Tag Archive for: Holidays

All the Essential Information for Christmas in Budapest

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This is the season to be jolly, so let’s unwrap the gift of knowledge about what’s open, what’s closed, and where the holiday magic is happening. Here’s your guide to Christmas in Budapest:

Opening Times on Christmas in Budapest

Sunday, 24th December, 2023

SHOPS:
Lidl, Spar, Penny: Closed (Santa’s elves need a break too.)
Aldi: Open till noon (Grab your last-minute gingerbread supplies!)
Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square: 10 am – 2 pm (Get your mulled wine fix.)
Christmas Market on St. Stephen’s Basilica Square: 11 am – 3 pm (Where festive snacks meet holiday selfies.)
Some Seven-Eleven shops: Open all night long (For those sudden cravings for sugarplums.)

MUSEUMS, PARLIAMENT:
National Museum, House of Terror, Museum of Fine Arts, National Gallery, Rock Hospital Museum: Closed (Even art needs a holiday.)
Parliament: Closed (The politicians are on break, too.)

THERMAL BATHS:
Szechenyi Thermal Baths: 8 am – 2 pm (Because relaxation never takes a holiday.)
Gellert Thermal Baths: 9 am – 2 pm (Soak away those holiday stresses.)
Rudas Thermal Baths: 8 am – 2 pm (A dip in history with a side of hot water.)
Lukács Thermal Baths: 7 am – 2 pm (Morning serenity in thermal paradise.)

FREE TOURS:
Free Budapest Tour: 10:30 am (Discover hidden gems with a side of history.)
No afternoon tours (After all, even tour guides deserve some holiday cocoa.)

CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES:
Matthias Church: Latin Mass at 10:00 am (Closed for tourism, but open for spiritual vibes.)
St. Stephen’s Basilica: English Mass at 4 pm (Open for tourism from 1 pm – 5 pm)
Dohany Street Grand Synagogue, Rumbach Street Synagogue: Closed

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Metro, buses, trams: Operating like it’s a Saturday (Because even public transport needs a festive schedule.)
Last metro: 4 pm (Homebound elves need a ride too.)
Night buses: Operating all night long (For those late-night gingerbread emergencies.)
No Christmas tram for today (Santa’s sleigh is in the shop.)

CHRISTMAS HABITS:
December 24th is a private, family holiday (No parties, just quality family time.)
Kids are busy outside home, while parents or grandparents deck the halls.
Christmas tree bought by angels, gifts by baby Jesus (He’s the original gift-giver!)
Children enter the room when tiny bells ring, singing carols before unwrapping gifts.
Religious families go to Midnight Mass

CHRISTMAS MENU:
Lunch is light, featuring poppy seed bread pudding (Santa’s favorite snack.)
Dinner: Fish with mashed potatoes and beigli (A rolled-up crust with a poppy seed or walnut surprise.)

Generally speaking on the day of Christmas in Budapest streets get quiet from early afternoon (It’s like the calm before the holiday storm.)

 

Monday, 25th December, 2023

Grab your Santa hats because we’ve got the scoop on what’s happening in Budapest on the 25th. Spoiler alert: It involves closed shops, open baths, and a whole lot of jingle bell rockin’!

SHOPS:
Closed (Even Santa’s elves need a day off, right?)
Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square: 11 am – 8 pm (Where mulled wine meets your wallet or not.)
Christmas Market on St. Stephen’s Basilica Square: 11 am – 8 pm (Because Christmas shopping is a marathon, not a sprint.)
Some Seven-Eleven shops: Open all night long (For those late-night gingerbread emergencies and hot cocoa cravings.)

MUSEUMS, PARLIAMENT:
National Museum, House of Terror, Museum of Fine Arts, National Gallery, Rock Hospital Museum, Parliament: Closed (It’s like a museum sleepover but without the pajamas.)

FREE TOURS:
There are no tours that day. We’re busy perfecting our synchronized swimming routine in the thermal baths. Catch us later, we’ll be the ones in the festive floaties.

THERMAL BATHS:
Szechenyi Thermal Baths: 10 am – 8 pm (Because nothing says Christmas like a soak in bubbly goodness.)
Gellert Thermal Baths: 10 am – 7 pm (A dip in holiday luxury.)
Rudas Thermal Baths, Lukács Thermal Baths: 10 am – 6 pm (Because who needs snow when you’ve got steam?)

CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES:
Matthias Church: Latin Mass at 10:00 am (Closed for tourism, but open for heavenly vibes.)
St. Stephen’s Basilica: English Mass at 6 pm in the side chapel with a side entrance. Church open for tourism: 9 am – 4 pm (Get your holy selfies while supplies last.)
Dohany Street Grand Synagogue, Rumbach Street Synagogue: Closed (Taking a holiday siesta, but still looking fabulous.)

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Metro, buses, and trams: Operating like it’s a lazy Sunday (Public transportation taking it easy – just like the rest of us.)

CHRISTMAS HABITS:
Family members traversing cities or villages, or just hibernating at home with games and a TV marathon (Because sometimes, the best gift is a cozy blanket and remote control.)

CHRISTMAS MENU:
Fish soup (carp or catfish) with noodles and stuffed cabbage (sour cabbage) with minced pork (Because nothing says “festive feast” like fish noodles and stuffed cabbage.)
Beigli for dessert is non-negotiable (Dessert: Because calories don’t count on Christmas.)

GOOD TO KNOW:
Streets are still quieter than Santa’s workshop after midnight.
Bars open in the afternoon (Because holiday spirits need to be lifted, literally.)
Fast food restaurants are closed (Santa’s not the only one on a diet post-Christmas.)

Tuesday, 26th December, 2023

Ready for round two of festivities? Good news – we’ve got the lowdown on what’s happening in Budapest on the 26th. Spoiler alert: It involves closed shops, open malls (for movies), and a lot of leftover wrapping paper.

SHOPS:
Closed (Because even Santa’s elves need a day to binge-watch holiday movies.)
Shopping Malls: Open for movies (Who needs shopping when you can have a cinematic Christmas marathon?)
Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square: 11 am – 8 pm
Christmas Market on St. Stephen’s Basilica Square: 11 am – 8 pm (Because the holiday spirit lingers, especially when there are snacks involved.)
Some Seven-Eleven shops: Open all night long (For those who run out of holiday leftovers at 2 am.)

MUSEUMS, PARLIAMENT:
National Museum, House of Terror, Parliament: Closed (Even museums need a post-holiday nap.)
Museum of Fine Arts: Open for Renoir exhibition: 9 am – 7 pm (Renoir knows no holiday – he’s always in style.)
National Gallery, Rock Hospital Museum: 10 am – 6 pm (Because art and history wait for no one.)

FREE TOURS:
All free tours go as normal

THERMAL BATHS:
Szechenyi Thermal Baths: 8 am – 8 pm (Because nothing says recovery like a post-Christmas soak.)
Gellert Thermal Baths: 9 am – 8 pm (For those who need a luxurious escape from holiday chaos.)
Rudas Thermal Baths, Lukács Thermal Baths: 8 am – 8 pm (Where hot water meets post-holiday tranquility.)

CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES:
Matthias Church: Latin Mass at 10:00 am (Church is open for tourism: 1 pm – 5 pm – because even saints need a post-Christmas siesta.)
St. Stephen’s Basilica: Church is open for tourism: 9 am – 5:45 pm (Because the holiday choir needs an encore.)
Dohany Street Grand Synagogue, Rumbach Street Synagogue: 10 am – 6 pm

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Metro, buses, and trams: Operating like it’s still Sunday (Public transport: The gift that keeps on giving – or at least running.)

CHRISTMAS HABITS:
Family members traveling again (Because apparently, one day of family wasn’t enough.)
Or spending the day at home playing games and watching TV (Because who needs fresh air when you have Netflix?)

CHRISTMAS MENU:
Fish soup (carp or catfish) with noodles and stuffed cabbage (sour cabbage) with minced pork (Because leftovers are the real gift that keeps on giving.)
Beigli for dessert is essential (Dessert: The true hero of any holiday meal.)

GOOD TO KNOW:
Streets are busier than during the previous two days

December 27th-30th 2023

As we dive into the post-Christmas haze, fear not, for Budapest is still buzzing with holiday cheer. Here’s the scoop for the days between December 27th and 30th – where shops, bars, and public transportation keep the festive flame alive:

SHOPS, BARS, RESTAURANTS, THEATERS, SIGHTSEEING TOURS, AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
It operates as if Santa’s elves had an espresso machine (because holiday magic needs caffeine).
Brace yourselves for the post-Christmas sale stampede – may the discounts be ever in your favor.

MUSEUMS, SYNAGOGUES, PARLIAMENT, THERMAL BATHS:
Open for business (Because even cultural artifacts need some post-Christmas attention).
Expect crowds rivaling the North Pole – it’s like Santa’s Workshop, but with more selfie sticks.

FREE TOURS
All free tours are going as normal.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Metro, buses, and trams: Operating on school holiday mode (So if they’re a bit groggy, cut them some slack – even public transportation needs a post-holiday nap).
Intervals of 10-20 minutes (Time enough for a quick carol or two while you wait).

