A city with pulsating nightlife, charming parks, stunning architectural landmarks, and museums that will inspire, surprise and even provoke, Budapest is a year-round destination.
Somehow, Budapest managed to rank among Condé Nast Traveler’s Paul Rubio’s The Best Places to Go This Winter and it’s the only European destination to make the list. Besides it, you have other places like Stowe, Vermont; Jackson, Wyoming; the Chilean Patagonia; and odd choices like Shanghai, China; and Tetiaroa, French Polynesia. And Condé Nast Traveler is not the only mainstream publication with a crush on Budapest. CBS New York has a thing for the Hungarian capital too: “Vienna and Budapest are amazing for Christmas markets best visited by riverboat.”
Cinetrip SPArty at Széchenyi Baths
This winter head over to the Széchenyi Baths for the 20th edition of Cinetrip on December 30, 2017. This party will feature fire dancers, aerial artists, acrobats, laser shows, 3D building projections, and many other surprises. Tickets are still available here.
SPArties will return to Budapest on February 10, 2018 at Lukács Baths and Széchenyi Thermal Baths.
A snapshot from the last SPArty of 2017
Rooftop igloos at 360Bar
As of December 11, 2017, the 360Bar at Andrássy út 39 has eight rooftop igloos that offer jaw-dropping views of the city. It’s a nice, cozy setting for a romantic evening as a couple, but also for fleeting moments of joy with your friends.
Rooftop igloos are quite a trend in 2017. By far not a novel idea of 360Bar, they can be observed at the Coppa Club in London, and at the 230 Fifth bar in New York since 2016. At this point, it doesn’t really matter who came up with the idea anymore. It’s young and cool, fashionable and trendy, Instagram-perfect, the stuff that makes the perfect experience you expect when you dig down into your pocket to pay for a place and service with potential to become the dream memory you want to share over and over again. Besides, the rooftop igloos are a premiere in Budapest as owner Istvan Fazekas told us:
Being unique while creating something that does not exist in Budapest is always our primary goal. The igloo concept perfectly identifies both.
Welcome 2018 from a cruise on the Danube
New Year is the season’s liveliest celebration, with many parties all over the city. For a spectacular, fun-filled step into 2018, book a cruise on the Danube. There are several choices, ranging from classy gourmet dining to booze parties, boogie and swing, and much more. This website lists cruises, boat parties, and other events that guarantee a New Year party to remember.
Go skiing at Normafa
A favorite spot for skiers and snowboarders in the winter, Normafa is not your usual winter wonderland, but a favorite weekend spot for the locals, since there are no other skiing resorts in the immediate vicinity of the city. If there’s enough snowfall, you can go here for sledding and skiing.If not, it is still a nice address for winter hikes. Nromafa is easily accessible from the city center with bus n° 21. And, if you enjoy ice skating, you do not need to travel far, as there are many ice skating rinks around the city.
Eat the best chimney cakes
The following venues are quite popular with the locals.
- Molnár’s Kürtőskalács (Váci u. 31) is the definitive crowd pleaser. The cafe serves traditional Kürtőskalács, Molinari coffee, and Italian ice cream. They are open daily from 9:00 to 22:00.
- Körösfői Kürtőskalács is just a kiosk on Szent György tér 2 but it is popular and you will often see the locals queuing up to get their fix of chimney cakes. Their selection of toppings is, however, poor: chocolate, nuts, coconuts, cinnamon, and vanilla. Still, worth the wait. All Kürtőskalács are made to order here too.
- Vitéz Kürtős have two permanent bakehouses at the Budapest Zoological and Botanical Garden and at the Budapest – Csillagvár Shopping Center ( Rákóczi street 36). They offer classical chimney cakes, but also flavors like vanilla, nuts, cinnamon, cocoa, coconut, and almond. They also sell homemade chocolate, baking kits, and baking accessories. You will also find their stalls at the Christmass Fair at Vörösmarty square, and at the Autumn Fair at Erzsébet square at Budapest Eye.
- Töltött Kürtős (Erzsebet ter 13) is a kiosk too and they are known for their non-traditional approach: they fill their Kürtőskalács with Nutella, topped with ice cream and syrup. A decadent dessert, by all means.