Events, Festivals, Things To Do Around Easter
Date: April 18-21, 2025
Do you plan to spend Easter in Budapest? The Hungarian capital offers plenty of attractions and activities for a wonderful Easter weekend.
Plan your city break well, so that you can get the most of your time.
See our things to do tips below along with some useful information about
- Public transport,
- Opening hours of shops/thermal baths and the
- Weather around the holiday.
- Events, Festivals, Things To Do Around Easter
- 🚢🐇 Easter Cruise With Dinner & Folk Dance/Piano Show
- 👉 Book Your Easter Cruise:
- 🌺 Spring & Easter Market At Vörösmarty Square, March 28 – April 21, 2025
- 👉 Popular Activities To Experience The City At Easter
- 🎈 Easter Festival in City Park, April 18 – 21, 2025
- 🛍Easter Market At Gozsdu Court, April 18 – 21, 2025
- 🥚 Easter Egg Exhibition
- Sightseeing Tips For The Easter Holiday
- After Buda Castle Head For Pest
- ✡ Jewish Heritage In Budapest
- 🏊♂️ Splashing In The Thermal Baths
- 🌳 Walking In Parks
- Where to Attend Easter Mass?
- 🎶 Concerts & Folklore Show
- 👨👩👧👦 Easter Programs for Families with Kids
- Visit Vajdahunyad Castle In City Park
- 🛏 Where To Stay at Easter?
- Some Hungarian Easter Customs
- 🧁 Traditional Easter Dishes
- Easter Monday
- 🚋 Public Transport, Opening Hours at Easter
- Day Trip #1 – Easter Festival in Hollókő, April 19 – 21, 2025
- Day Trip #2: Szentendre – Easter Festival In the Skanzen
- 🌦 The Weather Around Easter in Budapest
- ❔ FAQ – Budapest At Easter
Note: Most shops, and markets are closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday. Public transportation operates according to holiday schedule. Thermal baths will be open according to Sunday opening hours and pricing.
TIP: Read also our complete list of Easter opening hours in Budapest (baths, museums, attractions etc.)
🚢🐇 Easter Cruise With Dinner & Folk Dance/Piano Show
Make the spring holiday memorable by going on a festive boat tour on the Danube.
River cruises are among the most popular sightseeing activities in Budapest availble with a meal or just with a drink.
- It is an ideal way to see the World Heritage-listed sights (Buda Castle, the Parliament, Gellért Hill) lying on the banks of the river.
- On this special Easter edition Danube excursion you can not only admire the captivating view but enjoy a delightful warm dinner classic Hungarian dishes and a spectaular folk show or piano music with a singer’s performance.
Date & Time Of The Easter Crusies:
- Apr 18, 19, 20 and 21 at 19.00 and 19.30 Tickets Are Available in Limited Number!
👉 Book Your Easter Cruise:
Hungarian Dinner Cruise
Cruise Starts: 19.00 on Apr 18-21
Duration: 120 min.
Price: From €69
Easter Time Cruise with Folk/Dinner
Cruise Starts: 19:00 Apr 18-21
Duration: 180 min.
Price: From €89
Dinner Cruise With Live Piano or Folk Show on Easter Weekend
Cruise Starts: 19:30 on Apr 18-21
Duration: 120 min.
Price: From €81
🌺 Spring & Easter Market At Vörösmarty Square, March 28 – April 21, 2025
Check out the Easter & Spring Market in the city centre at for local craft products, puls traditional food and drinks.
other highlights of the fair include:
- Concerts,
- Craft fair & workshops and other
- Family activities in the afternoons and over the weekends, including Easter, offer varied programs for everyone.
Location, Getting There:
- Városháza Park & Deák Ferenc tér, M1/M2/M3 metro lines, get off at Deák Ferenc tér
- Vörösmarty tér: M1 Underground (Yellow Line), Tram 2 Vigadó tér stop on the Danube Promenade (3 minute walk).
Opening Hours Of The Easter Fair:
- Every day: 11.00 – 20.00
- Open on Easter Sunday and Monday too, from 10.00 am
Entry:
- Entry to the fair and the programs is FREE, you pay for food and drinks and gifts you buy
Why Visit The Fair?
It’s centrally located so you can easily get there both by walk and public transport.
The fair is the most popular event of the spring season in Budapest so it’s sort of a must experience for visitors to the city.
You can sample traditional local food like goulash, chimney cake, lángos as well as Easter dishes.
Get a special gift at the craft market and view the spectacular Easter Egg Exhibition!
