Here in Budapest for the Christmas holiday? Read our things to do recommendations for 24. December, especially for the evening that kicks off the festivities.
Christmas Eve is a magical time in Budapest, full of wonder that you can explore on river tours or just walking the streets.
24. December is not a public holiday yet in Hungary so you will find the
- Shops, supermarkets,
- Food markets, and
- the handful of Christmas fairs open till around 12.00 or 15.00 the latest.
Public transport services also run quite frequently according to Saturday schedule, till. 15.00 – 16.00.
TIP: Late afternoon on 24th December Budapest slows down, streets get empty, attractions, restaurants, cafes, shops close early afternoon while people are heading home to spend the evening with their families.
If you don’t plan your evening and the next two days ahead you may get frustrated trying to find something to do.
Table of Contents – Christmas Eve In Budapest
The first half of the day is busy with people rushing about to buy last-minute presents, or ingredients for the Christmas Eve dinner.
Then in the afternoon life in Budapest quiets down.
Families come together to
- Prepare meals for the evening (see our Christmas dishes in Hungary page),
- Decorate the Christmas tree, and
- Pack the presents.
Many – even those who are not religious – attend the midnight mass in churches (see tips below).
What’s The Weather Like On 24. December In Budapest?
In recent years it was cold and cloudy with the sun setting early. Be prepared for wind and some rain/drizzle.
Dress in layers – winter coat, sweater, cap/hat, gloves – wear warm boots or winter shoes.
Public Transport On 24. December
Services run according to Saturday schedule. The last metro, tram, bus, and trolley services usually depart between 15.00 – 16.00 after that you can travel on the night services.
TIP: Hop on one of the Christmas trams – unfortunatley they don’t operate on 24. December, but Tram 2 will run on 25. and 26. December – lighted with strings of blue and white lights.
Tram 2 along the Danube bank in Pest is one of the festive services allowing you to see some of the top sights of the city
- Buda Castle,
- Gellért Hill, the
- Chain Bridge and other bridges, th
- Parliament).
- You can use the service with valid tickets/travel or tourist card.
Christmas Fairs – Which One To Go To?
Our city has a couple of festive fairs that welcome visitors throughout the Advent period. But which one offers the best of all things?
Vörösmarty Square
The market on Vörösmarty Square has been praised by numerous travel magazines and guides and it looks back to the longest history.
The charming wooden cottages offer all kinds of handcrafted goods – selected by a board of juries – while in the centre you can enjoy cooked food, mulled wine, tea, coffee, craft beer, wines and spirits.
What To Eat On The Markets?
Do try the local specialties like beef goulash, stuffed cabbage (sometimes both served in a bun), roasted goose and duck meat, grilled paprika sausage and hurka (blood or liver sausage) served with grilled potato slices or fresh white bread, mustard and pickles.
Prices of meat dishes is cc. 2 500 – 5 000 HUF.
Lángos is also a must-have snack on the markets. A round piece of yeasty dough is deep-fried in oil and served with cheese, sour cream, or just with salt and garlic oil.
For a quick snack have some roasted chestnuts roasted right in front of your eyes.
They come in 10 (1 000 HUF) or 15-piece (1 500 HUF) packages
Kürtöskalács (Chimney/Sekler cake) is a symbol of all Hungarian fairs.
It’s a cylinder shaped pastry baked over coal then coated in vanilla sugar, ground walnut, grated chocolate, cocos flakes, cinnamon sugar or dry raspberry/blueberry pieces.
A large piece costs around 1 500 – 1 800 HUF.
Strudel, flódni (a layered cake with walnut, apple, poppy seed and plum preserve), Gerbeaud cake – layers of pastry, ground walnut, apricot jam with chocolate on top – are the other sweet temptations.
Drinks: spicey mulled wine, punch, hot cherry beer , tea
Opening Hours Of The Vörösmarty Sqr. Market on 24. December
- Craft fair: 10.00 – 14.00
- Food and Drinks: 10.00 – 15.00
- Stage performances (concerts, folk dance): 10.00 – 14.30 and 15.00 – 20.00
Pros
- Central location in the city centre, close to the Danube, Váci Street, many shops, restaurants and cafes
- Varied program and wide selection of food and drinks
- Activities, performances for children
Cons
- Very busy and geared more towards tourists (a bit expensive for locals)
TIP: The famous coffee house on Vörösmarty tér, Gerbeaud is open between 09.00 – 14.00 on 24. December 2022. This historic cafe is a bit pricey but boasts a nice selection of traditional cakes and pastries, great coffee, wines, champagnes, long drinks and many other good stuff.
Basilica, Szt. István Square
Opening Hours On 24. December:
- 10.00 – 14.00
- 25. and 26. December: 10.00 – 18.00
The Advent Fair by Budapest’s largest church, St. Stephen’s Basilica is also extremely popular.
The products vendors offer are not very different from the Vörösmarty tér market.
The same applies to the food with maybe that here you will see more trendy street food, quality ones (burgers).
A small ice rink is a definite plus where kids can skate and train for free (up to 14 yrs).
Colourful images lit up the facade of the Basilica to the tunes of music during the light mapping show every day in 30 minutes periods between 16.30 – 22.00.
Grab some food – stuffed cabbage, goulash, gilled meats, lángos, flat bread – with a glass of hot drink and take in the festive atmosphere accentuated by the holiest building of the city in the background.
