:00,
- December 25. & 26.:10.00 – 18.00
- December 31.: 10:00 – 03:00 am
- January 01.: 10.00 – 18.00
The Christmas Market and Advent Festival at Szt. István Sqaure in front of the Basilica is the second most popular festive fair in Hungary’s capital.
The largest church of the city gives a spectacular background to the fair and there’s also a small ice rink (200 sqm).
Lovely wooden cottages offer various local craft products, handmade Christmas bonbons, mulled wine and other drinks, and quality street food from lángos to gourmet burgers.
You can sip spiced winter drinks in the heated hütte, while watching a spectacular light mapping show on the facade of the Basilica (every 30 minues after sunset).
See exact programs on the official website of the event.
Find out more details about the Advent & Christmas Fair At The Basilica!
TIP: Check out other Christmas markets in Budapest and see also a list of hotels closest to the Vörösmarty Square Holiday Fair!
Christmas Tree at the Parliament
As a tradition the country’s official Christmas tree stands in front of the Parliament building on Kossuth Square.
This year it’s a magnificent silver fir of 18 – 20 m height and with 65 m diameter.
The tree weighs approx. 5 – 7 tons. A 130 cm high, 30 kg golden star ornament sits on its tip.
The Christmas tree and the special seasonal lighting will adorn the square till 06. January/Epiphany
Winter Wonderland, Rooftop Terrace Of the WestEnd Mall, Till Dec23
Location, Getting There:
- WestEnd Shopping Mall: Váci út1-3, Budapest 1062 (See On Map)
- Getting There: M3 metro (blue): Nyugati tér sttaion, trams 4 and 6 Nyugati tér stop
Opening Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 12.00 – 22.00
- Sat – Sun: 10.00 – 22.00
- CLOSED: December 24, 25 and 26
- December 31: 10.00 – 17.00
Entry:
- Free (Ice skating: free for kids under 10 years old, above 10 years: 1 500 HUF nd in return, you’ll receive a 1,500 HUF Westend gift card, that you can redeem in selected stores of the WesteEnd mall until the date indicate don the card)
Combine shopping with soaking up some enchanting Christmas atmosphere, righ above the city. This unique venue, the terrace on the rooftop of the WestEnd Shopping Mall gives home to a month long holiday fair with
- Christmas food and drinks,
- Ice skating, and a
- Lovely carousel for the littlest ones.
Open Air Winter Festival At The Müpa/Palace of Arts
Date:
- To Be Announced Later
Address & Getting There:
- Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.
- Tram 2 or H7 suburban railway, Müpa Stop
Although there isn’t an Xmas market at the Winter Festival at the Palace of Arts, it’s a wonderful event to soak up some festive atmosphere and culture.
An ice rink on 400 sqm and a large tent next to it for some exciting programs and a Melody Wheel – an interactive music box – are the highlights of the festival.
Ice Rink Opening Hours
- Weekdays: 14.00 – 20.00, weekends: 10.00 – 20.00,
- Winter school holiday (exc. bank holidays): 22. Dec – 02. January: every day: 10.00 – 20.00,
- Christmas – New Year: 24. December: CLOSED, 25 – 26. December & 01. January: 12.00 – 20.00
Ice Rink Admission: free for one time with a valid Müpa Budapest ticket. Mulled wine,tea, coffee and snacks as well as skate rental are available.
Tent, December 01 – 30
Tickets: between 500 – 1 500 HUF
The spacious tent set up next to the rink gives home to a range of concert, contemporary circus and other cultural programs including many for children.
Festive River Cruises With Dinner/Drinks
Here are some wonderful programs with dinner in Budapest on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
TIP: Read also our post about What to Do on Christmas Eve in Budapest?
Advent/New Year Fair in City Park
Venue:
- City Park/Városliget (next to Heroes’ Square)
Date & Opening Hours:
- To Be Announced later
The city’s largest park, Városliget, or just Liget, hosts a holiday fair with food and drinks, as well as family programs till 12. January 2020.
On 31. December you can join the crowd to carouse and say good bye to 2020 on a rock’n’roll street party.
Advent at the Whale/Bálna
The Whale/Bálna Shopping & Cultural Centre, at a wonderful, scenic location right by the Danube in Pest will host a an Advent festival with
- Concerts,
- Craft workshop for kids (inside the building)
- Spicy mulled wine and other hot drinks.
