What is the best time to visit Hungary?

Best Time to Visit Hungary

The best time to travel to Hungary is during Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November).

Spring in Hungary

Spring in Hungary is a beautiful time to visit, with mild temperatures and blooming flowers. Visitors can expect to enjoy sunny days and cool nights. The days become longer and the countryside is full of color with the blossoming of wildflowers. Popular attractions during this time include the Budapest Spring Festival, the Sziget Festival, and the Budapest Easter Fair.

Autumn in Hungary

Autumn in Hungary is a great time to visit, with mild temperatures and vibrant foliage. The days start to get shorter and the countryside is full of color with the changing of the leaves. Popular attractions during this time include the Sziget Festival, the Budapest Autumn Festival, and the Budapest Wine Festival.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Hungary

Hungary in January

Weather

January in Hungary is typically cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 4°C. Snowfall is common in the northern parts of the country, while the south is usually dry.

Events

• The Budapest Ice Festival is held in January, featuring ice sculptures, ice skating, and other winter activities.
• The Sziget Festival is an annual music and cultural festival held in Budapest in the first week of August.
• The Hungarian National Day is celebrated on 15th January, commemorating the 1848 revolution against the Habsburgs.
• The Hungarian Film Week is held in January, showcasing the best of Hungarian cinema.
• The Budapest Marathon is held in January, attracting runners from all over the world.

Hungary in January

Weather

January is the coldest month of the year in Hungary, with temperatures ranging from -2 to 4 degrees Celsius. Snow is common throughout the country during this time of year.

Events

• The Sziget Festival is one of the biggest music events in Hungary, taking place in mid-January. It features a variety of artists from different genres, and is a great way to start off the new year.
• The Budapest Ice Festival is held in late January, and features a variety of ice sculptures, ice skating, and other winter activities.
• The Budapest Marathon is held in late January, and is a great opportunity for runners to take part in a competitive race in the city.
• The Budapest Winter Festival is held in early January, and features a variety of winter activities, including ice skating, sledding, and snowman building.
• The Budapest International Film Festival is held in late January, and is a great opportunity for film lovers to see some of the best films from around the world.

Hungary in March

Weather

March in Hungary is generally cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 0-10°C (32-50°F). Snow is still possible in March, though it is usually light.

Events

• International Women’s Day (March 8th): Celebrated throughout Hungary, International Women’s Day is a day to honor the achievements of women and to promote gender equality.
• Spring Festival (March 15th): The Spring Festival is a celebration of the start of spring in Hungary, with traditional foods, music, and dancing.
• Hungarian National Day (March 15th): This national holiday commemorates the 1848 revolution against the Habsburgs.
• Easter (March 28th): Easter is a major Christian holiday in Hungary, celebrated with traditional foods and decorations.
• Budapest Spring Festival (March 29th-April 18th): This annual festival celebrates the arts with performances, exhibitions, and workshops.

Hungary in April

Weather

April is the start of spring in Hungary, and the weather is mild and pleasant. Average temperatures range from 8°C (46°F) to 17°C (63°F). Rainfall is common, with an average of 10-15 days of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• Easter celebrations take place in April, and many churches and cathedrals across the country host special services.
• The Budapest Spring Festival is held in April, and features a variety of classical music concerts, opera performances, and dance shows.
• The Sziget Festival is a seven-day music and cultural event held in Budapest in late April.
• The National Gallop is an annual horse race held in April in Kincsem Park in Budapest.
• The Taste Hungary Food Festival is held in April in Budapest, and features a variety of Hungarian cuisine and wines.

Hungary in May

Weather

May is a pleasant month in Hungary, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius (50-77 degrees Fahrenheit). The days are mostly sunny, with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Budapest Spring Festival is held in the first half of May, featuring classical music concerts, opera performances, and dance shows.
• The International Wine and Champagne Festival is held in the second half of May in the city of Eger, showcasing the best wines and champagnes from Hungary and other countries.
• The International Festival of Folk Arts is held in the city of Szeged in the second half of May, featuring traditional folk dances, music, and crafts from all over the world.
• The Danube Carnival is held in the city of Budapest in the second half of May, with colorful parades, music, and dance performances.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in the city of Budapest in the second half of May, featuring jazz musicians from all over the world.

Hungary in June

Weather

June in Hungary is typically warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the high teens to the mid-twenties Celsius. The days are long and sunny, and the nights are mild.

Events

• The Sziget Festival is a week-long music and cultural festival that takes place in Budapest every year in the first half of June.
• The Danube Carnival is an annual event that takes place in June in Budapest. It features colorful parades, street performances, and live music.
• The Balaton Sound Festival is an annual electronic music festival that takes place in June near Lake Balaton.
• The Summer Solstice Festival is an annual celebration of the summer solstice that takes place in the town of Szeged.
• The Budapest International Wine Festival is an annual event that takes place in June at the Buda Castle.

