There’s something magical about the Christmas season in Europe. Cobblestone streets wind through cities that have stood for centuries. Market squares become full of wooden huts, where local vendors sell their wares. The mingling smell of sweet breads and savoury meats wafts into the air. Everything that makes this part of the world so special at this time of year is why you’ll discover that the best Christmas markets are in Europe.
With so many gorgeous places to visit, deciding which European Christmas market to go to is a feat in itself. The best markets will serve up the most unique and classic local flavours of the country, most often set amongst a stunning backdrop. There, you’ll be able to peruse local artisanal crafts in a vibrant, festive atmosphere. But, if you’re looking for something a little less touristy, with a more local feel, then we’ve got just the destination for you.
With a multitude of Christmas fairs to experience all around Europe, we have to say Budapest, Hungary is one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe.
Budapest, Hungary: a city full of festive spirit
As the holiday season approaches, the city suddenly comes alive with the magic of Christmas. Streets glow with lights, alleyways display decorations, shopkeepers adorn their shops with trimmings, and trees sparkle with ornaments and lights. People are full of holiday cheer as the aroma of mulled wine and the sound of cheerful carols fill the air. No matter where you look, you know it’s Christmas.
Budapest, Hungary, is home to some of the most incredible Christmas markets in Europe. These charming markets are scattered throughout the city, offering plenty of festive attractions and opportunities to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, each market a little different from the last.
Visitors from around the world flock to these markets, drawn in by the enchanting atmosphere and delicious local Hungarian delicacies which, trust us, are mouth-watering delicious! All of this is why you’ll find some of the best Christmas markets in Europe here in Budapest.
With a number of markets to visit once you enter the city, it’s tough to know what’s what. So, through first-hand experience, we’ve narrowed it down to the top three best Christmas markets to visit on your trip to Budapest. We’ve also included a special bonus fourth as an honourable mention.
Advent Bazilika: the best Christmas market in Europe
Nestled in the heart of Budapest, the Advent Bazilika Christmas market is a dazzling winter wonderland that’s sure to captivate you with its enchanting atmosphere. Voted the Best Christmas Market in Europe for the past four years, if there’s one Christmas market in Budapest you must visit, this is the one.
Set against the backdrop of the stunning St. Stephen’s Basilica, this Christmas market is a feast for the senses. As you stroll through the market, you’ll be greeted by twinkling lights, the scent of sweet and savoury Christmas delicacies and the sounds of festive music. The towering Christmas tree and inviting ice rink at the heart of the market acts as the centrepiece.
Feast, anyone?
Known in English as the ‘Advent Feast at the Basilica’, feast is by far the most appropriate word! This market is full of local Hungarian Christmas food, featuring everything from the famous chimney cakes (kürtőskalács) and mulled wine (forralt bor) to goulash (gulyásleves), cabbage rolls (töltött káposzta), lángos, strudel (rétes), traditional Christmas roll (beigli), Hungarian sausage and freshly smoked salmon. This market seriously has it all. Whether you prefer savoury or sweet, there’s something for everybody.
Apart from these incredible, traditional Hungarian specialties, one of the highlights of the Advent Basilica Christmas Market is its wide array of handcrafted goods. Local artisans showcase their creations, offering everything from intricate ornaments to cozy winter wear. Here, you’ll find a plethora of unique gifts, making it the perfect spot for any holiday shopping you might have. All of these hand-made creations are sold within the most festive log cabins, and with around 150 exhibitors, this truly ads to the ambiance of the market.
A magical wonderland
As night falls, the market transforms into a truly magical spectacle. The façade of St. Stephen’s Basilica is covered in a projection of charming Christmas animations set to music every 30 minutes from 16:30 – 22:00. The beautifully illuminated basilica serves as an impressive background to live performances, including carolers and traditional music that fills the air. The best is to be able to experience the market in both the day and night to get the full effect. It practically feels like you’re experiencing two markets in one.
