Opening Hours at Christmas
in Budapest in 2024
To plan your Budapest winter stay we have collected the most important Christmas opening hours in the capital city of Hungary. Hungary’s capital is famous for her fascinating Christmas events, including the Budapest Christmas Markets in various parts of the city. Please kindly check with the attractions if there are any changes since our last update. You can also add your helpful comment below in case there is an update needed.
Advent Basilica Christmas Market
Basilica Christmas Market Opening Hours
November 17, 2024 – January 1, 2025
Monday – Thursday: 11:00 – 22:00
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 – 23:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 22:00
Dec 24: 11:00 – 15:00
Dec 25 & 26: 11:00 – 20:00
Dec 31: 11:00 – 03:00
Jan 1: 11:00 -18:00
Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market
Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market Opening Hours
Nov 15, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Monday – Thursday: 11:00 – 22:00
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 – 23:00
Sunday: 11:00
Dec 24: 10:00 – 14:00
Dec 25: 10:00 – 18:00
Dec 26: 10:00 – 18:00
Dec 31: 10:00 – 22:00
WAMP Design Market: discover unique handmade art, stylish leather bags, delicious homemade jams, adorable handcrafted dolls and characters, and decadent artisan chocolates.
December 1, 2024: 10 am – 6 pm
December 8, 2024: 10 am – 6 pm
December 15, 2024: 10 am – 6 pm
Obuda Christmas Market: Old Buda
Old Buda Christmas Market opening hours:
Dec 1 – Dec 23, 2024 (Fri, Sat, Sun with fair and live concerts, ice rink)
Mon-Thu: 8 am – 8 pm
Fri-Sat: 8 am – 10 pm
Sun: 8 am – 9 pm
Makers’ Market in Budapest at Xmas
The Makers Market in Budapest is a vibrant, creative event that showcases local artisans, designers, and crafters. Held regularly in various venues around the city, it offers a unique opportunity to explore handmade goods, including fashion, jewelry, home décor, art, and more.
Festive Dates:
December 15, 2024: 10 am – 5 pm
December 22, 2024: 10 am – 5 pm
Venue: Villanyi ut 11., 11th district, Budapest
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, 2024 – Jan 3, 2025 (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 7 am to 1 pm in most of the facilities in Szechenyi Baths. Check-in is minimum 2 hours before closing times but queuing may affect the time you’ll be able to get inside, so best to schedule early hours and showing up until 10 am. The rest of the major thermal baths in Budapest like Gellert Spa, open from 9am to 1 pm while Rudas Bath, from 6 am to 1 pm. Mandala Bath Budapest, winner of the World Luxury Spa Awards described as a beautiful bath with a zen experience, will be only available with prebooking. (Kiraly Bath is still closed for renovations).
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, Gellert Spa, Rudas Bath, Mandala Bath
Dec 26: opening hours from 9am 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: Gellert Spa, Rudas Bath, Lukacs Baths, Mandala Bath and Dagaly Baths are open from 6am to 8pm, Gellert Bath from 10am to 8pm.
Dec 27 – Dec 30 as normal
Dec 31 – New Year special, shorter opening and Jan 1 opening later than usual.
award winning
Mandala Bath Budapest
“an absolute zen breeze!”
on 1500 sq m
Royal Budapest Christmas – Classic Attractions
Buda Castle – Christmas Opening Hours
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.
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:
Budapest Opera House Christmas Shows
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.
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 12 pm – 2 pm on Dec 24 (Mammut at 2pm), but are open on any other of the year often with excellent discounts and sales. Mammut shops will be closed on Dec 25 and 26 at Christmas in 2024.
Nevertheless, if you wish to see big brands at small prices, you may wish to join the Budapest Outlet Tour – all aboard the shopping tour!
Musum Opening Hours
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.
St Stephen’s Hall Buda Castle Opening Hours Hungarian National Gallery Opening Hours
Ludwig Museum Opening Hours
Museum of Fine Arts Opening Hours
House of Terror Opening Hours
Ice Rink in the City Park Budapest
Although the weather is chilly, the City Park is a great place to mix relaxation with fresh air activities. Just pop in the nearby 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 or for an affordable option head to the Museum of Ethnography (i.e. the Hungarian Folk Art Museum with amazing exhibits).
Christmas Opening Hours of the Ice Rink change, mostly weekdays vs weekends, Saturday and Sunday offering long opening hours.
Restaurants at Christmas – Opening Hours
Budapest Restaurants usually have special opening hours for the Christmas holiday. Best to reserve in advance as the best (value) restaurants will be fully booked up in the festive season while more elegant restaurants with higher menu prices may still offer some place. Many of the restaurants will offer Christmassy dinners or lunches with traditional Hungarian and international delicacies.
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.
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.