Christmas in Budapest

Things to do in Budapest at Christmas eve

Christmas in Budapest, Hungary is a traditional family celebration when families get together to celebrate the birth day of Jesus Christ or simply to enjoy the company of relatives , have a nice dinner, exchange presents as a sign of love and gratitude and enjoy the charm of this night.

If you are spending Christmas Eve in Budapest I advise you to get to know a little about how Hungarians celebrate Christmas Eve, then you can have an idea about what to do on that day.

 

On Christmas Eve most Budapest attractions are closed and all businesses close to public around 2:00 pm. Public transportation means such as metro and trams stop running at 4:00 pm until next day ( night bus services run instead).

During December 25th and 26th it is a Hungarian custom to visit relatives and close friends to have a nice time enjoying Christmas meals and desserts, so most businesses are closed on those days as well.


Things to Do at Christmas Eve

You must be wondering what you can do on this day in Budapest if almost everyone is spending time with family. Don’t worry here I have made a list of places that you can visit and things you can still do at Christmas in Budapest.

– Visit one of the Budapest’s Christmas markets, there is a nice variety of handmade traditional Hungarian crafts, not only Christmas stuff. Here you can also try Hungarian cuisine and typical Hungarian specialties you shouldn’t miss such as langos, kurtoskalács, ginger bread biscuits or beigli.

Classical music concerts are very popular in Budapest churches and on December 24th, St. Michael’s Church is hosting a great Mozart concert performed by outstanding Hungarian artists. St. Michael’s church is located on bustling Váci street and is home to one of the most beautiful main altars in Budapest.

-Some of the best Budapest Museums are open on the morning of December 24th. The National museum, the National Gallery, the Statue Park, Matthias Church ( 1 pm and 3:00 pm) and the Buda Castle Labyrinth open their doors from 10.00 am until 1:00 pm.

– If you are traveling with children or want to experience a favorite weekend activity for locals you can go to the Budapest Zoo, the Circus (10:30 am) and the City’s Ice Skating rink that will be open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

– You can enjoy the benefits of thermal waters at one of the Budapest baths. Széchenyi, Rudas(this day is open for both sexes) and Gellért baths will be open on December 24th from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm. Király baths will be closed.

Make sure you get back to your hotel before 4:00 pm otherwise you might have to walk a lot.


Where to have a nice Christmas Dinner?

You must be also wondering what you can do after 4:00 in the afternoon when all shops, Budapest attractions and restaurants close?

At this time, most Hungarians are giving the finishing touches to their Christmas tree and dinner. On this night, most places are closed but there are still some restaurants that offer special Christmas and Christmas Eve dinner.

xChristmasDinnerCruiseBudapest.jpg.pagespeed.ic.nKz2AtK6be– You can have a great Christmas celebration 2012 with a wonderful dinner cruise on the Danube river. Enjoy a traditional Hungarian Christmas dinner with melodies of classical and traditional Hungarian music performed by 3 members of the awarded Hungaria Orchestra, including the world-famous violinist Zsigmond Vidak.

This is an unforgettable experience that combines beautiful Budapest’s night scenes, great music and a fabulous traditional Hungarian dinner. Learn more here a detailed program for the evening, prices and menu.


-You can book a Christmas dinner at your hotel. Most hotels offer special programs for that night. If your hotel doesn’t, then you might want to book a Christmas dinner in another hotel, but you should do it in advance.

-Kempinski hotel, LeMeridien, Onyx Restaurant (pricey) and Continental Zara hotel (very affordable) are some of the hotels that offer Christmas Eve dinner.

I advise you to check these hotels websites for prices and Menu.

Merry Christmas – Boldog Karácsonyt!!


Related pages

Hungarian Christmas Traditions   l  Things to Do in December   l  


 

Return from Christmas in Budapest to Hungarian Christmas Traditions

Return from Christmas in Budapest to Things to Do in Budapest in December

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