Highlights Of The Spring Market:
- Craft fair – You’ll get 5 – 10 % discount with Budapest Card,
- Traditional Hungarian Easter foods,
- Drinks,
- Activities for children,
- Folk dance performances, and
- Concerts on the main stage offer a great time for everyone.
👉 Popular Activities To Experience The City At Easter
🎈 Easter Festival in City Park, April 18 – 21, 2025
City Park transforms into a festive wonderland for the Easter holiday with
- Live music,
- Craft workshops (paint your own egg!),
- Tasty Hungarian food, and
- Tons of fun for kids (puppet shows, petting zoo!).
A true fair atmoshpere awaits you in the city’s largest leisure park! And it’s all FREE!
What’s more Vajdahunyad Castle – one of the main attractions of the park – also offers a range of programs mainly for families with children. 👉 See details below!
Location, Address:
- City Park Boating Lake & Ice Rink/Városligeti Csónakázótó
- Address: Olof Palme stny. 5, Bp 1146 (See on Google Maps)
Detailed Program – City Park Easter Festival
April 18, Good Friday
- 11:00 AM: Bubble Band
- 12:30 PM: Long Live the Bunnies! (Fairy Tale Play)
- 2:00 PM: Illusion Show
- 3:30 PM: Frozen Performance
- 5:00 PM: Marvel Show
- 7:00 PM: ÉBERKÓMA (Band Name)
- 8:00 PM: DJ Dominique
April 19, Holy Saturday
- 11:00 AM: The Little Rooster’s Diamond Halfpenny (Puppet Show)
- 12:30 PM: Tinkerbell (Performance)
- 2:00 PM: Herczog Ricsi (Concert)
- 3:30 PM: Folk Dance Performance and Dance House
- 5:00 PM: Maestro Boogie (Concert)
- 7:00 PM: Mihályfi Luca (Concert)
- 8:00 PM: Jolly (Concert)
April 20, Easter Sunday
- 11:00 AM: The Shepherd Who Talks to Animals (Puppet Show)
- 12:30 PM: Guitar Performance by Erdei Zsolt
- 2:00 PM: Star Wars (Interactive Show)
- 3:30 PM: BumBum Band (Concert)
- 5:00 PM: Dobozi Lacika (Concert)
- 6:30 PM: Gáspár Laci (Concert)
- 8:00 PM: Brillantin Band (Concert)
April 21, Easter Monday
- 11:00 AM: The Tortoise and the Hare Race (Puppet Show)
- 12:30 PM: Nagy Alexandra (Performance)
- 2:00 PM: Ricsi the Clown (Show)
- 3:30 PM: Alma Band (Concert)
- 5:00 PM: Sárközi Roland (Concert)
- 6:30 PM: Fehér Krisztián (Concert)
- 8:00 PM: RHS DJ TEAM – Easter Sprinkling Retro Party
🛍Easter Market At Gozsdu Court, April 18 – 21, 2025
The vibrant restaurant and cafe hub, Gozsdu Courtyard regularly hosts weekend and special holiday markets at Christmas, Halloween and of course Easter.
Gozsdu’s Easter Market is an excellent place to pick up some handcrafted gifts and grab some tasty food or drink in one of the dozen or so restaurants.
Families with children will too have a great time since there are fun kid activities like face painting and Easter egg painting.
Address:
- Király utca 13. – Dob utca 16., Budapest, 1075, District VII. (View on Map)
Date & Opening Hours:
- April 18 – 21, 10.00 – 18.00
Entry:
- Free
TIP: Read about our visit to the Easter Market in Gozsdu Court.
🥚 Easter Egg Exhibition
The Hungarian Heritage House in Buda hosts an amazing Easter Egg Exhibition showcasing the works of the members of the Easter Egg Decorating Association.
You can view an assortment of Easter eggs decorated with various traditional techniques.
Address:
- Hungarian Heritage House – Corvin tér 8, BP 1011, Buda, District I. (View on Map), around 600 m walk from the Buda end of the Chain bridge
Date & Opening Hours:
Entry:
- Free
Sightseeing Tips For The Easter Holiday
By Easter Budapest revives from its winter sleep and the parks and gardens are lively green.
The city has historic sights and fine architecture literally at every corner.
Spring and especially the Easter weekend is a wonderful time to come to Budapest and explore its numerous sights and attractions.
What To See & Do?