Pros
- Great gastronomy and program offer
- Good, central location at a top attraction of the city
- Ice rink
Cons
- Crowd, especially on weekends and late afternoon-evenings
TIP: Christmas Eve Cruises With Dinner & Holiday Concerts
A river tour is a comfortable way to see the captivating, World Heritage protected cityscape.
Spend this wonderful holiday evening on festive cruise where you can enjoy a splendid 4-course dinner.
The impressive and spacious event ship will take you on a 2-hour river tour during which you can admire the magnificent winter night view of the city.
Tickets sell out quickly so book well in davance!
See details – including the dinner menu – on the Christmas Eve cruise with dinner in Budapest!
Advent Fair in City Park
Opening Hours: 09 – 21.00 every day, even on 24-25-26 December and 01. January
Városliget/City Park will have its own holiday-themed event for the first time.
A traditional craft fair with food and drink specialties, family programs await visitors every day till 12. January 2023.
Budapest Eye – Amazing View!
Take a ride on the impressive Ferris wheel standing on Erzsébet tér in the city centre.
It operates every day, all year round – even on public and national holidays – and offers a fantastic panorama from the top.
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Tuesday: 10.00 – 23.00
- Wednesday – Thursday: 10.00 – 24.00
- Friday – Saturday: 10.00 – 01.00
- Sunday: 10.00 – 24.00
Tickets:
Can be bought on the spot. Cash (HUF and EUR) and credit cards are accepted.
- 3 900 HUF / cc. 9.50 EUR for adults (above 18 years of age),
- Children (between ages 2 – 12): 2 100 HUF / cc. 5 EUR
- Students (ages 12 – 18, with valid student ID): 3 000 HUF / cc. 7.50 EUR
- Baby ticket (0 -2 years of age): 300 HUF
- Family ticket (2 adults+2 kids under 12): 10 800 HUF / cc. 26.50 EUR.
Concerts On Christmas Eve in Budapest
Nothing gets you in the festive mood more then attending a concert in a church. Besides the Basilica, Budapest has some lovely churches that usually host concerts during the Advent period.
Franciscan Church (Ferenciek tere)
This historic Baroque temple offers two free programs on 24. December 2017:
- Nativity Play by the Kecskés Ensemble at 15.00, and an
- Organ Concert by László Deák and Mónika Kecskés at 23.00
St. Anne Church, Downtown Pest
Address: Szervita tér 6., district V.
Tickets: 33- 47 EUR
You can listen to works of Mozart & Vivaldi on 24. December, Sunday starting at 18.00
St. Anne Church in Buda
Address: Batthyány tér 7., district I., Buda (M2 metro)
In the twin-towered Church of St. Anne in the Buda side you can listen to Christmas organ music from 23.15 on 24. December/Sunday. Entry is FREE.
Afterwards you can stay on the Midnight Mass starting at 24.00.
TIP: Browse among other concerts in the festive season! There will be a Christmas Gala Concert in Danube Palace on 25., 27., 30. December 2022. at 20.00
Nativity Play in Matthias Church at 16.00
The iconic church of the city standing in Buda Castle will host a Nativity Play starting at 16.00.
It’s a great ooprtunity to see the historic church inside as well as get into that coveted holiday mood.
Dinner in Restaurants on Christmas Eve in Budapest
Many restaurants prepare with special multi-course dinner for the festive evening.
Most of them are in the city centre and belong to famous luxury hotels like
- ÉS Bisztró (Kempinski Corvinus Hotel)
- Icon Restaurant in Hilton Buda Castle.
Browse our list of restaurants offering a dinner party on Christmas Eve!
Midnight Mass
Locals – even those who are not religious – go to the traditional midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Head for Matthias Church in Buda Castle for a truly magnificent experience.
If you prefer to stay on the Pest side, celebrate the birth of Christ in
- St. Stephen’s Basilica, or in the
- Inner City Parish Church on Március 15. tér, next to Erzsébet Bridge. Arrive half hour earlier and you can participate in the devotion accompanied by organ music starting at 23.30.
- The St. Anne Church on Batthyány Square, Buda is also a highly recommended for attending a Christmas Eve holy mass starting at 24.00. You can enjoy a 1-hour organ play before the mass.
Thermal Baths At Christmas
Please Note: You can book bath tickets online till 23. December 2022 only!
The baths of Budapest are well-known for their healing power, as well as fine architecture. On 24. December they are open between 06.00 – 14.00.
Note: Our special Help Desk in the Gellért and Széchenyi, through which you can enter with your E-Ticket without queuing, are open between 09.00 – 13.00.
The best-known spa complexes that many tourists include in their must-visit list are
- the Széchenyi Bath in the City Park (Pest) and
- the Gellért Bath in Buda, at the foot of the Gellért Hill.
Get our special “I Love Budapest Spa” package with taxi transfer, skip-the-line entry, guidance and bath gear.
For Families with Kids
The Zoo and Botanical Garden in the City Park is open between 09.00 – 13.00, last entry is at 12.00 (animal houses close at 12.30).
The Magic Hill welcomes children with 16 exhibitions, movie screenings and fun activities on 4 floors.
There are buffet, toilet and free luggage storage on the ground floor.
The boat tours mentioned above are also highly recommended for children, especially the daytime cruises.
They will enjoy the
- 1,5-hour ride on the river
- Panoramic views and the
- Food that includes delicious desserts (strudel, carrot cake, Gerbeaud cake, shot glass desserts) and seasonal fruits.
TIP: Browse our other things to do recommendations for children and families!
Related
- Budapest for 1st time visitors
- More on Christmas Traditions in Hungary
- December Things To Do
