The capital of Hungary is a city with an amazing history full of large-scale events, formed in ancient times from the two towns of Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube’s water barrier. There is another district, the city of Obuda - the place of residence of Hungarian gypsies. Like Hungary itself, which was experiencing the stages of complete ruin and flourishing, Budapest also experienced ups and downs.
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How to celebrate New Year in Budapest
Despite the fact that many Catholics live in Budapest, the New Year is crowded and fun here on December 31st. The New Year's Eve is the street. The sea of \u200b\u200bpeople “worries” in the night streets and squares until morning, Hungarian melodies, laughter and multilingual jokes sound. According to pagan Hungarian traditions dating back to antiquity, on New Year's Eve you need to have fun, dance and sing in order to scare away the “unclean forces” that were activated at that time. Therefore, local residents are trying their best to make noise, sing and laugh, infecting thousands of tourists who have come here with their fun. On this night, Nyugati Square, Heroes, Vereshmarti, Andrassy Ave., Danube Embankment, ul. Vatsiuttsa turn into huge concert and dance venues.
Here everyone feels himself not as a lonely unlucky person, but as the luckiest lucky one, involved in the general fun and believing in future happiness. In numerous souvenir shops you can buy all kinds of charms, talismans and other magical trinkets on the theme of the New Year. Beautiful and on weekdays, Budapest on New Year's Eve becomes truly magical: multi-colored garlands surround the main squares and streets with fairytale patterns, shop windows flash with thousands of neon lights in bizarre ornaments - everything shines and sparkles!
Festive fireworks. A huge crowd of Budapest residents and tourists gather on the Danube embankment in anticipation of the New Year extravaganza - a festive fireworks display. For a few minutes, under the joyful screams, the popping of champagne corks, a fantastic picture of the fireworks passes, when the whole sky is colored with rainbow shapes made up of many bright lights. After this, an incendiary concert begins, in the mobile cafes they offer delicious treats, the organizers invite you to take a boat trip. In a musical country such as Hungary, there is a tradition - on New Year's Eve it is obligatory to arrange an opera performance in the opera houses of the capital, where Hungarians go with pleasure. In addition to the opera itself, luxurious balls and festive receptions are organized here, during which you can enjoy charming melodies from the works of classics. To celebrate the New Year in Budapest is a fun adventure, which is not as expensive as a trip to Paris or London, for example.
Which hotel in Budapest to choose
Almost all Budapest hotels differ from other European hotels in a pleasant “highlight” - thermal water baths, which all Hungary is extremely rich in. Is it not a pleasure after traveling through the winter city to come to the hotel and plunge into the hot healing water, warm up and relax - what a bliss! When choosing a hotel, it is worth considering the presence of baths or thermal pools, a spa center (their visit is often included in the price of the all-inclusive system). Combine a bright New Year's meeting in the diverse Hungarian capital with wellness treatments for one price. Hotels on the hills of Buda are distinguished by their diversity - from small, modest and budget to large, luxurious and expensive. In short, the choice of place of residence for any wallet. Stunningly beautiful surrounding landscapes, against which you can take walks, are a great addition to an entertainment-rich vacation.
Park residence budapest
Budapest
450 meters from the Hungarian State Opera House
Sumptuously
3,389 reviews
Booked 19 times today
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Gozsdu court aparthotel
Budapest
1 minute walk from Ferenc Deak Square
Sumptuously
5,104 reviews
Booked 8 times today
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Roombach Hotel Budapest Center
Budapest
Opened in April 2014
Sumptuously
3,269 reviews
Booked today 22 times
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Hotel Erzsbet City Center
Budapest
A few steps from Vaci shopping street
Sumptuously
2,949 reviews
Booked today 27 times
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How to spend time in Budapest for the New Year
If you have already visited a lot and seen a lot when you are in Budapest, among the buildings of amazing architecture, it will seem to you that you have seen very little interesting - the abundance of architectural monuments, various sculptures here is simply amazing, as is their appearance. Inspection of outstanding sights can be done before New Year's Eve or after it.
Sightseeing:
- A visit to the main temple - the St. Stephen’s Basilica is usually included in the program of all tourists who come here to worship the holy relics of the founder of the Hungarian state. The magnificent architecture of the cathedral, luxurious altars, frescoes inside delight everyone.
- No less interesting will be the climb to Mount Gellert, named for another holy Catholic enlightener Gerard of Hungary. At its top is the Citadel fortress (mid-19th century), it also has a lot of interesting things.
- The admiration is caused by one of the most beautiful and grandiose buildings of the capital - the Hungarian Parliament, standing on the banks of the Danube and reflected in its waters with its openwork walls, spiers and domes.
- A walk along the Danube embankment will fill with unforgettable impressions of the architectural monuments seen, such as, for example, the majestic Royal Palace - the residence of Hungarian kings (13th century).
- The chain bridge across the Danube - a true masterpiece of bridge construction, fascinates with its unique look, especially when the rows of lights on its sides light up.
It is impossible to list all the interesting buildings and monuments, the flow of tourists will lead you to other wonderful sights, for example, in the bathhouse.
Participation in street festivities. It is noteworthy that the New Year, the Hungarians are otherwise called "Sylvester", because 31. 01 - the birthday of St. Sylvester. This is still an ode to the reason for the wide celebration, when all night the streets and squares of the city are filled with a noisy crowd of people, having fun until morning. Once in it, you will feel like a dear and welcome guest (Hungarians are very friendly). After delicious specialty pork sausages and a glass of champagne, you can laugh heartily, dance and sing, listen to Hungarian melodies, live music. You can take part in the ceremony of turning over the giant hourglass, which was installed in the park (near Heroes Square), popular among tourists. At midnight, the clock in which the sand is exactly one year old is turned over, and they begin to count down the next year.
New Year's feast. If you booked a place at a table in one of the restaurants, cafes or in your hotel, you will not be disappointed with unusually delicious national dishes that have a certain symbolic meaning. Lentil snacks are a sign of financial prosperity; roast piglet - a symbol of good luck and success; baked rabbit “scares away” troubles, etc. Indispensable drinks - Tokai wine, champagne and “krampampuli” - a mixture of different drinks with rum. However, prices for such abundance are quite high.
It will be a pleasure to visit the wine cellars, where the famous Tokai is quite inexpensive, and the authentic atmosphere is simply amazing. If you wish, you should visit the thermal baths every day (the huge number of tourists dangling in hot water is somewhat alarming) in order to stock up on energy. There are places for shopping lovers to turn around - various souvenirs, solid leather clothes, all kinds of household attributes, unique alcoholic beverages are offered in huge quantities.
In the very center of Europe, Budapest greets guests for the New Year holidays. Immediately after Christmas, the capital of Hungary plunges into preparation for a family celebration. People are buying gifts, preparing tables. And tourists who choose New Year tours to Budapest are invited to spend a cozy and family evening. How exactly?
Family New Year in Budapest
- At night, the streets of Budapest, the Danube embankment turn into a real fairy tale with flickering lights and beautiful installations.
- Small fairs can be found in almost all the central squares of the capital. For little money you can buy valuable crafts and souvenirs.
- You should definitely book a tour of the local castles in the evening - this is a bit romantic and informative for the whole family, especially for children.
But on New Year's Eve itself it is best to be in one of the central hotels or restaurants. The Amigo-S tour operator in Hungary is even ready to help you book a New Year's tour in Budapest to the hotel where the brightest and most interesting entertainment program with live bands, contests, etc. is planned on New Year's Eve.
Also, the Amigo-S tour operator offers tours to Budapest for the November holidays of 2019 with air travel and accommodation in the best hotels.
Each country has its own traditions of holding certain holidays. And of course, the New Year is especially popular and significant. And how is it celebrated in Budapest?
New Year in Budapest: what is it?
New Year in Budapest is a very cheerful and noisy holiday. Although Hungary is a predominantly Catholic country, almost all residents remember and respect this date. And if Christmas is considered to be a special day, which is customary for family and family, then the beginning of the year is marked completely differently: noisy, fun, crowded and varied. It has been and always will be: ten years ago, and in the long-coming 2016, and in 2017 and in the still distant 2018.
It is worth noting that the date of the celebration of the beginning of the year in the Catholic calendar coincides with the day of St. Sylvester, and therefore it is often called the Sylvester.
Celebration Features
How is New Year celebrated in such a wonderful city like Budapest? Fun, noisy and interesting. Unlike Christmas, which all Catholics spend with their family, the beginning of the year is considered a universal celebration, and it should gather all the inhabitants of the city and become an occasion for unbridled fun.
The traditions of the celebration are rooted in ancient times and are associated with ancient pagan rites and beliefs. So, it was believed that on this night all "evil spirits" are activated. And it can be scared away by noise and positive emotions, therefore, for a long time, mass festivities with songs, dances, lights and fireworks have been arranged.