- You will find historic sights and fine architecture at every corner,
- Relax and splash in any of the Thermal Baths and Spas (try Rudas, it’s less touristy than the Széchenyi or the Gellért Spa)
- Just walk and admire the beautiful vista from Castle District or Gellért Hill,
- Go dancing and clubbing until dawn in one of the numerous Budapest Nightclubs, or get crazy at a Spa Party
- Shop in the Great Market Hall or in one of the numerous Shopping Centres (except for Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday when markets, shops are closed).
The Castle District – Historic Landmarks, Panoramic View
The Castle District in Buda forms the centre of historic Budapest and some of the most important cultural monuments stand in the area, like the Royal Palace and Matthias Church.
In addition, Buda Castle in offers magnificent views from the Fishermen’s Bastion and other view points.
You can admire and shot photos of the gorgeous vista of the
- Majestic Danube with the Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd), and the
- Impressive Budapest Parliament.
The Palace houses two museums:
- The Budapest History Musuem telling the story of the city from ancient times till today, and the
- Hungarian National Gallery – with some outstanding paintings and other artworks.
The narrow cobbled streets are ideal for romantic walks.
The district has some fine restaurants and cafés many of them housed in renovated old mansions that contain medieval architectural elements.
Note: Entry to the castle area is free, you can walk around the streets, lookout, terraces, parks free of charge. You have to pay entry fee to attractions like the National Gallery and History Museum in the Palace building, Matthias Church, the Labyrinth.
Restaurant & Cafes in Buda Castle
Castle District has plenty of restaurants ranging from traditional Hungarian like
- 21 Restaurant, or the
- Pest Buda Bistro, both in Fortuna utca, or
- Italian like the fairly new Jamie’s Italian in Szentháromság utca close to Matthias Church.
Dine With A View – Halászbástya Étterem
The Halászbástya Restaurant is located inside Fishermen’s bastion. It’s the place where you can enjoy the best panoramic views while eating.
The terrace is open from spring to autumn with a gypsy band playing in the afternoons.
There are
- 4 set menus (Hungarian Gourmet – 65 EUR, Halászbástya – 85 EUR, Deluxe – 235 EUR and Vegetarian – 50 EUR),
- a la carte dishes as well as
- chef’s offer from seasonal ingredients.
Some splendid wines and cocktails to go with the fine meals no to mention the exceptional view. A great place for a lunch and dinner while visiting the castle.
Aranybástya Restauarant
Address:
- Buda Castle, Csónak u. 1, 1015 (View on Map)
Aranybástya is another excellent choice if you want to enjoy the scenic vista while savoring local dishes.
Try the Hungarikum Menu, a five-course feast that showcases iconic dishes like Mangalica pâté, hearty goulash soup, and the legendary Dobos torte. See details and price here.
Each bite is a celebration of Hungary’s rich culinary heritage and unique flavors.
Sweet TIPS #1 – Buda Castle: The Rétesvár Strudel Shop in Balta köz, a narrow passage opening from Szentháromság tér, offers traditional strudel with various fillings (sweet cottage cheese, sour cherry, poppy seed).
They also have sajtos pogácsa (scones with cheese), and cocoa snail – typical Hungarian snacks that you can munch on while walking.
TIP #2: For a slice of creamy torte with a cup of coffee and old-world coffee house ambience try Ruszwurm Cafe and Confectionery in Szentháromság utca.
👉 Read more details about other attractions in Budapest Castle District.
After Buda Castle Head For Pest
The Funicular (Budavári sikló) takes you down from the hill to Clark Ádám tér in a few minutes,.
Unfortunately only return tickets are sold so if you think it’s two pricey for such a short ride feel free to walk down the hill.
Tickets (Onyl Return Tickets Are Available):
- Return ticket (full price): 4 000 HUF
- Dsicounted tickets (ages 3 -14): 2 000 HUf
- Free for children under the age of 3
If you prefer walking, you can
- Take the steps leading down from Buda Castle to Clark Ádám tér, or
- One of the winding streets at the foot of the hill.
Cross over the Chain Bridge – a symbol of Budapest and the first permanent bridge over the Danube – to explore the Pest side
Near the Pest end of the Chain Bridge stand two architectural masterpieces on Széchenyi Square
- the Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
- and the Art-Nouveau Gresham Palace that gives home to the luxury Four Seasons Hotel.
Vörösmarty Square & Váci Street
Walk down along the river on the Danube Promenade and turn onto Deák Street at the Vigadó Hall.
The street takes you to Vörösmarty Square, the heart of Budapest.
The white Carrara statue of the famous 19th century poet, Mihály Vörösmarty, dominates the square.
