All posts in Budapest Christmas

Budapest Christmas: places, events, markets, festivals, etc.

Visit the magical Winter Wonderland at Cinema Mystica Budapest during December. Your perception will be challenged while playfully interacting with the immersive Light exhibits as you venture through different settings.

Winter Wonderland Budapest Cinema Mystica

Magical Immerisve Light, Sound and Art in Budapest. Visit Cinema Mystica for its beautiful Interactive displays that feature some of the most instagrammable images where you become part of the scenery. Multi sensory delight will spark up the winter days. Cinema Mystica in Budapest offers unique program for families and for individuals. Since the display is very popular, please book your tickets in advance.

Opening Hours of Cinema Mystica Budapest

Days: every day
Hours: from 10 am to 10pm
Immersive magical experience in Budapest: light art in the best festive sense of the word.

Entry Tickets Cinema Mystica Budapest

Tickets are available for €15,21 per person
Prebook tickets for the busiest days in December and January before they get sold out.
Available every day in December, with shortened opening hours on Dec 24 (Christmas Eve). Open all day on Dec 25, Dec 26, Dec 31 and Jan 1, but expect to have it all booked up by then.
Booking

Cinema Mystica Budapest

Cinema Mystica has opened it’s gates in 2023 and quickly became one of the most popular programs in town. Beautiful large digital art installations that will truly make you feel in winter wonderland on 1200 square meters in 10 rooms in the city centre of Budapest.
Family friendly, a must see for those perfect instagram photos and youtube shorts during your Christmas visit in Budapest, Hungary.
Booking

 

Tickets are selling out quickly for the Christmas / New Year holidays! It’s an entirely new way to experience art, and one of Budapest’s finest immersive experiences.

 

 

Gingerbread City Budapest

Every year around Christmas time in Budapest there is a charming, festive Gingerbread City built by local Hungarians, families, friends, businesses, engineers, architects, and thousands of other volunteers. You can visit the exhibition, a fascinating city of tiny creations made all from gingerbread.

Gingerbread City Budapest (photo by Agnesz Duszka)

Gingerbread City Budapest (photo by Agnesz Duszka)

The city of Budapest Gingerbread features hand sized homes, local landmarks, as well as beautiful vehicles, trains, cars, boats, and cityscape scenes. Walk through the city and enjoy the aromatic wafts of the gingerbread as well as the enchanting sights of the mini city.

Opening Hours

Days: December 22, 2018 – February 23, 2019
Hours:
Dec 22, 2018:  11am – 2pm, 4-8pm
Dec 23, 2018:  11am – 2pm, 4-8pm
Dec 24, 2018: Closed
Dec 25, 2018: Closed
Dec 26, 2018: Closed
Dec 31, 2018: Closed
Jan 1, 2019: Closed
Jan 2, 2019: 11am – 2pm, 4-8pm
Jan 3 – Feb 23: 4-8pm (every day except Sundays and Mondays)
Venue: Budapest Whale (Balna)

Entry Fee

Visiting the Gingerbread City is free of charge.

Budapest Gingerbread City (photo by Zsolt Madarasz)

Budapest Gingerbread City (photo by Zsolt Madarasz)

The innovative display with its magically lit gingerbread art pieces connects well with the holiday spirits in December.

 It’s one of the off the beaten path programmes in our Budapest things to do guide for the winter holiday season. The community effort is mostly visited by locals (not only children, but adults too can enjoy it), but tourists are welcome to enjoy walking through a miniature Christmas fairy tale in a utopian familial town, where peace and harmony exceeds our every days.

Gingerbread cities have mushroomed all over Europe, including the V&A Museum in London, or Pepperkakebyen in Bergen, where apparently the biggest Gingerbread City is built every year at Christmas time.

