When to Visit Budapest in 2026 – Best Times for Weather & Value

Are you wondering when to visit Budapest in terms of the best value and also the best weather?

The best time to visit Budapest is likely to be April and May or September and October. This is when temperatures are from 15-22 celsius, crowds are smaller and prices are 20-30% lower than peak summer months.

Read on for a more detailed look at the pros and cons of each month alongwith more detailed weather information.

When to Visit Budapest

Budapest Weather by Season

Let’s start by looking at the weather for the year. Below are the averages for the year in Budapest.

Spring in Budapest (March-May)

• March to May offer comfortable temperatures for exploring – cooler in March with averages around 13^oC through to a lovely 20^oC in May
• By May the summer thunderstorms can be starting
• It can also be windy in these months due to the meeting of colder & warmer air
• I visited in March and was lucky with mild temperatures and sunny days

Summer in Budapest (June-August)

• The summer months can be hot, with temperatures above 30^oC in July & August
• There is the benefit of longer hours of daylight meaning you can enjoy cooler evenings
• There are also the thermal baths which you can cool off in (they aren’t just hot baths)
• Budapest is busy with festivals during these peak months

Autumn in Budapest (September-November)

• September is a great option for weather with warmer temperatures still lingering. The yearly average for September is 24.5^oC
• September and October are when the autumn colours are best in Budapest. In October average temperatures are around 17^oC

Winter in Budapest (December-February)

• It can be cold in Budapest in the winter, with snowfall and occassional really icy blasts (-27^oC in 1987!)
• It’s the perfect time to visit the thermal baths and get warm though
• There are also the wonderful Christmas markets to enjoy

When is good to visit Budapest?

Buddapest Peak Season vs Shoulder Season

Before we jump into the figures it’s worth pointing out that the number of people visiting Budapest is growing rapidly. In 2024 just over 6 million visitors took a trip to Budapest which was a 23% increase from 2023.

Budapest is building more hotel rooms to accommodate this growth.

Let’s look at the difference between the seasons in terms of visitor numbers.

Peak Season (June-August)

• June visitors in 2024 were 597,000, July 623,000 and August 709,000
• Prices increase around 20% during this period
• If you do plan to visit during peak season months book as far ahead as possible.

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

• Accommodation costs are 20-30% lower during this period
• There are fewer crowds at all the attractions
• September is great for those that like it warm, October for those that like it comfortable

Low Season (November-February, excluding December)

• Budapest is busy with Christmas markets but outside of this it can be a great time to visit
• As long as you have some indoor plans then this is the best value time to visit
• Ideal for visiting thermal baths, museums and indoor markets

When Is Best to Visit Budapest?

School Holidays in Hungary

The summer holidays are quite long in Budapest running from the end of June to the end of August. Senior students have an even longer holiday – from the beginning of May until the end of August.

There is another holiday towards the end of October to early November and Christmas holiday is from around the 20th of December to early January.

Month-by-Month Guide: When to Visit Budapest

January – Coldest & Cheapest

• January is a great month if you don’t mind it being colder and you like there being very few crowds.
• This is a great month to book a spa visit to Budapest and use the public baths or book a brilliant spa hotel such as the ones on Margaret Island.

February – Still Quiet and Good Value

• February is another great month to visit with prices lower and less crowds too.
• You could try aiming for later in February where temperatures will start to increase in the hope of sunny days for exploring.

March – Warm Days Starting with Minimal Price Increase

• March is a great option if you want the chance of enjoying warmer weather
• There are still less crowds so it’s a good option for a better value stay than the peak months.

April – Warm Spring Days

• April is a good option if you prefer it a little warmer – the average is 16oC
• Prices are starting to increase but still offer good value

May – Warmer Weather and Likely Thunderstorms

• May is great is you like it sunny and warm
• Budapest gets frequent heavy downpours and thunderstorms starting from May
• These are generally shortlived so as long as you have a plan during these it’s fine

June – Hotter and Busier

• The average temperature for June is 27oC – so some days are above this
• Crowds are increasing so the centre will be busy

July – Scorchio and Peak Season

• July is a combination of the hottest temperatures and some of the highest visitor numbers
• If you like lots of heat and lots of people this is the month for you!

