Danube Winter Wonderland

Explore the romantic Christmas markets – a perfect time to enjoy festive melodies with your loved ones while tasting gingerbread cookies and mulled wine under the twinkling lights. Weihnachtsmarkts, as Germans call them, are important part of local tradition and although each region may have some specific highlight, it’s the Christmas spirit that unites them all.

Budapest, Hungarian capital has a unique charm in the winter, especially during the festive season. The streets are dressed in glistening lights at this time of year and the alluring scent of roasted chestnuts, cinnamon-flavoured chimney cakes and mulled wine fills the air, as Budapest locals head outdoors to discover the many wonderful fairs, cultural events, the hot thermal waters of the historic baths and other exciting attractions their city offers.

No matter the cold, it is definitely worth bundling up and leaving your hotel room to explore the city centre of the Hungarian capital in the winter. This is especially true for the evenings, when Budapest’s major streets and roads sparkle with bright Christmas lights, filling both visitors and locals of the city with a joyous feeling. Even taking public transport can be an unforgettable experience, as some of the trams are decorated with blue and white lights at this time of year, making you feel like you are travelling in the warm embrace of the festivities of the season. You can take a stroll on the illuminated Andrássy Street under its line of trees, feasting your eyes on the magical scene of sparkling fairy lights covering the branches.

Christmas fairs in the city should not be missed either, with their irresistible aroma of cinnamon, hot wine, roasted chestnuts and other freshly baked delicacies. These bazars also welcome visitors with their wooden stalls, a wide and colourful variety of Hungarian merchandise, such as ceramics, special honeys, uniquely designed clothes, bags and jewels, candles, handmade toys and other handicraft products. Freshly roasted and baked delicacies are sold at the various food stalls, offering passers-by a chance to gorge on heavenly chimney cakes or such Hungarian specialties as goulash soup or spicy sausages.

The most popular Christmas fair is on Vörösmarty Square with 800 thousand visitors per year. It also holds concerts, puppet shows and workshops the whole family can enjoy, while the Advent Festival located beside the Saint Stephen’s Basilica welcomes visitors with skating lessons for kids or live music among the wide selection of handicraft goods. This fair also boasts one of Central-Europe’s biggest 3D light painting show, with spectacular animations, festive and religious scenes projected onto the Basilica’s facade. Located at the foot of the hill with the Buda Castle on top of it, the Várkert Bazaar also hosts a lovely fair with giant Advent candles, craft workshops and other fun activities, and the Advent Fair at Erzsébet Square (Deák Ferenc Square) is well worth a visit because of its spectacular Christmas tree installation. A large Ferris wheel called the Budapest Eye can also be found here, mesmerising those who take a ride on it with a spectacular view over the city lit up in the evenings.

Visitors to Budapest should definitely not miss out on the experience of taking a walk along the Danube – the beautiful banks from Gellért Hill to Margaret Bridge have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are lucky enough to catch a snowfall while you are in the city, you can also wander around in the hills of Buda. Normafa is one of the must-see places here, not only because of its spectacular view over Budapest but also because it is one of the favourite sledding spots for local families. You can enjoy the merry atmosphere and the sight of children riding on sleds in the snow, with dogs running around, or sledding down the hill yourself if you are up for it.

Less than 30-minutes ride north of Budapest, directly on the Danube river, lies the historic town of Szentendre. A day trip to this picturesque small town sounds like a perfect escape in case you have some extra time while in Budapest. Check out why it’s particularly magical to visit Szentendre during holiday season when the lights are on.

Aligned to the Julian calendar, Christmas comes to Serbia two weeks later than most of the Danube countries, making January 7th the key date for the festivities. With a weather forecast saying the chances are high for snow, Serbia seems as a great place to enjoy the magic of this extended holiday season.

This impressive medieval fortress is located right on the Danube banks in Serbia, just before the river enters the Iron Gate Gorge. Here, the Danube is widest and deepest in all its flow. Recent detailed reconstruction made this fortress one of “not to be missed” sights along the Serbian Danube. And, having in mind amazing natural beauty of the near-by Djerdap Natural Park and important archaeological sites of Lepenski vir and Viminacium – short trip to the Iron Great region is a great idea to continue exploring the river downstream.

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This is where the Danube reaches the Black Sea – the breathtaking Danube Delta is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to outstanding natural beauties. Being the last settlement on bank of the Danube before it reaches the Black Sea, the small town of Vylkove is also known as the “Ukrainian Venice” thanks to its network of navigable canals. And when visiting the region it’s impossible to miss Odessa – “a pearl by the sea” with its remarkable Opera Theater and charming old town.