Budapest Christmas Market 2024 Dates at Vorosmarty Square

When I lived here, I quickly discovered that the Budapest Christmas Market is one of the best in Europe. I’d often sneak out to pick up a freshly cooked chimney cake or a quick mulled wine. It’s a hugely popular event and well worth visiting.

The highlight is the Vorosmarty Square market, open from mid-November until New Year’s Day. Don’t forget to visit the incredible outdoor ice rink at City Park.

Read on for estimated dates and all the best locations. The city is always slow to confirm dates, but I hope to have them soon.

Budapest Christmas Market 2024

Dates – Unconfirmed

Budapest Christmas Market dates:
Vorosmarty Square and St Stephen’s Basilica: 15th November 2024 to 1st January 2025 (unconfirmed).

Expected Update: Last year’s dates were announced in November. Want to know when dates are confirmed? Sign up for our newsletter to get notified as soon as they become available.

Source: Dates are obtained directly from the event websites for Vorosmarty and the Basilica.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Varosmarty Square

Location: Varosmarty Square.
Opening hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 9pm.
Friday and Saturday: 11am to 10pm.
Christmas Eve: 10am to 2pm.
Christmas Day: 12pm to 6pm.
Boxing Day: 12pm to 6pm.
28th December: Final day for the craft stalls.
29th to 30th: 11am to 10pm.
New Year’s Eve: 11am to 3am.
New Year’s Day: 11am to 3pm.

St Stephen’s Basilica

Location: Szent István tér (St Stephen’s Square).
Opening hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 10pm.
Friday and Saturday: 11am to 11pm.
Christmas Eve: 11am to 3pm.
Christmas Day: Open 11am to 8pm.
Boxing Day: 11am to 8pm.
New Year’s Eve:
Craft stalls: 11am to 10pm.
Food stalls: 11am to 3am.
New Year’s Day: 11am to 6pm.
Travel tips: For a small fee you can take the lift to the viewing platform at the top of the Basilica. If you have visit the nearby parliament. Official ticket info. Be careful of people on the street selling fake tickets.

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended tour: A popular city tour of Budapest’s Castle District.
Public transport: Metro and tram stop: Deák Ferenc ter. There’s also the tram that runs along the Danube.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Temperature in December: December temperatures are typically around 4-8C during the day and occasionally dropping below zero during the night. These days, it rarely snows in Budapest, especially not in November or December but rain is likely.
Travel tip: Take the #2 tram along the river for a very cheap DIY sightseeing tour.
Where to stay: The Aria Hotel for a luxury stay or the D8 Hotel for a more affordable option.

Amenities and Attractions

Admission: Free.
Christmas lights: No switch on date announced.
Small railway:
Monday to Friday: 2pm to 8pm.
Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 8pm.
Christmas Eve: 10am to 2pm.
Santa: Not usually.
Ice skating: Head to City Park for skating. There is children’s skating at the Basilica.
Reason to visit: Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten-free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Food specialities: Langos, goulash, kürtőskalács (chimney cake), salami, anything with paprika.

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead.

Convenient Hotels

I always recommend staying in the 5th district as this is the most central neighbourhood. The 7th district (Jewish Quarter) is also well-located, although this is the nightlife district, so it might not appeal to everyone.

Buda and the Castle District are on the other side of the Danube. This area is quieter and more residential. I stayed in Buda once and found many places closed over the holidays.

The Aria Hotel is one of the most exceptional in the 5th district and is located near both Vorosmarty Square and St Stephen’s Basilica. It has a beautiful rooftop terrace.

For a budget hotel, the D8 Hotel is a great option. It’s only two minutes from Vorosmarty Square.

I lived in Budapest for several years, and using that experience, I created a guide to hotels in Budapest. You can read about the different neighbourhoods and the best areas to stay in.

Recommended Tours

Budapest offers something for everyone with its picturesque old cities of Buda and Pest, thought-provoking museums, a unique ruin bar scene and Art Nouveau architecture.

I recommend taking this city tour of Budapest with a local historian for some interesting insights. It’s in the Castle District, so you’ll see Fisherman’s Bastion, from which you can get incredible views of the Hungarian Parliament building.

You might also like to try this food-tasting experience to discover some local Hungarian specialties. I did a tasting with this group, Taste Hungary, which was a lovely experience!

Other famous sights in Budapest include the Chain Bridge, Heroes Square, the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, the Hungarian State Opera House, and Gellért Hill.

Be sure to allow time to relax at Széchenyi thermal baths or the Art Nouveau one at Gellért.

Main Location

List of Other Events

City Park Ice Rink

Opposite Heroes Square is Budapest’s City Park, which is great for walking. The park has a huge outdoor ice skating rink, a popular attraction since the 19th century. You can rent skates or have your own sharpened right there.

