A Complete Guide to Festive Markets in Hungary
Experience enchanting Christmas markets and warm festivities across Hungary. From the renowned Advent Basilica in Budapest, a three-time Best Christmas Market in Europe winner, to Debrecen, discover treasures, enjoy thermal spas, and celebrate the season. Don’t miss Hungary’s holiday charm.
Christmas Markets in Budapest
Must See: St. Stephen’s Basilica Advent Festival and Christmas Market
According to European Best Destinations and based on the votes of over 374,000 worldwide travelers, the Advent Basilica has been elected the Best Christmas Market in Europe for the third consecutive time. As the winner of the Best Christmas Market in Europe award for 2020, 2021, and 2022, the Advent Basilica is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Christmas fairs in Europe. Where love takes your hand – with this slogan, the Advent Basilica, Budapest’s uniquely beautiful Christmas fair, opens its doors again. It’s open till 1st January 2024 in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica in one of the most impressive, beautiful, and breathtaking squares of the Hungarian capital.
True to the tradition, this year’s 12-year-old Advent Basilica promises a unique festive atmosphere around 120 domestic craft exhibitors, real gastronomic adventures, and heart-warming programs with so many more surprises. The real, authentic Christmas spirit will move again into the heart of Budapest into St. Stephen Square. The highlights including a spacious square with an ice-skating rink, artisan gifts, and an expanded food selection, including lángos, burgers, grilled sausages, and more.
Some other notable Christmas markets in Budapest are Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market, Christmas Fair in Óbuda (Fő tér), Fashion Street Christmas Market (Deák Ferenc Street), Erzsébet Square Christmas Market, Whale (Bálna) Building Advent Festival and Ice Rink, Castle Garden Bazaar Advent Programs (Buda), City Park (Városliget) Christmas Market, and Christmas Fair at Allee Shopping Centre. You can enjoy hundreds of stalls, jazz & blues concerts, craft and playhouse for children, visits from Santa Claus, Hungarian foods, pastry, chimney cake, and mulled wine, food trucks, Christmas tree, genuine handmade artifacts, pottery, ceramics, and folk textile, and 3D light show.
Christmas Markets in the Countryside of Hungary
In Hungary besides Budapest, the countryside also offers you a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the festive mood. Eger Christmas market is held every year on the Dobó Square and presents the most visited program series during Advent. The market opens on November 25 and ends on the 24th of December. Stalls are stuffed with mouth-watering sweets and handcrafted goods. You can even meet with the artisans and have a short conversation with them about their products to complete the authentic experience. The aroma of mulled wine and gingerbread wafts through the air and all you need is just a mug of wine to warm yourself up.
Veszprém, the European Capital of Culture in 2023, awaits visitors with concerts, gastronomic experiences and a lovely Christmas market over the four Advent weekends. The Christmas fair is located in the old town and it has a wide offer of Hungarian cuisine such as traditional fish soup, fried sausage, goulash soup, lángos and chimney cake. The market invites visitors to a magical world where everything is around Christmas.
The time of Advent is always special in the capital of Baranya County. The kith and kin of the city come together at the fair to taste the Christmas spirit. The scent of mulled wine, chimney cake, and roast chestnut pervades Széchenyi Square, together with the melodies of choral musicians and the lights, making the main square of the city a real casket. The smallest members of the family can visit the house of Santa Claus, admire the light paintings, and watch the candle-lighting ceremonies on Sundays with their parents. Széchenyi Square turns into a fairy tale for the time of the Advent fair which opens on the last day of November.
Szeged celebrates Christmas Weeks at Dóm Square between 24 November and 24 December. There will be light painting, fire jugglers, and a huge ice rink. Szeged also prepared a special selfie box where visitors can commemorate their favourite Advent moments.
The Christmas market (20 November – 31 December) at the main square of Vác awaits visitors with a human-sized Bethlehem, an ice rink, and a unique Advent wreath.
Debrecen’s Christmas Market is a magical destination for visitors and locals alike. Set against the backdrop of the city’s historic center, this year’s market promises an array of festive delights and heartwarming experiences. From November 25th to December 23rd, the market comes alive with the spirit of the season. Through a unique building mural project, it will also feature selected photos and stories of individuals connected to Debrecen who quietly contribute to the city’s life.
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