Christmas markets of Budapest in detail: St. Stephen’s Basilica – PHOTOS
Christmas time is in the air, and people are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to spend the holidays with their loved ones. Budapest would not be in the real Christmas spirit without its famous and beautiful holiday markets. In this article, we would like to show you in detail what you can see and do when you visit the Christmas market in front of the St. Stephen’s Basilica.
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The Christmas market on St Stephen’s Square is right in front of the beautiful St Stephen’s Basilica which is one of the tallest buildings on the Pest side of Budapest, and one of the biggest churches in Hungary. The first Advent Fair in front of the basilica was held in 2011, organised by the National Association of Folk Artists.
It is also is one of the favourite Christmas markets in Hungary and one of the three top Christmas markets in Europe. The organisers of this market work hard every year to make sure that the Christmas spirit sparkles in front of Budapest’s iconic St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Entering the giant Advent gate, you will find yourself among a hundred handcrafts stalls, and a sizeable skating rink set up on the square in the heart of the market. The Christmas market welcomes everyone with handcrafted gifts and Hungarian and international foods such as the local favourite, “flódni,” and the famous Hungaricum, the chimney cake.
The assortment includes leather products, jewellery, gloves, toys, Christmassy trinkets and all things merry, but special surprises such as miniature handmade doll’s houses also feature. Stallholders can tell you more about each item – sometimes its producer might be there, too.
The market also offers ice skating for children in a central rink that surrounds a towering Christmas tree. The free ice rink is for under-14s only, and there’s no charge for skate rental. At weekends, friendly instructors help little ones learn how to slide and glide on the ice, also for free.
An important factor is that the Advent Feast at the Basilica is held with a community spirit in mind: guests can enjoy charity-boosting concerts, and to preserve the environment, food vendors will use eco-friendly cups, plates, and cutlery, while waste will be recycled.
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Source: Daily News Hungary
I went to Budapest last Christmas and the city markets do not disappoint. The beautiful shops on Vaci Street stay open late, the restaurants add additional outdoor seating with heat lamps so patrons can enjoy the live music and merriment. The endless vendors with their charming holiday goods and goodies are happy to discuss their wares and how they may fit into Hungarian Christmas traditions.