13 Epic Things to Do in Budapest in Winter
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Budapest in winter can be either like a Christmas wonderland or a dark and gloomy place. I love the city in December: the Christmas markets, festive food, and decorations make the city come alive.
The vibes change in January and February, right after the Christmas holidays. The city becomes quieter, there are fewer tourists, and everyone is at home recovering from the holiday season. The weather is the coldest at this time, it gets dark in the afternoon, and there is very little sunshine.
Still, there are pros and cons to visiting in winter. December is fun because of Christmas, but it is also one of the most expensive and crowded times to visit. January and February are low season, so it’s not just that there are less tourists, you also get flights and hotels at a cheaper price.
Even though it’s cold during winter, there are still many things to do in the city. Plus, it might even snow!
BUDAPEST WINTER ESSENTIALS:
✈️ Travel Insurance: SafetyWing (affordable travel insurance for Budapest)
💳 Travel Card: Wise (best exchange rates for card payments and ATM withdrawals)
🛳️ Best Winter Experience: Budapest River Cruise
Top Things to Do in Budapest in Winter
Chill in the Thermal Baths
Budapest is famous for its thermal baths, and one of my favourite times to visit is in the winter. The baths can be visited all year around, but I love chilling in the warm thermal baths when the weather is cold outside.
Széchenyi Thermal Baths is the biggest baths in Budapest, and it has 18 pools (15 indoor and 3 outdoor pools). I remember one time, we went to Széchenyi in the winter, and the outdoor pools were so fun while it was snowing. It can get busy, especially on Saturdays, so for the weekends, I recommend booking your ticket ahead.
There are also some smaller baths in Budapest that are mostly visited by locals. They are not as big as Széchenyi, but if you want a more local experience, then check out Veli Bej Baths, Lukács, or Rudas Baths.
➡️ Pre-book a ticket for the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, especially if you go on Saturday as it can get busy!
Go Ice-Skating
During winter, lots of ice-skating rinks are set up all throughout Budapest. One of the most popular ice-rinks is at the City Park.
The City Park is close to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths and Heroes’ Square, and there is a big artificial lake within the park. In the summer, you can go boating on the lake, while in the winter, they turn the lake into a massive ice-rink.
My mom used to bring us ice-skating here when I was a kid. Later, I came every year with my friends when I still lived in Budapest. It’s really fun in the winter, even if you are not a pro ice-skater. I am not that good at ice-skating, but you can just go slowly on the outer side of the rink, where mostly beginners skate.
Go on a River Cruise
Going on a river cruise is one of the most iconic things to do in Budapest. Some people think the cruises are a tourist trap, but they are actually worth it! I am originally from Budapest and still enjoy the cruises whenever I have the chance to go.
Seeing the city from the river gives you a totally different perspective than when you are exploring the city on foot. You get amazing views of some of the most famous buildings in Budapest, such as the Parliament and Buda Castle.
The cruises run all throughout the year, and the boats are heated in the winter, so you don’t feel cold. I once went on a cruise in the winter, and it was warm and cozy inside the ship. It also had an outer deck which was open, so we just went there for a few minutes to take photos and then went back inside the heated area.
There are various cruises, some are just basic sightseeing cruises that are great if you are on a budget. Other cruises include dinner, drinks, and live music & folk-dance show.
➡️ Book an evening Budapest River Cruise! Budapest is the most beautiful in the evening: you get to see the city in the evening lights and see the historic buildings lit up. It’s my favourite time for a cruise!
Visit the Christmas Markets in December
If you are visiting Budapest in December, then the Christmas Markets are a must! The two most popular Christmas markets are the Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market and the Basilica Christmas Market. There are also several smaller markets across the city, so if you walk around town, you are bound to bump into smaller markets as well.
I remember visiting the Christmas markets ever since I was a kid. I am not always home for Christmas now, but whenever I do make it, I love hanging out at the Christmas Markets. There is everything from mulled wine to traditional Hungarian food, and handicrafts to live music, so you are bound to get into the Christmas holiday vibes!
Watch the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a Christmas classic, and there are shows you can also see in Budapest. The most popular place for ballet is at the State Opera. The Opera is a historic building, and its architecture is beautifully designed. The tickets can get sold out ahead of time, so make sure to buy it a couple of months ahead of time.
Last Christmas, we got to see the Nutcracker at the Budapest Congress Center. It’s less fancy than the Opera but it was more affordable and the show was also good! If you want to watch the Nutcracker, but looking for a more affordable option, then I really recommend the Budapest Congress Center.
Try Hungarian Food
If you visit Hungary, you also have to try the local cuisine! Goulash is the most famous Hungarian dish, but there is so much more to the Hungarian cuisine. Many dishes include meat, so if you are vegetarian or vegan, you may struggle a bit.