The prominent Gerbeaud Café flanks the side of the plaza.
Sit in for a cup of coffee (prepared now from freshly roasted, farm-selected beans) with a slice of delicious Hungarian cake (the Dobos torte or Gerbaud cake are both delicious) and absorb the traditional coffee house aura.
The famous pedestrian and shopping street, Váci utca opens from the south end of the square.
The street, together with Vörösmarty tér, is a centre of social and cultural happenings that attract both tourists and locals throughout the year.
- Fancy boutiques and shops,
- chic cafés line the sides of the street that mainly target tourists.
👉 As we’ve already mentioned Vörösmarty Square is also home to the Spring Festival till April 22, 2025
You can have better bargains at the Great Market Hall at the south end of Váci utca.
🎡 Ferris Wheel On Erzsébet Square – Open On The Easter Weekend
Take a ride on the Budapest Eye, towering above the city at 65 m height.
The view is amazing from the cabins.
It’s open every day – even on publ. holidays – from 11.00 till late night (23.00/24.00)
Tickets: a 8 – 10 minute ride is
- Standard ticket: 4 300 HUF/cc. 11 EUR (from ages 12+)
- Children between ages 2 – 12: 2 300 HUF/cc. 5.80 EUR for ,
Andrássy Avenue, Liszt Ferenc Square
Walk along this tree-lined hip boulevard connecting downtown Budapest with the City Park that offers
- fine architecture,cultural institutions,trendy restaurants and cafes, andhigh-end shops.
Find out more about attractions along Andrássy Avenue.More Budapest Sightseeing Tips.
✡ Jewish Heritage In Budapest
If you really want to immerse yourself in the city’s culture and history you must explore its Jewish heritage.
Although the Buda side has some Jewish monuments, Pest, and mainly district VII., aka the Old Jewish Quarter, is what really offers the best and most in-depth experience.
Our guided Jewish Heritage Tours will show you all the important sights, like the
- Main Synagogue in Dohány Street, the
- Heroes’s Temple or the
- Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Garden.
There’s a shorter 2-hour and a longer 3.5-hour tour.
See dates, time, prices and booking below.
👉 Book A Guided Jewish Tour With Synagogue Visit
Jewish Heritage Guided Tour with Synagouge visit
Explore Budapest’s rich Jewish history and heritage on a captivating walking tour that includes visiting the Dohany Street Synagogue
Tour starts: 10:00 / Duration: 120/240 min.
Price From €59
🏊♂️ Splashing In The Thermal Baths
After long hours of walking, refresh yourself in Budapest Spas.In the famous Gellert Bath you can admire the fine interior while relaxing in the hot water.
The grand Széchenyi Bath belongs to the largest spa complexes in Europe.
The water in the outdoor pool is hot enough to enjoy bathing even in cold weather.
Note: The baths are open on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday & Monday according to their Sunday schedule – see exact opening hours here – and pricing. The Veli Bej Turkish Spa is closed on the Easter weekend.
Good To Know: Make sure to bring your own swimwear, slippers, towel and a swimming cap (only if you plan to use the swim pool) with you to the baths.
Skip-The-Line Tickets To 3 of the Most Popular Budapest Baths:
👉🏊♂️ Rudas Bath: Dine With a View After Soaking In The Pools
The Rudas is a historic spa complex in Buda near the Gellért Hill. It’s smaller than the Széchenyi or the Gellért and it’s less overrun by tourists, that’s why
Experience the close to 500-year-old Turkish Bath for a day of relaxation in warm thermal waters.
Enjoy spa amenities like saunas and pools, including a 42-degree thermal pool, an 11-degree plunge pool, as well sa panorama jacuzzi.
Afterward, indulge in a delightful 3-course meal at the bistro, choosing from the a la carte menu and pair it with wine or champagne.
Dine while soaking in striking views of the Danube River and the cityscape.
It’s truly a one-of-a-kind wellness adventure in the heart of Budapest!
🌳 Walking In Parks
If you have time and long for lots of green, trees, fresh air take a walk in one of Budapest’s parks,.
The largest is the City Park with Zoo and other amenities.
TIPS:
- Margaret Island is another peaceful gem of Budapest, between Margaret Bridge and Árpád Bridge.
The following pages provide you further help in planning your sightseeing during your Easter vacation:
During the Easter weekend there’ll be some great parties in the city so you won’t be bored at night either.
Where to Attend Easter Mass?