Erzsébet Square

Erzsébet Square, near Vörösmarty Square, has its own market, albeit a much smaller one. You can try street food from food trucks and hang out at the outdoor bars, which are a lot of fun in the evenings. There is also a Ferris wheel here.

Buda Castle

On the Buda side of Budapest, a small winter market has stalls selling regional products. It’s a great area for walking, or if it gets too cold, you can stop at the museum.

Travel tip: It’s nice to take the historic funicular up the hill and walk back down.

Captured a moment that embodies the holiday season? Tag your photos with #UltimateChristmasMarkets — we can’t wait to see your festive finds!

Christmas in Budapest

When I first moved to Budapest, I filmed the city’s winter charm. The video gives an idea of what to expect and includes footage of the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Chain Bridge. Watch the video below.

I love this city. It’s worth visiting if you have the chance.

Hungarian Specialties

• Langos – A Hungarian speciality, langos is a deep-fried flat dough, usually topped with garlic, sour cream and grated cheese. One of the best is from Karavan on Kazinczy utca in the Jewish Quarter.
• Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) – It’s essentially a sweet dough rolled around a long, circular spit and cooked over coals, then optionally topped with cinnamon or coconut. This dish is thought to have originated in the Transylvanian region of Romania by ethnic Hungarians.
• Beef goulash – This classic Hungarian beef stew is known around the world. You can try it at the markets, but you’ll have much nicer versions at one of the nearby traditional restaurants. You can also find vegetarian goulash at a few places.
• Chicken paprikash – Another classic Hungarian dish, this slow-cooked chicken dish is served with a creamy paprika sauce. Again, it is probably best served at a restaurant.
• Chicken schnitzel – It’s not just the Viennese who love a schnitzel; the Hungarians have their own delicious version, which is a good option at the markets as you can easily eat it in sandwich form. If you can’t find it at the markets, one of the best, cheapest and freshest versions can be found at Belvárosi.
• Hungarian salami – Mild and spicy versions of this specialty are easy to come by in Budapest. For the most extensive range, go to the Great Market Hall.
• Pancakes – Sweet and savoury pancakes are a great snack in the festive atmosphere. This is a cheap street food that is commonly available.
• Dobos torta – This famous Hungarian cake layered with chocolate buttercream and topped with a thin layer of caramel. There are many Hungarian cake shops around Budapest, but Cafe Gerbeaud in Varosmarty Square is one of the most famous and fanciest places to try it. You can order a takeaway or eat inside the beautiful, historic cafe. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, you can get a more affordable slice at Jégbüfé at Kígyó utca 4-6 in the 5th district.
• Tokaj wine – It’s not just Slovakia where you can find the famous Tokaj wine region; it also crosses the border into Hungary. While this region isn’t near Budapest, you can get this sweet wine everywhere. It’s a lovely complement to a slice of dobos torta.
• Palinka – Every country has their own version of brandy; in Hungary, it is known as palinka. It comes in various fruit flavours, and you can get shots from food trucks and bars. Of course, it’s very strong, so it won’t be to everyone’s liking, but you might find a flavour you like.
• Unicum – A strong herbal liqueur unique to Hungary, this is a very special drink that locals drink as an aperitif or digestif. First produced in 1790, the drink is bitter and, in my opinion, tastes awful. It’s most definitely an acquired taste. You can read about the long history of the drink here.

Unique Traditions

One of the celebrated traditions is Mikulás, the Hungarian name for St. Nicholas Day. Occurring in early December, it’s a special time when St. Nicholas visits to deliver gifts to children.

Another custom in Hungary is the making of traditional gingerbread. Infused with cinnamon and cloves, they are decorated with Hungarian folk patterns, often in the national colours of red, green, and white.

Travel Information

Visit Hungary publishes the latest information for locals and travellers that can help with trip planning ideas. They used to share the market dates but don’t seem to anymore.

Sustainability Tips

• Shop with care: Try to only to purchase what you need rather than indulge in impulse buying.
• Transport: Budapest has a well-established public transport network. Trams and the metro are the easiest way to get around. You can my tickets on the street at bigger tram stops and at all metro stations. Waking and cycling are excellent ways to explore the city.
• Green hotels: Budapest has several eco-friendly accommodation options powered by renewable energy. They’re generally very affordable too.
• Avoid short-stay apartments: Short-term rentals can lead to a lack of affordable housing for locals.
• Eat local organic food: Eating locally sourced organic food supports Hungarian farmers and biodiversity.
• Explore beyond tourist areas: Exploring the less-explored areas of Budapest can offer visitors a more authentic experience while contributing to the local economy. Try the 8th district for somewhere different. This is known as the Palace District for good reason!
• Attend local events: Budapest hosts many art and cultural events annually. It’s a big city with lots going on.

If you have any questions or comments about visiting the Budapest Xmas market or visiting Budapest in winter more generally, please leave a comment below.

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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.