All posts tagged Budapest Christmas Children Activities

Santa Claus Train Budapest

The Santa Claus Train is a lovely nostalgia train up in the Buda Hills run by the Hungarian Children’s Railway in early December. The Children’s Railway was by the way the former Hungarian Pioneer Railway, which was a huge success during Communism, and managed to survive the change of regime, an absolute family favorite! Now, if you wonder why the Santa Claus comes so early in Hungary, at the beginning of December, rather than as Father Christmas should, at Christmas, the fact is that in Hungary, Santa Claus has a special day, Dec 6 (St Nikolaus’s day), while the Christmas presents in Hungary are brought by the Baby Jesus (or the Little Angel). Don’t ask how kids believe that a baby should be so strong. They do.

Santa Claus Train Budapest

Santa Claus Train Budapest

Santa Claus Train Budapest

Event date: Saturday and Sunday, 1 & 2 December 2018 (changes with the weekend dates yearly).

Hours of Departure of the Santa Claus trains:

Huvosvolgy Train Station at 8:20, 9:20, 10:20, 11:20, 12:20, 13:20, 14:20, 15:20, 16:20, 17:20 hrs

On Saturday, 1st December and Sunday, 2nd December 2018 you can ride the Children’s Railway in the company of Santa Claus again. This is the Advent period, and you can feel that this event for children and parents will be worth every minute.
Tickets can only be purchased in advance!
Santa Claus Specials are going to be operated on both days of the first weekend of December where children and parents can ride the Children’s Railway with Santa Claus and his bogeymen.

The young passengers and Santa’s helpers will be expecting the arrival of Santa Claus together. They will spend the time with signing and reciting poetry until he shows up on the train.

Santa Claus is going to chat away with every child individually before presenting them with the traditional small bag of sweets and fruits.

Santa Claus Specials are going to depart Huvosvolgy Station at 8:20, 9:20, 10:20, 11:20, 12:20, 13:20, 14:20, 15:20, 16:20 and 17:20 hrs. They are not scheduled to call at any station or halting along the route so they can be boarded only at the first station.

Some of Santa Claus’s helpers are going to entertain the children in Huvosvolgy just outside the station with dancing and singing before the departure or after the arrival of the special service.

Santa Claus in Budapest Railway Museum

Santa Claus Train? Yes, another great train program to welcome Santa Claus with the kids, this time in the Hungarian Railway Museum, one of the best museums with children (and train enthusiasts!) in Budapest. Event dates: Dec 7, Dec 8 and Dec 9 in 2018 (early December weekend)

Santa Claus in Budapest Railway Museum

Santa Claus in Budapest Railway Museum

Santa Claus Express Train – Father Christmas is Coming to Town! Right to the cool Train History Park of Hungary.
All Abourd the Santa Claus train in Budapest, Hungary!

Santa Claus Show in Budapest Train Museum

Santa Claus Show in Budapest Train Museum

The steam engine express train will take the children and parents from Nyugati Train Station to the Railway Museum in Budapest. The Orient Hall of the Train Museum turns into a festive party and stage to warmly welcome Santa and his helpers who bring lots of goodies and gifts for the kids. There is usually a show, goodie bags from Santa, etc.
Booking the tickets for the Santa Claus train is from mid October
More info about the special children train, and booking tickets:

Magyar Vasúttörténeti Park (Address: 95 Tatai Way, District XIV, postcode 1142 / Budapest, Tatai út 95.)
Tel./fax: (06-1) 450-1497
Email and booking the Santa Claus train seats: info@vasuttortenetipark.hu

Santa is Coming to Budapest

Santa is Coming to Budapest

And if you should be wondering why the Santa Claus comes so early in Hungary, at the beginning of December (??), rather than as Father Christmas should, at Christmas (!!), the fact is that in Hungary, Santa Claus has a special day, Dec 6 (St Nikolaus’s day), while the Christmas presents in Hungary are brought by the Baby Jesus (or the Little Angel). Don’t ask how kids believe that a baby should be so strong. They do. So a proper Hungarian Santa Claus (Telapo aka Mikulas) should come around Dec 6.

Budapest Panorama Skating

One of the most scenic ice rinks in Budapest during the Christmas season is perhaps the Skating Rink at the Whale Winter Festival, located near the modern whale-shaped building, called “Balna”.
The Whale Winter Festival has opened its gates to let you skate along the river Danube while marvelling at the several beauties of Budapest’s century old UNESCO World Heritage sites, typically enjoyed from Budapest River Cruises.

