Budapest is one of a kind in every season, however autumn may be the ideal one to discover the Hungarian capital! Enjoy the lovely autumn weather and the vivid colors of the hills of Buda. Experience the vibrant cultural life with so much to explore in the city: culinary and art festivals, outdoor leisure activities, sport programmes, exhibitions, concerts and much more!
Whether you plan to stay for the weekend or for a midweek break you will surely find some things why the city is worth visiting. Here are some of our top tips for this season to make the most out of your stay.
Budapest weather in autumn
Table of Contents
One of the biggest reasons for visiting Budapest during autumn is the weather that allows you to spend plenty of time in the city enjoying the warm rays of sunshine. While it isn’t as hot as the summer, autumn is a great time for a holiday to Budapest if you prefer fewer crowds and cooler weather that’s perfect for sightseeing.
Temperatures are usually mild and pleasant during the daytime with an average high over 20°C which comes down to 14°C by the end of October. However the weather can change very quickly in this season so you may face some rainfalls during your stay. But don’t worry about rain ruining your plans since we also gathered some indoor activities to choose from.
Top things to do in Budapest in autumn
Sightseeing in the city
Sightseeing is a perfect outdoor programme during autumn time. Budapest is full of good spots where you can take great pictures or just enjoy the view. Under the following points we have listed some of the best places you don’t want to miss this autumn.
Gellért Hill
Take a good hike to Gellért Hill, the highest but easily reachable point of Budapest!
You can start your trip at Liberty Bridge and climb all the way up to the Liberty Statue. The route will offer you varius spectacular photo opportunities where you must take a break and admire the city.
If you want to take a smaller trip you can choose the other side of the hill and climb up just a few stairs from Erzsébet bridge to reach the waterfall and the St. Gellért Statue
Városliget
Városliget (City Park) is one of the biggest parks in Budapest and since it is located in the middle of the city it is the most beloved place for locals as well.
Due to the Liget Budapest project, the whole area has been renewed to provide higher quality environment and services. They established new institutions (like the House of Music and the Museum of Ethnography) offering endless opportunities for leisure and cultural activities. You can spend hours just wandering around the park without noticing. Visit Vajdahunyad Castle, rent a boat on the boating lake, or go on a picnic!
Margaret Island
Margaret Island (Margit-sziget) is also a beautiful public park where locals spend their weekends or afternoons doing sports, relaxing, or simply enjoying the good weather.
This island is also a good option if you’re visiting the city with children because there are several playgrounds, fountains, and a small zoo where you can feed the animals.
Find out more about Margaret Island!
Upcoming events, festivals and exhibitions
Budapest Chocolate Festival
Sept 30- Oct 02, 2022
Officially known as the Sweet Days Chocolate Festival, the Budapest Chocolate Festival is a dessert connoisseur’s dream come true. While the event started out as a celebration of all things chocolate, over the years it has grown to include a variety of baked goods including cakes, donuts, and even wine and coffee. During 3 days the festival is waiting for the sweet lovers in front of the Basilica on St Stephen’s Square. The entry is free of charge.
Budapest Restaurant Week
Oct 06-16, 2022
Dining in a high class restaurant may be an expensive matter – except during the Restaurant Week! DiningCity Restaurant Week is held 2 times a year, every autumn and spring, when many top restaurants in Budapest and in the countryside of Hungary offer a 3-course exclusive menu for a uniform-fixed price. This autumn Restaurant Week will last 11 day: from 6th until 16 of October.
The participant restaurants offer their menus for only 4,900 HUF (appr. €13), premium menus for 6,900 HUF (appr. €18) and exclusive menus for 9,900 HUF (appr. €25). (Bookings can only be made through DiningCity Restaurant Week website.)
Check out Zsolnay Café’s 3-course menus and reserve your table for free!
Sport events
Budapest Marathon
Oct 8-9, 2022
The 37th SPAR Budapest Marathon is part of a 2-day festival all about running. Participate in the running-sightseeing tour of the beautiful Budapest!
The course runs through the heart of city by the banks of Danubie, crosses several bridges and passes the most famous sites of the city like the Statue of Liberty, Buda Castle and Margaret Island.
You are not an experienced runner? Do not worry! You can choose from shorter distances as well (ranging from 400 m to 42 km), or you can complete the run in a team of 2 or 4! Challange yourself and take part in the running festival.