Whether you’re exploring with loved ones or soaking in the atmosphere on your own, the Advent Basilica Christmas market promises a truly unforgettable experience.
Name: Advent Feast at the Basilica
Address: Budapest, Szent István tér, 1051, Hungary
what3words: ///librarian.packets.respond
Entry: Free
Market Dates: November 15, 2024 – Jan 1, 2025
Vörösmarty Tér: the largest Christmas Fair in Budapest
Less than a ten-minute walk from Advent Bazilika is the Vörösmarty Tér Christmas market. This market is the largest in Budapest and is held in the most famous square of the city, Vörösmarty Square. This is one of the most iconic and popular Christmas markets in Budapest, complete with twinkling lights, beautifully decorated stalls, and all the most delicious local food your stomach can handle.
As soon as you enter the square, you’re immediately taken aback by the massive tree adorned with lights and ornaments. Here, you’re treated to a unique shopping experience beyond any other.
Local handcrafts
Surrounding the large square are rows of cute wooden cottages selling handcrafted, unique gifts made by local artists from all over the country. Porcelain ornaments, intricate lacework, furs, decorations of all kinds, artisanal cheeses and elaborately decorated sweets and treats are just a fraction of what you’ll find here.
Oh, the food!
If it’s your eyes that take you to the shopping, it’s your nose that will take you to the other side of the square. Here, you’ll discover long booths selling all kinds of traditional, local Hungarian Christmas foods. You can enjoy savoury sausages, goulash in a bread bowl, cabbage rolls, fried potato pancakes, pork hock, barbecue ribs, cured pork belly, lamb shank, duck on red cabbage and of course, your mulled wine.
If you’re a meat lover, then this is the place you want to be. One thing Hungary is known for is their incredibly juicy and succulent meat dishes, and here they have them all. The selection of Christmas delicacies is seriously more than you can imagine.
That Christmas feeling
As the evening draws in, the market comes alive with local musical performances and traditional folk dances, adding to the festive ambiance. All kinds of people gather here to enjoy the feeling of Christmas, which completely radiates from the square.
The market at Vörösmarty Tér is larger and more spread out than the Advent Feast at the Basilica. So, if you’re looking for something a little less crowded with more space to walk around, then this is the market for you.
What makes these markets so special, beyond what you can buy, is the mere act of exploring and wandering around, taking in all the sights and smells. You’ll see for yourself, the Christmas market at Vörösmarty Square is truly a sensory extravaganza. It’s no wonder you find the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Name: Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival at Vörösmarty Tér
Address: Budapest, Vörösmarty tér, 1051, Hungary
what3words: ///chilled.flat.incomes
Entry: Free
Market Dates: November 15, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Advent Óbudán: the Christmas market in Old Buda
In the courtyard of Fő Tér in Old Buda, you’ll find one of the smaller, and undoubtedly picturesque, Christmas markets in Budapest. A little off the beaten path compared to some of the other markets, Advent Óbudán is well worth the trip to get there.
A warm welcome
This traditional market is much more quant and less touristy than the larger Christmas markets throughout Budapest. The cobblestone streets, medieval architecture and nearby ancient ruins provide a unique setting to the festive atmosphere of the market.
When you arrive, you’ll walk through a small street with local artisans displaying their unique handicrafts, distinct from the larger markets in the centre of the city. People sell all kinds of mulled wine from charming wooden huts, their warmth and inviting smells whisk through the crisp winter air.
As you finally stroll into Fő Square, you’ll encounter a courtyard fully transformed into a Christmas paradise, aglow with shimmering lights, enriched by an enormous tree that sets the perfect stage for holiday fun. In the centre, an ice rink sparkles, while vendors surround the square, offering a variety of local street food. Meanwhile, at the corner of the square stands a large stage, offering live performances throughout the Christmas season.
The best langos
With Advent Óbudán being located a little further out from the city centre, you’ll find that it has a more local feel to it than the other Christmas markets in Budapest. It’s smaller, but trust us, there’s no less Christmas cheer here. The warm welcome of the local people and the historic atmosphere of the square truly make this market a special one. There’s even a must visit lángos shop just around the corner from here that you cannot miss if you’re in this part of the city.
