12 Things to Do in Budapest in November

In this month of the year the city comes alive with its youthful atmosphere, vibrant nightlife, world-class classical music scene, legendary ruin bars and thermal baths. While it is true that winter is not yet in full swing, as the days go by you can already feel Budapest's Christmas and winter creeping in.

The Wine Festival, All Saints' Day or Folk Dance Friday will welcome you with open arms. What more do you want?

It would be a sin to write a guide to Budapest and not start with the Széchenyi Baths, one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

Visiting the Széchenyi Spa means being in a unique place, not only for the specialness of its waters, but also for its beautiful neo-baroque architecture.

In this spa you can relax both in the external bathing area (composed of 3 pools), and in the internal one (where there are a total of 15), immersing yourself in its therapeutic waters capable of relieving a multitude of conditions, especially those related to the joints. Of course, there are many more people during the weekends, so we recommend that, if you can, you visit from Monday to Friday. Oh, and you can also enjoy their saunas.

St. Stephen's Basilica is a real beauty, both inside and out, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is to attend one of its concerts, as it also has great acoustics.

If you are a classical music lover and want to listen to pieces by composers such as Vivaldi or Beethoven, you cannot miss this opportunity. The concert is performed by the best Hungarian musicians and opera singers, so it is a unique experience.

To complete the evening, as the concert is at 20:00, afterwards you can go for dinner at some of the restaurants in the area and try some typical Hungarian dishes.

This two-day festival usually falls at the end of November and features winemakers from all over Hungary presenting their beverages alongside artisanal cheeses. The one-day pass costs almost 6 euros and includes tasting and free admission to the Hungarian Agricultural Museum (venue).

Not only will there be drinks and cheeses on display, but there will also be a whole exhibition related to wine and cheese pairing!

Oh, and if you're still hungry for more, I recommend a visit to the Pálinka Museum. Pálinka is the traditional Hungarian alcoholic drink made from different types of fruit, and this museum pays tribute to it by telling its history to visitors. Oh, and with your ticket you'll also have access to a tasting of different varieties.

The ruin bars or ruin pubs are a real institution in Budapest and are loved by all tourists (and locals) who visit them. They are bars that have been located in abandoned buildings and have managed to bring life to areas of the city that were very dark.

The most famous of them all and considered the pioneer is the Szimpla Kert, so this one is not to be missed. Being located in buildings rather than in one place, the ruin bars are usually very large and have a very particular and attractive decoration.

They are the perfect excuse to take shelter from the cold November night while tasting some typical drinks, such as mulled wine (which you either love or hate). And if you found the history of these pubs interesting, I recommend you not to miss the rin bars tour where you will visit the 4 most emblematic pubs of the city and you will learn all the history behind them.

Did you know that Vienna is very close to Budapest? Many people take advantage of their trip to the Hungarian capital to visit the Austrian city, either by car or train. Some people even choose to book a trip to Vienna from Budapest so they can forget about everything and just enjoy themselves.

Whichever option you choose, I want you to know that a trip to Vienna from Budapest in November is an excellent idea because in the middle of this month is when the Christmas markets and fairs start to be held in the capital.

If you are going with children on your visit to Budapest, I recommend this trip even more, as they will enjoy all the Christmas decorations to the fullest. But beyond that, Vienna is a beautiful city that is always worth a visit when passing through Budapest.

The Budapest Palace of Arts offers an incredible variety of cultural events throughout the month of November. Musical concerts of various genres, dance performances, art exhibitions and art workshops among many other types of events take place.

The best way to get to the Palace of Arts is to take tram number 2 and get off at Közvágohíd (Millenium Kulturális Központ). For more information visit the official website of the event, for more information about opening times, prices and the programme in general.

Taking place during the second week of November along the promenade next to the Allee shopping centre (Budapest 1117, Október huszonharmadika utca 8-10), the three-day open-air spectacle highlights Hungarian traditions with local food and drink.

Visitors can enjoy goose dishes and drink intoxicating beverages provided by local producers, including a variety of Hungarian wines, craft lagers and traditional fruit-based pálinka brandy.