UEFA Nations League
Sept 21-27, 2022
The 2022–23 UEFA Nations League is the third season of the UEFA Nations League, an international association football competition involving the men’s national teams of the 55 member associations of UEFA.
The 2nd part of the league phase is held in September when the League A will compete for the Qualification for Nations League Finals held in June 2023 to determine the champions of the competition.
Matchdays 5&6 are going to be very important matchdays for Hungary since our national team managed to compete in the League A and could secure place in the UEFA Nations League finals June 2023.
- 23rd September: Hungary vs. Germany
- 26th September: Hungary vs. Italy
The two significant matches will take place at Puskás Arena.
World Press Photo Exhibition Budapest
Date: Sept 23 – Oct 30, 2022 – Hungarian National Museum Budapest
World Press Photo Exhibition is one of the most well-known photo exhibition on its world-wide tour showcasing the stories that matter with photography from the 65th annual World Press Photo contest. The winners were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 64,820 photographs entered by 4,066 photographers from 130 countries.
Visiting hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 10.00 -18.00
Friday – Saturday: 10.00 – 20.00
Henri Matisse – The Colour of Ideas Exhibition
Until Oct 16, 2022 – Museum of Fine Arts Budapest
Visitors are invited on a chronological journey through Matisse’s almost sixty-year-long oeuvre, which can be described as a series of renewals.
The exhibition is based on the masterpieces of the Centre Pompidou (Paris) and it is the first show featuring Henri Matisse’s art in Hungary.
Visitors can admire a selection of more than 150 pieces of the artist’s most important works throught his Fauve period all the way to his late gouache paper cut-outs.
The exhibition catalogue contains studies by foreign and Hungarian authors as well as a selection from Matisse’s writings.
Art Market Budapest
Date: Oct 6-9, 2022 – Bálna Budapest
Art Market Budapest is an internation contemporary art fair and exhibition that raises awareness of Central and Eastern European art and artists. It is also a unique art platform, which provides thought-provoking new impulses for both the European and the global art scene.
Art Market Budapest will be held at Bálna Budapest where visitors can not only spectate exhibitions but also participate in events, programs and workshops.
The INSIDE ART – International Art Industry Conference is also held among the Art Market this year where the focus is on Serbia and the serbian contemporary arts. Moreover Art Market Budapest is also honored to host MOST.SERBIA Festival with the main goal of the event is to make the treasures of Serbian culture and the cultural cooperation between Hungary and Serbia palpable for the public.
You can enjoy the first day of the fair (October 6) for free and buy you tickets for the following dates.
City breaks in Budapest
Plan your perfect autumn break to Budapest and find great accommodation at any area at reasonable price in one of our centrally located hotels in Budapest! Check out our special Budapest city break offers.
Recommended hotels in the city center
If you like to experience the real metropolitan buzz of the city we recommend you to stay at Danubius Hotel Astoria City Center or Danubius Hotel Erzsébet City Center.
Both of them are situated in the middle of bustling District 5, just a few minutes away from the prime attractions like the Hungarian National Museum, the Great Synagogue (the largest in Europe), Great Market Hall, Váci utca (Budapest’s iconic shopping street), and also the Danube. These two hotels have a very different style: while Hotel Astoria has its own legendary and historical character, Hotel Erzsébet is a smaller, atmospheric hotel.
If you want to spend a more relaxing holiday, choose Danubius Hotel Helia, our wellness hotel that offers you a wide range of fitness and spa services. This hotel is located just 15 minutes away from the city centre, next to the beautiful bank of the Danube.
Are you visiting Budapest for a concert or conference? Danubius Hotel Arena is the nearest option for you to stay right in the neighbourhoods of Papp László Budapest Sports Arena, Puskás Ferenc Stadium and the BOK Sports and Conference Centre.
And last, but not least you can stay at Hotel Hungaria City Center which is an ideal base both for tourists and business visitors. The hotel is located next to Keleti railway station from where you can reach Budapest’s main attractions by taking the metro M2 and M4.
As the peak of the tourist season is over, you’re less likely to encounter long lines at Budapest’s most popular attractions.
Although the temperatures cool slightly in September and October it’s still a gorgeous time of year to visit Budapest. The city’s terraces are still open in September, and there’s still a lively, summer-loving vibe for most of the month. However we recommend you to check out the weather forecast before your trip.
