One of the most pleasurable pursuits in Budapest is to wander around the Christmas fairs dotted around the city in the Advent season, as is sampling scrumptious food and buying small gifts for loved ones, obviously.

The Budapest Advent and Christmas Fair at Vörösmarty Square has been an unmissable winter event in the capital for decades. It is hard to say where the best place to start looking around is, so why not grab a mug of mulled wine to kick off the stroll? Once your hands are warmed through and your spirits high, there is no need to rush: take your time and check out the beautiful craft products. For years, the stalls have offered only artisan products carefully selected by a professional panel, so no matter what takes your fancy, you can be sure that the gift is a high-quality Hungarian artisan craft product. Open from 9 November, the Fair also presents the best of Hungarian gastronomy; you can taste goulash, grilled sausages and blood pudding, delicious roasts and of course chimney cake for dessert. The Advent fair also offers concerts and family programmes, presentations of folk crafts and trades, and over the weekends you can learn about Hungarian folk traditions.

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Just a few minutes’ walk away from here, the Advent in Budapest – Winter Festival and Christmas Fair is open to gift-hunters in Városháza Park from 23 November. While the square is busy with concerts and various programmes for kids, the intimate Christmas atmosphere is spellbinding in this beautifully lit fair surrounded by wooden huts.

Advent at the Basilica opens on 24 November, offering delicious food and drink, as well as special gifts to visitors. It is an excellent idea to come here with the kids: while one is browsing for gifts, they can enjoy the ice-rink in front of the lights of the stunning Basilica.

Advent in Óbuda opens its gates on 30 November in and around Fő tér, one of Buda’s most beautiful squares. Stalls, family programmes and an ice rink await locals and visitors travelling from far on the festively decorated squares.

And there is even more to explore outside the capital: Szentendre, a favourite small town for travelers, is also preparing for the holiday season. From 1 December, the town centre will put on a festive display to transport visitors into a true Christmas world, straight from the fairy tales. Walking through cobbled alleys filled with Christmas smells is guaranteed to make for an unforgettable experience. And won’t be a problem with finding gifts, either.

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