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Holiday Season in Budapest

The question was in the Austria Forum https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/new-year-s-eve-in-vienna but I thought the answer made more sense here.

We are spending Christmas and New Year in Budapest again this year so I did some research that I thought might be helpful if you are thinking of going to Central Europe

Since your request for hotel information followed my suggestion that you might look towards Budapest as well let me suggest the K&K Opera Hotel witch fits your budget. http://www.kkhotels.com/en/hotels/budapest/k-k-hotel-opera/welcome/ nice 19th century building next door to the Opera House and Andrassy ut.

Here is an idea where you don’t have to worry about rowdy crowds and broken glass (did New Year’s in Rome a few years back and experienced the same so it’s not unique to Vienna by any means) http://ppcdn.500px.org/4932259/468b7473e2387eb183fd6b5c5c4cf53a91f968d2/5.jpg

Ice Skating at Városligeti Műjégpálya. http://budapest-card.com/files/partners/109.jpg

Bath Houses outside (note the snow) http://guidepal.blob.core.windows.net/inspireimage/inspire103057.jpg or inside a 14th century bath house http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__hpVNPe3HNw/TMMu88ToBfI/AAAAAAAABKI/qiWLg2I5AA4/s1600/WEB+rudas+0.jpg or maybe you prefer classical: http://www.thevandallist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Gellert-Baths-@-Budapest.jpeg with the dubious history of having been visited by Himmler and Schindler. Even bathhouse party night http://attractions.topbudapest.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Design-Szechenyi-Bath-Sparty-Budapest-Spa-July-27-2013.jpg The Bath house New Year Eve part is strangely on the 30th of December http://szechenyispabaths.com/szechenyi-baths-new-year-bath-party/

Concerts New Year’s Eve, Before and After
Opera New Year’s Eve Gala Performance; http://www.worldwideticketing.com/images/opera-ballet/hungarian-state-opera/hall.jpg and http://www.opera.hu/en
“Tourist” Concerts http://budapestchristmas.com/budapest-new-years-eve-classical-music-concerts
Liszt Academy (fantastic venue) http://zeneakademia.hu/en/home and http://zeneakademia.hu/en/lisztery/video/-/asset_publisher/fCa86eGLCFdM/content/a-2013-oktober-22-i-unnepelyes-megnyito-gala

Christmas Markets
They run through 31 December in Budapest http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.434344.1324785528!/image/744982653.jpg

Shopping in the three story 19th century market hall http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/danperry/Hungary/Budapest/The%20market/1-IMG_3889.jpg

A couple of classic Budapest restaurants for before, during or after:
http://halaszbastya.eu/
http://www.rezkakasbistro.hu/en/

And the holiday lights http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tIpbcA5HcM/TvDqWvaYXsI/AAAAAAAAAcg/n1SsL9mejgE/s1600/1828771-Christmas_lights_on_Andrassy_Avenue_Budapest.jpg and even the trams http://blog.utazol.hu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Budapest-KAr%C3%A1csonyi-vasar-2013-Zsolt-Andrasi.png and http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f6/0f/ff/f60ffff302046f46a437f676f64b2f4b.jpg

Here is the long list: http://www.budapestbylocals.com/new-years-in-budapest.html#free

Posted by
38 posts

Great post! Thanks for all the great information.....I am sure that a lot of people use it. I know that I will!!!!!!

Posted by
17637 posts

Glad you found it helpful. One of the most frustrating things about Budapest (and a lot of other places) is that they don't publicize much in advance. There's going to be more and as the information becomes available I will update the list.

Posted by
101 posts

Hey James, just wanted to thank you for this fantastic post!! My family will be in Budapest over the holidays , when I ran across your post I got so excited. So much great information !!! You have helped me tremendously .
I just wanted to say Thanks!!
Jules

Posted by
17637 posts

@Julie, worldinbetween is correct. I've spent a few Christmas' in Budapest so I put together a list of good restaurants that are open on the holidays. Send me a PM with a real email address and I will forward it to you.

We will be there so if you get to hungry stop by and I will heat something up for you.