New Year in Budapest 2023 | Top 12 Things to Do, Events, Parties & More!
The Hungarian capital of Budapest is best known as ‘the Spa Capital of the World’ for its many relaxing thermal baths, spas, and pools. It is also known to be the common man’s party capital, where you can party hard, get drunk, and enjoy a great time, well within a budget. The New Year scene in Budapest is quite happening with festive fairs, cultural events, bath parties, boat parties, DJ music, dances, pub crawls, and more! Keep reading to know the best things to do, the parties to attend, and all the other information you need to spend this New Year in Budapest.
Weather in Budapest during New Year’s Eve
Average Temp: 1 °C
- Highest Temp: 2 °C
- Lowest Temp: -1 °C
Chances of Rain: Light showers and moderate snowfall are expected throughout the day.
What to Wear: It is recommended to wear thick waterproof jackets or hoodies, neck scarves, gloves, and thick socks to stay comfortable. Snow boots or comfortable walking shoes with a good grip are also recommended to be worn in Budapest for New Year.
What to look out for: As rain and snowfall are expected in Budapest around New Year, it is best you carry an umbrella or a poncho with you when stepping out.
Top 12 Things to do on New Year in Budapest
1. Marvel At The Fireworks & Light Displays
Stroll across the lit and decorated streets of Budapest and watch the brilliant fireworks at the main city squares at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Why Visit?
- Walk along Váci Street and Fashion Street to see the festive decorations or head to the magical Lumina Park at Palatinus to walk amongst magnificent light displays.
- Watch the brilliant fireworks display at the festive Vörösmarty Square, Nyugati Square, Oktogon, Duna Korzó, and the party district of Budapest.
2. Have Fun At Festive Fairs
Head to a festive fair in Budapest this holiday and enjoy the Christmas markets, carnival rides, ice skating rinks, spectacular light shows, local food trucks, festive lighting, live entertainment shows, and more!
Why Visit?
- The Szent István Square in front of the Budapest Basilica is hosting an Advent Festival until New Year, which is known to be one of the best festive fairs in Europe.
- Budapest’s City Park, Varosliget, turns into a winter wonderland during the holidays, with an ice rink surrounded by festive décor, wooden stalls, concert stages, and more.
3. Take A River Cruise On The Danube
Cruise over the Danube River in a heated boat, admiring Budapest’s decked-up streets and skyline, and enjoy a festive dinner, a folk show, live music, wine tasting, and a DJ party on board.
Why Visit?
- Have a 5-course dinner and party all night on a New Year’s Eve party boat while enjoying the best views of the midnight fireworks from the Danube.
- Go on a sightseeing cruise over the Danube on New Year’s Day and visually explore the city while having drinks or dinner, or listening to instrumental or folk music.
4. Celebrate At A Square Party
The main squares of Budapest host some of the best New Year parties where the celebrations include Christmas fairs, lighting displays, fireworks, DJ parties, and more.
Why visit?
- Visit over 100 stalls at the Christmas Fair, and watch live music performances and fireworks on New Year’s Eve at Vörösmarty Square.
- Join the crowds at Oktogon Square or Eiffel Square as they dance the Czarda to Hungarian live music wearing flashy clothes, wigs, masks, and hats on New Year’s Eve.
5. Celebrate At The Danube Palace
Every New Year’s Eve, the Danube Palace hosts a grand celebration featuring classical music concerts, live dance shows, traditional folk performances, a fancy dinner, drinks, and a late-night ballroom party.
Why Visit?
- Watch the Budapest Gala Orchestra, the Budapest Operetta Theatre, and gypsy bands perform live throughout the night.
- Feast on a 5-course festive dinner with selected wines and enjoy a midnight DJ party with an open bar.
6. Enjoy A Bath Party
This New Year’s, choose to relax at one of Budapest’s therapeutic thermal baths or splash into a Sparty - bath party and celebrate all night before New Year’s Eve.
Why Visit?
- The Grand Budapest Bath Party is happening on the 30th of December at the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, to be the best Sparty (Spa-Party) of the year.