August – Hot and Busy

• August is also hot with the average temperature through the month 30oC
• It’s also festival season which pushes up accommodation prices

September – Warm Autumn Days

• In September temperatures drop back down to an average of 24oC
• This can be a good month to find better value

October – A Good Value Month

• October offers a great combo of warm days and good value
• It is after the peak but before Christmas so there are deals to be had

November – Cooler and Christmas Build Up

• Early November might be worth a try for milder temperatures and bargain accommodation
• Check the Christmas Market and go just outside these for the best deals

December – Christmas Magic

• The Christmas markets push up visitor numbers so prices get a bit higher
• However, if you want a lovely Christmas visit then it’s worth paying a little extra

Budapest Flight Prices from the UK

Here’s a look at how flight prices from the UK fluctuate over the months. For this comparison I looked ahead to 2026.

Month	Flight Price
January	£20
February	£20
March	£20
April	£26
May	£27
June	£27
July	£41
August	£27
September	£19
October	£29
November	£15
December	£20

The UK has plenty of budget flight connections to Budapest. You can find out more in my How to Get to Budapest post.

Budapest Accommodation Prices by Season

For this comparison I looked at the Prestige Hotel in Budapest to see how prices changed through the year. I looked at the first weekend of every month for a 2 night stay for one person.

There was no availability from September 2026 but this is probably because it’s not available on the Booking.com yet

Month	Price	Note
Jan	£302
Feb	£254
March	£261
April	£354
May	£361
June	£361
July	£369
August	£361
September 2026	Not Available
October 2026	Not available
November 2025	£292	Nov 26 Not Available
December 2025	Fully Booked	Nov 26 Not Available

You might find my Where To Stay in Budapest – My Handpicked Hotels For You article useful

If you are short on time here are my recommended hotels;

Hotel	Stars	District	Budget
Hotel Topaz	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	1st	£££
Aparthotel Adagio	⭐⭐⭐⭐	1st	££
The Social Hub	⭐⭐⭐⭐	2nd	££
Best Western Plus Celebrity Suites	⭐⭐⭐⭐	2nd	££
Imperial Riding School	⭐⭐⭐⭐	3rd	£££
Vienna Airport Hotel	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Airport	££
Moxy Airport Hotel	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Airport	££

Alternative Ways to Reach Budapest

If you are looking for other ways to reach Budapest that don’t involve flying then there are plenty of options to choose from.

There are great train connections from throughout Europe including from Prague and Vienna.

I took the train from Budapest to Bratislava which involved a lovely journey beside the Danube.

There are also great bus connections too.

For more information check out my post about How To Get To Budapest

Best Time to Visit Budapest: Final Verdict

• 🏆 Best Overall: April-May & September-October
• 💰 Best Value: February-March, November
• ☀️ Best Weather: May & September
• 🎪 Best for Events: August (Sziget) & December (markets)
• 📅 Booking Advice: 2-3 months ahead for best value, 4-6 months for summer season
• ⚠️ Avoid If Possible: Late July-August (peak crowds & heat)

Based on my experience I would choose March or November and I would include plans for indoor activities such as museums or baths if the weather wasn’t great

Budapest Travel FAQs

👇 My Favourite Budapest Travel Resources 👇

Related Budapest Guides

• Is Budapest Worth Visiting? – my overview to everything you might want to know about Budapest based on what I did when I visited
• Is Budapest Safe? – my experience combined with stats and data about safety
• Is Budapest Expensive? – the costs I experienced during I stayed
• How to Get to Budapest? – details of all the options including trains and coaches
• Where to To Stay in Budapest? – my handpicked hotel selection for you
• Opera Residence Review – a detailed review of this great apartment I stayed in

Find all my Budapest resources on my Hungary page