THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS FAIRS IN BUDAPEST

We give you the best reasons why getting to Budapest is the best idea you can offer your clients or experience yourself. Especially you have already check-marked the classic Paris-Vienna combo.
Budapest is not overcrowded. It is not cliché. It is super cozy. 
And now we tell you why.

 

Here are the top reasons for choosing Budapest:

 

#1 the ultimate fairs

Classic: Advent feast at the Basilica
Beautiful location, miniature ice rink, the biggest Christmas tree and a small „Bethlehem”, colorful 3D illumination of St. Stephen’s Basilica. Nov. 24. – Jan. 1.

Luxurious: Grasham palace
Luxurious location, entrance fee, themed passages (fashion, design) with high-quality Hungarian products, for example, gloves by Pécsi Kesztyű, or porcelain from Herend; hot wine by CultiVini, chimney cake by Vitéz Kürtős Dec.10- Dec. 24.

Designer fair: Wamp Christmas fair
A special Christmas fair, where Hungarian designers show their works, a meeting place for creative and trendsetter young people. Excellent place to buy unique Christmas gifts or souvenirs: clothes, bags, jewelry, furniture and home decoration, notebooks and other paper-based pieces, accessories and many more. Dec. 9., 16., 23.

For families: Várkert bazár
A Christmas-fair with a lot of activities for the children- but not only for them. You can paint beautiful advent-calendars, glass lampions, postcards and prepare your own Advent-wreath on family-workshops, and they have free Christmas-concerts and cute puppet shows for children. Nov. 26 – Dec. 27.

 

#2 local specialities

Chimney cake, stuffed cabbage, and Gerbeaud Cake are originally Christmas-dishes in Hungary, but since you can buy them all year round nowadays, we suggest you try something else.

For example the colorfully decorated gingerbread figures. The bakers usually use beautiful traditional pattern while decorating them, so if the figures are too pretty to eat, you can use them as Christmas decoration. There is no Christmas mood in a Hungarian home without that gingerbread-smell.

Another traditional Christmas treat is the so-called bejgli, which is basically a dough-roll with sweet and delicious poppy-seed, walnut or chestnut filling.

Szaloncukor is also a typical Christmas treat. We use these small candies to decorate the Christmas trees since the XIX. century. Nowadays these colorful sweets are still part of the decoration in many Hungarian homes. Hungarian chocolate-brands – Szamos for example – create every year many different kinds of high-quality szaloncukor, but the traditional flavors are jelly, nougat, caramel, and coconut.
+ Visit Szamos chocolate museum.

Hungary is a land-locked country, so we don’t really eat fish, except Christmas time. A traditional dish, which has to be on the on the table, is the fisherman’s soup. But be careful! At new year’s eve, you shouldn’t  eat any fish or chicken, only roasted pork – it will give you good fortune for the new year (whole pig roasted on a skewer over an open fire on Vörösmaty square)

 

#3 thing to look for

Szarvasgombás – Triffla
Hungary is one of the greatest suppliers of the European truffle market. Products: truffle oil, truffle pesto, balsamic vinegar with truffle, Tokaji wine jelly with truffle etc.

Natúrkozmetikumok – Cocoon manufatúra
Vegan, bio, fair trade, palm-oil free cosmetics, Hungarian family business, Yamuna, Manna, Ilcsi (hungarikum)

Antikplacc – Klauzál square
Treasures from the last 100 years, no fixed prices, jewelry, postcards, furniture, books, clothes, vinyl etc.
2018.12.02., 09., 16., 23.

 

#4 festive walks by underGUIDE

Xmas Deli Taste Around Tour
Experience the very best of Hungarian festive cooking and discover all the hidden gastro-spots in the city.

Private Gift Shopping Tour
If your client is in trouble we have the perfect experts from personal stylist to design enthusiasts to help your client make the right and very local, authentic decisions.

Hungarian Herbal Tea-making Workshop
Herbal tea and folklore knowledge of natural remedies walk hand in hand for centuries in Hungary and for the first time, we offer a super friendly workshop where guests can create their own 100g blend by the guidance of a herb-farmer.

 

Are you considering Budapest as your next unforgettable destination?

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