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Christmas Deals in Budapest: packages, tours, dinners, etc.

The Budapest Christmas markets tour is simply one of the best tours the city has on offer for visiting the 2 main Christmas Markets and St Stephen’s Basilica in a guided tour, plus having the world-famous Chimney Cake and tasty Mulled Wine.

Christmas Market Tour Booking

For a 2.5-hour market tour around a Xmas fairs + the Hungarian Christmas essential snack Chimney Cake & Mulled Wine for  65 Euro (child ticket available for €30).

Budapest Christmas Market Tour

Budapest Christmas Market Tour

See the details of the Christmas Fair Tour in Budapest below, and place your booking as places are limited and tour dates may fill up quickly.

Why Budapest Christmas Market Tour?

Is it really worth it? 65 Euro? Yes. Absolutely! We think it definitely is, especially for such a low price, it is a great value for money, a great gift idea if you are in Budapest for the Christmas holiday, and a great opportunity to get first-hand experience as well as relevant and interesting information about Hungarian Christmas traditions (and tasty snack). The Xmas tour includes:

  • Guided Tour to 2 Christmas markets of Budapest (on Vorosmarty Square and at the St Stephen’s Basilica)
  • Guided Tour inside the St Stephen’s Basilica
  • 1 Cup of Mulled Wine
  • Chimney Cake Tasting
  • Discount for Children with non alcoholic hot drink

Visiting Budapest Christmas Markets

Please note the proof of vaccination required to visit the program for adults.

Let’s see each in more details

Mulled Wine at the Budapest Christmas market

Mulled Wine at the Budapest Christmas market – Eva Muller Photography

Guided tour of 2 Christmas markets with a local guide: guiding you around some of the beautiful Xmas markets in Budapest: e.g. Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market, St Stephen’s Basilica Christmas Market. Interesting guided tour, focusing on Hungarian Christmas traditions (just like the Advent markets, which are like nostalgia postcards coming to life). You can enjoy the markets and see the sights, foods, gifts through a local’s eyes, get footnotes and informative guidance about what you see, what you are about to buy or eat. In the 2 Christmas markets you can see the Hungarian handicrafts, trinkets, souvenirs, as well as the local foods and sweets on offer.

Along the way you will see the Opera House, Andrassy Avenue, and St Stephen’s Basilica. The Xmas tour ends on Vorosmarty square where the best Budapest Christmas market is (lots of traditional fares), so you can do some holiday shopping on your own – the farewell gift is a Mug of Mulled Wine to keep you warm while you are browsing on the Christmas Market with its hundred and more vendors, great concerts (free concerts on the Christmas Market stage!). Vorosmarty square is where the major shopping streets, Vaci utca, and the Fashion street leave from, where many shops can be found for a more modern sort of shopping (Zara, Mexx, Lacoste, H&M, Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger, etc.). The Christmas Market sprawls into these streets, which are all beautifully illuminated throughout the Advent period.

The price of the Christmas market tour includes Mulled Wine. Gluhwein is the most popular drink in the winter markets of course.

Christmas Tour Booking

Public transport ticket: the tour is a walking tour and does not include public transport tickets (there is no need for taking public transport)

The whole tour is family-friendly (free for under 3 years of age, discount for children under 13). Children will get alcohol-free hot drinks instead of Mulled Wine.

It is a perfect family program with bigger children, but do make the kids wear warm clothes, coats, hats, and boots for the tour to avoid getting the cold.

Included in the price: the guided tour in the 2 major Christmas markets, inside St Stephen’s Basilica, Mulled Wine, Chimney Cake, small group professional guide.

Not included: Foods, gifts are NOT included in the price of the Xmas fair tours (nor is a tip for the guide).

When are the Budapest Christmas Market Tours?

The Budapest Christmas markets tours start each day at 2.30pm and finish at 5pm from the beginning of December till the end of December.

Available dates (can be checked on the booking page): some of the dates have already been booked up, and on certain days the tour is not available. See the calendar of the Christmas tours in the booking form (the little calendar icon shows the available dates).

15 – 17.30, from Dec 1 to Dec 30 (NOTE: no tours on Dec 24, 25 and 26)

TIP: Please note that the wooden stalls selling hand-crafted Christmas gifts are only open until 2pm on Dec 24. This is usually the last day for selling Xmas goods and gifts on Vorosmarty Square, then mostly only the gastro stalls remain open selling Hungarian drinks and street foods.

Booking the Christmas Tour

Please use our booking form to make a reservation for your Budapest Christmas Market Tour.

After booking, you will get an electronic voucher, and this is what you will show your Christmas tour guide to prove the payment. You can also print the e-voucher on a paper but this is not necessary. You have two options for the tour regarding proof of payment, you can use paper or digital vouchers to present.

Christmas Tour Booking

e-Voucher
The supplier of this tour accepts both printed and electronic vouchers (e-vouchers). You can either print the voucher and present a paper copy on the day of travel. Or, if you travel with a mobile device, simply show your voucher on your Smartphone or tablet on the day of travel.

