Opening Hours at Christmas in Budapest

To plan your Budapest winter stay we have collected the most important Christmas opening hours in the capital city of Hungary.

Opening Hours at Christmas in 2018

Budapest Christmas Markets Opening Hours

Budapest Christmas Market by St Stephen's Basilica

Budapest Christmas Market by Basilica – Tunde Lovei

Hungary’s capital is famous for her fascinating Christmas events, including the Budapest Christmas Markets in various parts of the city.

Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market opening hours of the oldest and most central Christmas Market in Budapest:

November 9, 2018 – Jan 1, 2019

tentative special opening hours on the following days:
Dec 24: 10:00 – 14:00
Dec 25: 10:00 – 18:00
Dec 26: 10:00 – 18:00
Dec 31: 10:00 – 22:00
Jan 1: 14:00 – 22:00

St. Stephen’s Basilica Christmas Market opening hours of the amazing, also centrally located Christmas Market in Budapest:

November 23, 2018 – January 1, 2019

Monday – Thursday: 11:30 – 20:00
Friday: 11:30 – 22:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 22:00
Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00

Dec 24: 10:00 – 14:00
Dec 25: Closed
Dec 26: Closed
Dec 31: 10:00 – 22:00
Dec 27 – Jan 1: open as usual
WAMP Design Christmas Market opening hours located in Millenaris Park Budapest, B Hall WAMP Christmas Market :
December 9, 2018: 10.00 – 18.00
December 16, 2018: 10.00 – 18.00
December 23, 2018: 10.00 – 18.00

Design Terminal Christmas Market opening hours: dates not confirmed yet

Old Buda Christmas Market opening hours: Tentative dates: Dec 1 – Dec  23, 2018

Budapest Christmas Streetcar Schedule

Taking the public transportation in Budapest at winter is an easy way to get around the city and go past the most important landmarks. But you can do more than that. You can even take a special Christmas Streetcar to enjoy the city views from the tram in a festive, somewhat vintage vehicle. But what is the Budapest Christmas Street Schedule?

Dates: Dec 1, 2018 – Jan 7, 2019 (exceptions Dec 24, 31)

Traditionally, the Christmas Tram of Budapest runs along the river Danube after sunset (Tram 2 and 19), which is 4 pm in winter time. The last trams / streetcars leave at about 9pm.

Normally, regular fares are charged, there is no need to buy a special Christmas Streetcar ticket.
Days, routes and exact hours to be confirmed in early December. Thank you for your patience.

Budapest Baths Opening Hours

Dec 24: opening hours from 6am to 2pm in all the facilities in Szechenyi Baths. Check-in for online reservations: 9 am – 1 pm.  The rest of the major thermal baths in Budapest like Gellert Spa, Rudas Bath, etc. are open from 6am to 2pm. Kiraly Bath is closed on this day.

Dec 25: opening hours from 6am to 10pm in all 3 outdoor pools, and most of the thermal section with 15 pools, saunas, etc. in Szechenyi Baths. Check-in for online reservations: 9 am – 6 pm. Opening hours as usual on December 25 in other Budapest baths: Lukacs Baths, Kiraly Baths, Gellert Bath.

Dec 26: opening hours from 6am to 10pm (all 3 outdoor pools and most of the thermal section in Szechenyi Baths). Check-in for online reservations: 9 am – 6 pm. Further thermal baths in Budapest will also be open on Dec 26: Rudas Bath, Lukacs Baths and Dagaly Baths are open from 6am to 8pm, Kiraly Baths from 9am to 8pm, Gellert Bath from 6am to 8pm.

Buda Castle – Christmas Opening Hours

Winter Buda Castle Hill

Winter Buda Castle Hill – Neil Howard Photography

The courtyards of the Buda Castle are open 24/7. You can find the Christmas opening hours of the attractions and buildings: Buda Castle Christmas Opening Hours

There are many winter tours in the Buda Castle District on the Castle Hill, so make sure to book one as Christmas is attracting many people to Budapest.

Budapest Opera House Christmas Shows

Nutcracker in Hungarian Opera House at Budapest Christmas

Nutcracker in Hungarian Opera House at Budapest Christmas

You can check the Christmas opening hours of the Budapest Opera House for further details. Booking is essential.

Dec 24  Nutcracker performance in the morning at 11am. No opera visits or tourist tours.
Dec 25 Closed for opera tours, open for the Nutcracker performance in the morning at 11am, and for the opera in the evening from 7pm, Puccini La Bohéme. No opera visits or tourist tours.
Dec 26 Opera tours in the afternoon as usual, open for the Nutcracker performance in the morning at 11am and in the evening from 6pm.
Dec 31 Opera tours in the afternoon as usual, open for the opera. Nutcracker from 11am, and in the evening from 8:30pm, The Bat / Die Fledermaus by Strauss, operetta in 3 acts with English subtitles.
Jan 1 Opera tours in the afternoon as usual, open for the New Year’s Concert performance from 7.30pm.

Shopping at Christmas in Budapest

Budapest Mammut Christmas 2012

Budapest Mammut Christmas

Shopping Mall Opening Hours

Budapest has several shopping malls, which we call Plazas. Some of the most popular ones are located close to the city centre, like Mammut Shopping Mall, or West End City Shopping mall.

Most importantly, the shops close at about 2 pm on Dec 24, but are open on any other of the year.

Museums

Many of the museum buildings in Budapest are worth a visit just for their architecture, even if you are usually bored by museum displays, they can be a treat.

Hungarian National Gallery Opening Hours

Ludwig Museum Opening Hours

Museum of Fine Arts Opening Hours – update: closed until 2018

House of Terror Opening Hours

Parliament Tours & Opening Hours at Christmas

The House of Parliament in Budapest will be closed during Christmas Days (Dec 24, 25 and 26) but will be open again from Dec 27. More information: Parliament Opening Hours.

Booking a Parliament Tour in advance is warmly recommended.

Fisherman’s Bastion – Christmas Opening Hours

Budapest Fishermans Bastion Winter

Budapest Fishermans Bastion Winter – Philippe Clabots Photography

The Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the best places to take a view of the winter landscape of Budapest and the river Danube. An all day, any hour alternative for a winter holiday in Budapest:

Fisherman’s Bastion Christmas Opening Hours

Andrassy Avenue at Christmas

Andrassy Avenue features beautiful 19th century – Paris style – buildings, a long line of trees decorated with Christmas lights, and a range of luxury shops with the big brands putting their winter offers in Christmassy shop windows. There are several attractions along the avenue, like the Opera House, the Kodaly House in Budapest or the Heroes’ Square with the Millennial Monument.

Andrassy Avenue Christmas

Andrassy Avenue Christmas – Krisztian Bodis Photography

Christmas Attractions and Sights in Andrassy Avenue

Ice Rink in the City Park Budapest

Skating Rink by Vajdahunyad Castle

Skating Rink by Vajdahunyad Castle – Ben G Hancock Photography

Although the weather is chilly, the City Park is a great place to mix relaxation with fresh air activities. Just pop in Szechenyi Thermal Baths to get soaked up in hot spring waters after a refreshing walk around the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Ice Rink.

For a cup of coffee or a hot soup with nice meals take a visit to the restaurant residing in the Ice Rink Palace.

Christmas Opening Hours of the Ice Rink

Restaurants at Christmas – Opening Hours

Budapest Restaurants usually have special opening hours for the Christmas holiday. You can check them on the following page: Budapest Restaurants Christmas Opening Hours Many of the restaurants will offer Christmassy dinners or lunches with traditional Hungarian and international delicacies.