- This year’s pre-NYE bath party features EDM, fire dancers, acrobats, aerial artists, a laser and 3D light show, and brilliant fireworks.
7. Party With Your Family At Aquaworld
Have a fun-filled family celebration this New Year’s at one of Budapest’s largest indoor water theme parks. Aquaworld features flumes, thermal spas, and saunas for people of all ages.
Why Visit?
- Aquaworld is throwing a New Year’s Eve Aqua Party with night-long DJ music, spectacular events, midnight snacks, a glass of champagne, and fireworks.
- The party highlights include a synchronized swimming show, a robot juggling show, an indoor flyboard show, fountain waterworks, and more!
8. Participate In A Tango Marathon
Budapest’s first-ever Tango Marathon is happening this New Year’s featuring 250 people dancing to almost 45 hours of live DJ music from the 30th of December to the 1st of January.
Why Visit?
- Join solo or as a pair and tango to the music of DJs from Rome, Paris, Prague, Ankara, and Budapest at the New Year Tango Marathon.
- Enjoy 6 different DJ parties, drinks, snacks, and bingo games at Hölgyválasz Studio during the event.
9. Attend A Classic Concert
Step into Budapest’s cultural scene this New Year’s by attending a classical music concert, an operetta, an oratorio, or a ballet performance.
Why Visit?
- The Hungarian State Opera will be performing the operetta ‘Die Fledermaus’ and ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet on New Year’s Eve, and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9. On New Year’s Day.
- The classic oratorio ‘Haydn: The Seasons’ will be performed as the New Year’s first concert at Müpa Budapest.
10. Swing Into The New Year
Dance into the New Year at the Ice Swing Holiday event from the 28th to the 31st of December. The event includes swing dancing, DJ parties, sightseeing, ice skating, wine tasting, and a dinner.
Why Visit?
- Find a partner and learn swing dancing from professionals just in time for the New Year at the Ice Swing Holiday.
- Go on a sightseeing tour, try skating on ice, and attend 4 different swing parties this holiday season.
11. Join The Pub Crawlers
Spend the last night of the year with a bunch of like-minded party boozers on a pub crawl in Budapest! Party all night with music, games, and of course, drinks, hopping from one pub to another.
Why Visit?
- The New Year’s Eve Ruin Pub Crawl Budapest takes you to 3 of Budapest’s best Ruin Bars and their NYE parties, happening till 5 in the morning.
- The Original Budapest New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl is returning this year with 5 pubs, DJ parties, drinking games, an hour of unlimited drinks, and free champagne at midnight.
12. Skate On Ice
Skate away on New Year’s Eve or Day at any of the city’s ice skating rinks, winter wonderlands, or outdoor skate parks.
Why Visit?
- Varosliget - the biggest park in Budapest – welcomes ice skaters to its winter wonderland on the morning of New Year’s Eve and the evening of New Year’s Day.
- The lake at Budapest Park gets converted into an ice rink in the winter, which is open till 5 P.M. on New Year’s Eve and all afternoon on New Year’s Day.
Parties & Events on New Year’s Eve in Budapest
New Year’s Rave at a Secret Location
Attend the most exclusive New Year’s Eve party in Budapest at a secret location. The Szilveszteri Techno Fesztivál, hosted by Supernova Techno features David Temessi, Gaga, Victoria Franches, Centure, Schiere, Mzperx, Rot, Gabros, DFFI, Janett, DSB96, Technokool, Kamafaka, Barbad, Oblivion, and more.
Location: Secret location shared only to attendees.
Video Disco Party at High Five
High Five Budapest is hosting the VHS Video Disco New Year’s Eve Party at BistroPub in the downtown party district. Along with night-long disco music by popular DJs, the party offers a selection of vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free food, and premium drinks.
Location: Budapest, Király u. 15, 1075 Hungary | Find on map
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Yacht Party on New Year’s Eve
Party all night on the eve of New Year on the double-decker party boats Millennium 1, Millennium 2, Attila, or Halászbástya. Enjoy a welcome drink, buffet dinner, midnight champagne and snacks, an international Retro DJ party, and a view of the fireworks from the Danube!
