Christmas Markets in Budapest 2024

Come and explore our favourite Christmas Markets in Budapest: from the most popular ones to smaller, more idyllic festive fairs!

The Hungarian capital was voted the most affordable Christmas Market destination in Europe more than a decade ago by the British Daily Mail!

This “award” may not be still valid in 2024 but you should still visit at least the two biggest Xmas fairs for their unique and charming atmosphere and quality, handcrafted products.

Besides the two must-see holiday markets, we included a good handful of other Advent bazaars and events at various points of Budapest.

• 🎄 Vörösmarty Square
• Deák Ferenc Street (Fashion Str.)
• 🎁 St. Stephen’s Basilica
• Erzsébet Square
• ❄ Winter Festival In City Hall Park (Városháza Park)
• 🎍 Christmas Fair in Buda Castle
• Advent Festival In Madách Square
• 🎄 Xmas Fair in Gozsdu Court
• ☕ Corvin Hütte (Corvin Plaza)
• 🚢 Christmas Cruises & 🎵 Concerts
• 🎍 WestEnd Christmas Fair & Gastro Court

• ✳ Allee Shopping Centre (Újbuda)
• ♻ Green Xmas Market, Klauzál Square –
• 🐳 Christmas Market in the Whale (Bálna)
• WAMP Xmas Fairs, December 8, 15
• Makers’ Market – Winter fair, Dec 15, 22
• 🕯 Advent Weekends in Várkert Bazaar 
• 🎠Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park (Magic Grove)
• 🌟 Advent in Óbuda
• 🤔 Which One To Visit?

Apart from the best-known festive fair on Vörösmarty Square, the city has some other fabulous markets with

• Unique craft products,
• Tasty local food and drinks as well as
• Great programs

Admission is free to all events.

I love strolling in the Budapest with our 2 boys during the Advent period when the streets and squares take on festive decor and lighting and we try to drop by each major Xmas fair.

Here’s our list of must-visit Christmas markets in Budapest.

• November 15 – December 31, 2024
• 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: 10.00 – 18.00
• 31. December/NYE: 11.00 – 05.00
• 01. January 2024: 11.00 – 17.00

Around 100 stalls are set up around the slender Christmas tree that is decorated with different colours of ornaments each year.

Concerts, craft and play house, miniature raliway for children, the visit of Santa Claus on 6. December, tasty local food are the main highlights of this fair:

• Stuffed cabbage,
• Goulash,
• Grilled meats and sausages,
• Flat bread (lepény) baked in clay oven,
• Strudels,
• Sekler cake, beigli, flódni and other sweets,
• Fragrant winter beverages (mulled wine, krampampuli, grog, tea) are the best features of this holiday bazaar.

You can do two markets in one visit because Fashion Street (Deák Ferenc utca) that cuts through Vörösmarty Square also hosts one: with a Christmas tree installation in front of the Hotel Kempinski Corvinus.

All sorts of

• Food and drink offers,
• Strudel,
• Sekler Cake (kürtöskalács) and other pastries,
• Oven-baked flat bread with delicious toppings and of course
• Pottery, ceramics,
• Embroidered folk textiles to tempt you to open your wallet.

And right after a walk along Fashion Street you can head to the Basilica on St. Stephen Square…

Location:

• Erzsébet tér, Budapest (View On Map)

You will find another no too big holiday market along the Western side of the downtown square, Erzsébet tér.

• Chimney cake (kürtős kalács),
• Pancakes,
• Donuts,
• Beigli and other local cakes, pastries, Christmas specialties,
• Street food by Montenegro Gourmand (pljeskavica, cevap),
• Mulled wine, tea and coffee our the main offer here.

• November 15 2024 – 01. January 2025.

