Budapest Christmas Fair: chimney cakes on Vörösmarty Square

Vörösmarty Square in the heart of Pest hosts Budapest's best-known Christmas fair, with handicraft stalls, live music and plenty of hot food. The building of the famous Gerbeaud café becomes a giant Advent calendar, and the square fills with the smell of mulled wine and chimney cakes.

Fun facts

• The square is named after Mihály Vörösmarty, the poet whose statue stands at its centre.
• Vörösmarty tér is the terminus of the M1 line, opened in 1896 as continental Europe's oldest underground railway.
• Gerbeaud café has been a Budapest institution since the 19th century.

What to see

• The Gerbeaud facade lit up as an Advent calendar.
• The Christmas market in front of St Stephen's Basilica with light projections on its facade.
• The Danube embankment and Chain Bridge illuminated at night.

What to taste

• Kürtőskalács, a sweet chimney cake roasted over charcoal and rolled in sugar or cinnamon.
• Lángos, fried dough topped with sour cream and cheese.
• Töltött káposzta, stuffed cabbage, a Hungarian Christmas favourite.

What to do

• Browse folk crafts such as embroidery, pottery and wooden toys.
• Soak in a thermal bath like Széchenyi on a cold day.
• Walk along Andrássy Avenue or ride the historic M1 metro.

💡 Tip: From the airport the 100E express bus goes straight to Deák Ferenc tér, a short walk from the fair. Buy the special ticket for this bus in advance at the airport.