The best reasons for visiting Budapest in November

Budapest, with its delicious flavors and fruity wines, its breath-taking views and rich history has become the beating heart of Eastern Europe and continues to be the new must-seen destination of the fun-seeking Europe traveler. Why people love Budapest beyond its true beauty and history is obvious:  everyone at any age, gender, relationship status or nationality finds what they look for in a city.

Budapest

Planning to visit Budapest for the first time? Check out our recommendations for spending 3 days in Budapest.

Budapest weather in November

You may expect some frosty nights when visiting the city in November. Both the average high and low temperature drop in the course of the month. The daytime highs decrease to 5°C and the night-time lows fall from 3°C to -1°C. Needless to say; for a holiday in Budapest in this month, pack warm clothes and plenty of layers – BUT don’t forget about your swimwear to warm up in one of our gorgeous thermal baths.

Budapest

Is Budapest sunny in November?

The air in November is brittle and clear, however it gets darker during the day. Luckily there are sunshine hours throughout the month, but the sky is typically darker during November.

Is it rainy in Budapest in November?

The total amount of precipitation this month is about 60mm, which is spread out over 13 days with precipitation. The chance that precipitation occurs increases in the course of the month, from 53% in the beginning of the month to 63% at the end.

Budapest in November

Does it snow in Budapest in November?

Snow does fall in November, in the form of moderate snow and light snow, respectively observed on 15% and 8% of the days with precipitation.

What to pack for Budapest in November?

November and the winter months are particularly cold, so pack warm layers, a coat, gloves, a warm hat and scarf, and to keep your feet warm pack boots with a water-resistant sole. A furry lining or trim will keep you even cosier. It is a dry cold here too so make sure you take good care of your skin with plenty of lip balm and skin lotion.

Best things to do in Budapest in November

Christmas markets are now open!

Budapest’s Christmas markets are an absolute delight–festive, beautiful, and full of lovely crafts and delicious treats.  Add in the setting of regal Budapest itself in the background, and you have the ingredients for a perfect Christmas celebration.

Vörösmarty Square

The famous Christmas fair on Vörösmarty Square is the oldest, richest and the most spectacular of all the Christmas markets in Budapest. The Crafts Market is open from 9th November all the way to 29th December after which the food stalls remain open until 1st January 2019 – perfect for a New Year’s Day cure and a last sniff of Christmas. Around 100 stalls are waiting for you to visit them, set around the Christmas tree that is decorated with different colours each year. From gulash and stuffed cabbage to grilled sausages there is a wide selection of local food you can enjoy. Not a surprise that the market puts a great emphasis on food and wine which is truly Hungarian way to celebrate any occasion.

Explore the Instagram-worthy views in the Royal District

Squeeze into the Castle Hill Funicular and climb slowly to the pedestrianised district of old Buda. Wander around the Royal Palace to step in the footstep of the Royals celebrating Hungary’s incredibly rich history of royals and ruling houses. Rebuilt in the 18th century by the Habsburgs, the Royal Palace today houses the Hungarian National Gallery and features Fishermen’s Bastion that will spoil you to one of the most breath-taking views in Europe.

Fishermen’s Bastion

No crowd

Budapest’s Christmas markets are increasingly popular and well-known (as are most European Christmas markets), which does draw some visitors, however in November, your visit will fall before most of the Christmas market tourists arrive, and after the bulk of Budapest’s other tourists have left for the year. Queuing anywhere in the city is quick and easy in November.

Christmas markets  Budapest

Budapest’s coffee culture

Zsolnay Café

The coffee culture in Budapest has recently grown into a lifestyle so stopping for a coffee or hot chocolate in one of the artfully decorated cafes is a must. It is also a great way to retreat from the cold streets and warm up before continuing your journey. Zsolnay Café is a little oasis on the busy Teréz körút, located in the Radisson Blue Beke Hotel. It’s the perfect place for a warm-up hot drink, a romantic bottle of champagne or even a late-night cocktail with friends. The pastry assortment takes the place to another level which also includes lactose- and sugar-free options. Just recently refurbished the café with a gorgeous interior is open from 8 am to midnight catering for all meals and drinks of the day. What’s even better is they offer 50% discount during Sunday lunchtime!

Zsolnay Café

It’s ice-skating season!

Ever wanted to go ice skating in front of a castle? In Budapest, you can! Each winter, Budapest opens an ice rink directly in front of Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park, creating a picture-perfect winter wonderland. Budapest is geographically blessed in many ways, but this is perhaps one of biggest ones: once the freezing cold is settled in, the City Park’s boating lake freezes over and turns into Europe’s largest ice skating rink. What a treat that is! However, there is even more to it: the magical surrounding of the baroque Vajdahunyad Castle will swipe you off your feet. Literally.

Városligeti Műjégpálya

In its official name, City Park Ice Rink’s (Városligeti Műjégpálya) skating area has been expanded to 12,000 square metres (130,000 sq ft) and it has a standard ice hockey rink as well. The skating rink was home of the 2012 European Speed Skating Championships.

The opening hours of the ice rink can change day by day in the winter season, so the following hours are an average general guide for the opening times.

Monday – Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, break, then reopens from 5 pm to 9 pm Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, break, then reopens from 4 pm to 9 pm

Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm, break, then reopens from 4 pm to 8 pm

And now soak up in a thermal bath, too!