Opening Hours:

• Mon – Thurs: 11:00 – 21:00,
• Fri – Sat: 11:00 – 23:00,
• Sun: 11.00 -21.00
• December 24.: 11:00 – 15:00,
• Dec 25. and Dec 26.: 10.00 – 20.00
• December 31.: craft vendors:11:00 – 22:00, food & drinks: 11.00 – 03.00 am
• 01. January, 2024: 11.00 – 18.00

• Handmade chocolate bonbons,
• Leather gloves,
• Design jewelry,
• Strawberry wine,
• Pálinka – the local’s favourite distilate
• Csabai salami and
• more to see, buy and taste on the market.

You can have:

• Lángos – locals’ staple snack – deep fried pastry with cheese and sour cream or other toppings
• Gourmet burgers by Zing Burger,
• Kürtöskalács (funnel/chimney cake)
• BBQ specialties
• Fried cheese burgers by Paneer,
• Burgers, grilled sausages by KIOSK (a popular downtown restuarant on Március 15. tér)

See also our photos taken on the Advent Fair at Budapest Basilica .

You can visit the following programs and events:

• Opening Ceremony of the Market – 02. December at 16.00: the first light on the Advent Wreath next to the Christmas tree will be lighted and the occasion is also the official opening of the holiday fair.
• Light Painting this year in 3D- spectacular light show and animation with festive themes every day from 16.30 till 22.00. Put on 3D glasses available at the market (or you can use your own) and enjoy the visual show!
• Folk Dance – Performance by the Göncöl Folk Ensemble – Hungarian Dances Flash Mob performance in front of the Basilica
• Awaiting Santa Claus – 06 December (at 12.00 – 16.00 and 17.00 – 18.00): well-known local people will dress up and play Santa with story telling and singing.

Date:

• November 15, 2024 – January 05, 2025

Location, Getting There:

• Városháza Park & Deák Ferenc tér, city centre (View On Map)

• M1, M2, M3 underground lines – Deák Ferenc metro station and tram termini, a 2-min walk from there, trams 47, 49

Entry:

• Free to programs except for the ice rink which costs 1 950 HUF.

The plaza in front of Matthias Church in Buda Castle lends a picturesque setting for this Christmas fair where find wonderful crafts from local artisans, delicious food, and warm drinks every day from November 29th to December 24th, from 09.00 to 17.00.

Location:

• Szentháromság tér/Holy Trinity Square/Buda Castle (View on Google Maps)

Opening Hours:

• till December 24, 2024 every day: 09.00 – 17.00

Weekends will be filled with Christmas concerts, festive dance performances, and fun activities for children, ensuring a memorable experience for all ages.

Date & Opening Hours:

• December 01 – 22, 2024
• Open: every day: 10.00 – 21.00

Location & Getting There:

• Madách Imre tér (See on Map)
• M1, M2, M3 metro lines: Deák Ferenc tér, 2 min walk (160 m) from there
• Trams 47 49 – getoff at Deák Ferenc tér termini, walk cc. 2 minutes

Madách Imre Square in downtown Budapest turns into festive hustle and bustle with concerts, street theater attractions, and a holiday atmosphere in December.

The Christmas market is open every day from December 3 to 22, from 10 am to 9 pm.

• December 06 – 30. , 2024

Location – Getting There:

• Gozsdu Udvar, Király utca 13.-Dob utca 16., district VII. (View on Map)
• M1, M2, M3 metros or tram 47 and 49: Deák tér station, a short walk from there
• Tram 4 and 6: Király utca-Erzsébet körút stop, (cc. 600 m walk)

Opening Hours:

• Mon – Thurs: 12.00 – 19.00,
• Fri – Sat – Sun: 10.00 – 19.00
• 24. December/Sunday: 10.00 – 15.00

The party hot spot of the city hosts the weekly Designer & Antique Market: a place to get some nice, quality antique, vintage, retro, and design products.

Date:

• November 20 – December 24, 2024

Location, Getting There:

• Corvin sétány Bp 1082, behind Corvin Plaza Shopping Mall (View On Google Maps)
• Trams 4 and 6, M3 metro (blue line), Corvin-negyed stop

Corvin Promenade, behind the Corvin Plaza is a community hub full of cafes, pubs and restaurants.

