Christmas Market By Budapest Basilica

Europe’s Most Beautiful Advent Fair & Winter Festival

Date: November 17, 2023 – January 01, 2024

Location: Szent István Square, in front of the Basilica, and Zrínyi Street

The Christmas Market and Advent Feast by the Basilica of Budapest is one of the most popular holiday-welcoming events in the city.

The most prestigious church of the country lends a fitting backdrop to the festival that starts around November 17, 2023 and welcomes visitors till January 01 2024.

Besides the holiday fair offering quality handmade goods and food vendors countless programs acompany the city’s second most popular winter festivity.

Christmas Market by Budapest Basilica: front view of the church illuminated at night with a red-lighted Christmas tree on the square and people strolling among the wooden booths
Christmas fair At St. Stephen’s Basilica

Location, Address:

  • Szent István tér & Zrínyi utca Budapest 1051

Getting There:

  • Tram 2 Széchenyi István tér (Chain Bridge),
  • M1, M2, M3 (replacement buses due to the blue  line’s recosntruction) metro lines, Deák F. tér station

It’s the square sprawling in front of the Basilica right in the centre of Budapest. Cafes and restaurants are abound in the area.

Chocolate bonbons at a pink coloured booth
Chocolate bonbons – 990 HUF a piece
light show on the facade of the Basilica
Light show – every 30 min starting at 16.30
A woman stirring goulash in a large cauldron
Goulash soup

TIP: Szt. István Square is just a short walk – 800 m/10 min – from Vörösmarty Square, the location of Budapest main and largest Christmas Market, so you can combine visiting the two events.

Christmas Dinner Cruise
Christmas Dinner Cruise (4 courses)

Christmas Dinner Cruise 4 Course Served Dinner + Welcome Prosecco + Piano Show

December 24 & 25

Cruise Starts: 19.30

Duration: 180 min. – Price: From €130

Opening Hours 2023- Christmas Market By Budapest Basilica

Date & Opening Hours:

November 17.  2023 – January 01. 2024

  • Mon – Thurs: 11:00 – 21:00,
  • Fri – Sat: 11.00 – 23.00
  • Sundays: 11.00 – 22.00
  • December 24.: 11:00 – 15:00, TIP: Browse program and things to do tips for 24th December!
  • December 25. and 26.: 11.00 – 20.00
  • December 31.: craft vendors: 11.00 – 23.00 Food & Drinks: 11.00 – 03.00
  • January 01., New Year’s Day: 11.00 – 18.00
Christmas Tree by the Basilica at Night
Christmas Tree by the Basilica at Night

Why Visit The Christmas Market By Budapest Basilica?

Due to the location – right in front of the St. Stephen’s Basilica – it is no doubt the most atmospheric of the handful of Advent events in Budapest.

On top of the ample choice of food and drinks,

  • A nice selection of quality, handmade products
  • Fine food and drinks, including sugrafree, gluten-free and vegan choices
  • An ice rink
  • Light painting on the Basilica’s facade in the evenings, and a
  • Diverse program of concerts, folk show promise a fun time for everyone.
  • Visitors will be treated to a new, even more spectacular 3D visual show projected on the front of the Basilica every day after sunset.
  • The speacial glasses with wich you can view the animation are available on the market.
  • The show can be enjoyed without wearing 3D glasses.
Light painting on St Stephen's Basilica
Light painting on St Stephen’s Basilica
handcrafted jewelry on display at one of the wooden booths at the Xmas market by the Basilica
Hand crafted jewelry

TIP: Christmas Market Tour With Basilica Visit & Mulled Wine

Experience the holiday spirit on a guided tour of two Christmas Fairs!

The 2.5-hour program includes

  • Professional guiding and introduction to Hungarian Christmas traditions
  • A guided walk along Andrássy Avenue
  • Visiting St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Holy Right Hand Chapel,
  • A glass of mulled wine at the Christmas Fair by the Basilica.
Photo of the Advent and Christmas Fair in front of the Basilica in Budapest, photo was taken during the blue hour
Szent István tér – The Plaza At The Basilica

See dates and booking:

Ice Rink -Winter Fun For Everyone

The small – 200 sqm –  rink is a source of great fun for all ages. It’s free to use for children up to age 14.

Free skate rental is also available for kids.

Free ice skating training for children aged 4 – 14 yr – On Saturdays and Sundays between 14.00 – 18.00.

