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 Year's Programme months before.

Cruise & Dinner on the Danube on New Year's Day 1st January 2013, 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: Reservation in Euro: 53.45 €/, with pick-up service: 59.25 €/ Reservation in HUF: 14 900 HUF, with pick-up service: HUF Menu: Aperitif Champagne or Peach Pálinka or Orange Juice Cold entries Aubergine Cream with Bread Crackers Sheep Cheese Cream Hungarian Style Traditional Greaves Cream Soup Goulash Soup with Beef Cubes "Hortobágy Style" Cold Peach Soup with Pálinka Warm main course Stuffed cabbage rolls with sliced sausage and sour cream Chicken breast filled with dried fruits, marinated in honey and thyme with garlic sauce Catfish filled in bell peppers with spicy tomato dill sauce “Szegediner style” Garnish and vegetarians Fried “puliszka” with olives terrine and sheep cheese in rosemary garlic oil Potato noodles in tomato stew with fresh basil and blue cheese Mashed potatoes with mustard seeds and deep fried onion Steamed rice with glaced vegetables Salads Different kinds of raw salads with yogurt dill and horseradish cognac dressing “Duna Palota style“ Cabbage salad with bell pepper stripes and garlic cream dressing “Caesar salad” Lettuce salad, Parmesan chesse dressing and slices of grilled chicken breast “Grandmother’s recipe” Potato salad with onion, mayonnaise, sour cream and mustard dressing “Farmer style” Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, cheese, olives Basket of seasonal fruits Desserts Créme caramel with grated strawberry chocolate Sponge cake "Somlói" style Chocolate peppermint mousse with egg liqueur  Drinks: 1 glass of red or white wine + 1 bottle of water (0,33) or soft drink Meeting is at the ticket office of the Duna Palota (Danube Palace) at 5., Zrínyi utca, V. district. at 13.30 the latest. See map.

New Year's Day Concerts in Budapest - 01. 01. 2013

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 January 2013. Spend the first evening of 2013 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 details and ticket reservation here. Date: 1st January 2013., 17.30, the concert lasts about 70 minutes without intermission. Venue: Danube Palace (Duna Palota), Zrínyi utca 5., V. district Tickets & Reservation: in Euro: 30.35 €/adult, 27.70 €/student or in HUF: 7 900 Ft/adult and 7 200 Ft/student New Year's Chamber Concert + Dinner & Cruise on the Danube Enjoy two programs for less by booking the New Year's Chamber Concert together with a Dinner & Cruise. This way you'll not only have a wonderful New Year's evening but save some money by booking the two programs as a package. Tickets & Reservation: 72.30 Euro/ adults With pick-up service: 78.30 Euro 69.60 Euro/ students With pick-up service: 75.60 Euro Reserve Your Ticket for the New Year's Eve Chamber Concert + Dinner & Cruise. Symphony Concert by the Danube Symphony Orchestra - 01.01.2013. On New Year's day evening there'll be also a Symphony Concert in the concert hall of the Danube Palace starting at 20.00. Musical pieces by Berlioz, Erkel, Haydn, Liszt, Bartók will be performed during the 2 x 45 minute concert performed by the Danube Symphony Orchestra. Date: 1st January 2013., 20.00 Venue: Danube Palace, Zrínyi utca 5., V. district Ticket prices: Adults: 31.15 Euro/9 900 HUF/adults, Students: 27.70 Euro/8 900/students Book Your Ticket for the New Year's Day Symphony Concert: Booking in Euro Booking in HUF.

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

Search for Budapest Hotels

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 the 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 festivities on Nyugati tér and Oktogon.

Back to top. 

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.

Back to top.

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 our selection of Luxury Hotels in Budapest and 4 Star Budapest Hotels.

Back to top.

New Years in Budapest - Home Parties

If the above programs 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!

Back to top.

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!

Back to top.

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 is at a home party. 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!

Return from New Years in Budapest to Events in Budapest or to
Budapest Tourist Guide Home.