Advent Celebration at the Basilica

The long-standing Christmas market in front of the Basilica also opens its doors in November, where you can choose from a number of festive programs. True to tradition, this year the square will be filled with more than 150 local exhibitors and their handicraft and gastronomic products, and it won’t be without a Christmas tree, cozy tunes, Advent decorations and lights either. Visitors can once again enjoy the light painting projected onto the facade of the Basilica every day from 5:30 p.m. and they can also watch the joint Advent candle lighting. A skating rink that can be used free of charge awaits those interested with skate rental and skating lessons. The organizers also set up a special selfie point at the fair, where you can create a unique pattern on the facade of the Basilica and then take special photos with it.

An intimate Advent atmosphere, the smells, tastes, lights and heart-warming moments of the festive season – the Advent Basilica, which was voted the best Christmas market in Europe for the second time last year, awaits its visitors again in 2023. A 12-meter Christmas tree, light painting, a selfie spot, an ice rink, as well as nearly 150 quality craft and gastronomy exhibitors welcome those who want to celebrate in Budapest, in the square in front of the Saint Stephen’s Basilica.
This year’s event will feature nearly 150 local exhibitors, including craft and gastronomic vendors. The latter, in addition to the well-loved holiday-fair food prepared exclusively from impeccable ingredients, also offer a number of delicacies that are only available here, in accordance with the spirit of the event. This way, you will find many street food and barbeque dishes, as well as the dishes of the Hungarian csárda culture – among other things, on the plate will be deer stew, original Swiss raclette, lamb shanks, but there will also be goulash soup in a loaf and sandwich made with pulled pork and pulled beef that has been cooked in a smoker for 12 hours.

In addition to flavors and aromas, craft exhibitors – folk artists, industrial artists and innovative creators offering modern designer products – also contribute to the atmosphere of the fair with their unique, handmade masterpieces. Visitors can buy such special gifts as the wonderful, lifelike ceramic flower creations of ceramist Judit Szász or the masterpieces of illustrator, graphic designer and designer jewelry Eszter Schall, but there will also be the fragrant products of Tihany Lavender Manufactory and the world-famous Pécs leather gloves made by the Szendelbacher family.

During the event, festive tunes will also be played live and every day music programs in gospel, folk, jazz or even funk styles will add color to the Advent atmosphere.

In front of the Basilica, the wonderful Nativity scene takes its rightful place, and the monumental Advent wreath decorates the space here, the candles of which will be lit on Sundays as intimate moments of the Advent season.

Opening hours:
Monday Thursday:
11:00 – 22:00
Friday Saturday:
11:00 – 23:00
Sunday:
11:00 – 22:00

Unique opening hours on the following days:
Christmas:
24 December 2023:
11:00 – 15:00
25-26 December 2023:
11:00 – 20:00
New Year’s Eve (31 December 2023):
11:00 – 03:00 a.m.
New Year (1 January 2024):
11:00 – 18:00

Venue: St. Stephen’s Square
Date: November 17 – January 1

Find all FREE EVENTS in Budapest.