Budapest

Discover The Christmas Markets in Budapest

All you need to know about the Christmas Markets in Budapest

As the holiday season approaches, Budapest transforms into a winter wonderland, and if you are lucky, that might involve some snow. If not, you are in for some gray. But Christmas markets offer a truly magical experience for locals and visitors, although in recent years locals are less enthusiastic about the overpriced food that usually under delivers. While the warm smell of mulled wine and chimney cake fills the air, they also warm the body and nourish the soul.

So here are some of the must-visit Christmas markets and a few off the beaten path ones in Budapest. Keep in mind that as Christmas approaches, the markets are getting busier and busier. Budapest’s Christmas markets are a delightful way to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit and experience the city’s rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re shopping for unique gifts, savoring delicious foods, or simply soaking in the festive atmosphere, these markets are sure to create lasting memories.

Your trip to Budapest can get even more interesting. Transform your Budapest adventure into an unforgettable experience with my exclusive market and food tours. Join me for a private or small group tour of two of Budapest’s most vibrant markets. Discover hidden gems, savor local flavors, and immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture. Let me be your guide to an authentic Budapest experience! I offer private and small group market and food tours. You can read more about here or you can book the experience here.

Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market

Located in the heart of Budapest, at the end or the beginning of fashion street (locally known as Váci utca), the Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market branded as Vorosmarty Classic Xmas is one of the oldest and most popular in the city. The market features beautifully decorated wooden stalls, selling a variety of handcrafted gifts, traditional Hungarian foods (langos, chimney cake, stuffed cabbage, goulash, all kinds of grilled meats and sausages) and festive drinks. Visitors can enjoy live music performances and watch artisans at work, creating unique items right before their eyes. My friends from Spiritus Metalli are also out there with blacksmith and jewelry demos along with some handcrafted jewelry. Maybe it is just me, but here is something relaxing and mesmerizing about hearing the hammer strike down on hot metal sitting on an anvil.

Opening hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Friday – Saturday: 11:00 am –10:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Holiday opening hours:

December 24.: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

December 25 – 26.: 12:00 pm – 6.00 pm

December 29 – 30.: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

December 31.: 11:00 am – 03.00 am

https://vorosmartyclassicxmas.hu/en/home/

St. Stephen’s Basilica Christmas Market

I remember the days when I recommended this market to my guests as it was basically unknown to tourists and even locals were skeptical about it. (Keep on reading as I’ll have some off the beaten path recommendations again. I can’t guarantee that they will be as big as this one though:) Set against the stunning backdrop of St. Stephen’s Basilica, this market is known for its picturesque setting and festive atmosphere. It also managed to snag The Best Christmas Market award in Europe three years in a row now. The market boasts an ice skating rink, a large Christmas tree, and a light show projected onto the basilica’s facade starting at 5:30 pm. Shoppers can find a wide range of gifts, from handmade jewelry to traditional Hungarian delicacies. Concerts starting at 5 pm on some days.

Opening hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Friday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Holiday opening hours

December 24.: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

December 25–26.: 11:00 pm – 8.00 pm

December 31.: 11:00 am – 03.00 am

January 1.: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

https://adventbazilika.hu/en/

Both of these markets will offer food themed weekends.

Themes include goulash, stuffed cabbage, goose just to name a few. Both locations will also offer a cheaper food option for the budget savvy traveler 1600 HUF (around 4 euros) on the weekdays and 2500 HUF (6 euros) on the weekends.

These two are the most famous and most common ones. I can’t say for sure if every district has their own market but it’s highly likely. If you have the time and want to see other parts of the city than the “downtown” part, if you don’t mind the sometimes very minimal selection of food and limited selection of stuff, you might want to consider skipping the big crowds and tourists and head to one of these truly off the beaten path markets. They might not be as grand and famous as their downtown cousins, but they are usually less crowded, moderately priced and truly local. You can read about them in the next article.

Things to eat and drink

Lángos
Langallo/kenyérlángos
Chimney cake/kürtőskalács (preferably cooked over charcoals)
Gingerbread/mézeskalács
Mulled wine/forralt bor
Sausages/kolbász, hurka
Roasted chestnuts/sült gesztenye

There are a lot of other options. I did not try them all, and what I did try were good but not a must try.

Tips for when Budapest’s Christmas Markets

Dress warmly: Budapest can get quite cold in December, so make sure to bundle up.
Enjoy the festive foods and drinks: Warm up with a cup of mulled wine (forralt bor) or hot chocolate, fill your belly with chimney cake or sausages.
Take your time: The markets can get crowded, especially on the weekends, so plan to visit during weekdays if possible, and make sure you have enough time to discover and enjoy.
Be patient: No matter what markets you go to, you probably will encounter people. Sometimes just a few, sometimes a lot, so be patient and take care of each other. It’s Christmas time afterall.

