December 25, Christmas Day is one of the Christmas holidays in Budapest when several attractions (museums, shops, markets) are closed, making it a bit of a challenge to plan a great day. We have collected some ideas and activities for you for Dec 25 to make it a great day:

Budapest Winter Buda Castle Hill – Rachel Titiriga Photography

• Bathing the thermal baths in Budapest on Dec 25
• Visiting the churches of Budapest on Dec 25
• Enjoying Shows and Classical Concerts in Budapest on Dec 25
• Taking in the Winter Views in Budapest on Dec 25
• Taking a winter cruise on the Danube in Budapest on Dec 25
• Walking in the winter parks of Budapest on Dec 25

Baths in Budapest on December 25

Szechenyi Baths – open on December 25.

The open air thermal pools give a special winter bath experience.
As per the usual opening hours, the baths are open from 6 am to 10 pm. Weekend prices are charged, queues may build up (Szechenyi Bath tickets)

Budapest Szechenyi Baths in Winter – Natalie Wilson Photography

Gellert Spa – open on December 25.

As per the usual opening hours, the baths are open from 6 am to 8 pm. Weekend prices are charged (Gellert Spa Tickets)

Lukacs Baths – open on December 25.

The open air thermal pools give a special winter bath experience.
As per the usual opening hours, the baths are open from 6 am to 10 pm.
There is free entrance to Lukacs thermal bath with Budapest Card.

The Turkish Baths in Budapest, Kiraly Baths and Rudas Baths are also usually open on Dec 25.

Winter Views in Budapest

Budapest Fisherman’s Bastion Winter – Philippe Clabots Photography

Fisherman’s Bastion is a perfect place to take in the beautiful winter views of the UNESCO World Heritage sights in Budapest. The bastion is an open lookout tower with open and roofed terraces and walls. Only the upper towers have coin operated turnstiles, so you can practically see the sights free of charge. There is a beautiful restaurant inside Fisherman’s Bastion, but it is closed on Dec 25.

Citadel on the top of Gellert Hill has also open, free spaces, which provide excellent views over the city. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the top of the hill. The uphill walk for an average person in good physical condition should not be a problem (wear comfortable shoes). Note: the bus timetable on Dec 25 shows less frequent buses.

Christmas Tram in Budapest: every year there is a nicely decorated Christmas streetcar / tram running along by the riverside in Budapest. Schedules have not been updated for this year yet, but Tram 19 on the Buda side (Batthyany Square) will likely take passengers on an afternoon Christmas ride on December 25.

For winter walks in the city, put on warm clothes, boots and hat.

Winter Buda Castle Hill – Neil Howard Photography

Concerts & Shows in Budapest

Nutcracker Cave in Budapest Opera House at Christmas

There are some nice concerts on Dec 25 in Budapest. The Christmas Day classical concerts have already been scheduled, light music concerts are typically scheduled later, in early or mid December. In addition you can enjoy the festive shows by the best Budapest has to offer:
11 am – 13:45 pm, Dec 25: Nutcracker Ballet Show in the Budapest Opera House (performed over 20 years at the Opera)

7 pm – 9:55 pm, Dec 25: La Bohéme in the Budapest Opera House (tickets available from Opera.hu)

8 pm Danube Palace Symphony Concert with Chamber Orchestra

Budapest Opera House – Miroslav Petrasko Photography

Christmas Cruise in Budapest on December 25

Budapest Winter Danube

The early sunset on Dec 25 is around 4 pm, so you can practically see the night lights from a late afternoon cruise on the Danube. There are much fewer cruises in winter in Budapest, and the seats are easily booked up for Dec 25. Reserve in advance while you can. Dinner cruises on the Danube in Budapest are especially popular

2 pm Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Commentary on Danube Bella panorama boat

6:30 pm Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Commentary on Danube Legenda panorama boat

7 pm Dinner Cruise: A La Carte Christmas Dinner Cruise on Legenda Boat (book while you can). 2.5 hour dinner on Danube. One of the best in romantic, elegant and delicious category.

7 pm Dinner Cruise: Buffet Style Dinner Christmas Cruise on Millennium Boat. 2 hour dinner boat on Danube

10 pm Dinner Cruise: Buffet Style Dinner Christmas Cruise on Millennium Boat. 1.5 hour dinner boat on Danube

Budapest Winter Cruise – Marta Troicka Photography

Parks in Budapest in Winter

Budapest Vajdahunyad Castle in Winter – Quintanaroo Photography

There are two beautiful parks worth visiting in winter Budapest. One of them is the City Park with several open air attractions to look at, and the other one is the island between Buda and Pest, Margaret Island. Both are open parks, without fences.

The City Park is the home of special sights, like the Vajdahunyad Castle: the castle is closed on Dec 25, but the gates are not. Take a look around, walk on the grounds, see the beautiful hooded statue of the Hungarian chronicler called Anonymous. Opposite the Vajdahunyad Castle, you can see the Ice Rink Palace (the Ice Rink might be open on Dec 25). These sights are a minute only from the Hungarian Millennium Monument on Heroes’ Square, you may already be familiar with from

Margaret Island may not have castles just ruins, but if you love nature in winter, it is a nice and romantic place to feel the fresh air and tranquility.

The entry to Margaret Island is free, the park is open in winter too.

City Park Winter Budapest – Istvan Csuhai Photography

City Park in Winter – Istvan Csuhai Photography

Closed Attractions in Budapest on Dec 25

Museums, galleries, Christmas markets, shops are closed on Christmas Day (Dec 25). Many tours in Budapest are cancelled on this day.

Major attractions that are closed on Dec 25:

• Budapest Great Market Hall
• Buda Castle (open outside castle yard, closed inside)
• National Museum
• Museum of Fine Arts
• National Gallery