The Three Biggest Christmas Markets in Budapest

The three big Christmas markets in Budapest have opened. Visitors at Városháza Park, Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen’s Basilica are welcome until the last day of the year, travelo.hu reports.

Teodóra Bán, managing director of the Budapest Festival and Tourism Center emphasized at the opening ceremony that it is the second time this year that the three Christmas fairs are organized.

Vörösmarty Square

The oldest is the Vörösmarty Square Christmas market, which is referred to as one of the most popular winter tourist attractions in Europe. Last year, it was the first in Sunday Times’ ranking of six European Christmas markets, but it was also included in Travel & Leisure’s top ten list, and also in the top lists of Expedia Times and The Daily Telegraph.

At Vörösmarty Square, 121 craftsmen will display their wide range of products from jewelry to pottery. Visitors can also pick from culinary products and hot drinks. On the stage, jazz, street music, and world music is played in the afternoon on weekdays, and from morning till late night at weekends. Apart from the playhouse, a carousel from the 1930’s also awaits children. On Sundays, candle-lighting celebrations are held at the huge Advent wreath.

Városház Park

Városház Park is primarily for children this year: on Saturdays, slide projections, games, interactive children’s book launches and crafts programs follow each other. The evenings are closed by puppet shows or children’s concerts. On December 6, Santa Claus will arrive at 5 p.m..

On Sunday afternoons, students perform nativity plays, followed by candle-lighting and the performance of the young musicians of Virtuózok talent show. In the evenings, jazz concerts take place: Bálint Gájer, Dezső Oláh, Gabi Szűcs Chrismtas Swing, Orsi Kozma, Gábor Cseke, and Swing a la Django on the fourth Sunday.

St. Stephen’s Square

It is the fourth year that a Christmas market is held at St. Stephen’s Square. Apart from ceramists, jewelers, graphic designers and photographers; traditional Hungarian food, Belgian waffles and fresh pasta dishes are offered in Zrínyi Street.
Children under 14 can freely use the 200-square-foot skating rink. On Friday and Saturday, families can join a typical Hungarian folk dance house.

based on article of travelo.hu
translated by Vivien Pásztai

Photo: MTI – Zsolt Szigetvary

Source: http://travelo.hu/