The largest: Vörösmarty Square
The most famous of all of Budapest’s Christmas markets, Vörösmarty Square is enchanting for visitors young and old alike. In the market square, which is blanketed by fairy-tale-inspired lights that lead the way between stalls, you’ll find over 100 charming wooden cabins that peddle a range of traditional, homemade arts and crafts. In the middle of the square, you’ll find the city’s piste de resistance – a towering 12-meter tall glittering Christmas tree that looks like it’s been super-imposed straight off a Christmas card. Prepare to overindulge when you visit: regional Christmas bites include warming bowls of goulash soup, glossy hurka sausages straight off the grill, and Beigli, a spiral-shaped strudel that contains a sweet walnut or poppyseed filling.
Also discover: The Christmas lights at Deak ‘Fashion Street’
After visiting the Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square, head to Deák Ferenc Street which is just 100 meters away. Nicknamed Fashion Street, Deák Ferenc is one of the busiest shopping streets in Budapest. Instead of market stalls this street is filled with high-end designers and boutique shops, and is well worth a visit, even if you just plan on window shopping thanks to the plethora of colourful lights, festive adornments and a Christmas tree installation right in front of the Hotel Kempinski Corvinus.
The cosiest: Christmas Fair at St. Stephen’s Basilica
Set right in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, this Christmas market is no doubt the most atmospheric of the bunch. With an ice-skating rink that surrounds a two-story tall Christmas tree, you’ll also find plenty of stalls radiating out from the festive foliage, housing local traders of sheepskin slippers, handcrafted tree decorations and intricately made knitted goods. Find a toasty pair of mittens, then seek out gingerbread and sticky cinnamon pastries to nibble on, or fill up with a plate from one of the many street food vendors, washed down with a warming cup of glögg. To capture some memorable photos, head there after sunset where you’ll be able to see a spectacular 3D visual show projected on the front of the Basilica.
Where the locals go: Óbuda
If you prefer to avoid the crowds and do as the locals do, Obuda’s Christmas market is just the ticket. Óbuda (‘Old Buda’) is on the north of the Buda side and has a charming old town with a beautiful town hall. In front of it, there is a yearly Christmas market with a large ice skating rink, a traditional carousel, and lots of free concerts. Pick up a plate of töltött káposzta – stuffed cabbage served with pork, paprikia and heavy dollop of sour cream while browsing handicrafts to find the right gift for everyone on your list. Unlike the main markets, this place only opens its doors over the weekend, so make sure to carefully plan your visit.
The best for food: Christmas Market at Erzsébet Square
It's all about the food at Erzsébet Square’s Christmas market, but don't expect just the typical mince pies and mulled wine variety that you’re accustomed too. Stalls huddled beneath the city's towering Ferris wheel, serve up everything from glossy cooked sausages straight off the grill, lángos, a cheesy Hungarian flatbread and hot and sticky caramelized kürtőskalác – a cylindrical brioche bun that is cooked on a roasting spit fire and coated with cinnamon, nuts or almonds and sprinkled with sugar. Forget gluhwein (though there are several types of variations on offer from the sickly sweet cherry-infused to a calming lavender nectar), we're drinking the harder-hitting palinka, a strong fruit brandy which is considered to be Hungary’s ‘national alcohol’. For kids, hot chocolate and szaloncukor – a colourfully wrapped Christmas chocolate, are both plentiful and reasonably priced.
The best views: Castle Hill Christmas Market
Situated at the foot of the Castle Hill overlooking the Danube and the Pest side, Castle Hill’s Christmas market is perhaps the city’s most scenic. You'll find boiled-wool slippers and hand-carved wooden goods, such as nutcrackers and music boxes, on offer at the carefully curated selection of stalls, while food options include towers of freshly prepared cinnamon cakes and steaming strudel.
Also discover: The ice skating rink at Városligeti Lake
Europe’s largest open-air ice-skating rink, Városligeti Lake is located at the edge of the City Park, enclosed between Heroes’ Square and Vajdahunyad Castle. Enormous in size, it is a skaters dream, and becomes particularly atmospheric at night with twinkling lights and the smell of cinnamon and cloves wafting from nearby vendors. There’s a small fee to enter, and skates are available to hire by the hour. Once you’ve perfected your Figure Eight and skirted the endless circumference, step beyond the rink for a hot chocolate or spiced wine in very merry surrounds.
With so much Christmas cheer on offer, we couldn’t think of a better winter getaway than Budapest. For the perfect place to stay, make sure to check in at easyHotel Budapest, which is located just a stone’s throw away from the cities biggest and best Christmas markets. For more inspiration on what to do on your city break away check out the best things to do in Budapest in December or for something a little closer to home have a look at our guide to the best Christmas markets in the UK.