SPECIAL NOTICE:
Please prepare for a “massive crowd” at every tourist sight
If you’re trying to take a panoramic photo, be ready for a sea of bobbing Santa hats and festive scarves.

TOP TIP:
Wear your comfiest holiday socks because standing in line just got a lot more festive.

 

If you plan to stay a little longer or arrive later, we got you! After our Christmas in Budapest tutorial, click here to find out what to expect if you spend your  New Year’s Eve in our favorite town!

 

 

Everything to Know about the Holidays in Budapest: Exploring the City on 20th of August

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Welcome back, fellow travelers and adventure enthusiasts.-) This time I share with you all the important information about one of our most important holidays in Budapest, the birthday of Hungary, the 20th of August. 

As August unfolds, we find ourselves on the brink of a captivating celebration in Hungary’s vibrant capital – Budapest. On August 20th, Hungary commemorates its national holiday, a day that not only honors the foundation of the state but also showcases the city’s rich culture, heritage, and artistic flair. 

Let’s start with our own important note: This holiday is so important that even the Trip to Budapest crew takes a half day off, which means it is definitely worth joining our FREE BUDAPEST TOUR, starting at 10.30 am, because we won’t have any afternoon tours that day. 

Why is this date one of the most important Holidays in Budapest?

August 20th: A Day of Splendor and Heritage Marked as St. Stephen’s Day, August 20th is a public holiday in Hungary that pays homage to the founding of the state by King Stephen I. As you step onto the bustling streets of Budapest, you’ll be enveloped in an air of anticipation, as locals and visitors alike come together to revel in the festivities. The city takes on an enchanting aura, with grand parades, concerts, and breathtaking fireworks illuminating the night sky. 

The fireworks are an integral part of the celebrations during Hungary’s national holiday.

The display typically takes place over the Danube River, providing a stunning backdrop of the city’s iconic landmarks, including the Parliament building, Buda Castle, and the Chain Bridge. The fireworks light up the night sky with an array of vibrant colors, patterns, and designs, creating a mesmerizing visual spectacle that leaves spectators in awe.

 

Exploring the Opening Hours 

Must-Visit Sites While the city comes alive with the celebrations, planning your day around the adjusted opening hours is essential. Here’s a glimpse of the opening hours for some of Budapest’s renowned attractions on August 20th:

  • Hungarian National Gallery in Buda Castle: A timeless symbol of Budapest’s history, the Buda Castle complex offers stunning panoramic views of the city. On August 20th, the castle’s museums and exhibitions are open. Free entrance all day: 10 am-5.30 pm.
  • Fisherman’s Bastion: This architectural masterpiece offers a fairy-tale-like atmosphere with its turrets and neo-Gothic details. Enjoy panoramic views of the Danube River and the Parliament Building. Free entrance all day.
  • Hungarian Parliament Building: A true marvel of architecture, the Parliament Building stands as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Its sheer grandeur is a sight to behold, especially during the holiday when the area is adorned with colorful decorations. Free entrance all day: 10 am-6 pm.
  • Thermal Baths: Budapest’s thermal baths are the epitome of relaxation. The Széchenyi, Gellért, Lukács, and Rudas Thermal baths will all be open as normal.
  • Museum of Fine Arts on Heroes’ Square: A significant historic and cultural site, Heroes’ Square stands as a tribute to Hungary’s leaders. The square and its nearby attractions might have slightly modified hours to accommodate the celebrations. Free Entry to this museum all day: 10 am-5.30 pm

August 20th in Budapest is more than just a bank holiday; it’s a celebration of heritage, culture, and unity. As you traverse the streets of this captivating city, take in the joyous ambiance, vibrant parades, and spectacular fireworks that adorn the sky. Remember to plan your visits to Budapest’s landmarks by checking their adjusted opening hours, ensuring you make the most of this splendid day.

 

Join our free tour at 10.30 am as we embark on a journey through the heart of Budapest’s August 20th festivities, capturing memories that will last a lifetime. We anticipate larger-than-usual crowds for the national holiday fireworks and afternoon festivals, so prepare yourself for a very exciting but also very busy afternoon and evening. For further program recommendations and schedules check out the government’s website dedicated to this day. 

