New Year’s Eve in Budapest: 1–4 Day Hour-by-Hour Itineraries

Budapest keeps its Christmas feel into New Year: both big markets stay open until 3 am on 31 December, and the steaming Széchenyi pool is the best way to start the morning. There are no official city fireworks; at midnight the sky fills with private ones, best seen over the Danube. Our routes are built around places that close early on 31 December and the holiday hours on 1 January. There are two paces: relaxed and balanced–packed.

Plan with your own dates

Enter your arrival and departure; the route adapts to that day’s opening hours, markets and your flights.

Itineraries by length

Where to be at midnight

Budapest has no official city fireworks; private fireworks are allowed 8 pm–2 am but banned on some central squares and in parks. The midnight step is your choice; at both paces we suggest the Danube Promenade. To avoid waiting in the cold, we stay somewhere warm after dinner and head out in the last hour.

The Danube Promenade: The floodlit Castle across the river; the fireworks over Buda look best above the water. Within walking distance of the centre.
Szent István Square: The Advent Bazilika market is open until 3 am: count down with mulled wine and the crowd.
Gellért Hill: The best free view of the whole city, but the path is steep, dark and can be icy.
The Chain Bridge: We don’t recommend it: the bridge gets crushed and the view is no better than from the promenade.
New Year’s Eve cruise on the Danube: Midnight on the river; some cruises include dinner. Sells out early.

When are the Christmas markets open?

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Market	Dates	Hours
Advent Bazilika (Szent István Square)	13 November – 1 January	Mon–Thu and Sun 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–11 pm; 11 am–3 pm on 24 December; 11 am–8 pm on 25–26 December; 11 am–3 am on 31 December; 11 am–6 pm on 1 January
Vörösmarty Square	13 November – 31 December	Mon–Thu and Sun 11 am–9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–10 pm; 10 am–2 pm on 24 December; noon–6 pm on 25–26 December; 11 am–3 am on 31 December. The craft stalls stay until 28 December.

Open and closed on 31 December and 1 January

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Place	29–30 December	31 December	1 January
Advent Bazilika market	11 am–10 pm ✓	11 am–3 am ✓	11 am–6 pm (last day) ✓
Vörösmarty market	11 am–9 pm ✓	11 am–3 am ✓	ended ✓
St Stephen’s Basilica	9 am–6 pm ◷	9 am–5:45 pm ◷	1–5:45 pm ◷
Basilica panorama terrace	9 am–7 pm ◷	9 am–5:45 pm ◷	1–6:45 pm ◷
Parliament (guided tour)	8 am–4 pm ✓	not published !	not published !
Széchenyi Bath	8 am–8 pm ✓	8 am–6 pm last year ◷	until 8 pm ✓
Fisherman’s Bastion upper towers	free ✓	free ✓	free ✓
Dohány Synagogue	10 am–4 pm ✓	not published !	not published !
Shops	open ✓	close between 2 and 4 pm ◷	closed ◷
Public transport	normal ✓	metro and trams 4 and 6 all night ◷	holiday timetable ◷

Official for 2026
Last year’s information; 2026 schedule pending
Not out yet; check before you go

Tips

The Advent Bazilika market runs 13 November – 1 January and the Vörösmarty market 13 November – 31 December (2026, official). On 24 December Vörösmarty closes at 2 pm and the Basilica market at 3 pm; on New Year’s Eve both stay open until 3 am.
On 24 December most shops close at noon or 2 pm; they’re closed on 25–26 December and 1 January. On 31 December they close between 2 and 4 pm (2025 arrangement).
On 24 December buses and trams stop at 3–4 pm and the metro at 6 pm; after that only night buses run. On New Year’s Eve the metro and trams 4 and 6 run all night (2025 arrangement; the 2026 notice comes out in mid-December).
There are no official city fireworks at New Year; the sky fills with private ones. The best places to watch are the Danube bank and Gellért Hill; the Chain Bridge itself gets crushed.
Buy Széchenyi Bath tickets online and bring a swimsuit, flip-flops and a towel. The Gellért Bath is closed for renovation. Széchenyi tickets
Some places close on holidays; check your ticket date against the opening days.
The Parliament can only be visited on a guided tour, and December days sell out ahead. The Dohány Synagogue is closed on Saturdays. Parliament tours
Some places close on holidays; check your ticket date against the opening days.
On the evening of 24 December most restaurants are closed; book Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinner in October or November. Restaurants usually add a 12–15% service charge.
The currency is the forint (HUF). Cards are widely accepted; avoid street exchange booths, and when asked "euro or forint", choose forint.

Frequently asked questions

Are there fireworks in Budapest on New Year’s Eve?

There’s no official city show; Budapest’s big fireworks display is on 20 August. At midnight the sky fills with private fireworks, allowed 8 pm–2 am but banned on some central squares and in parks.

Are the Christmas markets open on New Year’s Eve?

Yes. The Advent Bazilika and Vörösmarty markets are open from 11 am to 3 am on 31 December. Vörösmarty closes that night; Advent Bazilika opens one last time on 1 January, until 6 pm.

What’s open on 1 January?

Shops are closed. The Advent Bazilika market is open 11 am–6 pm and the Széchenyi Bath until 8 pm (confirmed). Last year the Basilica could be visited from 1 pm. Most cafés open towards midday.

How do I get back to my hotel after midnight?

Last New Year’s Eve the M1–M4 metro, trams 4 and 6 and some buses ran all night; the 2026 arrangements will be on the BKK website in mid-December. Taxi waits are long, so book through an app in advance. The easiest option is to stay in the centre and walk back.

When should I book New Year’s Eve dinner?

In October or November. Most restaurants serve a set menu and usually add a 15% service charge; choose one within walking distance of the Danube Promenade.

Can I go to a thermal bath at New Year?

Yes. Last year Széchenyi was open 8 am–6 pm on 31 December, and it’s open until 8 pm on 1 January. Bath parties are sold as separate tickets. The Gellért Bath is closed for renovation.

Sources

Hours compiled from official sources (25 October 2026). The marks in the table show each time’s status: confirmed for 2026, based on the last season, or not yet published. Holiday hours can change; check the official websites before you go.