Budapest’s Advent Bazilika Christmas market has been named the Best Christmas Market of All Time! – PHOTOS
European Best Destinations is the most visited website dedicated to travel and culture in Europe, and it has chosen Budapest’s Advent Bazilika Christmas market as the Best Christmas Market of All Time. The market opened on 15 November and is scheduled to welcome visitors until the first day of the new year.
On European Best Destinations’ list of the best Christmas markets ever, Budapest gained the most prominent place it could with number 1. The travel website called Budapest’s Advent Bazilika Christmas Market an enchanting initiative in the heart of the Hungarian capital. It also praised the market’s commitment to sustainability and the charity events it hosts during Advent.
Advent Bazilika Christmas market is the all-time best
The Advent Bazilika Christmas market opened on 15 November and will remain open until 1 January. It is in front of Saint Stephen’s Basilica, a famous landmark of the Hungarian capital and the seat of the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest.
They wrote that the market was like a winter wonderland. “This stunning location, one of the most picturesque squares in the Hungarian capital, provides the perfect backdrop for this beloved event”, they concluded.
At this year’s Advent Bazilika Christmas market, you may find more than 100 local craft exhibitors, offering a wide range of traditional Hungarian culinary delights. There is also an ice skating rink, musical performances, charity programs and surprises for all visitors.
The Advent Bazilika Christmas fair features musical performers several times a week starting at 5 PM. That is followed by the light painting on the facade of the magnificent Basilica at 5.30 PM, which you can admire every day.
Second is Zagreb, third in Gdansk
The second place went to Zagreb’s Christmas market, where you can travel by train from Budapest. You may read the details HERE. The bronze medal went to the Christmas market of Gdansk in Poland, while Vienna gained only fifth place. You can also travel to Vienna from Budapest by train, and HERE we wrote which Christmas market is cheaper.
Budget-friendly dishes in Budapest Christmas markets
What’s more, there is good news for visitors with more modest budgets. As in previous years, the organisers have ensured that low-cost meals are available at both fairs for as little as HUF 1,600 (approximately EUR 4). These dishes will vary daily, with options including ratatouille with sausage or chicken breast filled with spinach and served with rice.
Additionally, themed weekends will highlight specific cuisines, such as goose, pork, or fish dishes. Other weekends will focus on traditional Hungarian foods like goulash, stews, stuffed cabbage, and desserts. Advent Bazilika will also host a special Lentil Day on 1 January, reflecting the Hungarian custom according to which eating lentils at the start of the year brings financial luck. During these themed days, visitors can enjoy selected budget dishes for EUR 6.
Advent Bazilika won the online voting of the best European Christmas fair for the fourth time in 2023, an unprecedented victory. The event won in 2019 for the first time. What’s more, between 2021 and 2023, they repeated the victory three times in a row, Blikk wrote. In 2024, the Christmas fair did not enter the competition.
This year, a 12-metre-tall Christmas tree decorates the square in front of Saint Stephen’s Basilica.
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