Dates: 14 November to 31 December 2025

As the centrepiece of Christmas markets in Budapest, Vorosmarty Square comes alive during the festive season showcasing the best of the city’s festive cheer and rich cultural heritage. The square transforms into a magical wonderland adorned with twinkling lights, charming wooden stalls and the sweet aroma of traditional Hungarian delicacies.

Local artisans showcase their craftsmanship offering a delightful array of handcrafted gifts, ornaments and souvenirs, perfect for gift giving. The festive market is also a culinary delight with vendors tempting visitors with hot mulled wine, savoury Hungarian dishes and the iconic chimney cake (kürtőskalács), a sweet and doughy delight.

The Gerbeaud Café, a historic Budapest landmark, hosts an impressive Advent calendar display on its façade, with a new window opening each day in December, adding to the market’s festive charm. To top off the festive celebration in Vorosmarty Square, live performances, choirs and folklore shows add to the seasonal atmosphere. The epitome of Christmas markets in Budapest, the Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival at Vorosmarty Square is a vibrant extravaganza radiating with the spirit of the season.

Related: Top 17 Things To Do In Budapest 

Dates: 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026

Located in Szent István Square, right in front of the grand St. Stephen’s Basilica, the St Stephen’s Basilica’s Christmas Market is one of the best Christmas markets in Budapest. As day turns into night, the markets truly come to life. One of the biggest draws is the 3D light-show projection on the Basilica’s facade every 30 minutes after sunset you can see a beautifully choreographed animated display.

Featuring over 100 artisan stalls selling high-quality Hungarian crafts, the square is the very definition of yuletide scenery with sparkling lights, a towering Christmas tree and a picturesque ice rink set up in the square. The aroma of sizzling sausages, chimney cakes and mulled wine fills the air with flavours of the season. Live performances and concerts usually take place on Wednesdays, weekends, and Advent Sundays.

In addition, there are traditional candle-lighting ceremonies on the four Sundays of Advent, centred around a large Advent wreath in the square.

Dates: 22 October 2025 to 1 March 2026

Located at either the of the Margaret Island, Lumina Park is an immersive light-walk experience. Featuring over a hundred illuminated installations crafted with eco-friendly LED lights, creating an enchanted world of glowing sculptures, fairy-tale forests, and interactive scenes.

Perfect for families, couples, or anyone who wants a quieter and less busy experience than traditional Christmas markets yet festive magical holiday experience. During the Christmas season, the park transforms into a “Christmas Village,” complete with a Santa’s house, an elf workshop, a Christmas post office, a sleigh ride, and a glowing carousel. It opens in the evening as it begins to get dark and can be explored at your own pace. Book your tickets here. 

Dates: 28 November 2025 to 4 January 2026

The Christmas market at Fisherman’s Bastion is the only major Christmas market on the Buda side of Budapest. It offers more of an intimate and atmospheric experience compared to the bustling central markets. Set beside the beautifully illuminated Matthias Church and overlooking panoramic views of the Danube and Parliament, it feels like stepping into a fairytale.

With just around 15 – 20 artisan stalls, the market focuses on quality over quantity, featuring handmade crafts, traditional decorations, and local specialities like chimney cake, lángos, roasted chestnuts, and mulled wine. Its cosy size, romantic hilltop setting, and frequent live music or candle-lighting events make it a peaceful, magical stop in any Christmas market itinerary.

Dates: 15 November to 31 December 2025

Nestled along the majestic Andrássy Avenue, Budapest’s Fashion Street transforms into a quaint Christmas market during the holidays. What makes this market unique is its elegant location surrounded by the city’s high-end shops, restaurants, and theatres. It is worth noting that this Christmas market cuts through Vörösmarty Square so you can essentially do 2 markets in 1.

Adorned with festive lights and decorations, Fashion Street transforms into a glamorous winter wonderland. Boutique stalls offer an array of luxurious gifts, fashion accessories and designer items for those in search of a touch of elegance in their holiday shopping. You can also enjoy gourmet food, quality wine and traditional Hungarian sweets whilst immersed in the joyful atmosphere with carol singers and live performances adding to the festive vibe. For an alternative and upmarket Christmas market in Budapest, head to Fashion Street.

Dates: 15 November to 31 December 2025

Erzsébet Square, also known as Elizabeth Square, is a thriving hub of activity in Budapest, with something exciting always happening. Centrally located festive spot that sits right beneath the glowing Ferris wheel known as the ‘Budapest eye’. The square comes alive at night with numerous stalls offering a variety of delicious festive food and drinks.

Its location is one of its biggest advantages: right beside Fashion Street and just a short walk from Vörösmarty Square, it’s the perfect stop to enjoy festive snacks, soak up the seasonal lights, and easily combine with Budapest’s bigger, more traditional Christmas markets.

Photo courtesy of ©  City Park / Városliget 

Dates: From 24 November 2025

The City Park’s lake (Városliget) is transformed into an enchanting open-air ice skating rink during winter. This 22,500 square foot outdoor ice skating rink, one of the largest in Europe, has a rich history dating back to the 19th century and is a cherished part of Budapest’s Christmas traditions.

Skating on the ice is not the only attraction; nearby there are Christmas markets, where stalls offer a wide variety of food and drink, including traditional Hungarian dishes and seasonal treats. You can savour warm mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and other comfort foods, creating a perfect atmosphere to take a break from skating and enjoy the culinary delights of the season.

Whilst not a Christmas market, Budapest Christmas Streetcar is worth a mention. One of the best things to do in Budapest over the festive season, Budapest Christmas Streetcar takes a scenic route through the city every December taking in the Christmas lights and stopping by Christmas markets in Budapest, Hungary.

Whilst several trams are decorated for Christmas, the traditional tram, Streetcar 2, is decorated the most spectacularly, adorned in thousands of twinkling lights and adding to the festive sights of the city. In addition to its daily route, Streetcar 2 offers special Night Light rides on select dates in the run-up to Christmas, departing at 9pm and taking in the yuletide landscape of the scenery by the dark of night. Tram 2A departs from Boráros Square (Boráros tér) near the Petőfi Bridge on the Pest side, which serves as one end of the line. Its other terminal is Jászai Mari Square (Jászai Mari tér) by the Margaret Bridge, where the festive Christmas trams await passengers looking for a special holiday ride.

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