A 450 sqm ice rink with skate rental welcomes the active ones till the end of February.
Entry is free. Skate rental is 1 000 HUF for 3 hours (single skate from size 26, luggage storage is available).
You can also view a ginger bread mock up of Budapest in the Gallery No. 306 (street level).
Opening Hours of the Ice Rink
- Mon – Thurs: 10.00 – 14.00, 15.00 – 22.00,
- Fri-Sat: 10.00 – 14.00, 15.00 – 24.00
- Sun: 10.00 – 14.00, 15.00 – 22.00
Christmas-New Year Opening Hours
- December: 10.00 – 14.00
- 25 -26. December: Closed
- December: 10.00 – 14.00, 15.00 – 18.00
- January: Closed
You can also view a ginger bread mock up of Budapest in the Gallery No. 306 (street level) between till 27. January Entry is FREE.
Advent in Óbuda, December 01 – 24, 2023
Tasty local food offering authentic Hungarian dishes like stuffed cabbage, Fishermen’s soup, veal paprikash, roast goose, strudel, oven-baked bread, as well as fragrant winter drinks) welcome everyone in the centre of Óbuda in the Advent period.
Location:
- Óbuda-Main Square (Fő tér) and Szentlélek tér district III. (View On Map)
Opening hours of the Xmas market:
- Mon-Thurs: 14.00 – 21.00, Fri-Sun: 10.00 – 22.00
Admission: free
Website
The Main Square of Óbuda as well as the Szentlélek tér, a 2 minute walk from Main Sqr., turn into a wonderful Christmas venue each year.
- A tall Christmas tree,
- Craft fair,
You can skate on the ice rink for free (skate rental is available for 600 HUF for adults and 400 HUF for children) every day from 8.00 till 22.00.
Don’t forget to view the photo exhibition introducing old Christmas, New Year and other folk traditions, how people lived in the village in winter.
Find out more about the Advent Festival in Óbuda!
Advent Weekends in Várkert Bazaar
Dates:
- on Sundays: 02., 09., 16., 23. December
Address:
- Ybl Miklós tér 2-6., district I., Buda
Getting there:
- Bus No. 16. or No. 105 (you can get on at Deák F. Sqr. in Pest centre, or at Széchenyi tér at the ChainBridge, get off at Clark Adam tér, then a few minutes walk)
Entry: free to most programs, theatre performances can be attended with tickets (cc. 2 900 HUF)
The finely restored historic building complex, Várkert Bazaar & Royal Gardens at the southern foot of the Castle Hill host a
series of programs on Sundays preceding Christmas, between 27. November and 24. December.
Families with kids can choose from lots of things to do:
- craft workshops,
- playhouse,
- interactive performances.
Concerts, folk performances and a wonderful festive atmosphere await everyone at one of Budapest’s top landmarks.
Each Sunday, at 18.30 a candle will light up on the festive Advent wreath – located in the Event Hall – marking the approach of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
Find out more about the programs.
WAMP Design & Gastro Fair, December 2023
Venue:
- Whale Shopping centre (Bálna), Fővám tér 11-12, Bp 1093
Getting There:
- Trams 2, 2B and 23, get oof at Zsil utca stop
Dates in 2023:
- December 03, 10, 17
Opening Hours:
- 10.00-18.00
Entry: 500 HUF (ticket can be used as a voucher to buy things at the event)
Facebook
Although the location of this gastro fair is not central, foodies must drop by anyway.
The fair has been part of the city’s designer and craft food scene for a couple of years now.
A great place to browse among and buy quality food stuff as well as wonderful designer items:
- homemade jams,
- cheese,
- bread and pastries,
- chocolates,
- biscuits
- oils,
- spices and herbs,
- wine and pálinka,
- designer kitchen utensils.
It’s a whole different experience than shopping in a store or plaza. The sellers who design and make their own items are friendly and happy to talk about their products and craft.
New Year’s Eve Programs – December 31, 2023
Budapest is the perfect place to be on the last days of 2023 since people will say farewell to the old year at countless locations.
Popular New Year’s Eve programs include:
- Street carnivals, and
- Interactive performances.