Best things to do in Budapest for Father’s Day in 2023

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The origins of Father’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th century. The idea of dedicating a day to honor fathers emerged as a counterpart to Mother’s Day, which had already gained popularity. If you are here for this special day with your parents we have collected a couple of great activities which your father would definitely enjoy. With that here are our favorite things to do in Budapest for Father’s Day on June, 18th 2023:

Take a Danube River Cruise

Treat your father to a relaxing Danube River cruise where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Buda Castle, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Chain Bridge, and the Hungarian Parliament. These sightseeing cruises usually offer some extra service besides the views, so choose wisely depending on what your father would enjoy the most for example the unlimited prosecco cruise, café and cruise, or the dinner and cruise with traditional Hungarian live music. Most importantly book it for the night so you can see the Parliament lit up. 

 

Explore Buda Castle Hill on our Free Buda Castle District Tour

Take our free tour through the historic Buda Castle neighborhood. Enjoy the panoramic views of the city from the significant view spots and lookout towers.

Relax in the thermal baths

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths, and spending a few hours at one of them can be a fantastic Father’s Day treat. Széchenyi Baths and Lukács Baths are two popular options where you can relax in the thermal waters, and steam chambers and enjoy various spa treatments including full body massage. Most of the bathhouses offer beer baths as well if you are into something really special. 

Visit a local restaurant in the Jewish District or check out one of the food markets.

Budapest is known for its delicious cuisine and eating out can be a great way to celebrate Father’s Day together. If you are curious about Hungarian dishes it is worth starting with the Central Market Hall and then visiting one of the great Hungarian restaurants in the Jewish District, as you are there that neighborhood is the hub for the international kitchen too, whatever you desire Italien, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, Middle Eastern you will find excellent traditional places from all of those cuisines so it worth to experiment for sure!

Explore the world of the excellent Hungarian wines

Hungarian wine’s distinct indigenous grape varieties, unique winemaking traditions, diverse terroir, and the famous Tokaji Aszú all contribute to its unique and compelling qualities, making it an intriguing choice for wine lovers and an integral part of Hungary’s cultural heritage. Hungarian wines often offer excellent value for money, providing high-quality wines at relatively affordable prices compared to some other wine-producing regions.  It is worth experimenting on your own, but if your father is really a wine enthusiast we would recommend joining a wine tasting to learn the essentials of Hungarian wine.

Take a Walk along Andrássy Avenue

Stroll along Andrássy Avenue, a beautiful tree-lined boulevard in Budapest. You can admire the stunning architecture, browse through high-end shops, and stop for a coffee at one of the charming cafes. The avenue is lined with stunning Neo-Renaissance buildings, charming townhouses, and elegant mansions. 

 

We hope you and your father have a fantastic time celebrating Father’s Day in Budapest. 

If you have any questions, drop us an e-mail at info@triptobudapest.hu 

 Enjoy your trip!

2023 Easter in Budapest

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Dear Travelers,

Let us, the Free Budapest Walking Tours Team (Triptobudapest.hu Team) tell you about what is coming up next weekend (from 7th of April, Friday till the 10th of April, Monday), at Easter time in our capital city 🙂

First of all, OUR FREE WALKING TOURS IN BUDAPEST RUN AS USUAL! Even though on Friday the 7th of April on Sunday the 9th of April, and on Monday the 10th of April it will be a holiday, so banks, shops, shopping malls, markets will be closed, we do not stop! 🙂

Some smaller 0-24 supermarkets will be open, museums (except on Mondays), bathhouses and restaurants will be open, so do not worry, there will be things to do over the holiday as well.

What is more, there is a nice Spring Market (Budapesti Tavaszi Vásár in Hungarian)  going on from the 24th of March till the 16th of April, on Városháza Park (City hall park in English) and Deák Ferenc square. Spring comes to 150-year-old Budapest with colorful music programs, a craft fair, an egg museum (we paint eggs in Hungary  at Easter as a tradition) and a nostalgia carousel. In the heart of the city center, family and children’s programs, a craft fair and gastronomic specialties await you!

See you soon on our free and private tours in Budapest and all the best for the upcoming Easter holidays!

Easter opening hours 2019

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The Easter and Pessach holiday is approaching again, therefore in this blog article we are sharing the most important opening hours of shops, museums, thermal baths and so on, to make it easier for you to plan your stay in Budapest! Let’s see!

First of all, let us share that ALL OUR FREE TOURS WILL RUN during the whole holiday, no break in showing you our beautiful city!  They run according to the spring and summer schedule that you can find updated here on our website and in the previous blog article as well. Feel free to contact us for any more details.

