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

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.

20th of August is always a very special celebration in Hungary. Think of it as huge summer closing party which has been extremely precious for the locals for thousands of years.  It’s one of our oldest national holidays, when we celebrate the foundation of our state, the state’s founder Saint Stephen, and the “festival of new bread”. It’s not only a national holiday, but also a state occasion, so numerous official events also take place on this day. The swearing-in of new military officers, water and air shows, ceremonial speeches and the spectacular firework show are all among the traditional programmes; but more recently, a number of other festivals have come to be associated with this red-letter day.

What do we celebrate on 20th August?

The 20^th of August: Saint Stephen’s day, when we commemorate the foundation of the Christian Hungarian state more than a thousand years ago. During his reign, Stephen I declared 15th August the Day of Our Lady. It was on this day that he offered up the country to the Virgin Mary, and it was also on this day in 1038 that the king himself died. The date of the celebration was moved to August 20th by the king Saint Ladislaus, because on this day in 1083, with the blessing of Pope Gregory VII, the relics of Stephen I – the Holy Crown and the Holy Right Hand – were raised to the altar in the Basilica at Székesfehérvár, an act that was equivalent to canonisation.

From the reign of King Louis the Great onwards, 20th August continued to be observed as a religious festival. But later, when Pope Benedict XIV reduced the number of church celebrations in 1771, Saint Stephen’s day was left out of the liturgical calendar. Later, Maria Theresa ordered the reinstatement of Saint Stephen’s day, and even had it added to the calendars as a national holiday. After the crushing of the 1848 revolution, 20th August was not allowed to be held as a national celebration for a long time, as Saint Stephen was a symbol of the independent Hungarian state. After the 1867 Compromise, the day regained its former special status, and in 1891 it was declared a public holiday. It remained a national day until 1945, when it was abolished, although continued to be publicly celebrated as a religious festival until 1947. The communist regime did not officially recognise the religious and national associations of the occasion, so it was renamed the “festival of new bread”. Between 1949 and 1989 it was celebrated as Constitution Day. After 1989, the old traditions were revived, the procession of the Holy Right Hand was held again, and Saint Stephen’s Day became an official state celebration of the Republic of Hungary.

Official programmes of 20th August 2022

The official state celebrations start in Kossuth Square in the morning, culminating in a spectacular water and air show. The afternoon is given over to joyful family programmes and the ceremonial holy mass and procession at the Basilica, while the highlight of the evening (literally) is the fireworks display.

8:00 – 9:00 am Kossuth Square ceremony

9:00 – 10.00 am Hungarian Military Air Parade over the Danube – Lower and upper quays in Pest and Buda

10.00 – 18:00 pm Viewing of the Holy Crown in the Parliament Building

17:00 – 18.00 pm Festive Mass and Procession of the Holy Right in St. Stephen’s Basilica

21:30 pm  „The game of fire and lights” – Fireworks and light parade over the Danube (in the lower and upper quays in Pest and Buda)

Festival programmes on 20th August in Budapest

Although this year Saint Stephen’s day falls on a Saturday, we can celebrate Hungary’s birthday during 4 days between 18 and 21 August.

There are countless colourful and exciting family programmes, culinary and musical festival events to choose between. The festive programme series are held in various venues of the city and the participation is free of charge at every event (however some events may require previous registration).

Here are some of the main events you must visit during the festive days:

Street of Hungarian flavours in Várkert Bazár

August 19th – August 21st

Held alongside the Saint Stephen’s Day celebrations of 20th August, the Street of Hungarian Flavours is sure to be one of the most popular gastronomic events of the year. This free food festival is where this year’s National Cake and the Saint Stephen’s Day bread will be presented, and countless culinary treats from every region of the country and the Carpathian Basin will be on show: fish soup from Baja, mutton stew from Karcag, a cornucopia of excellent handcrafted products, ginger-spiced sausage, a selection of pálinka (schnapps) varieties, Hungarian fish specialities, craft beers, traditional stuffed cabbage from Szatmár County.

