The Christmas Market on Vörösmarty tér is often thought of as the single Christmas market in the city of Budapest, which luckily is not true. However, what is true is that the Xmas fair on Vörösmarty tér is the oldest, richest and the most spectacular of all the Christmas markets in Budapest. Indeed we ourselves get many of our Christmas gifts from the Christmas market on Vörösmarty tér, and then, holding onto our mulled wine in a festive gift mug, we just walk over to the Christmas fair on Szent István tér, or St. Stephen’s Square in English, right in front of the Basilica to make sure that we get a chance to see all the lovely handmade gifts local Hungarians make keeping the old trades and traditions alive.
First and foremost, the Christmas market on Vörösmarty tér is a delightful sensory experience: full of colours, festive sounds, and enticing smells. Like an old picture postcard from your grandmother’s age, when street foods and choirs singing were so natural. The festive market stalls are ready to open in mid November, and the square turns into an old folk tale with its dozens of buzzing wooden market stalls, the concert stage, thousands of handmade gifts, the lovely smell of cinnamon pastries (kürtőskalács – Chimney Cake), sausages, mulled wine, grilled vegetables, street snacks like lángos, dödölle (potato dumplings), etc. The nostalgia Christmas fair of Budapest will be both complemented and contrasted by the surrounding buildings on Vörösmarty tér: while most buildings date back to the 19th century, like the popular Cafe Gerbeaud, there are also newer buildings. And what is new always reminds us that we are just visitors on a fairy tale Christmas island.
The lights of the Xmas market are not the dazzling commercial mall lights, and you will not see hugely sized Santa Clauses either. The lights and decors are more toned down, which makes the fair sort of nostalgic.
The Christmas Market on Vörösmarty tér takes place each year in November and December. Usually the market opens in mid November and closes on December 31. The handmade gift stalls are only open until Christmas Eve until 2pm, then the market is closed on 25 and 26 December. From 27 to 31 December, only the gastro booths remain open, the folk art and design stalls are only open until 24 December.
When: 28 November – 31 December, opening schedule as above
Where: Vörösmarty tér, District V, Budapest
via budapestchristmas.com
photo: flyerz.hu