Budapest has many lovely churches, besides the most well-known ones like St. Stephen’s Basilica or Matthias Church.
They’ll all have festive masses, religious ceremonies marking the most important events of Easter.
Here are some tips where to head for some spiritual contemplation during the holiday.
St. Anne Church in Buda, Batthyány Square – F. Schubert: Mass in G major, April 20, Easter Sunday, 11.00 AM
This beautiful twin-towered Baroque temple on the riverbank in Buda regularly hosts concerts and masses with choir accompanied masses.
F. Schubert: Mass in G major – April 20, 2025, Easter Sunday 11:00 AM
- Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei
- Viola Kovács (soprano), Sára Buda (alto), Tamás Katona (tenor), Boldizsár Zajkás (bass)
- Artistic director: Barnabás Balasi
Location:
- Batthyány tér 7, Budapest 1011, Buda side (See on Map)
Bach’s St. John’s Passion at Deák Ferenc Lutheran Church, April 13 & 19, at 6 PM
The Lutheran Church on Deák Sqr,. will have several masses over the Easter holiday.
On Holy Saturday, April 19 you can experience one of the most defining works of music history: Johann Sebastian Bach‘s St. John’s Passion in this downtown church.
The Lutheránia Choir and Orchestra will be conducted by Kossuth Prize-winner Salamon Kamp.
Other Masses in the Church
- Easter morning service with communion – Ferenc Cselovszky April 20, 2025 05:00 am
- Service with communion – Gábor Smidéliusz Temple, April 20, 2025 09:00 am
- Service and communion – Péter Kondor Temple, April 20, 2025 11:00am
- Children’s service – Áron Kovács Great hall, April 20, 2025 11:00 am
Location:
- Deák Ferenc tér 4, BP 1052, City Centre (See on Map)
Entry:
- Free
🎶 Concerts & Folklore Show
Budapest boasts beautiful historic churches with impressive architecture and acoustics. Experiencing music in this kind of setting can be truly special, especially around Easter.
Many of the city’s churches offer concerts that feature traditional Hungarian music or folk songs.
Folk Dance Play: Easter Celebration, Hungarian State Folk Ensemble in MüPa, April 20 Easter Sunday, 19.00 – 20.30
The dance play performed by the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is a celebration of Easter and its traditions. It features a variety of folk dances, songs, and music.
A perfect event to observe and rejoice in Easter traditions.
The performance draws on the liturgies of various denominations as well as the ancient peasant folk customs and songs of the Carpathian Basin.
Easter rituals from Székelyföld and Rábaköz, the Highlands and the Southern Great Plain – both Christian and pagan – are interwoven to create a unified stage form.
The exciting musical fabric of the performance is composed not only of folk songs, religious folk melodies and dance music, but also of church songs associated with the holidays,
Venue Address:
- Palace of Arts (MüPa). Komor Marcell u. 1, BP 1095 (View on Map)
Tickets:
- Between: 2 900 – 10 500 HUF (based on seating), are available online and at the Müpa box office.
👨👩👧👦 Easter Programs for Families with Kids
🐑 Easter Days For the Whole Family At Vajdahunyad Castle, April 18-21, 2025
In addition to the main Easter Festival in City Park (April 18-21), Vajdahunyad Castle will have its own holiday festivities.
The 4-day festival in the charming mock castle of Vajdahunyad in City Park promises fun for all ages over the Easter weekend. Entry is FREE for everyone!
Highlights of the Event
- Snap memorable photos at the festive photo wall!
- Get creative with Easter egg painting and fun face painting!
- Try traditional Hungarian games at the Folk Playground!
- Taste delicious Easter treats and local specialties!
- Enjoy cheerful music from our lively street musicians!