The scent of cinnamon punch, mulled wine, and hot chocolate will surely lure to the venue of the Christmas Market held here in December.

Location, Getting there:

• Akácfa utca 42-48, Bp 1072 (View On Map)
• Trams 4, 6: Wesselényi utca-Erzsébet körút stop, cc. 5-min walk from there (400 m)

Opening Hours:

• December 08, 15, 22: 10.00 – 18.00

Budapest’s largest indoor Christmas market awaits you in the Klauzál Square Market Hall on 4 weekends leading up to the holiday.

This green market focuses on environmental and nature friendly products so this is the place you need to visit if you want to get something that poses less strain to nature.

The impsoing steel and glass structure resembling a Whale on the Pest riverbank near between Petőfi and Liberty Bridges hosts a Christmas market dedicated to preserving local traditions.

Visitors can explore and buy handcrafted products from Hungarian small businesses.

There will also be a Historical Winter Flea Market bringing together the best of Hungarian traditional craftspeople.

Date Of The Christmas Fair:

• December 01, 08, 15 2024

Address – Getting There:

• Eiffel Műhelyház/Eiffel Art Studios (the Opera House’s new artsitic centre).
• Address: Kőbányai út 30, Bp 1101, See venue on Google Maps)

The popular WAMP design and craft fair awaits visitors on three Sundays in December 2024.

This year the annual Xmas Fair will be in Eiffel Műhelyház, where Hungarian designers present their own designed, small-series products, be it clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor, photography, or even gourmet food.

Makers’ Market Budapest is a must destination for contemporary design lovers. Enjoy a relaxed shopping experience in a dog-friendly environment.

Discover handcrafted treasures from over 70 talented Hungarian designers. Find beautiful jewelry, exquisite ceramics, stylish clothing and accessories, eye-catching graphics, home decor, along with delectable treats.

A great place to find perfect gifts for everyone on your list.

• Sundays in December 2024

Location – Address:

• Ybl Miklós tér 2-6., district I., between Elizabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge (View On Map)

The Castle Garden Bazaar at the Buda side of the Danube will host Advent programs on Sundays in December with

• Folk craft fair,
• Concerts,
• Food trucks,
• A small ice rink
• Free children programs each Sunday.

• Vajdahunyad Castle, Városliget/City Park (next to Heroes’ Sqr.) (See on Map)

Opening Hours – December 06 – January 01:

• Mon – Thurs: 11.00 – 19.00
• Fri – Sun: 10.00 – 19.00

Christmas-New Year Opening Hours:

• December 24/Christmas Eve: 10.00 – 14.00
• December 25 – 26: 10.00 – 19.00
• December 31: 10.00 – 19.00
• January 01, 2025/New Year’s Day: 11.00 – 19.00

Budapest’s popular leisure park, the Városliget will be decked out for the seasonal holidays and welcomes everyone with

• Craft market,
• Food and drinks, and
• Exciting children and family programs

What’s more, a magical Christmas wonderland, called Varázsliget/Magic Grove, has opened against the enchanting backdrop of Vajdahunyad Castle.

Adorned with festive lights and featuring captivating attractions such as a

• Giant magic wheel (prices: under 14 years: 1 500 HUF, 14 yrs and older: 2 000 HUF a
• Miniature railway (a ride costs 1 500 HUF, a
• Bewitching carousel (price: 1 500 HUF), and a
• Magic igloo globe where a fairy will help children make their fairy wings or wands (entry: free)

• December 01 – 23, 2024

Christmas Market Gastro Promenade Opening Hours:

• Mon – Thurs: 14.00 – 21.00, Fri – Sun: 10.00 – 22.00

Admission: free

Although Óbuda (Old Buda), district III. of Budapest, is a bit out of the city centre, it is worth going to to the festive Advent fair that is starting on 01. December.

The event is held on the district’s charming Main Square with a tall Christmas tree standing in the centre but programs are also held on Szentlélek tér, a square at 2-minute walk from Main Sqr.