- Parties in bars and clubs
New Year’s Eve Party on the Danube with Dinner & Open Bar or Cocktails
Date & Time:
- December 31 2023 – January 01 2024, 19.00 or 22.00 (depending on which program you choose)
This is no doubt one of the best-value programs for Szilveszter (New Year’s Eve in Hungarian).
Delicious 5-course dinner, a wide choice of unlimited drinks from the open bar, dinner at midnight, a cruise on the river two times during the night, live music and dancing till dawn!
Places are limited!
TIP: See alo our list of Budapest Restaurants that are open on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Find more New Year Programs in Budapest!
Sightseeing & Other Things To Do in Budapest In December
Budapest is not the nicest in the dreary December weather but it’s still worth exploring the many historic and cultural sights.
If you don’t like chugging along in a cold, windy weather take a
- Boat cruise or go on a
- bus tour to see the most of the city.
Boat Tours with Meal/Drinks
Christmas Trams – 6 Lines Including Trams 2
Each year some of the tram lines, one is tram 2 along the Danube bank in Pest, are decked out in festive lights welcoming the approach of Christmas and the New Year.
The 3500 m long string has 39 500 blue and white LED lights. The interior of the trams is also decorated in holidays theme.
You can travel on these special trams with regular public transport tickets (a single ticket costs 350 HUF) or the Budapest Card (entitles the holder to free use of all public transportation).
Schedule: the festive trams run every day after 17.00 till late evening between 01. December – 06. January ( exc. 24 Dec and 31. Dec).
Christmas Tram 2 Route: Közvágóhíd – Müpa/National Theatre – Boráros tér – Zsil utca – Fővám tér/Great Market Hall – Március 15- Square – Vigadó tér – Eötvös tér – Széchenyi tér/Chain bridge – Kossuth Square – Parliament/Visitor Centre – Jászai Mari tér: 04. December – 06. January 2021 (except for 24., 25., 26. and 31. December when the Christmas trams don’t run):
See more photos about the Christmas Trams of Budapest.
Concerts, Cultural Entertainment In Budapest In December
A classical concert either in a church or in one of the city’s numerous concert halls or a folklore performance are great indoor programs in winter.
Church Concerts In December:
Budapest has numerous beautiful churches, many of them hosting music performances in the evenings.
A wonderful program to leave crazyness of the holiday shopping behind and getting your mind calm down and focusing inside.
Note: Date of concerts is subject to change.
The Nutcracker in the Opera House
The Hungarian National Opera House includes the Nutcracker in its December program each year.
Tchaikovsky’s last ballet is an ideal program in the Advent period.
Before the show you can admire the 130-year old building of the Opera on Andrássy út one of the best-known works of architect Miklós Ybl.
TIP: A special Nutcracker Festival will be held in front of the Opera with a small craft fair, traditional Christmas delights: Sekler cake, roast chestnut, mulled wine. Date: TBA
Music & Wine Gala Concert of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra
Date: 30. December, 18.00
Venue: Budapest Congress Center, address: Jagelló út 1-3, Bp., 1123, district XII.
Tickets: from 42 EUR
A New Year Gala Concert of the 100-Member Gypsy Orchestra is a fabulous program to say farewell to the old year.
The 2-part concert of the famous orchestra includes a unique interpretation of popular pieces by Strauss, Rossini, Brahms, Bizet, Liszt and Tchaikovsky.
During the program you can enjoy a wonderful dinner or just snacks and wine.
A wine tasting and folk dance show precedes the concert where you can sample the best of Hungary’s wine regions and wine makers.
TIP: See more Chistmas & New Year Concerts in Budapest in December 2023!
Museum Exhibitions in December
Cafe TIP of the Month
Other favourite coffee shops in town: Espresso Embassy – one of the first new wave coffee bars in Budapest is located in Arany J. utca (not far from Cake Shop).
Expert, coffee fanatic baristas, high-quality, single origin coffees from various roasters (both local and international), great teas, pastries and cakes entice you to spend there an hour or two.
TIP: Browse our Christmas in Budapest page to see how Hungarian prepare for the holiday!
Related:
Budapest Programs, Things to Do in November – October Events, Festival, Program Tips – Top Winter Activities & Programs – January Events
