New Years Eve in Budapest-31st December 2010

If you plan to celebrate New Years in Budapest you won't be bored.

One of these special occasions is the last day of the year, Szilveszter in our language. People start preparing for New Year's Eve several weeks before. In some popular entertainment places you have to book your New Years Programme months before.

Cruise & Dinner on the Danube on New Year's Day 1st January 2011, at 19.00 or at 22.00

Celebrate the New Year on a Cruise on the Danube - Reward yourself and your family with a wonderful evening that includes: a splendid 3-course buffet dinner, live music (during the 19.00 cruise) and the enchanting sights of illuminated Budapest. Reserve Your Ticket for the New Year's Day Cruise & Dinner: Booking in Euro (49.61 Euro/12900 HUF/adult, 41.90 Euro/10900 HUF/student), Booking in HUF Menu: Aperitif: champagne or peach pálinka Cold appetizers: Potato salad Hungarian style Cottage cheese Budapest style with bread Soup: Onion soup Makó style with smoked cheese and crouton Warm Main Course Mini stuffed cabbage with grilled Debreceni sausage Hungarian letcho with sausage Grilled pullet fillet with Tokaji sauce Vegetarian Dishes: Lasagne verde with spinach Grilled vegetables Side dishes: Rice Potato with Parsley Salads: Fresh green salad with different kinds of dressings Rustic Greek salad Vegetable salad with mayonnaise dressing Kossuty style Desserts: Selection of mini cakes Selection of mini strudels fruit basket - exotic and seasonal fruits Drinks: 1 glass of red or white wine + 1 bottle (0.33 l) mineral water or soft drink, + coffee, tea Tickets for the New Year's Day Dinner & Cruise with Live Music at 19.00 and at 22.00 49.61 Euro/12900 HUF/adult, 41.90 Euro/10900 HUF/student

New Year's Day Concerts in Budapest - 01. 01. 2011

Chamber Concert on New Year's Day - Danube Palace, Budapest The beautiful Danube Palace hosts a wonderful Chamber Concert performed by the Danube Symphony Orchestra on 1st Januray 2009. Spend the first evening of 2009 by listening to classical music including pieces like: Hungarian Dances by Brahms, Csárdás by Monti, Blue Danube Waltz, and Radetzky March by Strauss and many more. See detais and ticket reservation here. Date: 1st January 2010., 17.30, the concert lasts about 65 minutes without intermission. Venue: Danube Palace (Duna Palota), Zrínyi utca 5., V. district Tickets & Booking: in Euro: 30.35 €/adult, 27.70 €/student, or in HUF: 7900 Ft/adult and 7200 Ft/student SAVE 2000 HUF by booking the New Year's Day Chamber Concert together with a Dinner & Cruise on the Danube. You pay 2000 HUF less than you would if youbought the tickets separately for the two programs.

New Years Eve Parties in Restaurants & Bars
New years in Budapest for Free
Partying in a Hotel
Ball in the Opera House
Home Parties
Public Transport on New Year's Eve
Hungarian New Year's Traditions
Opening Hours During Christmas and New Years
day in Budapest

Use the search box on the left to browse the latest Hotel Deals and find accommodation for your Budapest New Year's Eve stay. On Tripadvisor's website you'll find accommodation in various price categories along with unbiased reviews provided by fellow travellers.

New Years in Budapest - Restaurants, Bars, Cafés

Most people in Budapest head for a restaurant, bar, café or pub to carouse on 31st December. You have to book well in advance, especially in popular places.

If you have no reservation, go early and you might get in with some luck. There's usually a substantial dinner that includes special dishes.

A glass of champagne is usually included in the price to clink glasses at midnight. The New Year starts with more eating: frankfurter sausages with horseradish and mustard, lentil soup, roast pig and other traditional Hungarian New Year dishes are served after 24.00. You can dance away all this calorie intake.

Prices are 40-240 €, depending on how popular and upscale the place is.

Our tip: Liszt Ferenc Square on Andrássy Avenue offers many trendy cafés and bars. Pick a place here and you'll be close to the outdoor fesitivities on Nyugati tér and Oktogon.

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New Years in Budapest for Free- Celebration in the Streets

Three major places are the focal point of outdoor festivities.

Spectacular fireworks welcome the New Year on all three places.
Don't forget to put on warm clothes, because last days of December tend to be chilly in Budapest.

You'll find many people in the streets, especially around midnight. Even those who've been carousing in a restaurant or bar, pour out onto the streets and welcome the New Year with singing, dancing and blowing paper horns.

Luckily government has banned the use of firecrackers, so celebrating will be safer in the crowded streets, than it was in previous years.

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New Years in Budapest - Partying In a Hotel

Most Budapest Hotels offer Special Packages for the New Year's Eve period. Usually you have to stay for at least 2-3 nights.

A festive dinner and entertaining programs are included. Choose a hotel in the city centre and you'll find many places of entertainment within walking distance. You can join the happy crowd in the streets and enjoy the fireworks as well.

Prices: approximately 80-250 €

View are selection of Luxury Hotels in Budapest and 4 Star Budapest Hotels.

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Upscale Celebration of New Years in Budapest-Ball In the Opera House

The New Year's Eve ball in Budapest's beautiful Opera House is an exclusive party where you have to dress up and wear a mask.

The program starts with a Gala Concert performed by singers, ballet of the Opera House and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Afterwards you can fill your stomach with delicious dishes and dance till dawn.

Prices start from 288 €, but make sure you book early.

New Years in Budapest - Home Parties

If the above programmes don't appeal to you, stroll in Budapest on New Year's Day afternoon and someone might invite you to a home party.

Hungarians are famous for their hospitality and we tend to be even more welcoming on New Year's Eve. Drink local bubbly, beer or wine, have some homemade snacks and make new friends!

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Public Transport on New Year's Eve in Budapest

After 23.00 night services carry passengers. Some public transport services run more frequently on New Year's Eve, like trams No. 4 and 6 along Nagykörút.

Last metro trains depart at 23.10 and first trains leaves terminus at 4.30 on 1st January.

Shops, Grocery Stores - Opening Hours on 31st December

Shops are allowed to stay open until 18.00 on 31st December but most of them close earlier, at 16.00.

Read more about how to travel in Budapest.

Some Hungarian New Year's Traditions

Most Hungarian New Years traditions are related to food. Having lentil or bean dishes on New Year's Day makes you wealthy. Pigs root out your fortune, while poultry scrapes it away.

Eat roast pork on New Year's Eve and you'll be lucky throughout the year. For hangover we eat a special soup (korhely leves) made from sour cabbage and sour cream.

Washing and hanging out the washing is forbidden, because someone will die. According to common belief, the whole year will be like the way you behave on 1st January.

You'd better be happy to drive away gloominess in the new year!

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Why celebrate New Years in Budapest?

You have many options where to say good bye to the old year in the Hungarian capital. From an exclusive ball to classy hotels, trendy restaurants and bars, or a boat on the Danube. Make sure you book early!

The best place to make friends and see how Hungarians welcome the New Year go to a homeparty. Hungarians are very friendly and hospitable.

Champagne is cheap here, about 2-2,5 €.

I hope you will come and have a good time!

Happy New Year, that is Boldog Új Évet in Hungarian!

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