What to Do in Budapest in April?

Last Updated on 31 May 2025 by ZoliBP

Festivals, Concerts, Exhibitions, Outdoor Activities

The Easter holiday also falls in April this year with a range of programs, including the Spring & Easter Market at various venues in downtown.

🌼 Why April/Spring is a Great Time to Visit Budapest?

🌤 What’s the Weather Like in Budapest in April?

☝ For 1st Timers – Must-See Attractions & Must-Do Activitities

• 1. Visit the Hungarian Parliament Building, one of the most iconic landmarks in Budapest, and take a guided tour to see the Holy Crown of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king.
• 2. Explore Buda Castle and take in the beautiful views of the Danube River and the city.
• 3. Stroll through the City Park, a sprawling green garden with some awesome museums and architecture (Ethnography Museum, House of Hungarian Music, Vajdahunyad Castle) and enjoy the blooming cherry trees (see more tips where to view the beautiful cherry blossoms).
• 4. Take a river cruise on the Danube and admire the city from the water:

• 5. Visit the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden to see the animals and plants in their springtime habitats.
• 6. Take a dip in one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths, such as Széchenyi or Gellért, and enjoy the warm waters.
• 7. Visit the Hungarian National Museum to learn about the country’s rich history and culture.
• 8. Take a walk along the Danube Promenade and enjoy the views of the river and the city skyline.
• 9. Explore the historic Jewish Quarter on a guided tour and visit the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe.

• 10. Take a bike tour through the city and see Budapest’s landmarks from a different perspective.
• 11. Visit the Central Market Hall and sample some of Hungary’s traditional foods and drinks.
• 12. Take a trip to Margaret Island, a peaceful oasis in the middle of the Danube, and enjoy its parks and gardens.
• 13. Attend a performance at the stunning Hungarian State Opera House, located on the chic Andrássy Avenue.
• 14. Visit Heroes’ Square and see the statues of Hungary’s most famous historical figures.
• 15. Take a day trip to nearby attractions such as the Danube Bend or the charming town of Szentendre.

🐇 Easter Programs, Events, April 18 – 21, 2025

You can choose from a range of activities and programs in and outside the Hungarian capital during spring’s most awaited holiday.

🐇🚢 River Cruises At Easter With Dinner/Live Music

A cruise on the Danube is a perfect program for the Easter weekend to admire the scenic city scape and enjoy a pleasant dinner.

Places are likely to sell out in no time so book yours well in advance!

Spring & Easter Fair At Vörösmarty Square, March 28 – April 21, 2025

👉 Find out more details about the Spring and Easter Market in Budapest in 2025!

Easter Market & Children’s Day In Gozsdu Court, April 18-21, 2025

In the evenings you can go on a Sunset Cruise with Cocktails. See the city at its most charming illuminated by the setting sun and the lights. 2 large cocktails and melodies by a Gypsy orchestra ensure a great time on the 2-hour tour.

💃 Spanish Fiesta at Fény Utcai Market, April 23-27, 2025

👜 Hello Piac Market Day-Erzsébet Square, April 26, 2025

Opening Hours:

• 11.00 – 18.00

Entry: FREE

🕵️‍♀️ Sightseeing Tips & Tour Recommendations

April is an ideal month to explore the city by walk or bike: pleasant spring weather, warm sunny days, longer daylight hours.

The most scenic parts of the city perfect for a short or longer stroll are:

• The Danube Promenade (Dunakorzó) – a riverbank on the Pest side stretching between the Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge – lots of terraced cafes to have a bite or a cup of coffee.
• The Várkert Bazár and Gardens (Castle Bazaar & Garden) also offers plenty to see – you’ll enjoy an amazing vista on the walkways meandering on the slopes of the Neo-Renaissance garden that is in full bloom and green by mid-April.
• Take the escalator – or the quite steep steps shown on the photo – from Várkert up to the Royal Palace of Buda: rich in historic sights, museums (Budapest History Museum, the National Gallery and National Széchenyi Library), charming coffee houses and bistros, not to mention the amazing view from Fishermen’s Bastion.

Ferris Wheel on Erzsébet Square

The Ferris Wheel of Budapest ak Budapest Eye offers an amazing birds’ eye view of the city from its 42 cabins.

The tall attraction is open every day, 11.00 – 23.00/24.00, all year.

💚 Explore Green Budapest! – Parks, Gardens To Take a Walk In

April is also ideal for leisurely strolls in parks, gardens and arboretums.

Besides the City Park, Margaret Island and the Cherry Blossom hot spots mentioned earlier, here are some tips where to enjoy a bit of green in the city!

Kopaszi Dam & Park

The Kopaszi Dam in southern Buda close to Rákóczi Bridge was turned from a neglected area into local’s favorite park in 2007.

The 10 hectare/24.7 acre landscaped area surrounds Lágymányosi bay and is bordered by the artificial Kopaszi dam south of Rákóczi Bridge.

