Best of Budapest & Hungary

With a cosy Advent atmosphere, the smells, tastes, lights and heart-warming moments of the festive season, Advent Basilica, voted Europe's best Christmas fair for the second time last year, is back in 2022, the event’s website says.

A 12-meter Christmas tree, light painting, a selfie point, an ice rink and nearly 120 quality craft and gastronomy exhibitors welcome visitors to the square in front of St Stephen's Basilica in the Hungarian capital.

‘Where love holds hands’ – this is the slogan of the twelfth Advent Basilica aiming at creating a festive atmosphere like no other, offering visitors a quality time and a special gastronomic offer, according to the website.

The Christmas Fair on Szent István [‘Saint Stephen’] Square is one of the most beautiful festive events not only in the Hungarian capital but also in the European region. The popular and much-loved tourist destination has been awarded the title of 'Europe's Best Christmas Fair' twice, in 2019 and 2021, beating similar festive events in Vienna, Gdansk, Basel, Prague, Brussels and other cities.

This year's event hosts nearly 120 national exhibitors, including craft and gastronomic vendors. In addition to the popular festive fair food, made exclusively from impeccable ingredients, the latter also offers a range of delicacies that are only available here, in keeping with the spirit of the event.

There are street food and barbeque dishes, as well as dishes from the local tavern culture, including venison stew, authentic Swiss raclette, barnyard roast, goulash soup in loaf and 12-hour smoked pulled pork and pulled beef sandwiches.

In addition to the tastes and smells, craft exhibitors – folk artists, craftspeople and innovative creators of modern designer products – add to the atmosphere with their unique handmade creations.