Hungary is the most famous for its thermal baths so you’re at the perfect place to spoil yourself and warm up in the cold winter. Thermal water is high in calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen carbonate and is best to ease joint pain and arthritis and improve blood circulation. Housed in a neo-Baroque palace in Budapest’s City Park, Széchenyi Thermal Bath is Budapest’s largest thermal bath complex. Built in 1913, the spa is home to 15 indoor pools and three huge outdoor pools of different temperatures – which you explore even during the cold winter months. It is open year-round, and you might catch some of the locals play chess on floating boards at the edge of the pool come rain, shine or snow.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Gellert Spa is located in the historic Hotel Gellert where the bath offers a wide range of healing treatments such as gentle and stronger massage, thai massage, sauna, steam rooms, pedicure, and several outdoor and indoor swimming and thermal pools of various sizes, an outdoor wave pool and hot tubs. Besides these facilities you can also enjoy yourself at the bathing terrace with a beautiful view on the surrounding Gellert Hill with a beer or a glass of wine or champagne in your hands.

Escape!

They are becoming more and more popular, so why not get stuck into one of Budapest’s many escape rooms on a colder November afternoon? The deal is pretty simple: you’re locked into a room. You and your friends have to work together as a team, use logic, wit and common sense to escape from the room that’s filled with taxing puzzles and questions that you’ll have to solve in order for the room to become unlocked. To make it even more exciting you will be given a time limit which is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour. The highest rated Escape room in Budapest has 6 different themes you can choose from, all of them will give you the chills.

Events in Budapest in November

St. Martin’s Day Wine Festival – 9-12th November

The city’s biggest St. Martin’s Day celebration is the indoor wine festival at the Danubius Hotel Gellert, happening between November 9th and 12th. During the celebratory gathering, some of the country’s best wineries fill the hotel’s spacious halls, where sampling tickets provide unlimited tasting options of the fine libations. Savory snacks and street-food treats accompany reds, whites and rosés over the weekend, including Hungarian cheese specialties, sausages, and goose dishes. To enjoy full sit-down meals, renowned Hungarian chefs and Bocuse d’Or participants Tamás Széll and Szabina Szulló take guests on an epicurean adventure. Tickets to many of the accompanying gastronomy events have already sold out, so hurry up to secure your spot at the festival. Ticket info is found here.

St. Martin’s Day Wine Festival

St. Martin’s Day Goose Festival – 10-12th November

Taking place between November 10th and 12th along the promenade alongside the Allee shopping center (Budapest 1117, Október huszonharmadika utca 8-10), the three-day outdoor extravaganza highlights Hungarian traditions with local meals and drinks in the spotlight. Visitors can devour goose dishes and sip intoxicating drinks provided by local producers, including an assortment of Hungarian wines, Magyar-made craft beers, and traditional fruit-based pálinka brandy. Attractions include plenty of free things to do for children, such as a goose petting zoo, and handicraft workshops where kids can make their own lanterns, among many other creative activities.

St. Martin’s Day

WAMP Design & Gastro Fair – 25th November

WAMP, Budapest’s monthly design market, features creations by contemporary Hungarian designers. WAMP is held on Sundays. In November, WAMP changes its theme for the holiday season and the Christmas Design and Gastro Fair features many great gift ideas. WAMP is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts or just browse around and surprise yourself with some uniquely designed clothes and accessories. WAMP also offers interactive handicraft workshops for kids.

WAMP Design & Gastro Fair

New Wine and Cheese Festival – 28-29th November

Two-day festival, with winemakers from all over Hungary introducing their tipples alongside artisanal cheeses over the last weekend in November. The 2000Ft day pass includes a tasting glass and entry to the Agricultural Museum.

New Wine and Cheese Festival

Magical bath parties (Sparties)

Sparty Budapest is a unique and very popular bath party series, actually the 5th biggest event in Hungary with 50 thousand people attending yearly. The parties are mostly sold out, because only a limited number of people can attend, to make the experience more special. Sparties are awaiting party-goers on most Saturdays throughout the year. Here guests can enjoy great electronic dance music and unforgettable visuals while partying in the pools of Budapest’s most beautiful bath complex, Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Sparty has an older sibling called Cinetrip (launched in 1998), which is a more ecstatic, more upbeat version of bath parties, held twice a year (once in Summer, once in Winter), based on an ever-changing theme.

Sparties

Budapest is an ever-changing city that somehow always remains the same: with history and culture it always has a good story to tell. Whatever you need a Budapest city break for: to relax, to explore, to get away from your daily problems this is where you will fall in love with life again.

What to do in Budapest in November?

There are plenty of options for both outdoor and indoor activities, such as the famous Christmas markets, gastro festivals, concerts, spa parties or ice-skating.

What is the weather like in Budapest in November?

The air in November is brittle and clear, however it gets darker during the day. Luckily there are sunshine hours throughout the month, but the sky is typically darker and the temperature drops during November.

What to wear in Budapest in November?

November and the winter months are particularly cold, so pack warm layers, a coat, gloves, a warm hat and scarf, and to keep your feet warm pack boots with a water-resistant sole.

How cold is Budapest in November?

You may expect some frosty nights when visiting the city in November. Both the average high and low temperature drop in the course of the month.

Is Budapest nice in November?

Yes, from November onwards Budapest turns into Winter Wonderland with beautiful frosty morn-ings and crisp air that is filled with the fruity aroma of hot tea and mulled wine.

What is the best time of the year to go to Budapest?

Due to its diversity it is always a good time to visit Budapest as the country is blessed with 4 seasons. From November onwards Budapest turns into Winter Wonderland with beautiful frosty mornings and crisp air that is filled with the fruity aroma of hot tea and mulled wine.

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