Whale Winter Festival

The unmistakable whale shaped building of the glass covered Whale Event Hall & Whale Bistro are welcoming You for the Budapest Whale Winter Festival event series for the festive season. There are ongoing, varied winter programs and activities both inside the building, and in the Panorama Hall, culminating in the spectacular and fun Boogie & Swing New Year’s Eve Party on December 31.

There will be something for every age!

Ice Rink Highlights

Ice Skating Budapest Whale

Ice Skating Budapest Whale

  • Free entry to the ice skating rink
  • Amazing Danube view (UNESCO site)
  • Free concerts & music programs (Ice Disco)
  • Mulled Wine
  • Street Food
  • Affordable prices
  • Crafts Market
  • Interactive Play Centre for kids
  • Free 1 hour parking (weekdays + 2 hours weekends)

Winter Festival Program: Daily Schedule
Free Ice Skating with Panorama View
Interactive Crafts Play Centre for kids with Animators
Ice Disco from 6pm

Christmas Gift Making: the Crafts Play Centre of the Whale Winter Festival is aimed for families with kids who want to make Xmas gifts as crafts. There are various other children programmes.

Opening Hours

Budapest Panorama Skating

Budapest Panorama Skating

The Skating Rink Opening hours of the Winter Festival are as follows:

Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 10 pm (break for rink maintenance 2-3pm)
Friday – Saturday: 10am – 12 pm (midnight) (break for rink maintenance 2-3pm)
Mon – Sun: closed for ice rink maintenance

Festive Opening Hours:
24 Dec: 10 am – 2pm
25-26 Dec CLOSED
27-30 Dec 10 am – 10 pm
31 Dec 10 am – 6 pm
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Party in Budapest Whale
1 Jan CLOSED

NYE Swing Party in Budapest Whale

NYE Swing Party in Budapest Whale

Every afternoon between 14:00 and 15:00 the ice rink is closed due to ice maintenance.

Rental Prices for Skating Rink

HUF 1000 / 3 hours (approx. €3.5)
Deposit: HUF 10000 (approx. €35)

Miscellaneous info on skates for hiring:
Runner Ice Skates available from size 26
For smaller children double blade skates are also available (attachable to regular street shoes).

Address of Whale Winter Festival
Balna Budapest
Budapest
District IX (Post code: 1093 Budapest)
11-12 Fovam Square

Other Ice Rinks in Budapest:

City Park Ice Rink Budapest

Nutcracker Puppet Show in the National Puppet Theater in Budapest: officially called the ‘Budapest Puppet Theater’ but it is a national institution with many of the best puppet performances in Hungary. The Nutcracker puppet show is a Christmas tradition, and has been running for many decades with great success. To boot, the ticket prices are ridiculously low for a foreign family (HUF 1,300 per ticket), so it is one of the best deals you can get at Xmas in Budapest if you are visiting the city with children in winter. Besides the Nutcracker, there are several more puppet shows running all through November, December and January, so do check the event calendar of the Puppet Theater for more shows, and details.

Nutcracker Puppet Show in Budapest Puppet Theater

Nutcracker Puppet Show in Budapest Puppet Theater

Venue: Puppet Theater (Budapest Bábszínház) at 69 Andrassy Avenue, Budapest, District VI (post code: 1062, Andrássy út 69.)

Dates of the Nutcracker Puppet Show

Friday, December 1 2017 10:00
Tuesday, December 12 2017 10:00 and 15:00
Wednesday, December 13 2017 10:00 and 15:00
Sunday, December 24 2017 10:30 and 14:00
Monday, December 25 2017 10:30

There will be puppet shows on Dec 26 too, although not the Nutcracker. The shows are in Hungarian language, which may not bother your little one at all, so it might be worth giving a try:
December 26
10:30 am Misi Mokus vandoruton at Budapest Bábszínház – Színházterem

Tickets to the Nutcracker Puppet Show

Tickets can be purchased online or on the premises at the Budapest Puppet Theater on Andrassy Avenue. You can book your tickets in advance for the puppet show online. The official ticket vendor of the Budapest Puppet Theater is Jegy.hu.

Booking

 

The Christmas Market and Festival in Vajdahunyad Castle, the picturesque castle in the City Park, is one of the best Christmas events in Budapest, Hungary. The Christmas market is open in December (from Dec 1 to December 23).

Skating Rink by Vajdahunyad Castle

Skating Rink by Vajdahunyad Castle – Ben G Hancock

NOT SCHEDULED for 2018. You can visit the Christmas markets in Budapest that are scheduled regularly, like the Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market, the St Stephen’s Basilica Advent Market.

Nevertheless, Vajdahunyad Castle is well worth a visit, for several reasons, for its own merits, and for the beauty of its neighbourhood, the Ice Rink Palace in Budapest in the City Park, and the Szechenyi Bath, both of which are within walking distance.

