Markets by St. Stephen’s Basilica
Repeatedly voted the most beautiful Christmas market in Europe. Craft stalls, a light show on the Basilica's façade every evening and a small ice rink for children right in front of it.
Seasonal line
Days until the first departure: 39
Christmas markets in Budapest.
A day trip from Košice and Prešov to the Christmas markets that have repeatedly been voted the most beautiful in Europe. There in the morning, back in the evening — we take care of the driving and parking. You will see the price for your chosen date right in the booking form.
- Dates
- 14. 11. — 20. 12.
- Departure from Košice
- 09:30
- Departure from Prešov
- 09:00
- Return from Budapest
- 19:00
- Price
- from €68 / person
Day programme
What the trip looks like.
Leave at 09:30, home by 22:40 — with about 6 h at the markets in between. No changes, no parking, no driving.
-
01
09:30
Departure from Košice
From Prešov at 09:00. Comfortable minibus with air conditioning, USB charging and room for luggage.
-
02
12:40
Arrival in Budapest
We drop you off in central Budapest: Erzsébet tér, 1051 Budapest — the markets are a few minutes' walk away. In the evening you board at the same place.
-
03
~6 h
Free time
Advent Basilica, Vörösmarty tér, the view from Fisherman's Bastion, punch and chimney cake, and skating in City Park as evening falls.
-
04
19:00
Departure from Budapest
Boarding at the same spot where you got off.
-
05
22:40
Arrival in Košice
Prešov at 23:10. Home the same day.
Boarding and drop-off
Where you board and where you get off.
Fixed places, the same for every date. The addresses are also on your ticket.
-
Košice · departs 09:30
HM Tesco · Košice
Trolejbusová 1, 040 11 Košice
We bring you back here in the evening — arrival at 22:40.
Open in maps -
Prešov · departs 09:00
HM Tesco Prešov
Košická 6, 080 01 Prešov
We bring you back here in the evening — arrival at 23:10.
Open in maps -
Budapest · arrives 12:40 · departs 19:00
Erzsébet tér
1051 Budapest
You get off here and board here again in the evening. The Basilica and Vörösmarty tér are both about a 5-minute walk away.
Open in maps
What you will experience
Award-winning Advent in central Budapest.
A classic in the heart of the city
The oldest Christmas market in Budapest, a few steps from the Danube — Hungarian delicacies, punch, chimney cake and stalls selling handmade goods.
Skating and thermal baths
By Vajdahunyad Castle you'll find one of the largest ice rinks in Europe, with the Széchenyi Baths a few minutes away — steam rising off warm water into the cold winter air. About a quarter of an hour from the markets on the M1 metro.
Tips for the day
How to make the most of your day in Budapest.
A suggested walk through central Budapest. You reach the first three places on foot and take the metro to City Park (Városliget). Times are approximate.
-
≈ 5 min walk from the stop
01 · Szent István tér
Advent Basilica
Start at St Stephen's Basilica: craft stalls and Advent treats. In the early evening the light show on the façade runs every half hour — it's worth coming back for it before you leave.
-
≈ 10 min on foot
02 · Vörösmarty tér
Traditional Christmas market
Lángos, chimney cake, mulled wine and other Hungarian delicacies, plus stalls selling handmade gifts.
-
≈ 5 min on foot
03 · Danube embankment
A walk along the Danube
Views of Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge, all lit up. It's at its best after dark — in December it already gets dark around 16:00.
-
≈ 15 min on the M1 metro
04 · Városliget
Ice rink or baths
If you have time to spare: the ice rink by Vajdahunyad Castle (it closes for a break during the day, and its season usually starts in late November) or the Széchenyi Baths, a few minutes' walk away.
-
Currency and payments
In Hungary you pay in forints (HUF). Most market stalls take cards, but a little cash in forints will come in handy.
-
Public transport in Budapest
You can buy metro and tram tickets from ticket machines or in the BudapestGO app. Single tickets are enough for the trip to City Park and back.
-
Weather and clothing
Evenings are usually around freezing. You'll appreciate warm shoes and layers, both on the ice and on a walk along the Danube.
-
Phone and internet
Roaming in the EU costs nothing extra — maps, the ticket in your email and calls to dispatch all work just like at home.
Pricing
How much a trip to the markets costs.
Seasonal line · Christmas markets
Price for 1 passenger in EUR, VAT included.
| Route | One-way | Return return on another day | Return same day −85 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Košice Budapest | €68 | €136 | €78,20 |
| Prešov Budapest | €78 | €156 | €89,70 |
Prices are per person, VAT included. You will see the final price for a specific date once you pick it in the booking form. The 85 % return-leg discount applies when you return the same day (day trip); a return on another day is charged at the full fare.
Groups and companies
A Christmas trip for your whole group.
Work colleagues, a school class or a group of friends — we'll take you to Budapest together.
- For a larger group we'll arrange a private transfer — a vehicle just for you.
- With a private transfer, you choose both the date and the departure time.
- We price a private transfer individually, based on the number of people and the route.
Frequently asked questions
Practical things before you go.
-
How much time will I have at the markets?
About 6 h. We arrive in central Budapest in the afternoon and head back at 19:00 — the exact times are on your ticket.
-
Does the seasonal line run every day?
Almost every day in the period 14. 11. — 20. 12. (except 16. 11., 17. 11., 18. 11., 19. 11., 20. 11., 23. 11., 24. 11., 25. 11., 26. 11., 27. 11., 30. 11., 1. 12., 2. 12., 3. 12., 4. 12., 7. 12., 8. 12., 9. 12., 10. 12., 11. 12., 14. 12., 15. 12., 16. 12., 17. 12., 18. 12.). You can see available dates in the calendar when booking.
-
Where do I get off in Budapest, and where do I board for the trip back?
In central Budapest: Erzsébet tér, 1051 Budapest. The Basilica and Vörösmarty tér are both about a 5-minute walk away. In the evening you board at the same place — the address is also on your ticket.
-
Are the markets open over the holidays too?
Yes, but with shorter opening hours. The market on Vörösmarty tér usually runs until New Year's Eve, and on New Year's Day typically only the Advent Basilica is still open. Check the current hours on the markets' websites before you travel.
-
Do I need ID?
Yes. Slovakia and Hungary are both in the Schengen Area, but carry a valid ID card or passport — you may be checked at the border. Children need their own ID too.
-
Is the trip suitable for families with children?
Yes. You can add a child car seat as an add-on right in your booking, and there's a small ice rink for children by the Basilica. Children pay the same fare as adults.
-
Can I leave my things in the minibus during the day?
No — the minibus doesn't wait for you during the day; it's out on other runs in the meantime. So keep all your things with you; in the evening you can bring your market shopping home in comfort.
-
What if I run late and miss the evening run?
Call dispatch as soon as you know you won't make it — the number is on your ticket. If there's a free seat on a later regular-line departure, we'll help you switch to it; that departure doesn't leave from the seasonal line's stop, though — dispatch will tell you where to go.
-
Can I come back on a different day?
Yes, as long as the seasonal line runs on the day you return. The return-leg discount, however, only applies to same-day returns — otherwise the return trip is charged at the full fare.
-
Can I cancel or change my booking?
Yes, via the link in the email with your ticket. Cancellation terms are the same as on the regular line — see the price list and the terms of carriage.
Google reviews
What our passengers say.
Ratings from real customers.
Reviews are loading…
Christmas markets · 14. 11. — 20. 12.
Book your Advent