Best baths in Budapest 2

It feels great to freshen up at one of these baths after a morning full of delicious food that we will hopefully consume together in one of my markettours. If you’d like to read more about it you can do it here or you can book the experience here.

In this compilation of Budapest’s baths I collected some of the secret baths. They are lesser known and less touristy. There is a bath from the Turkish-Ottoman era and there is a fairly new resort. If you have enough time to venture out a bit to the unknown and spend a nice relaxing day a little out of the way this list is for you.

Veli bej

This one is my personal favorite. Veli Bej is a Turkish bath built at the same time as Rudas, commissioned by the same guy named Sokullu Mustafa Pasha. He was onto something as archaeologists found evidence of a nearby Roman bath as well. Attila the Hun had been camping out there as well. There was a bath already here when King Matthias reigned roughly a 100 years before the Pasha commissioned it. Long after the Turks left the city, Earl István Marczibányi donated the reconstructed building to the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God in 1806.

History wasn’t too kind to the building. Renovations and a hospital that was built almost on it took their toll. In 2000 the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God decided to restore it to its former glory. They didn’t mean the formal glory of 200 years ago but the one of 400 years ago. They have been operating it ever since. The bath is the city’s biggest Turkish bath with 5 pools and best kept secret. So much so that even locals don’t really know about it.

Open 7 days a week, Saturday and Sunday 6 AM to 12 PM, and from Monday to Sunday from 3 PM to 9 PM prices are between only 5000-5500 HUF (13-14 EUR).

(12-13 EUR). http://www.irgalmasrend.hu/site/velibej/sprachen/en

Dandár bath

It’s one of the first baths that was opened for the sole purpose of bathing – in the meaning of getting clean. You see, way back then there were no bathrooms in every apartment. It might have had one place on every floor where they had running water but a lot of times there wasn’t a bathroom per say. So in the late 1920s the city started to build bathhouses also known as sanitary baths, and Dandár was one of the first ones. At first the water was brought by cars from Széchenyi bath. In 1978, when the building was being renovated, a new well was dug nearby, specifically for this bath. Now it has 3 pools, all of them are operated with thermal water. The temperatures range between 20-36°C (68-97°F).

Opening hours from 9 AM to 7 PM, for 3600-3700 HUF(9.5 EUR). https://en.dandarfurdo.hu/

Dagaly

Anytime I drive by it, I always remember my grandmother. She told us this story when she was a little girl she and her friends would go to Dagaly. Thermal water was first discovered in the area in 1944 then some wells were built in 1948. That was just basically a floodplain. When I was looking for some older pictures of the pools, I also found an interesting article. It turns out that the Danube used to cover the area where Dagaly is currently located.

Now what’s even cooler, that there was an island across from Dagaly with hot springs. The island was scrapped during the river being regulated for ships to move around easier, however the springs of course are still there. I found a study where a few scientists went on a plane ride twice 4 years apart as the circumstances had to be perfect since the machines they were using would interfere with the sun’s reflection. So they had to go out just before sunrise and they had to do that when the river isn’t frozen but as cold as it could be so it’s easier to see the thermal differences on the thermal cameras. They proved the existence of the now underwater springs. This is not known by many Hungarians.

Dagály now itself is a big public pool with mineral rich waters. It’s a huge complex with around 12 pools. Water ranges from 16-40°C (60-105°F). I couldn’t find its own website nor a website with english info on it, so no prices. Also, take the opening hours with a grain of salt: 6 AM to 8 PM.

Aquaworld

Not a classic bath but more like a spa complex, or even a waterpark. It boasts 17 pools, 11 slides, a hotel and it covers an area of 21 acres; its parking lot can fit 1000 cars. With these numbers it is the largest waterpark-hotel complex in Central Europe. It’s a bit out of downtown but if you are looking to rub elbows with the locals and venture out a bit that might be for you. It’s definitely great to visit with kids.

Open everyday from 7 AM to 9 PM. The price for an adult is 6700-9700 HUF(17-25 EUR) and 25700 HUF (65 EUR) for a family with two under 14 year old children. https://www.aquaworldresort.hu/en/

If you like this article make sure you share with your friends and if you are visiting Budapest make sure to check out my private market and food tours here.

Best baths in Budapest 1

Relax and rejuvenate in Budapest’s historic thermal baths

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths. They are natural hot springs that have been used for centuries for healing and relaxation. The city has a rich history of bathing culture, dating back to Roman and Ottoman times. Today it offers a variety of baths to suit every taste and budget. In this article, I will explore some of the best thermal baths in Budapest, and what makes them unique and worth visiting. In part two, I will showcase a few lesser known but still pretty cool ones.