For us, the local atmosphere and these hidden gems are what we live for. Of all the Budapest Christmas markets you can visit, we highly recommend taking the train for the short trip out to Advent Óbudán. As far as the best Christmas markets in Europe go, this is one you won’t regret visiting!
Name: Advent Óbudán
Address: Budapest, Fő tér, 1033 Hungary
what3words: ///exacts.sung.metals
Entry: Free
Market Dates: December 1-23, 2024
Corvin Sétány Christmas Fair: a truly local experience
Last, but certainly not least, is our honourable mention, the Corvin Sétány Christmas Fair. This little market can be found along Corvin Sétány, within the Corvin neighbourhood in District VIII. Most notably, it’s just outside the large Corvin Plaza shopping mall.
This lovely little local market along the arcade boasts a number of stalls selling handicrafts from artisans in the neighbourhood, as well as delicious local Hungarian Christmas food. Here, you’ll find cured meats, Hungarian sausage, mulled wine, strudel, beigli, chimney cakes, cabbage rolls and of course lángos (our personal favourite).
The best Christmas markets in Europe
The best part about the Christmas season in Budapest is finding all the little markets that pop up around the city. Many of them are local for that specific neighbourhood, so aren’t advertised or well-known. The best way to find them is to do your own exploring and discover them yourself.
One of the benefits to exploring the city for these smaller, less touristy Christmas markets is the price. We tasted the lángos here because, well, we couldn’t resist. It was twice the size and half the price of lángos from the other popular Christmas fairs in Budapest! That’s a definite win-win in our books.
Name: Corvin Sétány Christmas Fair
Address: Budapest, Futó u. 38, 1082, Hungary
what3words: ///polo.announce.evenly
Price:Entry: Free
Tips when exploring the Christmas markets in Budapest
A few last minute tips when visiting Budapest for some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Make sure to wander around the city. You’ll find loads of little, local Christmas markets scattered along the way. These are the true hidden gems during Christmastime.
Explore
Explore the streets around the centre of the city in and around St. Stephen’s Basilica and Vörösmarty Square. Walk along Deák Ferenc utca, also known as Fashion Street by Vörösmarty Square, and Zrinyi utca, which leads away from St. Stephens Basilica. Both streets are full of lights and decorations, as well as a few extra stalls selling all kinds, from sweet and savoury treats to unique gifts.
Truly the best part about this time of year in Budapest, and Europe for that matter, is exploring the streets and getting into the festive spirit. Each street has something new to experience and admire. At this time of year, European cities transform completely, creating something you have to see to believe. So, get out there and roam the streets with no set destination in mind. You’ll be surprised at what you might find.
Cash or Card?
As of writing, most, if not all, of the popular markets do not accept cash; you can only pay by card. This is important to note if you’re visiting from another country. Make sure you have a good credit card or pre-paid travel credit card with no foreign exchange fees. This will make your spending experience a happier one.
Entrance
Lastly, all the Christmas markets listed are free to enter. So, it doesn’t matter what your financial situation is, you’ll be able to experience the magic of these enchanting Budapest Christmas markets no matter what.
The best Christmas markets in Europe are in Budapest
As the city transforms into a festive wonderland filled with charming markets and the most delightful aromas, it’s safe to say that Budapest truly shines during the Christmas season. From the renowned Advent Feast at St. Stephen’s Basilica, to the vibrant Vörösmarty Square Market and the quaint Advent Óbudán, each market offers a unique blend of local Hungarian foods, handcrafted gifts, and holiday cheer. These are amongst the most magical Christmas markets in Europe, and we promise you don’t want to miss them!
As you explore the bustling market squares steeped in centuries of history, discovering hidden gems off the beaten path of course, you’ll find that Budapest is not just a destination at this time of year. It’s a true celebration of the magic of Christmas.
