Winter in Budapest

Warm up

A trip to Normafa
The most harmonious route to Normafa begins with a ride on the “Fogaskerekű” cogwheel train, which goes from the heart of the Buda side straight up to one of the most popular green areas of Buda, the János Hill. When there is snow, it is a great skiing location, where visitors can eat at the strudel shop or the diner. The popular Children’s Railway (Gyermekvasút) also starts from here every hour at weekends.

“Libegő” chairlift and ski lift
After a nice, long excursion in the woods near Normafa, nothing gives more satisfaction to the tired legs than letting them swing and relax. You can descend from the highest point of Normafa with the chairlift, which also functions as a ski lift, while enjoying the scenery of the Buda Hills emerging from the green as well as the idyllic surroundings of the houses and gardens in Buda. At the bottom of the chairlift hungry wanderers are welcomed in the “Zugligeti 58” Restaurant that await visitors with domestic flavours. In great colds there are even ice-skating opportunities here.

Skating at the top of the city
One of the largest shopping malls of Eastern Europe is located near the Nyugati Railway Station. In the winter, the roof garden of the building is transformed into a skating rink filled with music.

Exclusive shopping on a World Heritage Site
Andrássy Avenue is the most beautifully decorated boulevard of Budapest, where not only the lights are glittering, but also the shop displays of the greatest international brands one after another from Oktogon Square to Deák Ferenc Square and Fashion Street, lined with unique buildings from the turn of the 20th century.

Cultural Whirlwind 

Art cinemas
There are plenty of uniquely furnished art film theatres in Budapest with coffee and tea shops, also offering room for the exchange of thoughts. The “Művész” cinema on the Grand Boulevard, or the "Uránia" film theatre in the building of the University of Theatre, Film and Television cannot be missed. Movies are usually presented in their original language with Hungarian subtitles.

Pest Broadway
Next to Andrássy Avenue and close to Oktogon Square is the mysterious and exciting Broadway in Nagymező Street, surrounded by cafés, tea houses and entertainment opportunities. Thália Theatre, Operett Theatre and Moulin Rouge can be found here, as well the Opera House nearby. Liszt Ferenc Square with its cafés, bars and nightspots is always full of life, even at cold winter nights.

Cinetrip Sparty at the Rudas Bath
In one of the most popular baths of Budapest, the “Sparty”, which combines spa experience with party feeling, provides a one-of-a-kind experience with its light shows and various deejays and veejays in a unique environment. Parties are held on a monthly basis.

Chill out 

Drinking mulled wine in the Christmas Fair
Festive lights, flavours and music. Nothing is nicer and more relaxing than taking a walk in downtown, where you can choose from the most unique, hand-made, traditional Hungarian products while sipping a glass of mulled wine.

Thermal baths
Budapest has an unparalleled supply of thermal water resources. No wonder that these conditions were utilized as early as in the ancient times. You can experience the unique atmosphere of the Gellért, Széchenyi and Rudas baths with their mosaic walls and marvellous architectural solutions. The culture of bath includes massage, sauna and steam bath, which are worth a try after a physically draining day.

Cafés and tea houses
Budapest is one of the great successors of Europe’s culture of cafés. All types can be found here from grand cafés to small intimate coffee shops. Today there are about a hundred cafés in Budapest, as well as numerous tea houses and pastry shops. Some deservedly famous cafés are Gerbeaud, New York and Ruszwurm, but pastry shops such as August, Daubner and Horváth are also legendary.

Traditional festive delicacies 

“Töki pompos”
This piece of bread dough baked in a clay oven, and topped with sour cream (tejföl), cottage cheese (túró) and Hungarian bacon (szalonna) is the favourite of the Christmas Fair in Vörösmarty Square.

Goose liver
One of the most delicious delicacies in the world, this cold appetizer is a famous Hungarian dish. The liver comes on a piece of bread or it is baked, but the principle of “less is more” applies to the tasting in both cases. It is excellent as a terrine, combined with Tokaji wine.

“Kürtős kalács”
The sweet leavened dough is rolled out and rounded around a wooden cylinder. The dough on the cylinder is roasted over charcoal fire, caramelized with butter and sugar, and rolled in walnut, shredded coconut or chocolate. This traditional Hungarian specialty appears in almost every Christmas fair.

Fried carp
A Hungarian freshwater fish sliced into horseshoe shapes, crumbed and fried in oil. It is a common festive family dish which usually comes with a potato and onion salad with mayonnaise.

Lentils
It is believed that those who want to be rich must eat lentils on New Year’s Day, while fish is forbidden that day, because it takes the money “down the drain”.