There are multiple sites to buy your ticket including third party vendors such as Viator, GetYourGuide, etc., however, they typically overcharge you anywhere between 20-40%. Most of Budapest’s baths are owned and operated by Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévizei Zrt., a private enterprise that is owned by the City.

Make sure you visit their official site, and buy your tickets there. You can also see the various baths the city has to offer, purchase your tickets there that will help you skip the line. You can read all the up to date information needed. I highly recommend getting your tickets directly generally but in this case it is even more important. I had clients telling how they basically got ripped off as they bought tickets from a third party vendor. As it turned out it was not a valid ticket to enter the spa as well as the ticket wasn’t the one they actually purchased. One particular case they thought they purchased a full day ticket but the harsh reality was that the ticket was only valid if the entry happened before 9 AM. Budapest is truly a city of spas, and visiting a thermal bath is a must-do activity for any traveler.

Széchenyi Baths

Széchenyi Thermal Baths is one of the largest and most popular bath complexes in Europe with the hottest hot spring in Europe with a whopping 77°C (170°F). It is located in City Park (Liget) and has 18 pools, including three outdoor pools, and various saunas, steam rooms and massage services. The water temperature ranges from 18°C (64°F) to 40°C (104°F), and the water contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sulfate, that are said to have beneficial effects on the joints, muscles and skin. The architecture of the bath is truly impressive, featuring neo-baroque and neo-renaissance styles.

The bath first opened in Budapest doors in 1913 but unfortunately the architect Gyozo Czigler (Czigler Győző) died by then. It was damaged during WWII and renovation consisted of mostly patching up that needed to be patched up. The real renovation started in 1997. The atmosphere is lively and festive again, especially on weekends and summer nights. What I mean by that is it tends to get crowded.

Széchenyi Baths is open every day from 6 AM to 10 PM, and the entrance fee is 8400-14000 HUF (23-37 EUR). They also offer overpriced swim gear such as robes, towels, slippers if you happen to not have them on you. I highly advise anyone visiting to buy those accessories at a department store for a fraction of the price. It is one of the best, most stunning and biggest bath complex Budapest has to offer. https://www.szechenyibath.hu/

Rudas Bath

Rooftop pool at Rudas Thermal Bath Budapest

Rudas Baths is one of the oldest and most authentic baths in Budapest. It dates back to the 16th century, when it was built by the Ottomans. It has a distinctive Turkish dome and an octagonal pool that has been operating as a therapeutic swimming facility. There is a sauna as well as six smaller pools with different temperatures and mineral compositions. The water contains fluoride, sodium and bicarbonate, which are claimed to help with degenerative joint diseases, chronic inflammations, and spinal problems. The thermal bath also has a modern wellness section with a rooftop pool that offers, one of the best views of Budapest and the Danube.

Rudas Baths is open every day from 6 AM to 8 PM, but the Turkish bath is only open for men on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and for women on Tuesdays. On weekends, the bath is mixed, and the wellness section is open until 8 PM. They also offer night bathing from 10 PM to 3 AM on Friday and Saturday. No kids under 14 are allowed. The price ranges from 6400 HUF (17 EUR) to 12600 HUF (33 EUR). For the most up to date information please visit the official site of Rudas bath.

Gellért Baths

Gellért Baths is another iconic thermal bath in Budapest. Located in the same building as the elegant Gellért Hotel. It was built in the early 20th century. However there are records about the “miraculous” springs spurting up in the area as early as the 15th century. These springs were favored by the Turks. The building features stunning art nouveau style architecture with colorful mosaics, stained glass windows and marble columns.

The bath has 13 pools, including an indoor wave pool and an outdoor pool with a jacuzzi and a fountain. The water temperature varies from 26°C (79°F) to 40°C (104°F), and the water contains calcium, magnesium, sulfate and chloride, which are supposed to improve blood circulation, digestion and metabolism. The bath also offers various treatments, such as massages, mud therapy and aromatherapy.

Gellért Baths is open every day from 9 AM to 7 PM, with prices ranging between 10500 HUF (27 EUR) and 20000 HUF (52 EUR) for a 90 minute private session for two. https://www.gellertbath.hu/

Lukács Baths

Lukács Baths is a less touristy bath in Budapest, located near Margaret Island (Margitsziget). It has a long history of being a healing center, and it has a wall of marble plaques from grateful patients who were cured by the water. The bath has six pools, including four thermal pools and two swimming pools, and the water temperature ranges from 24°C (75°F) to 40°C (104°F). The water contains calcium, magnesium, hydrogen-carbonate, sulfate and fluoride, which are believed to help with rheumatic and muscular disorders, kidney and urinary problems, and also stress. The bath has a sauna world with five different saunas, an ice cooling pool, an igloo and a heated roman bench.