APRIL 19TH – GOOD FRIDAY (BANK HOLIDAY)

SHOPS are closed.
MUSEUMS are open, except Mai Mano – House of Photography Museum.
THERMAL BATHS: No closures, normal opening hours.
Széchenyi, Lukacs and Rudas thermal baths: 6:00am-10.00pm
Gellért Thermal Bath: 6:00am-6:00pm
Király Thermal Bath: 9:00am-9:00pm
OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES:
Dohany Synagogue : closed ( Seder night)
Matthias Church: 9:00am-2:30pm open for visitors
Parliament is open throughout Easter 8:00am-4:00pm
Central Market and other food markets are closed
Street vendors sell Easter souvenirs and traditional Easter snacks around the city center.

APRIL 20TH SATURDAY

Most of the SHOPS are open. 9:00am-1:00pm, shopping malls are all open.
RESTAURANTS are open
MUSEUMS are open, except Mai Mano – House of Photography Museum.
THERMAL BATHS : No closures, normal opening hours
Széchenyi, Lukacs and Rudas thermal baths: 6:00am-10:00pm
Gellért Thermal Bath: 6:00am-6:00pm
Király Thermal Bath: 9:00am-9:00pm
OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES:
Dohany Synagogue is closed.
Matthias Church: Open for visitors. Holy Easter Mass at 6.00pm
Parliament is open throughout Easter 8:00am-4:00pm
Grand Central Market and other food markets are open 6:00am-3:00pm
Street vendors sell Easter souvenirs and traditional Easter snacks around the center.

APRIL 21ST SUNDAY

SHOPS are closed. Smaller seven-eleven stores, RESTAURANT and cafes should be open as usual.
MUSEUMS are open, except Mai Mano – House of Photography Museum and Robert Capa Photography Museuem
THERMAL BATHS: No closure, normal opening hours
Széchenyi, Lukacs and Rudas thermal baths: 6:00am-10:00pm
Gellért thermal bath: 6:00am-6:00pm
Király thermal bath: 9:00am-9:00pm
OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES:
Churches are open all day long.
Dohany Synagogue: closed
Matthias Church: 1:00pm-5:00pm open for visitors
Parliament is open throughout Easter 8:00am-4:00pm
Grand Central Market and other food markets are closed.
Street vendors sell Easter souvenirs and traditional Easter snacks around the center.

APRIL 22ND MONDAY

SHOPS, Supermarket chains, shopping malls, post offices and plazas are closed. Seven-eleven shops (24 hour shops) are open.
RESTAURANTS, pubs and bars are open.
MUSEUMS are open except National Museum, Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art
THERMAL BATHS are open as normal.
Széchenyi, Lukacs and Rudas thermal baths: 6:00am-10:00pm
Gellért thermal bath: 6:00am-6:00pm
Király thermal bath: 9:00am-9:00pm
OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES:
Churches are open all day long.
Dohany Synagogue: closed
Matthias Church: 1:00pm-5:00pm open for visitors
Parliament is open throughout Easter
Grand Central Market and other food markets are closed.
Street vendors sell Easter souvenirs and traditional Easter snacks around the center.

There is also an Art, Folk and Gastro Festival and Bazaar going on in Budapest.
On the Pest side of the river Danube you can find it at these locations: Vigado square – Danube Promenade – Deak Ferenc / Varoshaza ter downtown area – Hungarian Agricultural Museum area (Behind Heroes’ Square) – Fővám tér: Grand Central Market area
Ont he Buda side of the river Danube: Buda Castle district: Royal Palace area

We hope you will be having a nice time during the holidays in Budapest and we are waiting for you to join our free tours on the Elisabeth square, close to the Budapest Eye Ferris wheel (please find our Facebook page: „Free Budapest Walking Tours” for more details and pictures of the exact meeting point!) See you soon! 🙂

15th of March – practical info for this national & bank holiday

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If you are in Budapest on the 15th of March it is good to know that this day is a national and bank holiday every year in Hungary. Let us provide you with some practical info and recommendations for this day! Read more

Happy New Year 2019!

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Boldog új évet kívánunk mindenkinek! …or if you did not understand that, let’s say it in English – We wish everyone a happy new year! Also, we have collected a few Hungarian traditions and dishes we eat when the new year begins, it is always interesting to read about different nations’ traditions! Read more

Useful practical info for the holidays – Opening hours

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In this blog article we have collected useful information for you: opening hours of museums,
bathhouses, shops, churches and the operation time of the public transportation in Budapest. Read more

May the 1st in Hungary

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In Hungary this year from April 30th -May 1st there’s a 2-day- bank holiday. Banks, post offices, offices, large stores and malls will be closed. Tourist attractions will be open. All our free walking tours go as normal. There will be colourful programmes, events, concerts called “majális” in Hungarian in many parks and parts of the Budapest and the country. Read more