The event showcases the diverse gastronomic culture of the Carpathian Basin, exclusively from vendors who make their products from high-quality, local ingredients. A good many traditional small farmers and numerous traditional food producers will also be represented here, selling a variety of treats such as jams, fruit juices, craft beers, meat products and cheeses.

It is also here that the new National Cake of Hungary debuts every year! In 2022, the title was awarded to “Huncut szilva herceg” (Prince Naughty Plum), created by pastry chef Orsolya Karikó of the Vanília & Gelaro Handcraft Confectionary in Nagykőrös.

The main characters of the country’s cake are the red wine of Eger and our favourite Hungarian fruit, plums. The caramelized chocolate-cinnamon crunchy layer, the spiced plum chocolate mousse and the cranberry-plum jelly with red wine create a harmonious flavors for the cake.

This year, László Gyuris from Szeged’s Virág Confectionary and Café won the Sugar-free cake of the Year competition with his creation called “Nagyi kedvence” (Grandma’s Favorite).

The cake has several delicious layers including raspberry, mascarpone mousse and white chocolate pistachio crunch. One slice contains 11,9 grams of carbohydrates and 233,8 calories only, therefore it is an excellent choice for people with diabetes, as well as for people trying to be conscious of the ingredients in their food.

The cakes will be available for tasting at hundreds of pastry shops all over the country from August 19.

Festival of Folk Arts in Buda Castle

August 19th – August 21st

Hungary’s greatest folk art event, will take place in the Buda Castle District of Budapest for the 36th time this year from August 19th through August 21th.

Every year, the Festival of Folk Arts workshops – where masters present special craft tricks and practices – draw a great deal of interest during the St Stephen’s Day celebration series.
Visitors are able to observe unique knowledge rooted in centuries of generational experience, immense humility and love. During the event, tradesmen move their workshops to the Buda Castle so that whoever would like to can try their hands at the many crafts.

These four days are indeed a celebration of masters and crafts, a borderless event that is the most significant meeting place for masters living in Hungary and abroad. The Festival is famous not only for its dance and music programmes, introductions of craftsmen, but for the folk market, where visitors can buy handcrafted products during the whole time of the event.

Csárda Festival

August 18th – August 21st

The gastronomic adventures start on 18th of August at Vörösmarty square.
In the Csárda Festival visitors can sample delicious food from the Carpathian Basin, watch folk dance shows, listen to lively folk music and experience the classical Hungarian traditions.

Street Music Festival and Food Truck Show

August 19th -August 21st

If you like to listen to music of all kinds and taste the best street food of the city, the Szabadság square will be the perfect place for you.

Promenade of Cities

August 19th -August 21st

For 3 days you can visit the Promenade of Cities – a remarkable installation of hundreds of flags next to the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Learn more about the history and traditions of Hungary with each flag that tells us a little about the town they represent.

Where will I get a good view of the 20th August fireworks?We say Hilton!

That’s a very important question! The quays on the banks of the River Danube are always full of huge crowds, so it’s better to find a spot further away with an magnificent view of the river. For the perfect experience, you need to go to the Hilton Budapest. There are still rooms with panoramic views of the Danube available, so you’ll be in the perfect place to enjoy the time of your life during the holiday weekend, within easy reach of all the programmes in the Castle. Book a room for a fascinating overnight stay at elegant Hilton Budapest.

Experience the firework display next to the Fisherman’s Bastion!

Avoid the crowds in town, celebrate at Hilton Budapest on 20th August!

The LÁNG Bistro & Grill is located right next to the Fisherman’s Bastion right across from the Parliament Building. From there you can admire the amazing fireworks of the year from a truly exclusive location. Enjoy a festive dinner at LÁNG Bistro & Grill and watch the fireworks from the Hilton Budapest’s outdoor venue, the Babits Promenade!

Programme price: 30.800 HUF / person – which includes special buffet dinner, unlimited sparkling wine, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee and 10% service charge.
The event runs from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Book your table online.