Attractions include many free events for children, such as a petting zoo and craft workshops where children can make their own lanterns, among many other creative activities. For more information visit the following link.

The 7 Towers Festival is a celebration at the beginning of November that tries to bring a festive touch to the city of Budapest at a time when the cold weather is starting to set in. The motto of the festival is "Music is for everyone!" and it is usually held in Heroes' Square (no tickets required).

The festival started as a rural event and has become one of the most typical November celebrations in Budapest. Artists from neighbouring countries perform here and everything has a cultural touch.

But the Seven Towers is not only about music. Folk music exhibitions, children's programmes, professional performances and lectures are also part of the event. So the range of programmes is quite colourful, which means you are sure to find something to suit your taste if you are attracted by folk culture.

This gastronomic and cultural event usually takes place on a Friday in mid-November at 7pm. At this event you can enjoy a classic Hungarian 4-course dinner, accompanied by 3 glasses of local wines.

A live folk music and dance show starts at 8 pm showcasing authentic Hungarian folk dances to the rhythm of a string orchestra and dulcimer. For more information about the programme visit the following website.

The biggest celebration of St. Martin's Day in the city is the wine festival, which takes place in the second week of November. During the celebratory gathering, some of the country's best wineries fill the spacious halls of the event venue. It is also known because the tasting tickets will allow you to taste unlimited dishes and flavours of wine. It is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited events, hence the tickets often sell out earlier than expected.

Savoury snacks and street food treats accompany reds, whites and rosés throughout the weekend, including Hungarian cheese specialities, sausages and goose dishes. The St. Martin's Day Wine Festival is usually organised by renowned Hungarian chefs and for event location, times and prices I recommend the following website, as variations are common.

While it is true that if you want to enjoy the peak of the Christmas markets you have to visit the city in December, at the end of November the opening of these festive markets takes place, a unique occasion to stroll around and delight the eyes and the palate without so many crowds.

What's more, this is when you can enjoy the Advent Fair, held at the end of the month in Vörösmarty Square and featuring the first Christmas market of the year.

As the merriest time of the year approaches, Budapest's squares are decked out in festive lights and vendors set up stalls offering handmade goods, hot mulled wine and local dishes at the city's Yuletide bazaars. You can visit Budapest' s Advent Fair at Vörösmarty tér or see special light shows projected on the façade of St Stephen's Basilica in late November, just as the Christmas markets begin.

Charcoal-coloured cakes, cocktails, even soups star in a new gastronomic gathering in Budapest at the beginning of November.

The Flow Specialty Coffee Bar hosts the city's Black Food Festival. Between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., you can sample sesame ice cream, lemonade, tacos and ramen soup - all black, of course. The idea is to be able to enjoy different flavours even when everything seems to have the same colour, a mission in which the eye abandons and gives free rein to the palate. Admission is about 15 euros.

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Budapest is cold in November, but not below freezing. The average temperature is 5°C, with *the maximum being 7°C and the minimum 2°C. Skies are usually clear, with an average of eight hours of sunshine, gradually decreasing towards the end of the month. As the month progresses, cloudy weather begins to gather pace, along with a chance of rain.

• Christmas markets open in mid-November, so this is the ideal time to shop for gifts.
• Be prepared to party indoors, as Budapest's outdoor festivities move indoors due to the cold weather in November.
• ** Budapest's thermal baths and spas** are much more pleasant in the cold November weather, so be sure to make the most of them.
• The Városliget ice rink in Budapest is the largest open-air rink in Europe. From mid-November, you can rent skates and enjoy a coffee or hot chocolate in the restaurant next to the main building.
• Throughout November, many restaurants offer special St. Martin's Day dishes along with other events such as gastronomic tours.

November temperatures in Budapest don't tend to be as cold as you'd feel if you were visiting in January or February, but it's still a good idea to prepare for those cold spikes. I recommend packing:

• A waterproof jacket, gloves, scarf and a hat for comfort.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen as there are usually sunny days.
• A good pair of walking shoes will come in handy, as the best way to get to know Budapest is on foot.
• An evening dress or (elegant) going out clothes are not bad for evenings and nights in cafés, bars and restaurants.
• Swimming costume for the thermal baths.