Apart from Goulash, make sure to try pörkölt (pork/beef stew), stuffed cabbage (cabbage stuffed with minced meat), lángos (deep-fried dough with sour cream and cheese), chicken paprikash, and chicken soup.
In winter, there are some typical Hungarian snacks and desserts that are great to have. Chimney cake is my favourite dessert in the winter, although you can get it all throughout the year. Beigli (dessert made with poppy seeds or walnut) is a traditional Christmas dessert. Mulled wine is also traditional during winter, especially during Christmas, you can get them at the Christmas Markets.
➡️ Join a Budapest food tour and try the best of Hungarian food and drinks: Goulash soup, chicken paprikash, lángos, desserts, wine and pálinka (vegetarian and non-alcoholic options included)
Take the Christmas Trams
Many of the trams are decorated with Christmas lights in December for the holiday season which make taking the public transport in December more fun! It is safe to take public transport in Budapest, and it is also an affordable way to get around the city.
Tram 2 goes on a route in Budapest that passes by iconic landmarks in the city. Its route starts from the Parliament, then goes along the River Danube with views over to the Buda side, including the views of the Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion. Even if you don’t want to take public transport all throughout your trip, taking Tram 2 once is worth it!
Get Hungarian Delicacies at the Central Market Hall
The Central Market Hall is the biggest market hall in Budapest. It’s a must-visit if you are curious what a traditional Hungarian market is like, but it has become very touristy in the last couple of years. I remember it used to be a place where only Hungarian used to do their weekly shopping, and now it’s almost like a tourist trap.
The market has three floors. The basement doesn’t have that much going, it only has a few shops. The ground and top floor have a lot more stuff. On the ground floor, they sell typical Hungarian delicacies like salami, sausages, paprika spice powder, chocolate, wine, and pálinka (Hungarian alcohol made from fruits). On the top floor, they have a few restaurants selling Hungarian food, and handicrafts items.
The Central Market Hall has become overpriced, but if you are short on time, it’s a good place to buy Hungarian souvenirs as you can get everything in once place. If you have more time, you can get most of the things in general shops. For food and drinks (salami, paprika powder, wine, pálinka), you can get them at supermarkets like CBA or Tesco. They have the regular prices in supermarkets and not overpriced like at the Central Market Hall.
Explore the City in Snow
The biggest chance for snow in Budapest is in January and February, but sometimes it can also snow in December. It’s been many years that we didn’t get proper snow during Christmas. Sometimes, it snows a little around Christmas, but it melts away quickly.
Even the snow in January and February tends to melt away quickly, but very rarely we get proper snow that lasts for weeks. Last winter, I was back home in Budapest, and we had the biggest snow in 10 years. The city turned into a magical wonderland, and all the famous buildings looked stunning in the snow.
If it happens to snow while you are in Budapest, make sure to go for a walk around the city, check out the Parliament, and the Fisherman’s Bastion. I went on a walk in Budapest when it was snowing, and the view from the Fisherman’s Bastion is great: you get a view of the city, Danube and the Parliament covered in snow.
It gets very cold when it snows, so make sure to pack warm clothes that you can wear in layers. When I was walking around Budapest in the snow, I was dressed in very warm layers and still started to feel cold after one hour outside. I took some tea breaks to warm up, then continued exploring the city!
Have Coffee in the Most Beautiful Cafe in the World
The most famous cafe in Budapest is the New York Cafe. It is a stunning cafe with marble columns and crystal chandeliers, and due to its beautiful architecture, it is called as the most beautiful cafe in the world.
The cafe has become very touristy, with massive queues outside. To be honest, the food is not that extraordinary, but if you want to check the cafe, you can just come and have a coffee.
I visited the cafe with my family around Christmas last year, and we were pretty much the only Hungarians. The waitress also told us that it’s usually only foreigners that come by. We went early morning just before 8 am, at that time there were only a few people in front of us in the queue, and we got into the cafe after 10 minutes of waiting.
The cafe is overpriced compared to other cafes and restaurants, but the cafe is more about its atmosphere inside than the food, and it’s a great place to escape the cold winter days in Budapest!
Go on a Day Trip
Winter can get pretty cold in Budapest, but there are a few places that you can visit on a day trip from Budapest.
One of the best places near Budapest is Szentendre. It’s small town just one hour outside Budapest by public transport. If you take a taxi, you can get there in 30 minutes. It’s a charming town with cobblestone streets, river views, and museums.
Eger is another great place to visit from Budapest. It’s got a lot of different things for a small town in Hungary: an old castle, a basilica (second biggest church in Hungary), cute cafes and restaurants, a Beatles Museum, a thermal bath, a Turkish monument, and wine you must try. It’s officially my favourite place in Hungary!