Great for

• Family outings,
• Picnics,
• Jogging, and
• Enjoying a meal or just a drink at one of the terraces (Veranda, le Bistro, Fruska Bistro).

Find more tips on parks and arboretums in Budapest.

🎵 Concerts

👉 Choose any of the Following Concerts for a Wonderful Spring Evening Program in Budapest:

🎺 International Jazz Day in Budapest, April 30, 205

Join the global celebration of jazz on April 30th as Budapest hosts a series of concerts including some cool free outdoor performances to honor this vibrant art form.

UNESCO proclaimed April 30th as International Jazz Day in November 2011, in recognition of jazz’s profound role in fostering intercultural dialogue and understanding,

This initiative, spearheaded by renowned pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, has since blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, with thousands of concerts held annually to commemorate this special day.

Here Are Two FREE Outdoor Concerts in Budapest To Celebrate Jazz Music:

• Skylark Metropolitan – at Liszt Ferenc Square, a small side stree just off Andrássy Avenue, close to Oktogon (see on Google Maps) – April 30, at 20.00
• Gozsdu Udvar & Liszt Music Academy, April 30, Wed at 17.00 – 21.00 (View location on Google Maps): Gozsdu Udvar and the Liszt Academy of Music are teaming up to celebrate International Jazz Day. It looks to be fantastic evening in the heart of Budapest with live performances from talented young jazz musicians from the prestigious Liszt Academy.

🎸 JazzFest Budapest, April 27 – May 14, 2025

On top of the Jazz Day, Budapest also hosts the more than 3-week long JazzFest which brings together top Hungarian and international jazz artists for excellent performances across the city.

Check the list of Facebook events and the festival’s website for the exact program schedule.

🖼 Exhibitions in Museums

The more than 100 museums of Budapest offer exciting exhibits all year round.

Here some standout museum exhibitions currently on view in Budapest this April 2025, blending major cultural highlights with lesser-known gems. Each offers a unique experience for art lovers, history buffs, and curious minds alike.

🎸 LISTEN. – A Musical Journey Around the World, House of Music, Till August 31, 2025

Opening Hours (The Exhibition Will Be On till August 31, 2025.:

• Tuesday – Sunday: 10.00 – 18.00

Tickets:

• Full price: 4 500 HUF
• Discount tickets (students, retirees): 2 700 HUf
• Children: 1 500 HUF

Last Chance to See: Munkácsy – Story of a Worldwide Sensation, Museum of Fine Arts, Till April 21, 2025

🛏 Hotel Tips for April

Baltazar Hotel In Buda Castle

We recommend a lovely bohemian boutique hotel in Buda castle with a great restaurant and wine bar, the Baltazar Hotel in Országház utca.

Pick the Lovers package with your room to surprise your loved one with a bottle of champagne, chocolate glazed strawberries and a dessert in one of three cafes of your choice.

Great location in a historic area packed with

• Must-see sights (Matthias Church, Royal Palace with the National Gallery and the History Museum),
• Lots of cafes and
• Fantastic view.

Our other pick is the Hotel Nemzeti McGallery Collection, a 4-star establishment in a historic building on the József körút part Nagykörút.

The hotel belongs to the MGallery division of the Accor group, known for unique hotel all around the world highlighting local architectural and cultural characteristics.

The 80-room hotel offers modern, eclectic design combined with21-st century amenities.

Highlights You Can Appreciate Here

• The dazzling hall adorned with Venetian mirrors, the
• charming inner courtyard with statues, or the
• Stained glass ceiling.

An ideal choice if you look to stay at a place that offers something unique in a city!

🏊‍♀️ Thermal Baths – Relax and Heal

Baths in Budapest are a wonderful source of recreation, healing and historic ambience.

You can admire the architecture and enjoy the hot pools in baths from the era of Ottoman occupation (15-17. centuries): the Király Bath and the Rudas Bath.

Or you can have a great time and soak up he grandeur of two more recent spas: the Gellért in Buda and the Széchenyi in Pest.

Past Events In April

🌸 Sakura Celebration/Cherry Blossom Festival In Budapest, April 05 – 06, 2025

You can buy tickets online here.

The Sakura celebrations are an annual tradition at the ELTE Botanical Gardens (known as Füvészkert in Hungarian) that draw inspiration from Japan’s traditional festivity, the Ohanami.

The festivities begin with the very first cherry blossom and continue with communal activities.

On select dates, visitors can

• Bring a picnic blanket and relax and enjoy the gardens, much like they do in Japan.

Other Highlights Of The Festvities Include:

• Immersing yourself in Japanese language, music, martial arts and other cultural programs

If spending your weekend enjoying good food and drinks with your friends or family while surrounded by beautiful blossoms sounds appealing, be sure to drop by on any of the two April weekends.

Spring Walk to Admire the Blossoming Cherry Trees in the Budai Arboretum

Duration: approx. 2.5 hours.