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2013 Budapest Christmas Market in Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest: the dates of the upcoming Budapest Christmas market in Vajdahunyad Vara have not been finalized yet, but in all probability the fair will be from December 1 2013 to December 23 2013. To get some insights about the Vajdahunyad Castle Christmas Market, take a look at past events and their programs, e.g. 2012 Vajdahunyad Castle Xmas Market

Besides the stalls of the Xmas fair set up in the courtyard of the castle, you can see some lovely performances and hear Christmas concerts on the main stage of Vajdahunyad Castle by the Gothic Castle building. There are many Hungarian wine makers presenting their wines. Mulled wines are also available as well as traditional Hungarian foods (sometimes even Belgian beers and chocolates as the guest of the Vajdahunyad Christmas Fair is Belgium, like in the fair in 2012).

Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest in winter

Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest – Leon de Nemea Photography

Vajdahunyad Castle is conveniently located beside the big Budapest Ice Skate Rink and ToPart Palace (another smaller palace by the Ice Rink). Getting there by the M1 yellow metro is a breeze from the city center. Get off on Heroes’ Square and take a short 5 min walk following the towers of the castle.

Handcrafts at the Christmas Market

Old and skilled craftsmen as well as contemporary artists and designers sell their Christmas goods and gifts if you should be looking for some special Hungarian Christmas gift.

Christmas Market Opening Hours

The Christmas fair and festival in Vajdahunyad Var in Varosliget park of Budapest is open every day in December, from Dec 1 to Dec 23 (tentative dates, the final opening hours are usually set in November)

Opening Hours of the Christmas Market

  • Monday at the Christmas market: from 12 pm (noon) to 8 pm
  • Tuesday at the Christmas market: from 12 pm (noon) to 8 pm
  • Wednesday at the Christmas market: from 12 pm (noon) to 8 pm
  • Thursday at the Christmas market: from 12 pm (noon) to 8 pm
  • Friday at the Christmas market: from 12 pm (noon) to 8 pm
  • Saturday at the Christmas market: from 10 am to 8 pm
  • Sunday at the Christmas market: from 10 am to 8 pm

Programs Vajdahunyad Castle Christmas Market

Christmas Market and Christmas Concerts: take a stroll on the courtyard of the Castle to see some traditional handmade crafts and modern Xmas designs, grab a mug of mulled wine and enjoy the music of the fair: Gospel singers, Hungarian world music and folk bands, jazz musicians, kids bands, etc. are on the menu of the Christmas festival.

The heated Gingerbread House in the Baroque Hall of the Castle, the Book House, etc. offer warm refuge from the cold winter weather with many programs.

Live Bethlehem with real animals in the Christmas Pet Zoo of the Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest Christmas Fair is a real attraction for younger children.

Children and adults can have a nice time together in the kids arts and crafts workshops, making Christmas decorations and gingerbread cookies and decorations at the Christmas market of the Budapest Vajdahunyad Castle.

Youlupukki, the Finnish Santa Claus comes to visit children at the Vajdahunyad Castle. But Santa Claus can also lend its one horse sleigh to take you for a round in the City Park (Varosliget) and its many attractions: Szechenyi Baths, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Transport in Budapest, the Budapest Zoo, Anonymous Statue in Budapest, etc.

Advents Sunday Concerts in the Chapel of Jak (the smaller replica of the Church of Jak village) of the Vajdahunyad Castle: each Sunday during the Advent, from December 1 to Dec 23, you can listen to beautiful choir songs in the Sunday concerts. The venue is the chapel of the castle, which was modeled after the Romanesque style 13th century church of Jak village in medieval Hungary. Jak Chapel Sunday services are normally from spring to autumn on Sundays, but the Advent period is a special event series in Vajdahunyad Var Budapest.

Dec 15, Luca Day: when the Shepherds meet… The Day of Luca (officially on December 13) is a day surrounded by Hungarian Christmas rituals, old beliefs and strange traditions in Hungary. At the Vajdahunyad Castle, Luca Day will be dedicated to the Hungarian shepherds, and the traditional lifestyle and culture of Magyar shepherds on Dec 15, 2012. During the Christmas market, you can see the permanent and temporary exhibitions in the Vajdahunyad Castle, the residence of the Hungarian Agricultural Museum. See the Vajdahunyad Castle Exhibitions here, or more info about Vajdahunyad Castle Events

Related to Vajdahunyad Var Karacsony:

Winter Events Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest

Christmas Fair in Budapest Vajdahunyad Castle

February Furmint Wine Festival Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest

Carnival in Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest