‘Winter is coming’, as it was said by Ned Stark in the hit series Game of Thrones. But you don’t have to sit beyond the wall, I mean behind the four walls – there are plenty of great programs in the city to warm you up, both body and soul.
1. Christmas fairs
I don’t know how you feel about it but I wouldn’t like winter as much as I do without all these colourful and heart-warming Christmas markets. Those good smells, the taste of mulled wine and chestnut… and the atmosphere, which makes you feel like a child who can’t wait Christmas Eve. Well, you can experience all these for example on Vörösmarty Square, at St. Stephen’s Basilica (my personal favourite) and Liszt Ferenc Square in Budapest.
2. Magic of lights
Budapest is wonderful in every season and in every part of the day. But I think that our capital city is the most amazing on those ‘magical’ December nights when the streets are already decorated with Christmas lights. If you have some free time, just take a walk in the beautifully enlightened city centre and enjoy this unique pre-Christmas atmosphere.
3. Coffee or tea?
If ‘the weather outside is frightful’, as the song says, what else could warm you up better than a great coffee or some good tea? Try any of the classic coffee houses of the city, for example New York Coffee House, a new wave café or just something special at Mozaik Tea House and Café.
4. Sp(a)ice up your day
Maybe your visit to Hungary lasts only for a couple of days so you can’t go enjoy the services of a wellness hotel in the countryside. But what about a nice afternoon in a well-known bath in Budapest? Visit Széchenyi or Gellért Baths or I can personally recommend you Veli Bej – this bath was reconstructed a couple of years ago, and it offers great services. Spice up your day with a refreshing aroma massage – it will make you feel like you were reborn. ;)
5. Theatre is always a good idea
If you would like to warm your heart up with some culture and fun, you don’t have to give up on that in Budapest because luckily, there are a couple of theatres where you can enjoy the plays with English subtitles. So let me recommend you Budapest Operetta and Musical Theatre, where you can enjoy nice operettas and one of my favourite musicals, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