“In the 12th century, knights of the order of Saint John engaging in curing the sick settled in the area of today’s Lukács Bath, followed by the orders of Rhodos and Malta. The bath operated through the time of the Turks but the energy of the springs were used primarily to produce gunpowder and for grinding wheat. After the reoccupation of Buda, the bath became the property of the Treasury. In 1884, Fülöp Palotay purchased the bath from the Treasury, thus a series of transformations began.” (source: https://en.lukacsfurdo.hu/past-and-present) It also has a drinking fountain that was built in 1937.

Lukács Baths is open every day from 7 AM to 7 PM. Prices are 4800 HUF to 5200 HUF (12-14 EUR) https://en.lukacsfurdo.hu/

These baths and countless others are the reason why Budapest is also called the city of baths. Make sure you visit one these stunning buildings and literally soak up the history of these buildings.

Getting to and from the airport

There are several ways to get to the city center of Budapest from the airport, depending on your budget and preference. Here are some of the options you can choose from:

FőTaxi: This is the official taxi service of the airport, and you can find them outside the terminals.
They charge by the meter, and the average fare to the city center is around 10500-13000 HUF (about 27-35 EUR). You can pay by cash or card, and you can also book online or by phone. This option is little more on the expensive side, but it can be a better suited option for people with more luggage. For the most up to date prices and information please visit the official site of főtaxi.

Airport Minibus: This is a shared shuttle service that will take you to your destination in the city. You can book online or at the airport, and the price is 7500 HUF (about 25 EUR) per person. As it’s a shared service the time to reach your destination might take longer than a cab and in some instances then public transport. But it’s still a more convenient way to get to downtown for half the cost. For the most up to date prices and information please visit the minibud official website.

Public transportation: This is the cheapest way, and offers multiple ways to get to downtown.
To get to Deák Ferenc or Kálvin Tér, which is one of the main hubs of the city, and it’s closely located to the jewish quarter. You will need to take a bus. The bus number is 100E. It runs every 6-10 minutes on Mondays and Fridays, during the day. Every 7-10 minutes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, during the day, every 10-15 in the mornings and evenings,every 30-40 minutes on average at night. The trip roughly takes 30-45 minute. the cost is 2200 HUF (about 7 EUR)
For the most up to date schedule please refer to the public transportation’s website.
Alternatively, you can take the bus number 200E, which runs every 10 minutes from both terminals to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station, which is the end of the blue metro line (M3). The ticket costs 400 HUF (about 1 EUR), and you can buy it at the airport from a machine or from the driver. The journey takes about 20 minutes. From there, you can take the metro to the city center, which costs another 400 HUF. The metro runs every 3-5 minutes on the weekdays during the day 5-8 on weekends holidays and őff hours, and 15 minutes at night til 11ish pm. You can also take the bus number 200E to Ferihegy train station, which is 12 minutes away from the airport. The ticket costs 400 HUF as well. From there, you can take a train to Nyugati railway station, which is in the city center. The train ticket costs around 700 HUF (about 2 EUR), and you can buy it at the station or online.

Private transfer: This is the most convenient and hassle-free option, but it is also the most expensive.You can book a private car or van online or by phone, and the driver will wait for you at the airport with a sign with your name. The price varies depending on the company and the vehicle, but it can range from 12000 HUF (about 33 EUR) to 28,000 HUF (about 75 EUR) for a one-way trip. You can pay by cash or card, and you can also request a guided tour or a stop at a sightseeing spot along the way.

Things to avoid: Licensed cab drivers must work with a set fare that is set by the city. Fotaxi, Bolt, City taxi, Budapest taxi, Taxify and all other operators are using the same rate. There are however independent operators also known as freelancers. It’s easy to spot them,
as there is no company logo on their vehicle and on the door it says “Freelancer” or “Independent”. Legally they do work with the same rate everybody does. But unfortunately their meter is rigged so they measure distance very differently, which means you can be paying multiple times more then you should. They also tend take you around town as they know you don’t know the city. This way a two block ride can easily turn into an unwanted sightseeing with a cost to match that. You will also find drivers at the airport exit offering their services. They are highly likely one of those independent ones. Please avoid them at all cost. They can be found everywhere where tourist are railway stations, famous sights (Great Market Hall, Parliament, Castle etc) boat docks, waiting for tourists unbeknownst to their shady tactics.

If you liked the article make sure to check out my market tours.

I hope this information helps you plan your trip to Budapest. Have a wonderful time in this beautiful city! 😊