While spring and fall are generally the best seasons to visit Hungary, given the pleasant and mild weather with occasional rain, the months from April to May and September to October are most ideal. These shoulder seasons offer an enticing blend of warm weather, reasonable prices and fewer crowds in main landmarks, museums, and historic sites.
Spring sees wildflowers blooming across the country, while the grape harvest in autumn makes it a great choice for wine lovers. Keep in mind that late spring showers are possible, so pack an umbrella if you’re traveling in May.
The country has a temperate climate, typical of the location in Central Europe. As summer’s warm and dry weather from June to August is extremely appealing, it makes for a high travel season and popular attractions may be packed, especially in Budapest. Tours and hotels are also typically more expensive over the summer.
Although winter comes with cold and dreary weather, it’s a good time for budget travelers to experience the country while getting the best deals.
At a Glance
Best Time to Visit Budapest: June-August Best Time for a Danube Cruise: April-October Best Time for Cycling: April-May, September-October Best Time for Birdwatching: January and February
Spring (March to May)
Best For:Cycling tours, food festivals, cherry blossoms, crowd-free attractions in Budapest
Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Hungary, with the cold winter melting into more comfortable temperatures. While April and May are fantastic for travelers, March is a good option if you want to celebrate Independence Day with the locals.
Balmy temperatures in April and May set the stage for festivals, especially in the capital Budapest, where locals celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival on Margaret Island and the Spring Festival. Hungarians showcase their love for food and wine with events like the Rosalia and Gourmet Food Festival.
Cherry blossoms flourish in Castle Hill and Gellért Hill, while the wildflowers bloom in vibrant colors along the countryside. Spring offers wonderful opportunities for outdoor exploration, whether on foot or by a bike along the Danube Bend. Some visitors take the time to see beloved spots like Tihany and Sopron before the summer crowds.
Spring can get pretty wet in Hungary, especially May, which sees about eight days of rain on average. Few travelers are on the road at this time, so there’s plenty of elbow room at the main spots.
Summer (June to August)
Best For: Music festivals, city tours, sailing, kayaking
Peak season starts in June, as spring makes way for the hotter and drier summer months. Summers are generally mild in Hungary, even in Budapest, where there’s more humidity compared to the rest of the country. Temperatures generally stay below 27°C (80°F), even in the middle of the season.
With the country bathed in sunshine, this is a fantastic season for warm-weather activities in scenic Lake Balaton and Tihany’s picturesque lavender fields.
While some may find it too warm for cycling and hiking, it’s a pleasure to spend hot summer days under the sun or sailing on the beaches of Balaton, or kayaking along the Danube Bend. The UNESCO-listed Hortobágy National Park is also an unforgettable stop.
Explore the folk traditions and wilderness of northern Hungary, a hilly expanse featuring hiking trails, Bükk National Park, and the traditional village of Hollókő. A river tour in the north comes with viewing sunflower fields and birdwatching.
Summer is the best time to visit Budapest, whether you’re cruising the Danube River or flying straight to the city. Take a Hungary tour to marvel at the gorgeous architecture and visit the capital’s hotspots such as Buda Castle, City Park, and the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Among the many festivals showcasing Budapest’s thriving art and music scene is the Sziget Festival, one of the biggest in Europe. The August celebration of St. Stephen’s Day is also worth experiencing with its vibrant fireworks, music, and dancing.
Expect high prices and plenty of tourists in popular spots during the summer, though late August may be a good bet for avoiding the worst of the crowds.
Autumn weather is comfortable enough for visiting Hungary’s main attractions. Smaller crowds at Budapest makes the season ideal for sightseeing in spots packed during the summertime, like St. Stephen’s Basilica and Heroes’ Square.
Fall transforms the landscape into vibrant shades of red and gold, making it one of the best times for trekking. Hiking trails, alpine forests, and nature parks across the country are at their most beautiful in the months of September and October. Whether you’re cycling the National Blue Trail or trekking hills in Bükk, autumnal Hungary is perfect for outdoor recreation.
The season also marks grape harvest season, with towns like Villány, Tokaj, and Eger hosting opportunities for tasting the fine wines of Hungary. Budapest International Wine Festival at the Buda Castle is a popular event this season.
While September and October feature summer-like weather with slightly cooler temperatures, November can be rainy and misty with winter on the horizon.
If outdoor activities are a priority, it may be better to book a vacation in early autumn. Prices tend to drop after summer, making it easier to score reasonable deals on hotels and flights.
Winter (December to February)
Best For: Thermal baths, ice skating, sledding, bird watching
Budapest is a chilly wonderland in winter, with the city free from tourists. Christmas markets are a big appeal as well as ice skating in Europe’s largest outdoor skating rink at City Park. Outside the city, Lake Velence offers a beautiful natural rink. Skiing and sledding are also possible in areas like Normafa.
Another excellent activity during the season is indulging in the historical thermal baths, as Budapest has over a hundred of them! At the top of these is Széchenyi, one of the biggest and most popular natural baths in Europe.
Winter is also a good time to visit the Castle District in Buda and other cultural attractions in the city.
Birders on the lookout for owls and eagles will discover that these are easier to spot when trees are bare during January and February.
Wintertime is the low season in Hungary, which means dramatically lower costs. However, it’s best to stick to bigger cities as smaller accommodations in more remote areas tend to close in these months.
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.