Budapest had been on my Christmas city break wish list for years, so I was super excited to finally get to visit. As always, I’d done lots of research on all the sights, places to eat and of course the Christmas markets, so I knew we were in for a great weekend…
Where to stay
We stayed at Barcelo Budapest, which couldn’t have been in a better location – just a couple of minutes’ walk to the tram and metro, with lots of the main sites like Fashion Street and St Stephen’s Basilica 10 minutes’ walk away. With our hotel being very central, it was nice to have the option to come back for a while to recharge the batteries in between exploring every day. We covered so much ground while we were there!
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Things to do
Getting around is super cheap and easy. On our first evening we took a river cruise on the Danube (which had unlimited prosecco!) to see the Houses of Parliament and other historical buildings lit up. It’s no wonder the waterfront is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was stunning.
We had to visit the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths, which we added onto our holiday as a First Choice experience. The baths are one of the largest in Europe and they even have ‘SPARTYs’ with DJs some nights. It was so nice being in the hot outdoor pools while it was so cold outside – I’d definitely recommend coming here as soon as it opens for the best experience. While you’re in this area, definitely check out the BalloonFly activity to see the city from above and walk over to Vajdahunyad Castle, too. There are some Christmas markets here and a huuuge ice rink!
Other must-dos include going up to Fisherman’s Bastion on the Buda side of Budapest (Buda is on one side of the river and Pest is on the other). I’d recommend going twice – early in the morning before the crowds arrive and at sunset for a beautiful view. If your budget allows, go for a cocktail at White Raven Skybar – this is the best view in the city IMO! Great Market Hall is also well worth a visit and there’s also a Makers Market a few times a month if you’re lucky enough to coincide.
Top tip – download the BudapestGO app and you can buy single tickets or a 72h pass for about £13.
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Foodie finds
Food wise, aside from the Christmas markets, I really loved Best Bagel Basilica and Artisan Bakery. Mazel Tov was excellent, try Deryne and Bestia for a bit of a fancier dinner and you can’t miss a cocktail at High Note Skybar for a drink with an amazing view. You also can’t come here without trying a chimney cake (delicious) and a langos (deep fried bread with sour cream, cheese and different toppings like paprika chicken). One thing I was surprised by is how expensive it was – although accommodation is cheap, I expected food to be a little more reasonable, so just bear this in mind.
There are loads of Christmas markets in the city, so you’ll definitely be in the festive spirit! I loved how the products here were different to anywhere else I’d seen, and perfect for bringing back a few Christmas gifts. Overall, Budapest is an excellent pick for a festive winter getaway, and I already can’t wait to come back!
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Author: @gracegrangetravel
Last updated: 09/09/2025
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