When to go · Budapest
Budapest in December
Good month. Cold; Christmas markets.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- High
- Hungary overall
- Prices
- High
- Hungary overall
Verdict
Cold; Christmas markets.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than December?
December is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in December
- Budapest and the north, Hungary · Budapest, Danube Bend, Eger, Tokajcool
Hot summers (35 °C (95 °F) spells) and cold, foggy winters; spring and autumn are best.Hot summers (95 °F (35 °C) spells) and cold, foggy winters; spring and autumn are best.
Winter season
Cold and grey, but the Christmas markets and near-empty thermal baths are a real draw.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christmas markets
Vörösmarty tér and the Basilica square fill with stalls from late November; evenings are the busiest.
Christmas big impact
24–26 Dec · Hungary
Shops close early on the 24th and on 25–26; many restaurants shut.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Hungary overall
- High
- Prices · Hungary overall
- High
Hungary overall: Christmas markets at Vörösmarty tér and the Basilica; closures on 24–26 December.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Budapest, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Good
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Dec: High
May: Medium
Prices
Dec: High
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Dec: 2
May: 2
December: Cold; Christmas markets.
May: Warm; good for walking.
Budapest: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket