Home > Trips > Winter in Budapest – Christmas Sparkles, Chanukah Candles, and Holiday Feasts

Winter in Budapest – Christmas Sparkles, Chanukah Candles, and Holiday Feasts

December 6 – 13, 2026

Winter in Hungary has a special charm to it—especially the holiday season, when Budapest is at its most sparkly and celebratory. The city is all lit up, decked out in holiday cheer, glasses full of sparkling wine, and dressed up to hit the concerts and parties. Christmas and Chanukah are all about light, and bringing warmth and love into the dark, long winter days. During this tour you’ll be immersed in Budapest’s holiday spirit, as well as its delicious wine, food, and good company.

We planned this tour around Hungarian Christmas traditions, and of course food and wine play a big role in Hungarian holiday traditions! There will be forrált bor (mulled wine) aplenty, as well as the classic Hungarian winter dishes like rétes (strudel), bejgli (poppyseed and walnut rolls), flódni, stuffed cabbage, lentil, roasts of all sort, and an endless variety of food at the markets and shops we visit.

Chanukah coincides with the timing of this tour, and there will also be a touch of Jewish history and food, to honor Hungary’s long and strong Jewish history. We’ll spend an entire day exploring the old Jewish district, visiting synagogues, sampling Jewish-Hungarian foods, and checking out a Chanukah candle lighting in one of the city’s main squares.

We will, of course, visit Budapest’s Christmas markets–the main ones, as well as some of the more offbeat ones featuring local artists, designers, artisans, and all sorts of makers. We’ll also visit a Christmas market in the countryside, which has a more provincial vibe (and less crowds).

Unlike our other tours, this one focuses mostly on Budapest. But, we will make a few forrays outside of the city, including a day trip that will include visits to the Benedictine Abbey in Pannonhalma, Győr, and then a stop in the Neszmély wine region to visit a natural wine producer who will host us for a home-cooked dinner and wine tasting. On another day we will head to nearby Etyek for dinner and a wine tasting at a family winery. And, within the Budapest city limits, we will visit a spectacular wine cellar which produces some of Hungary’s finest sparkling wine.

At this time of the year Budapesters take advantage of the festive concerts that take place all over town. We will do the same, and we will also visit one of the finest painting collections in Eastern Europe at the Museum of Fine Arts. One evening we’ll welcome you into our own home, for mulled (and non-mulled) wine, snacks, and conversation around the Christmas tree and fireplace.

Your bellies will certainly be well-filled by the end of the week. But we hope your souls will have also been inspired by the architecture, traditions, city vibes, culture, music, art, and literature that we will experience together. Join us to indulge in epic meals and wine tastings in the company of like-minded travelers during this special time of year!

December 6 – 13, 2026 (7 nights)
4,999 USD/person (599 USD single supplement)
Trip starts and ends in Budapest
Maximum group size: 12 travelers

Trip Highlights

Private Danube cruise in Budapest.
Two baking classes with experts.
Visiting 4 wineries (in 3 wine regions), and tasting with the family or winemaker at each place.
Visit a distiller which has been in business since the 18th century, making Hungary’s signature bitter spirit.
Experiencing Budapest in its most magical season.
Day trip to Győr and the Benedcitine Abbey in Pannonhalma
Epic Hungarian meals every day, both traditional and more modern, which we will temper with walks to explore the neighborhoods of Budapest.

What’s included?

At least 4 winery visits (where we will meet the winemaker/owner at each location)
Private transportation by minibus, with professional driver.
Entrance to all mentioned activities.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included daily
We will be your guides at all times.
7 nights accommodation. Four-star hotel with prime location in Budapest.

What’s not included?

Activities, tours, and entry fees not included in the itinerary
Additional accommodation before and after the tour
Airport transfers
Travel insurance
Airfare
Additional meals, snacks, and beverages

Why Travel with Us?

Since 2008, when we founded Taste Hungary, we’ve been immersed in Hungary’s food and wines, falling ever hopelessly in love with the delicious and varied wines, old kitchen traditions, and more modern culinary innovations. Through our immersive trips, we bring small groups of curious travelers along with us on deep and personal explorations of our favorite and most meaningful places. These trips are the result of everything we’ve learned and experienced over the past few decades of our life in Hungary, and we are proud to share them with our guests. These are trips for food and wine-loving travelers who would like to travel more slowly, quietly, and with deeper intention. We’ll take you behind the scenes to meet the food producers, farmers, and winemakers who we have gotten to know over the past few decades. Our favorite part? The time we spend sitting around a table, eating well, sharing delicious wines, and making lasting memories. We do all of the planning and organizing, all you need to do is shop up with curiosity (and an appetite). We hope you’ll join us for an adventure!

Day by Day Itinerary

Day One: Budapest – Arrival, Danube Cruise & Welcome Dinner

DECEMBER 6

After settling into your hotel—located in the heart of town, on one of Budapest’s most stunning avenues—we’ll gather in the afternoon for a welcome drink at a nearby rooftop bar. After introductions and discussing the plan for the coming week, we’ll stroll over to the Danube where we will meet our captain for a private river cruise (accompanied by some fine local sparkling wine) to get a feel for the city.

From there, we’ll head to the Palace District for a private welcome dinner at the Tasting Table, our own wine cellar. Over the course of dinner we’ll open a bunch of wines from regions that we will not be visiting on the tour, so you can begin your crash course in the wines of Hungary. The menu will be centered around the lovely and tasty Mangalica, Hungary’s very special indigenous pig.

Overnight in Budapest.

Day Two: Budapest—Introducing Hungarian Food: Market Halls, Coffeehouses, and Cooking!

DECEMBER 7

We’ll spend our first full day together getting acquainted with Hungarian food. Budapest has many wonderful neighborhood market halls, where locals like to shop from their trusted butchers, greengrocers, pickle shops, and cheesemongers. We’ll visit Budapest’s stunning 19th-century Central Market Hall, one of Europe’s most spectacular food markets, before moving on to a more off-the-beaten-path market (where local chefs like to shop). Along the way, we’ll learn about the ingredients, recipes, shopping habits, and local dishes.

Next, we’ll spend some time exploring the Újlipótváros district, a charming neighborhood lined with cafes, bars, and cute shops. We’ll have lunch here at a traditional restaurant, where we can sample some of Hungary’s emblematic dishes. Then we’ll head to one of Budapest’s historic coffeehouses for coffee and a few different traditional desserts. We’ll then wander over to the city’s main Christmas market, where all of the vendors sell locally-made products.

For dinner, we will cook together at The Tasting Table! (Though participation is not required – we won’t mind if you just sit and relax with a glass of wine.) Along with dinner, we’ll introduce you to a variety of local wines made from special and rare indigenous grape varieties, all of which are only grown in Hungary, and some on just from a single vineyard.

Overnight in Budapest.

“One never knows what one is getting into when planning a trip, and when I made the reservations for the four tours and events that we did with Taste Hungary, I wondered if I had done the right thing. Well, I had absolutely done the right thing. We had a fantastic time at each event. We enjoyed every minute. All in all, we got to drink and eat so much that we feel we have become experts on Hungarian wine and food. And we will certainly impress, at least to our circle of friends, with our new knowledge. Each and every one of our guides was exceptional. We enjoyed their company, and we were impressed by their devotion and kindness. They know their stuff, and were able to communicate their knowledge in a friendly easy-going manner. What a privilege for us to meet them. We will cherish our happy memories for years to come.”
DONALD (USA)

Day Three: Art, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Sparkling Wine, and Dinner at a Winery in Etyek!

DECEMBER 8

This morning you’ll have the option to spend time on your own or join us to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, located on Heroes’ Square, where we can introduce you to some Hungarian artists (and also check out the fine old masters collections). Lunch will be a variety of strudel (rétes), a Hungarian specialty. Hungarians are masters when it comes to baking strudel, and we’ll sample it at a restaurant which specializes in it. We’ll wander over to St. Stephen’s Basilica, named for Hungary’s first king (whose mummified right hand is housed inside, and can be viewed.) The building is one of Budapest’s most significant pieces of architecture, and there are fantastic views from the dome. One of the city’s main Christmas markets is on the square in front of the church, so we will also spend some time there.

An especially unique feature of Budapest is that some parts of the city, such as the Budafok neighborhood, are part of the Etyek-Buda wine region. Historically, the district was a major site for sparkling wine production, and the scale of its old cellar system, carved into the soft limestone, is testament to the importance of this area as a center of wine trading during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. We will visit a massive cellar, which these holds some of the finest sparkling wines in Hungary. After wandering through the labyrinth of a cellar, we’ll taste a selection of sparkling and still wines.

Next, we’ll head further into the wine region to the town of Etyek. This region is characterized by its cool-weather and limestone soil, and they specialize in sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. We’ll visit a beautiful boutique family-owned winery, where we will tour the cellar and winery, and then sit down to a dinner prepared just for us, paired with the wines of the house.

Overnight in Budapest.

Day Four: The Benedictine Abbey in Pannonhalma, Christmas Market in Győr, and Dinner at a Winery in Neszmély

DECEMBER 9

Today we’ll head northwest from Budapest to visit the pretty town of Győr, as well as the nearby Benedictine Abbey in Pannonhalma. Győr is situated on the confluence of three rivers, and the town center is an architectural jewel-box, with the oldest building dating to the 13th century. We’ll explore the cobble-stoned streets in the historic part of town, and see the Benedictine church, the Carmelite church, the Gothic cathedral, and the towering bishop’s residence. We’ll spend some time at the Christmas market (and sample the mulled wine and some snacks), which is a nice respite from the bigger crowds at Budapest’s markets. Later we’ll grab a table at the Bergmann Cukrászda, Győr’s oldest patisserie (opened in 1939). As we enjoy our coffee and cakes we can admire the original furnishings and porcelain.

Next we’ll make the short drive to the Abbey in Pannonhalma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Benedictine monks first settled in 996, and went on to convert the Hungarians to Christianity. The oldest parts of the complex date to 1224. We’ll tour the abbey, the chapels, the beautiful four-level library and its ancient dome, and the extensive grounds (which also include botanical gardens, and stunning views). Pannonhalma is also a wine region (one of the country’s smallest), and the winery attached to the abbey is the region’s leading winery. We’ll drop in for a tour and tasting with the winemaker.

On the way home, we’ll stop in the Neszmély wine region to visit a very off-the-beaten track winery, which produces delicious natural and biodynamic wines. We’ll enjoy the view from the hill, as well as a home-cooked dinner (paired with wines) prepared by the winemaker.

Overnight in Budapest.

Day Five: Jewish Budapest, Zwack Unicum, and a Concert

DECEMBER 10

This morning we’ll focus on learning about Hungary’s Jewish culture, history, and foodways. We’ll start by meeting one of our expert guides for a walk in the old Jewish quarter, a fascinating neighborhood with winding back streets not only filled with impressive neoclassical buildings and old-fashioned artisan workshops, but with deep history, delicious food, and a contemporary buzz. Before World War Two this was one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities, and by the early 18th century had become a melting pot of religions and ethnicities. These days the neighborhood is known for its quirky bars, cool cafés, hidden art galleries, and cutting-edge design shops. We’ll visit a few synagogues here, including the Great Synagogue (Europe’s largest) and a very unique synagogue located inside of an apartment.

We’ll lunch at Budapest’s finest Jewish/Hungarian restaurant, where we will taste dishes such as matzoh ball soup, roasted duck with red cabbage, goose liver, and more. After lunch, we’ll get acquainted with Unicum—an herbal, bitter spirit which is a real Hungarian specialty and family success story since the 18th century. We’ll visit the distillery, located right in Budapest, where we’ll learn about the Zwack family’s dramatic history during a tour of the cellars and a visit to the charming museum. Of course we’ll also do a tasting of several types of Unicum!

Every night during Chanukah, there are candles lit in public spaces in several spots in the city. We’ll visit one of the city’s most festive candle lighting parties tonight, and then we’ll top this full day off with a concert at one of Budapest’s beautiful concert halls!

Overnight in Budapest.

Day Six: Buda Castle and Baking Class

DECEMBER 11

After breakfast we will trek up to the Buda Castle neighborhood to check out this timeless neighborhood. This 1.5 kilometer-long neighborhood is one of the oldest sections of the city, full of winding cobblestoned streets, baroque and gothic facades, and colorful old houses. We’ll meet our expert history guide, who will lead us through the main streets, the back streets, and the secret spots. We’ll visit the Royal Palace complex, the restored Várkert Bazár, the Fisherman’s Bastion, and the Mátyás Church. Around lunchtime, we’ll head down the hill to a neighborhood food market in Buda for lunch.

Next, we’ll visit one of the oldest family-owned patisseries in Budapest to taste some desserts and bake with the owner. She’ll take us into her kitchen to teach us how to bake pogácsa (the ubiquitous Hungarian savoury scones) and bejgli (an essential Christmas dessert, which is a roulade stuffed with either walnuts or poppyseeds).

This evening, we’ll welcome you in our own home for mulled wine (forrrált bor) and snacks in front of the fireplace!

Overnight in Budapest.

Day Seven: More Christmas Markets, Baking Honey Cookies, Farewell Dinner

DECEMBER 12

Around the Advent season, many venues in Budapest organize different maker’s markets, where local artisans, artists, and craftspeople come together to sell their unique works. Today we will visit a few of these special markets, so make sure you have saved space in your suitcase!

In Hungary, the art of making mézeskalacs (honey cookies) goes back to ancient times, when there were guilds devoted to the craft. Today we’ll meet a mézeskalacs specialist who makes creations that are both delicious and beautifully intricate. She’ll teach us about this ancient Hungarian culinary craft, and share her secrets and tips as we bake mézeskalacs together (which we can pack up for you to take home with you).

Later, we’ll take an early evening walk in pretty City park (where there might be another Christmas market). And our farewell dinner together will be at a Michelin-recommended bistro, where the menu is modern Hungarian inspired by some of the classics. If you’re up for a final evening stroll through Budapest, we can walk home through the City Park and down Andrássy Avenue, past the Opera House and the elegant 19th century villas until we arrive back at the hotel.

Overnight in Budapest.

Day Eight: Departure

DECEMBER 13

Today we say goodbye! Check out after breakfast. If you want to stay and explore Budapest, we can help with travel arrangements and additional hotel nights.

Overnight in Budapest.

We will do our best to keep to this itinerary, but it is subject to change based on weather conditions, availability, or unforeseen circumstances. If any activities must be changed, we will do our best to substitute them with a similar one.

Know before you go …

The central theme of all of our tours is the food and wine culture of Hungary. So if you are not interested in either, then this probably isn’t the right tour for you! We will eat and drink well during the tour, and we will also build in some time to move around (like walks and relaxed hikes). However, we also consider culture, history, architecture, and the natural environment essential, and we try to incorporate these themes as much as possible in order to create a balances experience.

While this is not a strenuous tour, there is a moderate level of activity. To fully enjoy the tour you should be able to keep up with the group without assistance. Some days we will go for city walks, and other times there will be vineyard hikes (so the terrain could be hilly and uneven). There will also be situations when we will go up and down staircases without the option of elevators and escalators. Please let us know about any mobility concerns before signing up.

Bring an open mind for adventure and new experiences! Hungary has a long and complicated history, and a rich musical, literary, and cultural history. If you’d like to prepare for the journey by doing some background reading, we would be thrilled! Upon booking your place, we will send all participants our curated list of books, music, etc. to get you in the mood and mindset for the trip.

We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs whenever it is possible, so if you have any, please let us know before booking so we can make sure it will be be fine! We try to be as flexible as possible, but our tours are based around traditional Hungarian cooking, so special dietary needs and restrictions will require advance planning and preparations on our part. Meals can easily accommodate plenty of vegetarian options. If you have other food allergies or intolerances, please discuss it with us to find out if this trip can be the right fit for you.

The tour starts and ends in Budapest, so we recommend flying into Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD). Suggested arrival is in the morning (or latest, the early afternoon) on the day the tour starts. Departure can be anytime on the final departure day.

Budapest is a big city with lots to see and do, and if you’d like to add some extra days for solo explorations, just let us know and we can help with the hotel reservations. We are also more than happy to help with tips and ideas for things to do on your own, and we’d be happy to have you join any of our walking tours in Budapest.

Tours require a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due 90 days before the start of the tour. If we do not receive your final payment by that time, we cannot guarantee your space on the tour.

Tours require a minimum of 6 participants to run. If we do not reach that number by 90 days before the start date of the tour, we will cancel the tour and issue you a refund for all payments made. If we need to cancel the tour for any reason, all payments will be fully refunded.

Cancellations up to 90 days in advance of the tour will receive full refunds (minus the non-refundable deposit). If you cancel up to 60 days before the start of the tour there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. Cancellations closer than that cannot be refunded.

All tour changes must be made in writing to hello@tastehungary.com.

We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance, as we cannot make exceptions due to medical reasons, family emergencies, or flight issues,