Budapest Christmas Markets & "Best Christmas Market of All Time"

Updated some dates.

Thank you so much for this info. We will be in Vienna for 5 nights in early December, before continuing to Salzburg, Innsbruck and Munich. I was looking at a day trip to Györ, because I thought Budapest is too far for a day trip. We’re really just doing markets and popping into a cathedral here and there. My husband suggested we do an overnight to Budapest, in the middle of our Vienna stay. Do you think 1 full day is enough to be worth it? I’d want to stay into the evening to see the city lit up (knowing it gets dark early). And it looks like we can get a good hotel for about $125/nt. We would probably arrive by 11, then leave around 8 the next day.

I think you will enjoy it. The trip is on 2.5 hours on the train. With the limited time I think the hotel you choose will be important so you get the most out of the limited time. On a budget I would look at the Hotel Medosz or something similar on or near Andrassy ut and the M1 Metro (which has a stop in the center of the largest market). With a better budget the Marriott or the Intercontinental on the riverfront for really beautiful views and close to the markets. If you find others let me know and I can maybe tell you about the ease of the location. Then we work on easy transfer from train to hotel to the various markets .... and dinner (maybe river cruise dinner).

Mr E, I’m glad I asked! The hotel you mention is lovely, and we are very comfortable with metros. It looks like there might be a market in Jokai ter, right next to the hotel? My husband would love that!

I wouldn't count on much being on Jokai ter ... pretty small. But there is nice wine bar/shop. Walk down Andrassy ut and enjoy the lights and the beautiful buildings like the Opera. Lots of good restaurants along the way. At the end of Andrassy and to the right is the Basicila Market straight on towards the river is the Vorosmarty ter market. The M1 from Vorosmarty ter is a quick way to dinner or to the hotel. I think above is a link to a walking tour of a few markets.

Your hotel is also very near the Oktogon stop of the 4/6 Tram. So from Keleti Station use directions from Google Maps and the M2 and 4/6 Tram option. Along the way you will see typical Budapest and the famous NY Cafe
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/HY933A/an-interior-view-of-the-famous-new-york-cafe-in-budapest-hungary-HY933A.jpg.

Do buy a 24 or 72 hour travel card. The 72 hour might be better when you decide to take a later train back to Vienna.

If anyone is going to be here 24 December, let me suggest dinner at Cork Breakfast & Wine ... but its a small place so make your reservations now.

We are arriving from Vienna on December 24th and staying for 5 nights at the Eurostar Danube.
Have tried several times to contact the hotel for information of which train station we would disembark from. Also information about which restaurants will be open on the 24th and the 25th.

Any suggestions you can offer would really be appreciated. Still trying to work my way through all the websites you have posted for Christmas markets, sightseeing, shopping and dining.

Appreciate it!

Deborah Hoffman

Deborah, you are arriving at Keleti station. It should be on your ticket. In Hungarian it would be keleti pályaudvar. I guess there was a reason you picked that hotel. Anyway, now you have to decide how to get from the train station to the hotel. You have two choices. You can call a taxi. Please call one, don’t just go to the curbside cue. And call CityTaxi. Now City Taxi will send you to the curbside cue with a taxi number to look for. But that way you are in their system and there is little chance anything will go wrong ... although that rarely ever happens any longer. Still good practice. If you download the City Taxi app, it will show you where to go to meet your taxi, the number on the car and the license plate number.

Option two is take the metro. You would go down the stairs in the center of the station at the front wall. At the bottom on the right you will see a BKK service center. If you are under 65 go in and buy a 15-day metro pass. About $18. Now follow the signs to the M2 Metro and get on in the direction marked "Deli". I think the third stop is Deak Ferenc ter. Get off and walk a few minutes to your hotel. https://maps.app.goo.gl/meexuXP4TEqNHjHF7

For restaurants. These I am pretty sure are open, but there are quite a few more. But you will need reservations. I will send you a longer list that you can pick through and check with if one looks interesting.

Open 24, 25, 26 & 31 December

• TwentySix https://twentysixbudapest.com/
• KOLLÁZS – Brasserie & Bar https://www.kollazs.hu/
• Spago by Wolfgang Puck https://spagobudapest.com/en/

Open 25, 26 & 31 December

• Szeged Vendeglo https://www.szegedvendeglo.hu/
• Callas Café https://callascafe.hu/
• Sir Lancelot https://sirlancelot.hu/
• Robinson https://www.robinsonrestaurant.hu/en
• Dunacorso Étterem https://www.dunacorso.hu/

Another open on the 24th is Cork Breakfast and Wine. If you can get a reservation, it will be a good night there. https://corkbwine.com/

On the subject of the markets.

My advice for Vorosmarty and the Bssilica market and everything between the two is go right at sunset. That way you can enjoy the lights anf the vendors and be out and on your way to dinner before it becomes crowded.

Finally heard from the hotel but the information was rather sparse as far as restaurants open on the 24th and 25th. Essentially was told to "find one" and they'll make a reservation! Not inspiring a good feel for the place. Maybe it's just a language barrier.

Anyhow, if anyone can suggest a place to eat the evening of the 24th and lunch/dinner options on the 25th, it would REALLY be appreciated!

I did see the Danube river cruises can be booked for a meal on those dates. Does anyone have experience with those and can give me feedback?

Many thanks, fellow travelers!

Deborah, two posts above yours, Mr. Ê has suggested Cork Breakfast and Wine for the 24th.