Hungary in July

Weather

July in Hungary is typically warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the high teens to the low twenties Celsius. Rainfall is usually light, with an average of around 60mm for the month.

Events

• The Sziget Festival is an annual music and cultural festival held on Óbudai-sziget, an island in the Danube. The festival typically takes place in the first week of August and features a variety of musical acts, as well as art installations, theatre performances, and other cultural events.
• The Balaton Sound Festival is an annual electronic music festival held on the shores of Lake Balaton. The festival typically takes place in the second week of July and features a variety of electronic music acts, as well as art installations, theatre performances, and other cultural events.
• The Budapest Summer Festival is an annual music and arts festival held in the city of Budapest. The festival typically takes place in the last week of July and features a variety of musical acts, as well as art installations, theatre performances, and other cultural events.
• The Pannonhalma Wine Festival is an annual wine-tasting event held in the town of Pannonhalma. The festival typically takes place in the third week of July and features a variety of local wines, as well as food stalls, art installations, and other cultural events.
• The Great Plain Festival is an annual folk music and dance festival held in the city of Debrecen. The festival typically takes place in the fourth week of July and features a variety of folk music and dance acts, as well as art installations, theatre performances, and other cultural events.

Hungary in August

Weather

August in Hungary is usually warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s Fahrenheit (18-20°C) to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (26-30°C). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of about 11 days with precipitation.

Events

• The Sziget Festival is an annual music and cultural festival that takes place in Budapest, Hungary in August. It is one of the largest music festivals in Europe, featuring a wide variety of genres and performances from both local and international artists.
• The Balaton Sound Festival is an electronic music festival that takes place in Zamardi, Hungary. It is one of the largest electronic music festivals in Europe, featuring performances from some of the biggest names in the industry.
• The Budapest Summer Festival is a two-month long event that takes place in the Hungarian capital. It features a variety of performances, from classical music to jazz and pop concerts, as well as theater and dance performances.
• The Great Market Hall in Budapest is a popular tourist attraction and a great place to shop for souvenirs and local products. It is open all year round, but in August it hosts a special event called “Summer in the Great Market Hall”, with live music, food, and other entertainment.
• The Hungarian Grand Prix is a Formula One race that takes place in Budapest every August. It is one of the most popular races on the Formula One calendar and attracts thousands of spectators from around the world.

Hungary in September

Weather

September in Hungary is generally mild and pleasant. Temperatures range from an average high of 22°C to an average low of 11°C. Rainfall is moderate, with an average of 74mm of precipitation over the course of the month.

Events

• The Budapest International Wine Festival takes place in September, offering visitors the chance to sample a variety of Hungarian wines.
• The Sziget Festival is a popular music and arts festival held in Budapest in early September, drawing thousands of visitors from all over the world.
• The Balaton Sound music festival is held in late August/early September and features a variety of electronic music acts.
• The Great Market Hall in Budapest hosts the annual Harvest Festival in September, celebrating the end of the summer harvest season.
• The Hungarian Grand Prix is held in early September at the Hungaroring race track in Mogyoród.

Hungary in October

Weather

October is a mild month in Hungary with temperatures ranging from 8-15°C (46-59°F). The days are mostly sunny and the nights are cool. Rainfall is moderate, with an average of 8-10 rainy days.

Events

• The Hungarian National Day on October 23rd celebrates the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. There are parades, concerts, and fireworks throughout the country.
• The Budapest International Wine Festival takes place in October. It is a great opportunity to sample Hungarian wines and learn about the country’s winemaking traditions.
• The Budapest Marathon takes place in October. It is one of the largest marathons in Europe and attracts runners from all over the world.
• The Sziget Festival is a week-long music and cultural festival held in Budapest. It features a variety of musical acts, art installations, and other activities.
• The All Saints’ Day is celebrated in Hungary on November 1st. It is a national holiday and many people visit the graves of their loved ones.

Hungary in November

Weather

November in Hungary is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 10°C. Snow is not uncommon, and the days are shorter and darker than in other months.

Events

• November 1st is a national holiday in Hungary, celebrating the unification of the country in 1918.
• The Budapest Marathon takes place in November, usually on the last Sunday of the month.
• The Budapest Christmas Fair is held in November, offering traditional Hungarian food, drinks, and handicrafts.
• The Hungarian Grand Prix is held in November, usually at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród.
• The Sziget Festival is a popular music and culture festival held in Budapest in August.

Hungary in December

Weather

December is a cold month in Hungary, with temperatures averaging around 3°C (37°F). Snowfall is common, and days are generally short with only around 7 hours of daylight.

Events

• The December Solstice is celebrated on the 21st of December, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year.
• Advent is celebrated in Hungary during December, with the traditional Advent Wreath and Advent Calendar.
• On the 6th of December, Hungarians celebrate St. Nicholas Day.
• On the 24th of December, Hungarians celebrate Christmas Eve.
• On the 25th of December, Hungarians celebrate Christmas Day.