Enchanting Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair welcomes you

The most popular winter activity in Budapest, the Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square, will welcome visitors again in 2019 with traditional and re-imagined designer artisan products, outstanding gastronomical offerings and diverse cultural programmes.

The organizers have planned exciting children’s programmes for families – including concerts, shows introducing traditional professions and handicraft classes – so the kids can keep themselves busy while the adults are on the hunt for presents in the Christmas bustle. Adults and groups of friends seeking entertainment will be delighted by theatrical and musical performances as well as gastro shows, which they can enjoy with a mug of mulled wine in their hands.

The Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square has been a favourite December activity of locals and visitors of Budapest alike for more than two decades. The Christmas fair offers jury-approved, high-quality craft products, as well as a unique and rich selection of traditional Hungarian dishes that visitors can choose from while enjoying the characteristic smells of chimney cake and mulled wine. Theatrical performances, the lighting of Advent candles and the fair’s Christmas tree all contribute to the unforgettable Advent experience that awaits those who choose the most famous Christmas event in the city for their destination.

The Hungarian capital welcomes fans of the fair with even more fun activities in 2019, because besides Vörösmarty Square they can also dive into the vibrant atmosphere of Christmas fairs on Deák Square and Fővám Square between 8 November and 1 January.

BUDAPEST AT CHRISTMAS / IN DECEMBER

December is a really special month in Budapest. It inspires travelling. We can wander among the breathtaking buildings of the Hungarian capital, adorned with Christmas lights, with a hot tea or mulled wine warming up our hands and our soul, and collect one new experience after the other.

Although the temperature is often below zero in December, the crisp winter air will not take us by surprise if we prepare for it. This type of weather is actually ideal for eating a nice bowl of goulash or a steaming chimney cake, and those who are brave enough might as well try to warm up themselves with a shot of pá a. Christmas fairs are the most popular activities during the Advent period. Visitors can buy their Christmas presents while also enjoying exciting programmes, folk shows and of course traditional Hungarian food. The Advent and Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square boasts a festival atmosphere that lasts 50+ days, a rich programme offering and a selection of exceptional handmade products and tasty food and beverages – it’s no wonder that it attracts more than 800,000 guests a year.

Once you’ve spent ample time admiring the goods displayed in the stalls, you can move on to other wonders of Budapest that await discovery. Visit world-class museum, pamper yourself in a thermal bath or choose one of the hundreds of cultural activities on offer, including jazz concerts, opera and special theatre performances. If you would rather soak up the winter atmosphere of the city, set out on the cobblestones of the tiny streets in the historical Castle District, or wander in the heart of the city centre – you can be sure to be met with an exciting adventure, a charming tea house, a contemporary designer store or a unique gallery on every corner. If you get hungry, return to the bustle of the Christmas fairs, where you will find the tastiest dishes – not to mention the weekly changing, traditional Hungarian delicacies connected to the Christmas period.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS DISHES

If you feel like enjoying a taste of traditional Hungarian cuisine, Christmas fairs are the place to be. You can find everything that you may wish for on Vörösmarty Square. If you crave a quick snack on the go, a fried sausage or a delicious liver sausage is an excellent choice. Pair it with a slice of fresh bread with a crispy crust, and you have a rich lunch that will keep you going while you amble among the stalls. The same goes for a bowl of hot goulash or stew. One of the unique features of the fair is that it offers visitors traditional dishes connected to the Advent period, while it also highlights a new holiday dish every week.

In the beginning of November, St Martin’s Day delicacies made of goose will be in the spotlight, which will be followed by game dishes, then – as the Christmas period begins – fish, stuffed cabbage and dishes connected to Hanukkah will be in the focus, while roast pig will be the star of the post-Christmas, pre-New Year period.

CHRISTMAS SWEETS

Apart from the aforementioned delicacies, Christmas sweets will also take their turn in the spotlight. It’s worth trying the pastries filled with poppy seed, characteristic of Central European gastronomy, such as poppy seed beigli – the must-have of Hungarian Christmas celebrations – or the typical Hanukkah sweet, flódni.

Although typical Hungarian dishes are mostly made with meat, vegetarians should fret not: the fair’s open kitchens await them with grilled vegetables, mushroom dishes and meat-free kenyérlángos (Hungarian-style focaccia). Choose from the excellent selection of Hungarian wines to accompany the delicious food by visiting the heated Hütte of the fair, where you can get a taste of the crème-de-la-crème of Hungarian wine areas under expert guidance.

QUALITY GIFTS FOR EVERYONE

The Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square is not just full of fun and activities, but is also a great place for buying presents. Whether you are looking for a small souvenir for your loved ones or planning a Christmas shopping spree, you can be sure to find the perfect present for everyone on Vörösmarty Square, Fővám Square or Deák Square.

One of the main goals of the Christmas Fair is to maintain its premium quality, so customers can choose from only the best authentic, handmade designer products that meet the requirements of the modern age. In order to guarantee this, the artisans for the fair are selected by an independent jury on their applications and attached portfolios. As a result, the best of the best Hungarian artisans are selling their exceptional products on Vörösmarty Square, so whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

Take your choice from the ceramic and glass, products from wood carvers, leather bags, handmade knives, noble and porcelain jewelry, folk instruments, children’s games, decorative, clothes and home decor products on offer in the more than 100 stalls filled with artisan and craft products.

The Open Workshop programme is a great opportunity to see how these are made and how the artisans are working to create value by using the traditional knowledge of our predecessors in such a way that the finished products meet the stylistic requirements of the 21st century while staying true to our traditions.

In 2019, two other Christmas Fair locations await visitors on the hunt for presents apart from Vörösmarty Square. A homely atmosphere welcomes guests both on Deák Square and Fővám Square, complete with artisan and craft stalls, which means you can go on a nice stroll on Váci Street while taking care of your shopping.

LIVING TRADITIONS

Apart from boasting a line of concerts and other fun programmes, Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square is also celebrating Hungarian traditions connected to the holiday season. For instance, those interested can participate in candle-lighting ceremonies on Sundays during Advent along with representatives from the biggest churches present in Hungary.

Younger and older visitors can familiarise themselves with different folk customs from the Carpathian Basin connected to the Christmas holiday season every week.

One thing’s for sure: the Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair on Vörösmarty Square is an experience that no visitor of Budapest should miss out on! Whatever you might wish, you can surely find it there.

DISCOUNT WITH BUDAPEST CARD:

https://www.budapestinfo.hu/budapest-advent-and-christmas-fair-2

Follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/budapestchristmasfair/

© 2019 BUDAPEST FESTIVAL AND TOURISM CENTRE