Get the lowdown on Budapest's best Christmas markets.
Looking to mix up some Christmas spirit? We’ve got the tonic. Taking off to a Christmas market-packed city on a TUI city break during November or December is bound to get you all geared up for the big day. Wooden market stalls selling souvenirs and festive foods have been a tradition in Britain’s biggest cities, as well as its European counterparts, for hundreds of years. The history books tell us that Christmas markets were on the scene as far back as the late 13th century. Fast forward more than seven centuries, and markets and mulled wine are still firmly on the agenda – just as soon as the calendar flicks to November.
Where should I go on Christmas market city break, we hear you ask? Hungary’s head honcho, Budapest, hosts not one, but two huge markets, and both are loaded up with more than 100 stalls. We’ve checked out a trio of the city’s Christmas markets to give you the inside scoop.
The map’s marked with a pair of hotspots when it comes to Christmas markets in Budapest. Budapest Christmas Fair takes its place in Vorosmarty Square – it’s the bigger of the two, hosting more than 100 stalls selling sausages, goulash and other Hungarian specialities. The market tends to open its doors towards the backend of November, and keeps them open daily right up until New Year’s Eve.
The other main marketplace is just outside St Stephen’s Basilica, where the church’s facade features a festive display each evening. An ice rink takes centre stage here, set under a canopy of fairy lights which extend from a Christmas tree at the centre of the ice. Wrapped around its edges, stalls sell everything from festive gifts to mulled wine. It’s easy work to flit between the two main markets – they’re less than a 10-minute stroll apart.
Budapest often wins awards for its Christmas markets, and it’s usually one in particular that takes the crown. Namely, the market that sets up shop outside St Stephen’s Basilica – AKA Advent Feast at the Basilica. This place comes with a super festive soundtrack, with brass bands and gospel choirs covering all of the Christmas classics. When it comes to opening times, this place has a similar set-up to the Christmas Fair, opening up for visitors towards the end of November until New Year’s Day.
If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds and do as the locals do, Obuda’s Christmas market is just the ticket. This district is just a dash across the Danube – it’s around a 15-minute drive or a 30-minute tram ride from St Stephen’s Basilica. Unlike the main markets, this place only opens its doors over the weekend. Christmas concerts and puppet shows are often the headline acts on the stage that sits in the main square. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs, with Hungarian handicrafts and delicacies filling the tables on its handful of stalls.
While the two big-name markets form the main stomping ground for winter holidays to Budapest, there’s way more to this place beyond its festive stalls. A trip to the Jewish Quarter is well worth it – here, old ruins have been converted into trendy bars. Meanwhile, the city’s bathhouses – heated by thermal springs – offer up a great way to get toasty when the temperatures take a dip. That’s just the warm-up, with TUI experiences there are plenty of other options for days and nights out – and, what’s more, you can suss out your options and get your trips booked in before you go.
Ready to check out other European Christmas Markets? City breaks aren’t the only way to make ground on Europe’s collection of Christmas markets. TUI River Cruises line up a list of festive sailings during November and December which pull into ports in towns and cities bursting with Christmas cheer. Plus, you won’t need to break the bank with our river cruise deals for this winter.
Ready to book your festive city break?
Check out all info on city breaks to Budapest, or have a look at the best Christmas markets around the globe.
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Author: Karl Taylor
Last updated: 19.10.2022
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