Another open on the 24th is Cork Breakfast and Wine. If you can get a reservation, it will be a good night there. https://corkbwine.com/

It’s a lovely central place with really good food. If it were me, I would start there. One post above that also has a few places listed as open on the 25th. I haven’t eaten at all of those, but can vouch for Dunacorso (one of my favorites on the river) and the Callas Cafe (by the Opera House).

Edit: I did a dinner river cruise back in 2018 and it was nice. I haven’t felt the need to repeat (but have repeated just the cruise part), but am glad to have done it.

TwentySix https://twentysixbudapest.com/
KOLLÁZS – Brasserie & Bar https://www.kollazs.hu/
Spago by Wolfgang Puck https://spagobudapest.com/en/

All open

Curious about your comment for the hotel I picked. Did I make a bad choice? During my search for accommodations it popped up and after looking at their website and reading reviews I opted for it. I sincerely hope it'll be alright.

Thanks for the suggestions about the taxi and the list of restaurants. I tried to reserve a table at Cork... but they were completely booked. Will try the others.

Does your hotel reservation have free cancelation? Are you under 35 years old?

Im sorry the hotel is fine. The location for visiting the sights is very good. It is located on tge edge of the party district which could be great if you are young. Of course on your dates I dont suspect many party kids in town.

If you strike out on dinner on tge 24th I suspect KFC and Burger King ... or I know of a little dinner party not far from your hotel.

If you need help feel free to write or call.

Q: I will be in __________ on the 24th and 25th, will anything be open?
A: Europeans celebrate Christmas too and they will be home with their families, nothing will be open,

Okay so that sort of conversation goes on every year in just about every country forum. I dont know about the rest of the world, where the answer maybe correct, but here .... not really. But you do need to be a bit creative.

A few post up a similar question came up about food on those days. I threw out some stock restaurants that would be open but treated them a bit like they were rare. Honestly I have only been in Budapest for about 4 or 5 Christmas holidays over 20+ years. Some of those visits were a long time ago and things have changed a lot since then. A couple I spent inside with family and didnt wander much if at all. We cooked at home.

This year the 24th was the same; I was home all day. Still on the 24th I know OPEN:

• The larger of the Christmas markets until mid-afternoon (with lots of food)
• Hotel Restaurants (and some others, but not many)
• Skating Rinks
• River cruise companies
• Bath houses
• Streets full of people, enjoying.
• Public Transportatin running on reduced schedule till 4pm then busses take over https://bkk.hu/en/travel-information/festive-fleet-during-advent/
• Morning and Afternoon Performances at the Opera
• Convenience stores Open

But yesterday, the 25th I got out with a friend and we walked around the the city a bit. OPEN:

• Half the restaurants, clubs, bars, wine bars between the Opera House and the river.
• The larger of the Christmas markets (with lots of food)
• Skating Rinks
• River cruise companies
• Bath houses
• Streets full of people, enjoying.
• Public Transportatin running https://bkk.hu/en/travel-information/festive-fleet-during-advent/
• Performances at the Opera
• Convenience stores Open

Finally have a chance to post our experiences in Vienna and Budapest.

We did have Christmas Day dinner at the Callas Opera Cafe and the food was delicious; the atmosphere was quietly elegant and the service was excellent. Good recommendation from Mr. E.

We also ate at many local restaurants on both the Pest side and the Buda side. I can't recall the name of the restaurant where I had the most wonderful chicken paprikash- hands down. Most of the restaurants had decent food but a few were duds that just wanted to fill seats and didn't really care about food or service.

Language barrier was limiting at times. Regarding the train from Vienna to Budapest- definitely buy first class seats. Granted, we were there at a few busy time, but all the first class tickets were sold out and there were so many people riding the train who clearly had not bought a ticket- alot of riffraff. But overall no issues.

Many pickpockets out in force at the many Christmas markets and many of Budapest's "farmers markets" and shopping areas.

And Buda Castle is not one building, but a large complex with many buildings, shops, museums, restaurants, etc. A few rude shop owners when we politely asked questions.

Mr. E had expressed concern about our hotel choice on the Pest side. The hotel was very nice, clean, well run and maintained but abutted a neighborhood that was not well lit. But we had no issues for the most part. A few times we felt we were being targeted; probably because we spoke English; we stayed alert and detered the potential for concern.

Learned a lesson to think twice about travel to a foreign country during a busy holiday season, but we had a wonderful time overall!

I read the other day that there was concern about Christmas Market Hotels selling out already. I didnt think that was possible but I checked in Budapest.

11 – 15 December for when the markets are all open and in full swing. The dates run over a weekend so that will even out costs a bit (expensive days and cheaper days). I also looked at a few hotels for the weekend the big markets open (14 November) and rates were a bit lower. And the markets will be quite a bit less crowded.

Four Star (NC = Not cancelable WC = With Cancelation) 120.70€ to 329.40€ a night
UpHotel – would not let me book so far in advance; so obviously not sold out.
Three Corners Avenue - NC 482.80€ (120.70€/night) WC 568.00€ (142€/night)
K+K Hotel – NC 673.20€ (168.30€/night) WC 1.317,60€ (329.40€/night)
Moments – WC 738.00€ (184.50€/night)

Three Star
Medosz – would not let me book so far in advance; so obviously not sold out.
Hampton Inn – would not let me book so far in advance; so obviously not sold out.

Apartment Hotel
Collect Residence (with kitchen) – NC 450€ (112.50€/night) WC 510€ (127.50€/night)
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-updated-hotel-list