Budapest with kids at Christmas: A 4-day family itinerary
We recently spent four days in Budapest with our kids over Thanksgiving, taking in the Christmas markets and exploring as much of the city as we could. We even fit in a quick day trip to Vienna to visit their markets, which was an easy and worthwhile addition. What stood out most, though, was just how kid-friendly Budapest is. Nearly everywhere we walked, we found great playgrounds, and several cafés came prepared with coloring books and crayons, small touches that made the trip smoother and kept our two children happily occupied.
Sunset views from Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest, Hungary
Itinerary Quick Glance
Wednesday: Evening flight from Stuttgart, arrive in Budapest 20:30
Thursday: Brunch at Párisi Passage, Christmas markets, stroll along the Danube, Hungarian Parliament Building, playground time, sunset boat cruise along the Danube, back to Christmas markets.
Friday: Day trip to Vienna, Austria
Saturday: Brunch at Central Kitchen Bar & Cafe, strolled the Central Market, explored Buda side, Fisherman’s Bastion Christmas market & sunset photos. Dinner at Lánchíd Söröző.
Sunday: Brunch at Aranypinty, visited the IKONO museum, strolled Christmas markets at St Stephens one more time, went up the ferris wheel, grabbed a bowl of pho to warm up (somewhere near the ferris wheel), lots of playground time and evening flight home at 20:00.
Budget Breakdown
For our family of four traveling from Stuttgart, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary, this is the breakdown of our expenses (four days, four nights) for those who are curious. This is a mid-range budget. You can remove the day trip to Vienna to save a bit and grab groceries to have breakfast at home, which would also save more. Eating at the Christmas markets is very pricey there; if you walk into any of the restaurants a block or two away from the markets, you can find similar foods at half the cost.
Flights via Eurowings: 631.92 euros/$742.21. This included four tickets, one large, checked suitcase, and seat selection.
Valet Parking at the Stuttgart airport: 100 euros/$117.45
Airbnb $562.45 (fantastic location within walking distance of almost everything)
Bolt/Uber $99.28 for entire trip (these were to and from the airport and train station)
Evening Boat Cruise along the Danube: 72 euros/$84.57
Ikono Museum Tickets: 17,500 HFT or $50
*Round-trip train tickets to Vienna: 235.60 euros/$276.72
*Vienna Public Transport Day Pass: 28 euros/$32.89
Budapest Ferris Wheel: $47.85
Food Estimate: $700 (might be a tad high). We ate brunch at cafes in the morning, then typically skipped lunch for an early dinner. We also grabbed some snacks/food at the markets.
Souvenirs/Magnets/Postcards/Ornaments: 100 euro/$117.45
Estimated Total: $2,830.87
Where We Stayed
We booked this apartment on the Pest side, which was in a prime location near Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market and within walking distance to all the sights we visited. Budapest is split by the Danube, with the Buda side on one side and the Pest side on the other. I highly recommend staying near Vörösmarty Square, no matter what time of year you visit. It only took us thirty minutes to walk over to the Buda side, even with two littles.
Shoes along the Danube, Budapest, Hungary
What to do in Budapest at Christmas
Christmas Markets. Focus your Christmas market visits on Vörösmarty Square, St Stephen’s Basilica, and Fisherman’s Bastion markets—these each offer their own unique atmosphere and views, with Fisherman’s Bastion especially worth it at sunset. If your schedule aligns, check the Buda Castle market on Advent weekends as a special addition. The markets open in the third week of November and remain open until around December 24.
Book a boat tour along the Danube at sunset during blue hour. We had the cutest boat, and a welcome drink was included. I also ordered a mulled wine, which is the best one that I have had this season. The views are spectacular, and I only booked the cruise to photograph the Parliament building at this time. This is a must-do on any Budapest itinerary.
Pink skies at sunset during a boat cruise along the Danube in Budapest
Shoes along the Danube. This memorial was built on April 16, 2005, to honor the Hungarian Jews who were massacred during WWII. It’s incredibly moving and a powerful, yet heartbreaking reminder of what hate can drive humans to do.
Buda Castle Tour/ Cave Tour
Tour Saint Stephen’s Basilica
Tour the Hungarian Opera House
Walk through the Central Market
Take photos of Liberty Bridge (the best spot is standing on the corner near the tram pick up outside of the Central Market)
Ride the Ferris Wheel
Visit the Ikono Museum
Watch for the Christmas lights on the trams: Around December 1, they put lights on many of the trams. I saw one tram in the distance with them and never saw it again, despite my best efforts (we left before December 1, unfortunately). The lines you can usually find them on are: 2, 19, 47, 49, 14, 69, 50, 42, 42-50, 14-41.
Day Trip to Vienna. Vienna is a doable day trip (just a bit long). The train ride is about 2 hours and 35 minutes one way, but in our experience, it is often delayed. We went to enjoy some of the Christmas markets and returned later in the evening.
Day trip to Szentendre. This is a popular option from Budapest and is accessible by train in about 45forty-five minutes. It’s an artist village with colorful buildings, museums, and shops.
Brunch: There are so many brunch and café options that the possibilities blew us away. I will share some of the ones we visited below.
Széchenyi Thermals (most popular) . No young children allowed.
Where We Ate
Párisi Passage (pictured below): Go here as an alternative to New York Café. It’s located inside Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest. Stunning ambiance, food is alright. A visit is more for the photos; a reservation is required.
Central Grand Café & Bar: Very cool aesthetic, great Benedict options, and they usually have live music.
Aranypinty: Parisian-themed café with great brunch options. It’s tiny inside; reservations are strongly recommended.
Lánchíd Söröző: Located on the Buda side, this Hungarian restaurant with a rock theme delivered. The owner was phenomenal and even gave our kids toys from a stash he keeps in the back for children. We had the goulash soup followed by the risotto, and it was the best meal of our trip.
Hungarian Parliament Building during blue hour in Budapest. Photographed with Sony A1 + 24-70mm f2.8.
Final Thoughts
We would return to Budapest in a heartbeat. The city felt welcoming, clean, and easy to navigate—even with little ones in tow. What surprised us most was how family-friendly it was at Christmas: accessible markets, plenty of kid-focused activities, and local playgrounds tucked into almost every neighborhood. We ended up spending hours at those playgrounds between market stops and sightseeing breaks, which kept the kids happy and the complaints to a minimum.
For families with young children, Budapest at Christmas comes highly recommended. The city offers accessible markets, plentiful kid-oriented activities, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes for a memorable experience. If you are considering Budapest at Christmas with young children, it’s absolutely worth the trip.
*Some links above are affiliate links. Should you make a purchase or book a tour (no additional cost to you), I may receive a commission. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting my blog!
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