Location & Opening Hours:
- Vajdahunyad vár/Vajdahunyad Castle, Városliget/City Park (View on Google Maps)
- Address: Vajdahunyad stny., Budapest, 1146
Opening Hours:
- 10.00 – 20.00 every day between (April 18 – 21)
Program Schedule – Easter Festival Vajdahunyad Castle:
Good Friday, April 18, 2025
- 10:00–18:00 – MB Playpark & Folk Playground
- 10:00–17:00 – Creative Workshop & Face Painting
- 10:30–11:30 – Zig-Zag Tales by Kavics Theatre – Children’s performance
- 12:00–16:00 – Live music by Pipás Band
- 12:00–17:00 – Story Crank – Interactive musical storytelling by Kavics Theatre
🐣 Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025
- 10:00–18:00 – MB Playpark & Folk Playground
- 10:00–17:00 – Creative Workshop & Face Painting
- 10:00–18:00 – Mr. Piano – Live piano performance
- 11:00–12:00 – VagaBanda Stilt Walkers
- 12:00–16:00 – Pipás Band Live
- 14:00–15:00 & 16:00–17:00 – More from the VagaBanda Stilt Walkers
🐣 Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025
- 10:00–18:00 – MB Playpark & Folk Playground
- 10:00–17:00 – Creative Workshop & Face Painting
- 10:00–18:00 – Mr. Piano
- 10:30–11:30 – Zig-Zag Tales by Kavics Theatre
- 11:00–12:00 – VagaBanda Stilt Walkers
- 12:00–13:00 – Story Crank – Kavics Theatre musical storytelling
- 12:00–16:00 – Pipás Band
- 14:00–15:00 & 17:00–18:00 – More VagaBanda performances
🐣 Easter Monday, April 21, 2025
- 10:00–18:00 – MB Playpark & Folk Playground
- 10:00–17:00 – Creative Workshop & Face Painting
- 10:00–18:00 – Mr. Piano
- 10:00–15:00 – Story Crank by Kavics Theatre
- 11:00–12:00 – VagaBanda Stilt Walkers
- 12:00–15:00 – Agyagbanda – Folk music band
- 15:00–16:00 & 17:00–18:00 – Final stilt walker shows with VagaBanda
TIP: See below what other exciting programs you can do in Vajdahunyad Castle!
🐣 Children’s Day in Gozsdu Court On Easter Monday, April 21, 10 am – 16 pm
Besides the craft market on the holiday weekend, the connected courtyards in the Jewish Quarter known as Gozsdu Udvar welcomes kids with exciting activities on Easter Monday.
Address: Király utca 13. – Dob utca 16., Budapest, 1075, District VII.
They can solve a
- Giant bunny-themed jigsaw puzzle,
- Burn their excess energy in the bouncy castle,
- Try their hands at target throwing,
- Get a face painting,
- Play a sound memory game or
- Do crafts,
🚂🐰 Easter Bunny Hunt in the Hungarian Railway Museum, Easter Monday, April 21
The large railway park in Budapest’s district XIV. opens the season with fun family programs on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.
Address:
- Tatai utca 95., district XIV. (View on Map)
Opening Hours: 10.00 – 18.00
Getting there:
- Budapest-Esztergom train service from Nyugati Train Station,
- Buses 30 and 30A from Keleti Train Station (M2, red metro line), and Újpest Központ (M3, blue metro line)
- Get off at Rokolya utca stop, the museum is a two-block walk towards east, or
- Bus 120 form Árpád Bridge Pest end (get off at the end Reitter Ferenc utca)
Admission With Regular Entry Tickets
- Free for kids ages 0-3,
- Children, ages 3 – 18: 1 400 HUF
- Adults: 3 000 HUF,
- Family (2 adults + 2 kids aged 3 -18): 7 600 HUF,
- Retirees: 1 700 HUF.
Programs, Activities
- 11:00 AM Eszterlánc Band – Easter Concert
- 1:00 PM Ákom-Bákom Puppet Group – The Squirrel and the Magpie
- 3:00 PM Ferenc Vagyok Kőhalmi – Interactive Magic Show
- Kids can look for painted, carved wooden bunnies hidden at various spots in the park.
- A small craft corner with Egg painting, face painting, glitter tattoosand an animal petting area with bunnies, llamas, mini ponies and alpacas will also welcome the little ones on both days.
Other activties that you can try with your little ones:
- Riding on a horse tram,
- In a Tchaika car,
- Garden railway,
- Hand-operated cart.
Visit also the official website of the park for more information on the event.
Visit Vajdahunyad Castle In City Park
The fairy-tale looking mock castle in the city’s largest park, Városliget incorporates several architectural styles.
Address:
- Vajdahunyad Castle in City park/Városliget, distr. XIV.,
- Getting there: M1 underground (yellow metro), Széchenyi fürdő stop, Trolleys No. 70, 72, 75, 79 (various stops), buses No. 20, 30, 105
Admission:
- Free to the are a of the castle,
- The enry fee to the Agricultural Museum’s exhibitions: full price: 2 500 HUF, students/retirees: 1 200 HUF
- Combined tickets (museum + tower tours, see more below) are available.
The castle was constructed for the 1896 Millennial events when the country celebrated the 1000th anniversarary of Hungary’s foundation.
