Advent in Hungary with glowing trams, light trains, and illuminated buses – here’s what you should know

Last night, the first vehicles of Budapest’s Advent fleet set off from the Hungária depot in Józsefváros, adorned in festive lights to carry passengers along various city routes until 6th January. But it’s not just the capital – across the regions, MÁV and Volán are also launching glowing trains and light buses. We’ve gathered all the details in the article below.

Budapest’s illuminated Advent vehicles run on regular fares

The city’s fleet of festive trams, trains, and buses for the Advent, Christmas, and New Year season also launched yesterday in Budapest. According to BKK, these special vehicles turn journeys into a genuine experience for both children and adults. In addition to the traditional Light Tram and Santa Trolley this year, five more trams, cogwheel trains, and buses will run decorated with sparkling fairy lights.

Each service runs from 4pm until late evening on various routes, which you can check on the official website. For instance, on line 2 – voted Europe’s most beautiful downtown tram route – the light tram will operate every Monday and Wednesday. Click and check out the video.

Fairy light-decorated trams will also run on the 1, 2, and 3 lines, as well as the 4-6, 47-49, and multiple lines like 23, 60, 14, 19, 41, 50, 51A, 56A, and 42-50.

While details on the Santa Trolley are yet to come, the Santa Bus runs only until 23rd December on weekdays from noon to 8pm and at weekends from 11am to 7pm. It will make appearances on many lines; during weekdays, you can catch it on lines 5, 7, and 133E, and at weekends on several others. A full list and further details are available on the website.

Lighted HÉV trains, sparkling trains, and illuminated buses

Hegyi Zsolt, CEO of the MÁV group, announced this morning that during the festive season passengers will also be able to travel on illuminated HÉV suburban trains, light trains, and brightly adorned Ikarus buses including long-distance coaches.

The Light HÉV will run afternoons and evenings on 29–30 November on line H5, 6–7 December on lines H8/9, 13–14 December on line H6, and 20–21 December on line H7.

According to a statement from MÁV’s press office, light trains (‘Fényszili’ and ‘FényBz’) will be operating from 30th November on main and branch lines across the country. Beyond the touring service, a train on the Balatonfenyves narrow-gauge railway will also shine in festive lights until 6th January 2026.

This year VOLÁN is dressing the jubilee, 200,000th-built member of the Ikarus 200 family—a nostalgic, articulated Ikarus 280 bus restored and unveiled last year—in festive splendour. This classic vehicle will run on 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, and 20th–23rd December from Budapest to Gödöllő.

From 6th December, a CREDO ECONELL 12 bus fitted with celebratory decorative lights will also enter service on the Budapest-Pilis-Esztergom route, the announcement reveals.

Read also:

• Skate in the sky: Budapest’s first double-decker ice rink opened! – photos
• Budapest’s magical City Park Ice Rink returns — Here’s when you can skate by a castle again!

Click and read more of our articles concerning Christmas and the Advent festivities in Hungary.