From Vienna over to Zagreb and Nurnberg, Advent fairs turn the cities into real fairy tale scenes. Nevertheless, one of those which has recently been winning the visitors’ hearts is most certainly Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair, which every year attract more than 800.000 visitors.
Budapest under Advent lights
Budapest Market is located in Vörösmarty Square, in the very heart of the City. From mid-November till the beginning of January, some 150 wooden huts and stalls are installed, decorated in lamps and holiday wreaths, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. From the very first step one feels the festive spirit, through the scents of cinnamon, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.
Particular charm of this fair lies in the authenticity of the offer. Contrary to many other European markets, the one in Budapest insists on everything put on display there to be either handmade or locally produced. Artists from all over Hungary come to present their products: from ceramic ornaments and handmade jewellery, through woollen garments, up to minute souvenirs with the breath of Hungarian tradition.
Naturally, Christmas market is unthinkable without good food. Anyhow, in Budapest gastronomy is in the centre of attention. Everywhere you go, there is a scent of the famous lángos, deep-fried flatbread topped in sour cream and cheese, then sweet kürtőskalács, spit cake rolled in sugar, walnuts or chocolate. Food goes best with a cup of forralt bora, aromatic mulled wine with cinnamon and cloves, which warms up your body and soul.
Nevertheless, Budapest offers more than just one bug square. Just a few minutes’ walk from Vörösmarty Square, in front of the grandiose Saint Stephen’s Basilica, there is another Advent fair – Advent Basilica. It is often described as the most magical, not only because of its location, but also because of the spectacle of light. Every half hour, from 5:30 till 10:00 p.m., the façade of the Basilica comes alive with an enchanting Christmas story through the play of light and music. The entire area looks as a huge Christmas picture postcard, it is thus to no surprise that the majority of photographs tourists take at Advent time are taken right here.
Christmas markets all over Europe are a combination of tradition, festive atmosphere, music and good food, which is why every winter they lure millions of tourists to visit some of the best-known European cities at the time of the year which ahead of us.
At this time, Budapest opens the biggest open-air ice rink in Europe, Ice Park in Városliget Park. Surrounded with ancient trees and the picturesque Vajdahunyad castle, this place seems unreal. The Lumina Park on Margaret Island offers another magical experience, where more than 200 light art installations turn your walk into an enchanting journey through the motifs of movies, music and art.
Budapest Fair is open every day, mainly in the morning and the evening, and whenever you come, you will be met by a sea of light, aromas of cinnamon and mulled wine, colourfulness of handicraft and tasty Hungarian delicacies, everything that turns Budapest into a winter fairy tale and makes it worth visiting at this time of year at least once in a lifetime.
Advents worth visiting
Budapest is definitely one of the shiniest destinations in December, but Europe also offers other unforgettable sites. In recent years, Zagreb has stood out as a real among travellers. Its Advent has been voted the best in Europe several times, with main squares and streets getting turned into a grand stage with ice rinks, concerts, food markets, where the atmosphere is homely, joyful and warm.
Vienna in itself is a synonym for Christmas spirit. Its Christkindlmarkt in Rathausplatz is one of the oldest and best-known In Europe. The glittering square in front of the City Hall, the scents of vanilla and cinnamon, with the Viennese waltz in the background, prove that Austria cherishes tradition, while concurrently offering modern charm.
In Germany, with its long history of Christmas fairs, there are numerous destinations worth visiting. Nurnberg stands out with its Christkindlesmarkt, which is every year opened by an angel, symbol of childhood and joy. You can taste there famous gingerbread, Nurnberg Lebkuchen, as well as traditional sausages.
Magic moments
Christmas markets are not only the places of shopping and entertainment, but also those where the nicest memories are born. Whilst you walk among the decorated huts, sipping mulled wine, listening to holiday melodies and enjoying the aroma of fresh cookies, you get an impression that you have stepped into another kind of reality. Exactly this mixture of warmth and magic is the reason why every year millions of tourists choose to spend at least one winter weekend at some of these fairs. While Budapest, with its shiny squares and distinctive hospitality, confirms again and again that it is one of the most special gems of the European Advent season.
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