 

Gingerbread City Budapest (photo by Zsolt Madarasz)

Gingerbread City Budapest (photo by Zsolt Madarasz)


Related programmes in Budapest Christmas:
featured photo by Zsolt Madarasz

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Enjoy a relaxing afternoon or evening on a cozy heated ship on the Danube, surrounded by the magnificent Budapest attractions. Choose a cruise with drinks or even dinner included, and spend a wonderful time on board.

Sightseeing Cruises in Winter

Budapest Winter Cruise on Danube

Budapest Winter Cruise – Marta Troicka Photography

Budapest is full of riverside attractions, which are well worth to see even in wintertime. Daytime Sightseeing Cruises are nice too, but as the sun sets quite early (at 4pm in December), the night lights on both sides of the Danube are magnificent from late afternoon until night hours on an Evening Sightseeing Cruise.

Drink Cruises

The themed drink cruises can provide you a little twist on the cruises, and you can choose from several options from Cocktail Cruises, Craft Beer Cruises or Wine Tasting Cruises.

Winter Buda Castle Hill

Winter Buda Castle Hill – Neil Howard Photography

Dinner Cruises

For a more complex cruise experience, the dinner cruises are the perfect choice. Including buffet style or served dinner, drinks and different kind of live music on each Dinner Cruise program, everyone can find the one that fits to their winter Budapest holiday.

Budapest Xmas Eve Dinner with Gypsy Music

Budapest Xmas Eve Dinner with Gypsy Music

Winter Festive Cruises

If you choose to celebrate on board, a Christmas Cruise or NYE Cruise will definitely be the highlight of your Budapest holiday. Live music, festive decorations, delicious dinner and drinks – all included for an unforgettable night on the Danube.

 

Enjoy the Gift of Tasting in Budapest in the Winter Months.

Taste the best local foods and drinks on River Cruises, Walking Tours or in the Christmas Markets, and complete your Budapest winter holiday with discovering the traditional Hungarian cuisine.

Christmas Market Tour & Tastings

Budapest Christmas Market Street Foods TopBudapestOrg

Budapest Christmas Market Street Foods

There is no Christmas time in Budapest without Christmas Markets. There are several smaller markets in the city, but the 2 biggest in Vorosmarty Square and in front of the St. Stephen’s Basilica are definitely worth a visit. The perfect way to discover both of them, while learning about local Christmas traditions, is to book a guided Christmas Market Tour. You won’t regret it. Did I mention that the tour includes a Chimney Cake and a mug of Mulled Wine as well? Student and children discount are available, so this really is a perfect Christmas treat for your family holiday. This tour is in December only, from Dec 1 to 23, so don’t hesitate much to book!

Christmas Cruise Budapest December

Christmas Cruise Budapest – Cameron Rogers Photography

Wine Tasting Cruise

Enjoy a 7-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting on board, while admiring the beautiful winter sights along the river Danube. The Wine Tasting Cruise runs every day at 7pm (with live Gypsy Music). On some dates, it is even available at 10pm (with live Salon Music).

Craft Beer Tasting Cruise

Tasting of 5 delicious Hungarian specialty artisan beers, breadsticks as snacks, and Live Music are included in the Craft Beer Cruise. Running at 7pm every day (plus at 10pm on some days during the winter season).

Dinner Cruises

Budapest Xmas Eve Dinner with Gypsy Music

Budapest Xmas Eve Dinner with Gypsy Music

Budapest Dinner Cruises are famous for the amazing atmosphere of the live music on board, the beautifully lit riverside attractions and at last but not least the delicious Hungarian food served on board. Don’t miss it while you are in Budapest! Special festive programs, such as Christmas Eve Cruises, Christmas Day Cruises and of course New Year’s Eve Cruises are also available, though ticket are selling fast.

 

Great Market Hall Budapest

Great Market Hall Budapest

Great Market Hall Tour & Tastings

The guided Market Hall Tours with Tastings are unmissable programs for all food lovers, or anyone who wishes to try out the real Hungarian flavours – Goulash, Langos, Chimney Cake – just to mention a few – and wine or craft beer tastings.

Last updated Nov 2023