Location: Port #1, Bp. XIII. ker. Jászai M. tér (150 m from Margaret Bridge, Jászai Mari tér 3, 1137 Hungary) | Find on map
The Biggest NYE Party in Budapest
Head to Budapest’s largest entertainment venue Instant-Fogas for this year’s biggest party featuring DJs Wayden, Zsolo, ROBOT, LoriPop Dictator, Perpetuum Mobili, CR!D, Niac, Kendo, Axonymus, Dj Andretti, and Tom Tailor, playing all kinds of music across 7 dance floors.
Location: Instant-Fogas Complex, Budapest, Akácfa u. 51, 1073 Hungary | Find on map
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Erik Sumo Concert on the A38 Ship
Composer-producer Ambrus Tövisházi and his band Erik Sumo are returning after 3 years with a new double album this New Year’s Eve. They will be performing songs in English, Swahili, Portuguese, French, German, Finnish, and Italian on the stage of the A38 Ship.
Location: Budapest, Petőfi híd, 1117 Hungary | Find on map
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PLASTIC Pre-NYE Party at Akvarium
Celebrate the night before New Year’s Eve at Akvarium Klub’s pre-NYE party. Enjoy drinks at the cocktail bar and groove to the tracks mixed by The Advent, Marco Bailey, Pfirter, Hot X, and Sanfranciscobeat, at the Main Hall.
Location: Budapest, Erzsébet tér 12, 1051 Hungary | Find on map
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Be Massive New Year’s Eve Party
The Be Massive party on New Year’s Eve brings the whole team - Metha, Dubecticut, Lenny Lenoks, Blas, Robert Makai, and Secret Factory - to the Event Hall of the Várkert Bazaar for a night-long celebration of electronic music.
Location: Budapest, Ybl Miklós tér 2-6, 1013 Hungary | Find on map
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Fancy New Year’s Eve Dinner at Laurel
Treat yourself to the fanciest dinner on New Year’s Eve at Laurel Budapest. The grand feast serves an 11-course modern Hungarian tasting menu paired with some fancy champagne. They also offer a fully vegan menu with the same number of courses.
Location: Budapest, Kertész u. 29, 1073 Hungary | Find on map
Know morePlan Your New Year in Budapest
Most night transport services operate at higher frequencies or for longer hours on New Year’s Eve.
All daytime public transport services will follow the holiday/Sunday timetable on the 31st of December and the 1st of January.
The only exceptions are:
Bus: Buses numbered 38, 92, 138, 140B, 162, 204, 218, and 238 will not be serving the stops at the big shopping centers, as they remain closed on New Year’s Day.
Tram: Trams 4 and 6 run every 3 – 4 minutes till 2 A.M. and then every 5 minutes till 5 A.M. on New Year’s Day.
Metro: Metro lines M2, M3, and M4 operate till 1 A.M. on New Year’s Day and then start again at 4:30 A.M.
New Year’s Eve Dinner:
New Year’s Day Brunch:
Price per night for 2 guests in a room
Budget Hotels:
MEININGER Budapest Great Market Hall: from $126
ibis Styles Budapest Citywest: from $139
Novotel Budapest Centrum: from $185
Mid-range Hotels:
Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre: from $210
Radisson Blu Beke Hotel: from $225
InterContinental Budapest - an IHG Hotel: from $324
Luxury Hotels:
Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest by Hyatt: from $556
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest: from $631
Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel Collection: from $693
Tips for Celebrating New Year in Budapest
- Alcohol is cheaper in Budapest as compared to most other European cities.
- Most hotels in Budapest apply a minimum booking restriction during this time of the year. So you may have to book the same place for at least 2 or 3 days.
- Food and accommodation may be comparatively more expensive around New Year.
- You can use your credit or debit cards to pay in most places including taxis as Budapest is an almost cashless city.
- Although the official currency of Budapest is the Hungarian Forint (HUF), some stores and services accept Euros, US Dollars, and Pound Sterling, but with a comparatively higher exchange rate.
