Your Budapest Easter Itinerary

The perfect European break to celebrate Easter

Create a special Easter in Budapest and make memories that will last a lifetime. Discover our top picks below. 

Easter week (Husvet) in Budapest

In the spring months of March to May, Budapest emerges from its winter sleep and the parks and gardens are alive with flowers and birds. This is also the time for local people to look forward to celebrating the Easter holiday, which is a very special time of year in the city. The religious Easter events are culturally important and inhabitants create and participate in events from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Locsolkodas is a special event that takes place across Budapest on Easter Monday. Locsolkodas is a special event that takes place across Budapest on Easter Monday. Locals take to the streets to engage in a strange ritual. Nearly every woman will be sprinkled or showered with perfume (or cold water) by men. For their "favour" they get tasty treats like painted eggs (or wine) from the women. Long ago, only women eligible for marriage were selected for a sprinkling but these days any woman is fair game for this fun event. Local people wear traditional Hungarian clothing and there are singing and dancing in the streets and at organised events which celebrate Christian, pagan and other Easter celebrations.

Take an Easter Cruise on the Danube

Easter cruises along the Danube River meander toward the World Heritage sights of Buda Castle, Gellért Hill and Parliament against the backdrop of Budapest's twinkling lights. The river tour takes about an hour and a half and you can appreciate the slow pace and views as you enjoy a four-course buffet while being entertained by an orchestra. First-class boats travel regularly down the river and tour operators treat guests to a special Easter surprise. If you don't want dinner on board, you can join a special wine tour or craft beer tour with the same first-class facilities.

Visit Buda Castle

A great choice of organised events and tours can be enjoyed with Buda Castle at the hub. There are walking tours, private tours and bus tours to the castle and Easter is one of the best times to enjoy views across the Danube and see the ancient relics of the district. The Buda Castle or "Budavari Husveti Sokadalom" festival entertains locals and tourists with lots to see, foods, music concerts, dances and pageants, and children's games. Easter Challah, a braided sweet loaf, Easter hams and painted eggs can be bought or received as gifts during the festivals. Inside Buda Castle, you can visit the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and see the Holy Crown of Hungary - the opulent and colourful royal jewels. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge spans the River Danube, joining the western and eastern sides of Buda and Pest and visitors can walk across.

Enjoy a spa or thermal bath

With so much to see and do in the city, make sure not to forget a visit to one of Budapest's baths. The baths are one of the top reasons to visit Budapest. The Szechenyi Baths are thermal baths which are envied by visitors from all around the world and you can even combine your trip with a beer spa ticket and dinner cruise combo ticket to create a truly memorable Easter celebration in the city. There are eighteen indoor and outdoor pools, steam rooms and saunas which make this a complete wellness trip that leaves you feeling reinvigorated.