Hungary’s most iconic ice rink is opening soon: drastic prices await

Hungary’s most popular and most visited artificial ice rink is about to open. Although the energy crisis means that Christmas in Budapest won’t be the same as it used to be, the iconic City Park Ice Rink (Városligeti Műjégpálya) won’t be leaving us.

The opening of the City Park Ice Rink is imminent, with the exact date set for 17 November. As we all might have guessed, prices have gone up: you’ll have to open your wallet twice as much as in the past to skate here.

Against all odds

Photo: www.facebook.com/mujegpalya.varosligeti

As we reported before, many drastic measures have to be implemented in the country in an attempt to fight the energy crisis and save as much money as possible. Theatres close, the iconic cog-wheel railway ceases operation, Christmas lights are limited, universities turn off hot water, Budapest will stay without Christmas lighting this year. These are only a few of the draconic measures that the country is seeing.

Despite all of this, the country’s most popular ice rink is opening soon. However, it will not be cheap at all. On 17 November, the City Park Ice Rink, which will be 151 years old this year, will open, magyarorszagom.hu reports. Although it has been indicated that this is only a planned opening, and many things could still come into play.

Read also: Energy crisis strikes again: closures and limited Christmas lights in this Hungarian county

The future in uncertain

Photo: facebook.com/mujegpalya.varosligeti/

The impact of the crisis has also reached the City Park Ice Rink, which has had a profound effect on ticket prices and opening hours. If the ice rink cannot generate the money needed to maintain it, it will have to close. The capital will not be able to operate the rink due to increased overhead costs. It is planned to be open until 31 December anyway, but next year it will only be open if there are enough visitors.

Read also: This ice rink in Budapest is offering free skating!

The cold facts: prices

Many people complained that they were not designed in a family-friendly way, for a family with several children it would cost almost 10,000 HUF for this programme. However, this is not entirely true, as there are also family-friendly discounts, writes magyarorszagom.hu.

The prices are as follows: adult ticket HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.17), pensioner/student HUF 2,000 (EUR 4.95), family ticket (2 adults, 2 children up to 14 years) HUF 7,000 (EUR 17.28), family ticket with 3 children HUF 8,000 (EUR 19.75). On weekends, adult tickets are HUF 3,500 (EUR 8.64), student/pensioner HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.17), and family tickets are also more expensive. You can find out more about tickets HERE. Skate rental is HUF 3,000 (EUR 7.41), plus HUF 2,000 (EUR 4.94) deposit. There are also group student tickets for HUF 800/person (EUR 1.97).

(Prices have been calculated on the basis of the HUF/EUR exchange rate on 13 November, 2022.)