- It is advised to convert money before traveling to get the best conversion rates.
- Don’t be surprised if you hear the Hungarian crowds at a square party recite their national anthem at the stroke of midnight. It is just their tradition.
- Do book your New Year party and event tickets well in advance as they sell out soon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrating New Year in Budapest
Some of the best things to do in Budapest on New Year are to watch the fireworks, go on a boat cruise, attend cultural events, go ice skating, dance, get drunk, and party.
Visiting the Danube Palace, participating in a Tango Marathon, swing dancing, attending a cultural event like the ballet, opera, or a music concert, and partying at thermal baths are some of the off-beat things to do on New Year’s Eve in Budapest.
Budapest being a party capital gets very crowded during New Year.
Budapest is safe during New Year, especially in the main squares. Although, beware of pickpockets in crowded areas.
New Year celebrations start in Budapest a day before New Year’s Eve with the Grand Budapest Bath Party at the Széchenyi Thermal Bath and the PLASTIC Pre-NYE Party at Akvarium Klub.
On New Year’s Eve, the biggest and most popular party in Budapest happens at Instant-Fogas, while the New Year’s Rave Party at a secret location is the most exclusive NYE party in the city. The VVHS Video Disco party at High Five Budapest and the Be Massive party at Várkert Bazaar are the other popular New Year’s Eve parties in Budapest.
The Millennium 1, Millennium 2, Attila, and Halászbástya host some of the best boat parties on New Year’s Eve in Budapest. The New Year’s Eve party boat and the Danube cruise on New Year’s Day are the fancier options.
The main fireworks on New Year’s Eve can be seen from pretty much any spot on the banks of the Danube River. However, the best locations to watch them are the Buda Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion. You can also watch the fireworks happening at Vörösmarty Square, Nyugati Square, Oktogon, Duna Korzó, and the party district of Budapest.
It is winter in Budapest in December with the average temperature ranging from-1 °C to 2 °C, with light showers and moderate snowfall expected around New Year.
Yes, all means of public transport are available as usual in Budapest on New Year’s Day, following the Sunday/holiday timetable, with extended services on the night of New Year’s Eve. However, buses numbered 38, 92, 138, 140B, 162, 204, 218, and 238 will not be serving the stops at the big shopping centers, as they remain closed on New Year’s Day.
While in Budapest for New Year, you must try their traditional festive food such as Lángos, Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cake), beigli (poppy seed roll), flódni (traditional Jewish layered pastry), fried sausage, Almás Rétes (Apple Strudel), Tócsi (Potato Pancakes), Töltött Káposzta (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls), grilled meats, chestnuts, and gingerbread cookies.
Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest by Hyatt, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, and Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel Collection are some of the fanciest places to stay for New Year’s in Budapest. The more affordable options include MEININGER Budapest Great Market Hall, ibis Styles Budapest Citywest, Novotel Budapest Centrum, Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre, Radisson Blu Beke Hotel, and InterContinental Budapest.
SOLID Wine Restaurant, Brunch Bistro Budapest, KIOSK Budapest, Salt Restaurant, St. Andrea Wine & Skybar, Essência Restaurant, Prime Steak & Wine, Araz, 21 - Magyar Vendéglő, and DNB Budapest are some of the best places to dine at on New Year in Budapest.
Akvarium Klub, A38, Garden Kobuci, Budapest Jazz Club, Dürer Kert, Peaches and Cream Club, Doboz, and Blue Bird Karaoke are some of the best clubs and pubs to visit for New Year in Budapest.
New Year’s in Budapest can be very chilly with some snowfall expected. It is recommended you wear thick waterproof jackets, hoodies or beanie caps, neck scarves, gloves, thick socks, and comfortable walking shoes with a good grip or snow boots.
Although shops are allowed to stay open until 4 P.M. on New Year’s Eve, most of them close by 2 P.M. Most shops, cafes, and museums remain closed on New Year’s Day. Cinemas, restaurants, thermal baths, ice skating rinks, and the Budapest Zoo would remain open on New Year’s Day.