Christmas in Budapest

If you’re thinking about spending Christmas in what is widely regarded as one of Central

Europe’s most beautiful cities then you would be making an excellent choice. The

architecture is stunning, the accommodation Budapest has to offer is warm and

inviting and the Hungarians make excellent hosts.

Although global warming has decreased the chances of there being snow over the

holiday period, the weather should still be bright and cold making it ideal for exploring

the city and experiencing all it has to offer.

There is something magical about old European cities at this time of year. The

atmosphere is hard to beat in many but thanks to the romantic Danube River which

flows through the center of Budapest, dividing Buda (West Bank) and Pest (East Bank)

into two, your stay here is sure to be a memorable one. As for accommodation

Budapest has plenty to offer those on a budget or those wanting to splash out.

So what does Budapest have to entertain the Christmas vacationer? Many Hungarians

cherish tradition and like to celebrate the festive period as it has been done for hundreds

of years.

One of the most famous of these customs is the Budapest Christmas Fair which is held in

the center of the city in Vörösmarty Square. With over 100 wooden stalls selling

everything from high quality arts and handicrafts to delicious mulled wine, this is the

perfect place to pick up a last minute gift or a souvenir. This year the fair runs from the

18th of November to the 30th of December.

If you’re in Budapest with your significant other what could be more romantic than an

evening cruse down the Danube? The buildings along the banks of the river and the

bridges will be strung with lights making it the ideal backdrop to an evening of traditional

Hungarian fare and a live band.

For more music head to the Danube Palace, or Duna Palota as it’s called in Hungarian,

for their fabulous Christmas Chamber Concert which is held on Christmas Day.

So how do Hungarians themselves celebrate Christmas? The main day of celebration is

Christmas Eve – Szenteste or Holy Night – and families will gather in the afternoon to

adorn their tree with colorful paper decorations and candy. Later on they will enjoy a

Christmas feast of fish soup, stuffed cabbage, pastry rolls stuffed with poppy seeds and

walnut or chestnut stuffing. Presents are opened in the evening whilst listening to

traditional Christmas songs and at midnight everyone will head to Midnight Mass, even

the non-religious who still enjoy the joyful atmosphere in the pine scented churches.

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day people visit family and friends in their homes to

spend time with one another and to eat, drink and be merry.

On a practical note, if you’re going to be in Budapest over this period, it may be of use

to know that shops close early in the afternoon on the 24th. Some will open again on the

27th but many stay closed right up until New Year’s Day. Restaurants are completely

shut on Christmas Eve too, but some will open on the 25th. As for accommodation

Budapest gets booked up quickly at this time of year, so don’t wait too much longer

before deciding whether or not to visit this fascinating city.