December in Budapest averages highs of 5 °C (41 °F) and lows of -1 °C (31 °F), with about 6 rainy days and 8 h 28 min of daylight.
December weather in Budapest at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is December a good time to visit Budapest?
Tough month: cold and some rain. December is usually high season in Budapest: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in December 2026
- Fri 25 Dec: Christmas Day (Karácsony) public holiday
- Sat 26 Dec: St. Stephen's Day (Karácsony másnapja) public holiday
- Christmas markets at Vörösmarty Square and St Stephen's Basilica event
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Budapest in December
With cold days in December, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Parliament — guided tours, book ahead indoors
- Széchenyi or Gellért baths — outdoor pools stay hot all year indoors
- Ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter — Szimpla Kert indoors
- Great Market Hall — lángos upstairs indoors
- Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion — early morning outdoors
- Danube evening cruise — lit-up bridges outdoors
Where to stay: District V (Belváros) for sights; District VII for ruin bars; Buda side for quiet.
What to pack for Budapest in December
- A warm winter coat, hat and gloves: it rarely gets above 5 °C (41 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Budapest costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €40–95 | €110–240 |
Excluding flights. December is usually high season in Budapest: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
December in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | 6° / 0° | 7 | Tough month |
| Krakow | 4° / -1° | 8 | Tough month |
| Prague | 5° / 0° | 7 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Budapest?
By the numbers, December is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 5 °C (41 °F) and about 6 rainy days. December is usually high season in Budapest: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest. The best months for weather are May, June, September.
How warm is Budapest in December?
Average highs are 5 °C (41 °F) and lows -1 °C (31 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Budapest in December?
Expect about 6 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 51 mm in total. It is the 6th driest month of the year in Budapest.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.