Price:

• Entry to the Budai Arborétum is free, the guided tour costs 6 200/person.

Location:

• Meeting point: Villányi út entrance of the Buda Arboretum (1114 Budapest, Villányi út 29-43., See on Map.).

The walk is led by landscape architect and tour guide Eszter Szarvasy.

🌼 Easter Festival in the Museum of Ethnography, April 12, 2025

Don’t miss the Ethnographic Museum’s Easter Festival on April 12, (10.00 – 19.00)!

Enjoy over 30 activities from crafts to performancesand learn about Hungarian Easter traditions, for one special ticket price (2500 HUF)!

A good thing is that you can visit all the current exhibitions with this ticket. No discounts for students/retirees are avilable though.

➡ Some of the Programs on the Festival

🐣 Easter Needle Felting Workshop with the Guzsalyas Workshop, 10.30 – 12.30

Location: Ethnographic salon, across from the Ethnoshop

Who Can Join? This workshop is suitable for both children and adults. Children aged 8 and above are welcome to participate, making it a perfect family activity to celebrate the Easter season together on.

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Palóc Haidressing Interactive Workshop, 10.30 – 12.30

Location: MÉTA Béta

Participate in an interactive session led by folk art master Julianna Mihálynė Sápi Tóth and her family. This demonstration showcases the intricate Bag hairstyles and headdresses, offering insights into this unique cultural heritage.

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Paint Your Own Easter Egg – 10. 30- 13.30

Location: MÉTA Béta:

Kids and crafty adults alike will have lost of fun if they join an egg decorating workshop using traditional techniques. (1 egg can be decorated during the program, provided by the museum).

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Further Programs Include of the Easter Festival Include:

• Zither Concert at 11.00 – 12.00, at 14.00 – 14.45 and at at 15.00 – 16.00. Location: Zither Exhibition
• EthnoEco plant- and seed swap at 14.00 – 16.00. Location: Ethnographic salon, across from the Ethnoshop – Swap plants/seeds and decoarte your home with new greenery for Easter!
• EthnoFusion at 17.00 – 18.00. Location: Level -2, Lobby – Interactive DJ game with folk musicians
• Folk On 45 Concert at 18.00 – 19.00, Location: Lobby on Damjanich street’s side of the museum

Museum Address:

• Hungarian Ethnography Múzeum, Dózsa György út 35, City Park (Városliget), Budapest XIV. (View on Map)

🥚 Easter In Hunyadi Square Market, April 12, 2025, 09.00-14.00

Programs:

• 10:00 – 11:00 “Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt” Folk dance performance and dance house by the Kisbihari group of the János Bihari Elementary School of Arts.
• 10:00 – 13:00 Workshop – free Easter door knocker making (from twigs, moss, eggs…) with the artists of Napfényes Művészeti Műhely

Bartók Spring International Art Festival, April 04 – 13, 2025

Venues:

Various cultural and art venues in Budapest host the programs including the

• Palace of Arts (Müpa)
• House of Hungarian Music (Magyar Zene Háza)
• Liszt Academy of Music
• Vigadó Hall
• Szimpla Kert (ruin pub)

The Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks enlivens the cultural scene of the capital with the most exciting performers of domestic and international culture,.

Esteemed early music and symphonic ensembles, the living legend of flamenco, award-winning children’s opera, and diverse musical shows offer entertainment for lovers of culture.

Here are some of the upcoming events of the art fair:

05. April:

• 19:30 Dénes Várjon and the Concerto Budapest – Liszt Academy
• 20:00 Nik Bärtsch Reflecting Bartók – House of Hungarian Music

06. April:

• 19:30 Péter Eötvös and the Klangforum Wien – Müpa

07. April:

• 19:30 György Vashegyi, the Orfeo Orchestra and the Purcell Choir – Vigadó Hall

09. April:

• 19:00 Hungarian State Folk Ensemble: The Blossomed Cross – Müpa

Ticket prices to the programs vary between cc. 2500 HUF – 10.000 HUF (depending on venue and seat category).

It’s good to buy tickets well in advance because lots of programs sell out quickly.

See more programs on the event’s official website!

🏃‍♀️ Vivicitta Half Marathon Festival, April 12 – 13, 2025

Spring’s biggest running event is the Vivicitta Half Marathon with the main races – 21 km and 10 km – taking place on Sunday.

Saturday is dedicated to shorter distances and family programs.

Note: Expect changes in public transport schedule on these two days!

The route offers a complete sightseeing experience since runners will see many famous Budapest landmarks:

• Chain Bridge,
• Buda Castle,
• Parliament, and
• Margaret Island.

Easter Market, Fény Street Market, April 13, 2025

More Program & Activity Tips

Budapest Event Calendar – Easter in Budapest – May Day Programs – More May Events, Programs – Gourmet Festival in Buda – Budapest Summer Festival – Top Summer Things To Do – Budapest in June