Where to celebrate the New Year?
Where to go a tourist on New Year's Eve? Almost all those who were on holidays in the capital of Hungary say that it is best to meet the beginning of the year on the street, because it is here that locals and visitors gather. This is where all the fun focuses, which will certainly cheer you up and make you join the movement of the crowd, merge into it and dissolve, releasing all your emotions and opening up to new experiences.
In order to fully experience the atmosphere of the holiday, it is worth going to places such as Heroes Square, Andrassy Avenue, Danube Embankment, Nyugati Square, Vaci Utsa Street, Vörösmarty Square and others. In general, boldly go to where there are a lot of people and cheerful voices are heard.
What happens in Budapest for a holiday?
Locals and tourists are incredibly lucky, because they expect a magnificent, vibrant and eventful New Year's program. On the streets on this night, souvenir shops are operating in which festive items are sold. You can also see an interesting performance or performance of some artist. And to join the celebration will offer you more than one fun company. The culmination of the celebration is usually a stunning fireworks display that illuminates the Danube and is visible to all residents and visitors of the city.
New Year's table
The treats served at the New Year's table also reflect ancient traditions. Here are some dishes that are considered the most popular on this holiday:
- Lentils This, it would seem, a simple dish is one of the required, as it symbolizes financial well-being and prosperity.
- Pork sausages and spit-roasted piglets are symbols of good luck. Anyone who eats such dishes next year will certainly be successful.
- On the table you can see a rabbit. And if you taste it, then all the trouble will run away as quickly as this beast.
- Traditional dishes are cabbage rolls and cabbage soup, reminiscent of the culinary traditions of Hungary.
- Many cook jelly.
- On New Year's Eve, almost everyone drinks champagne, which is considered a traditional holiday drink.
- No less popular is another rum-based drink with the addition of many other very different components - “krampampuli”. And its use has become a real ritual and an indispensable component of many festivities.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of New Year's Eve in Budapest:
- New Year in Budapest is very beautiful! This city is beautiful on ordinary days, but on holiday dates it is transformed and replete with bright garlands, flashing lights and other decorations. Moreover, all the main streets are beautiful, so you can appreciate the splendor almost anywhere.
- A rich program will definitely not let you get bored, you can see a lot of interesting things: performances, performances by artists, gorgeous fireworks and much more.
- On this holiday, all of Budapest is immersed in fun, and it reigns everywhere, infecting everyone with a positive. Therefore, people are friendly and welcoming, they will gladly help you and offer to share the joy of the coming of the next year.
- You can immerse yourself in the stunning atmosphere characteristic of European countries. And Hungary is a beautiful state with a rich history, so even in normal times there is something to see.
- A lot of tourists come to this city for the New Year holidays, so when you go outside you can make interesting, useful, or even fateful acquaintances.
- You will get new impressions and remember this New Year forever. And to come here is only for this.
- A significant drawback can be the weather. Although the climate is quite mild and the winters are not very cold, problems can still arise. Frosts rarely come here, but the thaw is a fairly frequent phenomenon. And since the amount of precipitation can be significant, then, firstly, an increase in temperature can lead to ice. Secondly, even in the middle of winter in Hungary it may well rain, but this is not very pleasant.
- If you decide at the height of the New Year festivities to go to some restaurant or bar to warm up, eat and relax, then you will probably not be able to do this. There are many tourists in the capital of Hungary these days, so places in such establishments may not be enough, especially in the central part of the city, where all the fun is concentrated.
- The disadvantages include fairly high prices. Hungary is a fairly developed European country, and the standard of living is appropriate. So if you are a budget tourist, you may run into financial problems. And when you consider that for the New Year prices are even higher, then your expenses will be significant.
- So that the vagaries of the weather do not take you by surprise, firstly, put on comfortable shoes with flat non-slip soles, and secondly, take an umbrella or raincoat with you. It is also advisable to dress warmer, because frost can also ruin your mood.
- If you plan to go to a restaurant, it is better to book a table in advance so that you probably have enough space. Although, if luck smiles at you, then there will be no problems with this. But in bad weather you can be left with nothing, so it’s better to think over and foresee everything.
- Although the crime rate in Budapest is low, and during the holidays the police control the situation on the streets of the city, it is advisable to safely hide documents and money so as not to become a victim of thieves or their own inattention or forgetfulness.
If you decide to celebrate the New Year in Budapest, you can only wish you a pleasant and unforgettable experience.