What to wear at the Budapest Christmas Market Tours?

Do get dressed warmly as spending 1-2 hours outside at the Christmas markets can be chilly. The winters are cold in Budapest, you will need boots, or warm and waterproof shoes (ideally some kind of goretex waterproof walking boots, or comfy water repellent shoes), a hat, scarf and gloves will come in handy on windier days, and a good warm coat is also necessary.

Last updated Nov 14, 2023

Is Szechenyi Bath in Budapest open during the Christmas holidays? Can you visit the thermal pools and enjoy the outdoor facilities as seen in many winter photos of Szechenyi Baths? Yes, you can! In fact, the major thermal pools in Budapest baths are open even on religious and national holidays with weekend prices. Dec 30 in 2018 brings the New Year Spa Party in Szechenyi Baths!

Szechenyi Bath at Christmas

Szechenyi Bath at Christmas – photo by Leon de Nemea

Many Budapest travel guides say that Budapest is quiet or dead at Christmas, but this is not true any more.

Szechenyi Baths is open throughout the Christmas holiday, with the following opening hours (the hours were the same in the last few years, but the schedule of 2013 has not been confirmed by the bath yet):

Christmas opening hours 2018

  • Dec 24: opening hours from 6am to 2pm (all the facilities in Szechenyi Baths)
  • Dec 25: opening hours from 6am to 10pm (all 3 outdoor pools and most of the thermal section in Szechenyi Baths)
  • Dec 26: opening hours from 6am to 10pm (all 3 outdoor pools and most of the thermal section in Szechenyi Baths)
Szechenyi Baths Party Budapest NYE Sparty

Szechenyi Baths Party Budapest NYE Sparty

New Year Opening Hours 2018 / 2019

  • Dec 30: Bath Party from 10:30 pm: New Year’s Eve Party in Szechenyi Bath Budapest: the spectacular laser disco organized by Cinetrip is perhaps the best New Year’s Eve Party in Budapest.
  • Dec 31: open from 6 am to 6 pm. Book a massage for the last day of the year (from , soak in the baths, and enjoy some amazing days of your life in Budapest
  • Jan 31: Szechenyi bath is open from 10 pm to 6 pm. Visiting Szechenyi Bath is a popular way to get over the New Year’s Eve party symptoms, so you may wish to buy your ticket online

Deals at Szechenyi Medicinal Bath

Aroma Relax Massage Szechenyi Bath Budapest

Aroma Relax Massage Szechenyi Bath Budapest

The best massage deal for your winter holiday in Budapest: 20 min massage at Szechenyi Bath from 21 Euros. Booking in advance online is warmly recommended as available slots get quickly filled up.

The massage therapists of Szechenyi Thermal Bath have a medicinal massage certificate and many years of experience – over 1 million guests at the Szechenyi Bath each year…. They are the cheapest masseuses in the thermal bath complex, which also features other private massage salons whose prices are higher than the Szechenyi Medicinal Bath massage services (also serving patients referred to the bath by Hungarian doctors, yes, on prescription).

More info about Szechenyi Bath, tickets, massages, towel rental, swim wear rental, pedicure, etc.: Szechenyi Baths Christmas opening hours

Szechenyi Bath in Winter – Open Steaming Outdoor Pools

The following video has been made by a tourist visiting Szechenyi Medicinal Bath late November (temperature outside: 4 degrees Celsius = 40 degrees Fahrenheit). As you can see the bath is quite popular, yes, even in winter time and on the holidays in December (Christmas and New Year too!):

If you are enjoying a Christmas break in Budapest, Hungary, you may wish to do some shopping too. The Budapest Christmas markets will offer handmade design gifts, the shopping streets of Budapest (Vaci utca and the Fashion Street near Deak Square) will have loads of international brands (usually of the lower end), while Andrassy Avenue will have lots of luxury boutiques with high end, high brand products. But what about shops and shopping malls in Budapest?

Budapest Christmas Shopping

Budapest Mammut Christmas 2012

Budapest Mammut Shopping mall Christmas

The shops in Budapest are regularly open from Monday to Saturday noon in Budapest, but during the Advent period, until Dec 24 many of them are open all week from 9am to 6pm. Shopping mall shops and boutiques are usually open all week from Monday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm.

December 24 is a special day, and by law, standard shops can only be open until 2pm. The exception to this rule are the many little 24/7 so called nonstop shops, shops by tourist attractions, petrol station convenience stores and florists. Shopping malls on Dec 24 are typically open between 8-9am and 2pm in the afternoon.