Vajdahunyad Castle today is home to the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, with very good temporary exhibits each year, usually for families with kids.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday every day between 10.00 – 17.00
Tower Tours in Vajdahunyad Castle:
TIP: Tower Tours in Vajdahunyad Castle: You can visit the two previously closed towers of the mock castle that houses the Hungarian Agricultural Museum (Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum) and some unique exhibitions in City Park.
Climb up to the Gate Tower (Kaputorony) and the Apostles’ Tower (can be visited only on a guided tour that departs hourly) and enjoy a spectacular vista of City Park Lake, Széchenyi Island and the surrounding buildings.
The Gate Tower can be visited without guiding and is open every day, including the Easter weekend: 09.00 – 19.00,.
The Apostles Tower is open to visitors during the opening hours of the Hungarian Agricultural Museum (located in the Castle)
Tickets:
- Gate Tower: 400 HUF
- Apostles’ Tower (guided tour): 1 000 HUF
- Combined ticket: Tower tours + exhibitions of the Agricultural Museum: regulasr: 4 000 HUF, students/retirees: 2 000 HUF
- Free for children under 6 years of age who can attend the tower under the supervision of an adult
Cashier is closed: 12.00 – 12.30, and 18.00 – 18.15.
Opening hours of the museum:
- Tue – Sun: 10.00 – 17.00.
- Closed on Mondays but it’s open on Easter Monday between 10.00 – 17.00.
TIP: Vajdahunyad Castle will have an exciting Easter Festival between April 18 – 21 with an assortment of programs for all ages between 10 Am and 8 PM each day.
🛏 Where To Stay at Easter?
Most hotels offer special Easter packages.
Note that you should book your accommodation well in advance, because a lot of tourists visit the Hungarian capital at Easter every year.
TIP: Stay at a 5 or 4 star downtown hotel and everything important will be within easy reach. Price of Easter packages in 5 or 4 star hotels is around 500 – 600 EUR/double room/2 nights.
Some Hungarian Easter Customs
Lent, Holy Week
A 40-day lent precedes Easter when people rarely eat meat. Some have meatless meals only on Fridays.
Women clean the whole house, wash the windows and a few days before Easter they start baking cakes and pastrie.
They prepare kocsonya, a rich jellied soup cooked with pork meat, skin, smoked meat and spices.
The traditional forms of easter egg painting (egg shoeing and other techniques) are practiced mainly in the villages, though today you can learn them at Easter festivals and craft workshops.
On Good Friday afternoon religious people go to the church to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and participate on the symbolic procession that follows Christ’s final route.
It’s a day of mourning and fasting, many people also avoid doing household chores.
Churches Remain Unadorned:
- No flowers are placed,
- Candles are not lighted,
- Statues and icons are covered.
The church bells will remain in silence until Sunday, the day of resurrection.
On Holy Saturday the religious commemoration continues with the consecration of fire, the holy water and lighting the Paschal candle.
People make a solemn procession into the church where the first mass since Maundy Thursday begins after dusk.
🧁 Traditional Easter Dishes
Saturday evening marks the end of the Lent and people have traditional dishes:
- smoked ham with pickled horseradish
- hardboiled eggs and
- fresh white bread or milk-loaf.
On Easter Sunday morning the Easter bunny brings presents for the little ones.
In our family kids make a nest from grass for the bunny to place the gifts and sweets.
The little ones rush out of the house early morning to see what surprises had the bunny placed in the nest or hidden at other places in the garden.
They usually have their fill of chocolate eggs, bunnies, chicks, and other sweets over the weekend.
The master or the mistress of the house takes a basket packed with
- Ham,
- Eggs,
- Horseradish,
- Milk loaf and
- A bottle of wine to the church where the priest blesses the food.
The content of the basket varies slightly from region to region.
The family eats all the blessed meat for breakfast, not a crumb should be wasted because the blessed food considered to possess magical powers.
For example the crumbs of the milk loaf are given to the hens so that they lay more eggs.
Mainly meat dishes (poultry, pork, lamb, and rabbit) dominate the traditional Easter Sunday lunch with various garnishing.
Many housewives bake beigli (pastry rolls with walnut or poppy seed stuffing) not just for Christmas but for Easter too.
See also our Hungarian Easter Recipes.
Easter Monday
On Easter Monday morning boys and men sprinkle women with perfume or with cold water, for which women give chocolate eggs or some change in return.
Men of course gather strength with a shot of pálinka (Hungarian fruit distilate) and they usually spend the rest of the day with more boozing.
