How to enjoy winter in Budapest

Hungary is characterised by a continental climate, which means that the temperature in the coldest month can get below 0° Celsius. So winter is very much present in the country. This is a great time to visit Budapest for instance, because there are less tourists and plenty of things to see and do. The Culture Trip collected some great ways to enjoy winter in our capital 🙂

One of the strongest arguments to visit Budapest in the winter is definitely the City Park Ice Rink. When the temperature drops, the park’s boating lake freezes and turns into Europe’s largest ice skating rink. Not to mention that you’re surrounded by beautiful sights such as the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Városliget Café.

Ice Rink in Budapest’s City Park with the Vajdahunyad Castle in the background – Photo: Wikicommons by Themightyquill

If you want to get warm after skating, you should head to one of the amazing Christmas markets (which you would do anyways, because it is a must in winter) and grab some mulled wine. Afterwards you can take a look around the different stands and shop for peculiar, unique gifts.

You’re probably going to get hungry as well, but luckily the Christmas market is full of delicacies.

The website recommends trying roasted chestnuts, which screams winter. It is a simple but amazing “meal” that will warm your soul.

You might want to finish your dinner with something sweet, so why not indulge in the world of chimney cakes? This Hungarian treat is paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth. You can buy them at stalls all over the city.

Photo: www.facebook.com/VitézKürtős

If you’re a culture addict, you might want to book a ticket for a ballet or opera in advance. Besides the traditional Nutcracker, you can choose from a very wide selection of performances. Going to the theatre or opera is an especially unique experience around Christmastime.

When getting from one place to another in the city, make sure to choose a route which includes the light tram. The most frequented tram lines are taken over by these glowing lights, and it’s definitely worth taking a ride along the side of the Danube on tram line 2.

Photo: www.facebook.com/Fényvillamos

You might have heard that Budapest is the city of thermal springs. Visiting the historic baths of the city is especially recommended in the winter months.

The warmth of the waters will stave off the biting cold, making for a truly unique experience.

If we get lucky and the snow doesn’t melt right away, a great way to celebrate the whiteness is sleighing at Normafa in the Buda Hills. There’s a chairlift to help you get back up, but either way it’ll be a whole day of thrills with a view of Budapest in the distance.

Last but not least, if you’re planning a night out in the city, you’ll find that the options are infinite, particularly when it comes to New Year’s Eve parties. However, you might want to consider spending the night on the Danube. There are a number of these types of cruise options available, but the ones that offer unlimited drinks and a DJ until 3am may well be the best choice.

Featured image: Daily News Hungary

Source: https://theculturetrip.com/