The Real Christmas Sales in Budapest

On Dec 25 and 26, the shopping malls are open, but only the entertainment facilities are permitted to stay open through the Christmas holiday, i.e. movies and cinemas, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs, but not the shops. From December 27 everything goes back to the regular opening hours, and most people do their Christmas exchanges and sales shopping after the Christmas holidays until the end of January (this is the period when you get the best winter sales in Budapest, Hungary).
On Dec 24 the Christmas markets in Budapest are only open until 2pm, and this is the last day of the markets (until Dec 31 only the food stalls and gastronomy vendors of the Xmas fairs remain open, the wooden booth selling handcrafts are gone once the Advent is over).

The shops and the markets, market halls, shopping malls re-open on December 27, so expect to find closed doors of shops on Dec 25 and Dec 26 in Budapest, and schedule something else for these two days. See what is on in Budapest on Dec 25 and Dec 26:

Budapest Westend Shopping Mall Christmas

Budapest Westend Shopping Mall Christmas

Hotel Zara Budapest Christmas decor

In its 2013 Christmas dining calendar of Hotel Zara Budapest the hotel’s restaurant called ARAZ Restaurant is offering a Christmas dinner menu on December 24, and Christmas Brunch on December 25.

The Christmas Eve menu in 2013 is as follows:

Christmas Eve Menu in Araz Restaurant

Welcome drink: One glass Prosecco

Salmon tartlet with sour cream texture
Gál Viognier 2007

Fish soup made from carp and catfish with matchstick pasta
Dúzsi Kadarka 2011

Catfish fillet with sweet potato rolls and chestnut ragout
Takler Kékfrankos 2009

Chocolate pumpkin soufflé with truffle ice cream
Bujdosó Sirocco 2008

 

Christmas Brunch Menu in Araz Restaurant

Soups:

❖Farm chicken soup with home-made vermicelli
❖Morel cream soup

Appetisers:
❖Prune turkey galantine with blueberry sauce
❖Salad buffet with the necessary ingredients
❖Duck rillette
❖Marinated prawn salad

Main dishes:
❖Baby turkey, spinach with pine nuts
❖Red wine beef ragout with pearl onions
❖Veal rolls with Dijon mustard, truffle sauce
❖Cod and lobster in velouté (spectacular)

Side dishes:
❖Potato doughnut with olives
❖Ember-baked potatoes with rosemary
❖Brussels sprouts with smoked ham
❖Ewe cheese corn polenta

Desserts:
❖French apple tart
❖Chocolate mousse trilogy
❖Semolina pudding with plum chutney
❖Fruit platter

Here is a lovely video showing how one of the best hotels in Budapest is preparing for the Xmas festivities, what the hotel Christmas decor looks like, etc.

The whole atmosphere is welcoming, especially around Christmas time, when you also have a chance to see the Budapest Christmas markets, visit the Opera House for a festive Nutcracker ballet or an opera, spend a Christmas river cruise on the Danube in Budapest, attend beautiful choir and organ concerts at the St Stephen’s Basilica, party at the numerous bars, clubs and ruin pubs of Budapest, and in general just have a fantastic time at Christmas in the capital of Hungary, Budapest.

Gold decor just comes so naturally to the gilded Art Nouveau building, the former Hungarian Furdo (Hungaria Bath) turned into Hotel Continental Zara Budapest. Beautiful architecture, tasteful Christmas interior and wonderful Christmas meals paired with excellent service.

Hotel Zara Budapest Christmas decor

Hotel Zara Budapest Christmas decor

Add the favourable prices and cheap deals make  the four star superior Hotel Zara stand out amongst the hotels of Budapest.

If your read Zara backward you will get the name of the hotel restaurant, the Araz, which is also preparing for Christmas with special menus.

Merry Christmas!

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Budapest Christmas Package at Hotel Kempinski

Enjoy the Christmas season’s joys, wonders, colours and tastes in Budapest. Kempinski Corvinus, along with all luxury hotels in Budapest, awaits you with Christmas packages including festive delicacies like spicy mulled wine and Christmas Crepes.

Budapest Christmas Package at Hotel Kempinski

Wrapped in the warm aromas of the festive season, with the traditional Budapest Christmas markets’ gift-heavy stalls right at your doorstep (Hotel Kempinski is a 2 min walk from Vorosmarty Square Budapest Christmas Market), mulled wine and freshly fried bites, the Kempinski Corvinus Budapest offers one of the most convenient hotel locations in Budapest to truly immerse yourself in the December holidays in the city of Budapest. In and around the Kempinski Corvinus, like the nice square of Erzsebet ter, it’s all about Christmas, Xmas lights, Xmas flavors, Xmas smells.

Hotel Kempinski Xmas Package  December 1-27, 2012
The hotel’s Christmas Package includes accommodation and breakfast, excluding taxes, plus an order of christmas crepes and mulled wine in the Kempinski Christmas Terrace on the day of arrival.

Rates per room per night:
in Superior Room from EUR 129
in Deluxe Room from EUR 159

Conditions: 100% prepayment, non-refundable. , Minimum stay: 2 nights. Rates are subject to availability, restrictions may apply. *Rates are subject to 18% VAT and 4% citytax.

More info about the Christmas deal at Kempinski Budapest here.