Best time to visit · Budapest · Hungary
The best time to visit Budapest
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marc Ryckaert ( MJJR ), CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
The best months for Budapest are April, May, September and early October, when it is warm enough for terraces and river walks without the summer heat and crowds. July and August are hot and busy with festivals; November and December bring the Christmas markets, and January and February are cold but low-priced, with steaming outdoor baths.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March, June and November–December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 28°C (82°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 3°C (37°F))
- Rainiest month
- May (~9 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Seasons
Budapest has a continental climate: hot, sunny summers that regularly pass 30°C, cold winters around freezing with occasional snow, and short, pleasant springs and autumns. Rain is spread through the year, with late spring and early summer the wettest period.
March–May
Spring
Blossom on Margaret Island, café terraces reopening and the Spring Festival; May is warm but showery.
June–August
Summer
Hot days, open-air pools, Sziget Festival and the St Stephen's Day fireworks, but peak prices and occasional heatwaves.
September–November
Autumn
Wine festivals, golden Buda Hills and mild sightseeing weather until late October; foggy and cold by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold and sometimes snowy, with Christmas markets, skating in City Park and thermal baths at their most atmospheric.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C | -3°C | 7 | 8.8 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| February | 5°C | -2°C | 6 | 10.2 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| March | 11°C | 2°C | 6 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 17°C | 6°C | 7 | 13.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 22°C | 11°C | 9 | 15.1 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 26°C | 14°C | 8 | 15.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 28°C | 16°C | 7 | 15.6 h | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 28°C | 16°C | 6 | 14.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 23°C | 12°C | 6 | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 16°C | 7°C | 6 | 10.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 9°C | 3°C | 8 | 9.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 4°C | -1°C | 8 | 8.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | City Park Ice Rink by Vajdahunyad Castle (usually December–February) |
| March | National Day — commemorations of the 1848 revolution (15 March) |
| April | Budapest Spring Festival — concerts and performances (usually April); Easter markets (March or April) |
| June | Night of Museums — late openings across the city (usually late June); Budapest Pride (usually late June or July) |
| July | Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring (usually July or early August) |
| August | Sziget Festival — week-long music festival on Óbuda Island (usually August); St Stephen's Day — national holiday with fireworks over the Danube (20 August) |
| September | Budapest Wine Festival in Buda Castle (usually September) |
| October | Budapest Marathon (usually autumn); Commemoration of the 1956 Revolution — national holiday (23 October) |
| November | Christmas markets on Vörösmarty tér and in front of St Stephen's Basilica (usually from mid-November) |
| December | Christmas markets continue (usually until late December or early January); New Year's Eve street parties along the Danube |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Budapest?
The best months for Budapest are April, May, September and early October, when it is warm enough for terraces and river walks without the summer heat and crowds. July and August are hot and busy with festivals; November and December bring the Christmas markets, and January and February are cold but low-priced, with steaming outdoor baths.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Budapest?
Usually in January–February. Cold, often grey and sometimes snowy; the outdoor pools at Széchenyi steam in the frosty air and the City Park ice rink is open.
+What is the rainiest month in Budapest?
May, with about 9 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Budapest get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 28°C (82°F) and lows of 16°C (61°F).