Opening Hours of the Ice Rink:

  • Mon – Thurs: 12.00 – 20.00
  • Fri: 12.000 – 22.00
  • Sat – Sun: 10.00 – 22.00
An artificial Christmas tree decorated in all red standing in the middle of the ice rink on Szt. István Square
Ice Rink At The Xmas Tree
Christmas Cruise on Szechenyi Ship
Christmas Cruise on Szechenyi Ship

Christmas Cruise with Buffet Dinner

December 24-25

Cruise Starts: 19.00

Duration: 180 min. – Price: From €159

Programs at Christmas Market by Budapest Basilica

This year’s detailed program schedule will be published soon.

Visual 3D Painting – The Largest Such Show in Central Europe

3D Light painting on the Basilica with music – daily every half hour between 17.30 – 22.00.

A visual treat to the eye:

  • Colourful 3D animations,
  • Festive holiday and religious scenes come alive on the facade of the church.

Can be seen clearly from all points of the square!

The Christmas Market illuminated at night by the Basilica

Folk Dance Performances by the Göncöl Ensemble

View the dazzling show of the local folk dance group and join them to learn the traditional dance steps if you feel like.

  • Hungarian Dances Flash Mob on 01. December and 08. December at 18.00 -19.00 and on 07. December at 16.00 – 17.00

Opening Ceremony of the Advent Fair, Candle Lighting, Sundays at 16.00 – 17.00

The Christmas Crib and the giant Advent Wreath are essentail parts of the Christmas c Advent fair as is the 12 m high uniquely decorated Xmas tree.

As we eagerly await Christmas, each Sunday is graced with the symbolic lighting of candles representing Faith, Hope, Love, and Peace. These moments are complemented by carefully curated programs to enhance the festive spirit.

The 1st candle will be lighted on 02. December between 16.00 – 17.00 during the festive opening ceremony.

Santa Claus At The Fair, 06. December

Meet Santa on 06. December at

  • 12.00 – 16.00 and
  • 17.00 – 18.00

Lentil Day, 01. January, 2024

It is a tradition to eat lentil on the first day of the year because it supposedly brings money.

Hand crafted angel ornaments
Hand crafted angel ornaments
Strudel and roasted chestnut
Strudel and roasted chestnut

Food & Drinks At The Christmas Market By Budapest Basilica

The country’s best food trucks and street food vendors offer delicious food.

Here’s What You Can Eat:

  • Lángos – a yeast-based dough deep fried in oil –  with various toppings (sour cream and cheese is the most popular)
  • Chimney/Funnel cake/Kürtös kalács – the iconic cylinder shape pastry resembling a chimney can be found at every festival. Here at the Basilica you can taste the salted version on top of the traditional flavours (vanilla, cinnamon, coco flakes, cocoa, walnut)
  • Donuts,
  • Roasted sausages, BBQ meats
  • Stuffed cabbage
  • Goulash, and
christmas market basilica budapest
A Festival Staple: Funnel Cake

Gluten free dishes and sugar-free drinks will also be available.

You can warm up with a glass of hot mulled wine, tea and coffee.

If you’re diabetic or simply do not eat sugar the good news is that sugarfree mulled wine is available.

If you don’t mind a cold drink you can choose from

  • All kinds of spirits (Unicum, Vodka, Whiskey etc.) and of course the local specialty: pálinka – fruit distillate),
  • Craft beer and
  • Local wines.
Christmas Bistro written in white on the facade of a festively decorated food booth at night
Lots Of Options To Eat & Drink

TIP: Find out about other Christmas Markets in the Hungarian capital!

macarons in various colours and flavours
Macaron Heaven
food stall at the Xmas market lighhted up at night
Wide selection of food at the vendors
Pretzels, prunes and biscuits at a vendor
Pretzel and other treats

FAQ – Christmas Market By Budapest Basilica

Q: When does the Christmas Fair At The Basilica starts in 2023?

A: The planned starting day of the fair is November 17, Friday. The event lasts till New Year’s Day, meaning that it will be open to visitors on January 01, 2024.

Q: Where and when will be other Christmas Holiday Markets In Budapest?

The largest holiday fair will be in Vörösmarty Square, not far from the Basilica. This one will be open between November 17 2023 – January 01, 2024.

Smaller Xmas fairs will be on the Rooftop of the WestEnd Mall: Winter Wonderland: November 17 – December 31, 2023, Corvin Hütte behind the Corvin Plaza: November 23 – December 24. 2023.

The Advent in Óbuda is also a lovely holiday-themed event in District III, between December 01 – 23, 2023.

More Christmas Events In Budapest

Christmas Market at Városháza Park/Downtown BudapestThings to Do at Christmas in BudapestFestive Concerts in ChurchesChristmas Eve Cruise with Dinner/Drinks – Christmas Day Cruise with Dinner – Our Facebook Album about Christmas Market Budapest Basilicia