Other places you can visit from Budapest include Gödöllő, Visegrád or you can even go on a day trip over to Vienna!
➡️ Book a day trip to Eger: the best place to visit in Hungary outside of Budapest!
Hang Out at the Ruin Bars
Budapest has a great nightlife, and is known for its quirky bars, the ruin bars! The ruin bars were set up in run-down buildings, and they use funny furniture, like bathtubs for chairs. They used to be alternative places, but now they have become pretty touristy over the years. Lots of people now just go to the ruin bars to take photos, not even staying for a drink.
Still, if you are in Budapest, you should definitely check out the ruin bars. Some of the most popular ones are Instant and Szimpla Kert.
See the Light Show at Lumina Park
The Lumina Park is located on the Margaret Island in Budapest, and it runs a light show during the winter months from end of October until the beginning of March every year. It has installations from famous monuments from around the world, Christmas themed installations, and ones from Disney movies.
I came here with my family and took us around two hours to check out the whole place. What I liked the most is that it’s fun for all ages in the family. The only thing is that it gets very cold in the winter, so make sure to dress in warm layers. I started to get cold after one hour, even though I dressed warm, but they have some small cafes where you can buy a hot drink to warm up.
Tips for Visiting Budapest in Winter
The average temperature in winter in Budapest is between -2.7 °C (27 °F) to 4.7 °C (40 °F) but in reality, it can get much colder, even down to -10 °C (14 °F). It’s so cold that you can’t even stay outside for hours without starting to feel cold.
Last winter I was in Budapest, and I went to walk around the city. I dressed in super warm layers, and still, I started to feel cold after one hour. So, if you are visiting Budapest, definitely pack warm clothes for winter: winter boots, thick socks, thermal layers, winter coat, and clothes you can wear in layers. I also wore tights under my jeans, and it helped a bit.
It might also snow in Budapest in winter, which looks magical for some time, but it also means that the roads and pavements become icy and slippery, so be careful when walking out and about.
Whenever I plan a trip abroad, I always prepare for emergencies. You never know what may go wrong. Airlines can lose luggage, your items can be stolen, or you can have a medical emergency. For all my trips, I use the travel insurance by SafetyWing. It’s one of the most affordable travel insurances and covers you for major emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Budapest in winter?
You can explore the best of Budapest in three days. Three days in the city is enough to visit the major attractions (Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, Heroes’ Square), and also to go on a river cruise and chill in the baths. The best plan is to spend one day exploring Pest, one day exploring Buda, and one more day to visit any place you didn’t have time to on your first two days.
Does it snow in Budapest?
The most chance of snow in Budapest is in January and February. Many years ago, it used to start snowing in December, and there was a chance of snow around Christmas. Recently, there was very little chance of snow at Christmas, even if it snows, it melts away quickly. Usually there is some snowfall every winter, but proper snow only happens maybe once every 10 years.
Are Budapest thermal baths open in the winter?
Yes, the Budapest thermal baths are open in winter. They are open all year around, and actually, winter is one of the best times to go. The thermal baths have warm water pools, and they are the best in the winter so you can warm up.
Is February a good month to go to Budapest?
February is one of the coldest months in Budapest, but it is low season so there are fewer tourists and lower prices. If you don’t mind the cold, February is good as you can get cheaper flight tickets, and better hotel deals!
Is Budapest expensive in winter?
The prices depend on when in winter you visit. The prices (flights, hotels) are high in December due to the Christmas holiday season. Then, January and February are low season, and prices are also lower. During this time, the flights are the cheapest, hotels have discounts, and there are fewer tourists in town.
My Final Tips for Visiting Budapest in Winter
Winter is a great time to visit Budapest! In December, you get to see the city during the Christmas holiday season: Christmas markets, decorations, and festive vibes. In January and February, it’s low season, and you get cheap flight and hotels deals.
As a local, I love the Christmas markets. They are overpriced, but they really bring you into the Christmas holiday spirit. You also don’t have to spend that much, you can just have some mulled wine and then have food elsewhere.
When planning to visit Budapest in winter, I recommend packing warm winter clothes. If you are visiting Budapest around Christmas, then make sure to book your flight tickets and hotel well in advance. The flight tickets keep going up, and the best hotels can get sold out around Christmas.
If you visit in January or February, prepare for gloomy weather. It’s cloudy, rainy, no sunshine, and it gets dark around 4 pm. I found the weather was very dark and sad in winter. But on the positive side, there are less tourists and you can get better flight and hotel deals.
➡️ Book a River Cruise in Budapest: The best thing to do all year round! In winter, the boats are heated, so you don’t feel cold. I recommend booking an evening cruise, so you can see the city lit up!