🚋 Public Transport, Opening Hours at Easter
On Holy Saturday public transport vehicles run according to Saturday schedule.
Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday are public holidays so public transport operates according to holiday schedule, with less frequent service.
You’ll find exact information on public transport schedules during the holiday on this page.
On the above three days most shops, food markets, banks, post offices are closed. On Holy Saturday shops, food markets are open according to Friday or Saturday schedule.
See opening hours of shops on this page.
On Easter Sunday and Monday shops, markets, supermarkets and large stores are closed, however some shops and services may be open.
Some of the types of places that are open during the holiday:
- Florists,
- Sweet-shops,
- 24-hour (non-stop) shops,
- Restaurants,
- Cafés and confectioneries,
- Thermal baths
- Some museums & art exhibitions
- Cinemas.
Day Trip #1 – Easter Festival in Hollókő, April 19 – 21, 2025
The picturesque Hollókő village lies in Nógrád county in the North East corner of Hungary.
It’s about 100 km far from Budapest. You can get there in two hours by car.
The village people will wear folk costumes and revive the Easter traditions.
You can taste traditional Easter meals and enjoy various folk programs.
Getting To Hollókő:
If you’re planning to visit Hollókő, you have a couple of transportation options available.
- One option is to take the regional bus, which departs from Puskás Ferenc Stadion and takes around two hours to arrive at the destination. You can reach Puskás Ferenc Stadion easily by taking the M2 metro. The first bus leaves at 08:30 am, and the last direct service back to Puskás Ferenc Stadion departs from Hollókő at 16:00.
By Car:
Alternatively, if you prefer to travel by car, it’s advisable to set off early as large crowds are expected.
- Take the M3 motorway as far as Hatvan and then
- drive on route 21 towards Salgótarján,
- before Pásztó the road branches off,
- take the road to Szécsény-Hollókő direction
Here’s the official website of the Easter Festival in Hollókő if you want to find out more details about the event.
Day Trip #2: Szentendre – Easter Festival In the Skanzen
The charming town of Szentendre is closer to Budapest than Hollókő and you can visit a similar Easter Festival there in the Skanzen (Open Air Folklore Museum Village).
How To Get To Szentendre?
The best way is to take the H5 suburban railway (you can get on at Batthyány Square and at Margaret Bridge Buda end stations). The journey takes cc. 40 minutes.
TIP: Alternatively you can go on a guided tour to Szentendre, where transportation is included in the price as well as visiting a museum (either the Marzipan Museum or the Margit Kovács Ceramic Museum). See options and availablility below 👇!
🌦 The Weather Around Easter in Budapest
By Easter the city awakens from its winter sleep. The first buds on the trees appear and spring flowers adorn the parks and squares.
The sun shines warmer and warmer, though the weather is rather unpredictable in spring.
Daily temperatures can vary from 5 to 15°C/41-59°F.
At some nights temperature can go below 0°C/32°F. Usually there are some rainy and windy periods in March and April, so don’t forget to pack in your umbrella and warm sweaters.
How to Dress For Your Easter Vacation in Budapest?
Bring comfy clothes so that you can dress in layers and a pair of light shoes for walking.
Pack also a light, waterproof jacket in case it will rain and that will protect you against the wind (early spring tends to be very windy in Hungary).
See more on weather in Budapest in spring.
❔ FAQ – Budapest At Easter
Q: Is it necessary to book tickets in advance for attractions and events?
A: It’s advisable, especially for popular attractions like the Parliament Building and special events during Easter.
Q: Are shops and attractions open during Easter in Budapest?
A: Most atractions are open for visitors during the Easter holiday though some of them may have altered opening hours, like the thermal baths (Széchenyi Bath will be open between 08.00 – 20.00, the Gellért: 09.00 – 19.00). See also Easter Opening Hours in Budapest.
Q: How do I get around Budapest?
A: Budapest has an efficient public transportation system including 4 metro lines, seevarl tram servises, and buses. You can also explore the city on foot or by using bike-sharing services.
Get a 24-hour (2 500 HUF) or a 72-hour travel card (5 500 HUF) or use single tickets (450 HUF). The BudapestGO app is also practical and easy to use when travelling in Budapest.
Q: Are credit cards widely accepted in Budapest?
A: Yes, credit cards are widely accepted in most establishments, but it’s always good to have some cash on hand, especially for smaller vendors and the markets.
Related:
March Events, Things To Do – Spring Fair At Városháza Park (Downtown) – April Programs in Budapest – May Day Programs
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