Month guide · Budapest · Hungary
Budapest in December
What December is really like in Budapest: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brian Adamson, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 8.5 hours of daylight. Festive and cold, with light shows on the Basilica, mulled wine and chimney cakes at the markets; busy around New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 8.5 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Budapest: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (9°C (48°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 3°C (37°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:25
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:53
- Daylight
- About 8.5 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and sometimes snowy, with Christmas markets, skating in City Park and thermal baths at their most atmospheric.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in August). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas markets continue (usually until late December or early January)
- New Year's Eve street parties along the Danube
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Castle District
Matthias Church
The Church of Our Lady of Buda, known as Matthias Church, has a roof of glazed Zsolnay tiles in diamond patterns and an interior painted from floor to vault with 19th-century Hungarian motifs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Art
Historic site · District V
Shoes on the Danube Bank
Visit at a quieter time of day and treat it as a memorial rather than a photo stop.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
Park · Margaret Island
Margaret Island
This 2.5 km island in the Danube is a mostly car-free park with a 5.3 km rubberised running track around its edge, a musical fountain, a rose garden and Japanese garden, a small animal park, the ruins of a medieval Dominican convent and the Palatinus open-air pools in summer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Historic site · District XXII
Memento Park
Allow about half a day including the bus ride from Kelenföld, and go on a dry day, as almost everything is outdoors.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 4°C, lows near -1°C and 8 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Budapest?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Budapest in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Budapest?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive and cold, with light shows on the Basilica, mulled wine and chimney cakes at the markets; busy around New Year.
+How warm is Budapest in December?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Budapest in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.