Top Budapest Christmas Market Foods (And Where to Find Them Cheaper)

Perhaps my favorite thing about Christmastime in Europe is experiencing the Christmas markets. And I just so happen to live in a city with one of the most famous Christmas market scenes there is! The Basilica, Vörösmarty Tér, and Deák Ferenc Tér markets are all gorgeous and all within a 15 minute walk of each other! Of course part of the fun of going to markets is munching something delicious while taking in the lights and sights…but it’s not fun to feel like you’re being taken advantage of with pricing. So since I love markets and I love a good deal, I’ve compiled a list of the top Christmas market foods–and the local places in the city you can get them for muuuuuch cheaper. Feast with your eyes, but don’t reach for your wallet until you go to one of the cheaper locations! And of course, most of these places are cash only, so come prepared!

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Kürtőskalács

You should have seen the look on my face the first time I tried to pronounce this word (think: deer in headlights). It’s easier to stick with the translated version of “chimney cake”. And of course, eating one is easier than pronouncing either of the names.

Half the fun is seeing the kürtőskalács get made. Watching spiraled dough cook on a spit over a fire is a little hypnotizing. I’ve definitely feigned interest in buying a kürtőskalács just so I could stand close to the warm coals when it was too cold outside. Once cooked, the sweetbread can be eaten plain or covered in a variety of toppings (I like to keep it simple with a dusting of fahejas/cinnamon). Take your time unraveling this delicious spiral and enjoy!

Avg. Market price: 1550 Forint/$5.40

Cheaper: If you head down Kiraly street adjacent to Deák, you’ll soon run into another k…stand. It’s nowhere near the cheapest, but if you want a chimney cake that’s filled with cream or other non traditional toppings, then starting at 900ft it’s still cheaper than market prices. (Nutella filled starts at 900 Ft, ice cream filled starts at 1200 ft/ $4.18).

Cheapest: For a classic, no-frills kürtőskalács , look for the inconspicuous stands by metro stations. There’s one right under your feet in the Deák Ferenc Tér metro station, and one kürtőskalács cost 350 ft/$1.20. A similar stand is outside Nyugati Pályaudvar in between the train station and the teams.

Lángos

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ve likely caught on to my love affair with this Hungarian specialty. The lángos is a disk of fried bread spread with garlic and other toppings. You can start plain (sima), but why not just go for the classic sajtos -tejfölös (sour cream and cheese)? It hits. The. Spot. Trust me. Also, I’ve found that it’s good to have a lángos buddy to split this heavy food with. Because an entire lángos leaves me dying on my couch while half of one leaves me satisfied. Just a suggestion : )

Avg. Market Price (Sajtos-tejfölös): 1350 Ft/ $4.70

Cheaper: Retró Lángos Büfé: Sajtos-tejfölös 750 Ft/ $2.61

This street food stand located at the Arany János metro station (line M2) has been a longtime favorite of mine. They have loads of different topping options beyond the classics–and it doesn’t hurt that they’re next to the best tacos I’ve had in Budapest, either. Retró Lángos Büfé is only an 8 minute walk from the Basilica market, as well, so it should be easy to fit it in to your schedule of revelry.

Cheapest: Lehel Market: 390 Ft/ $1.35

You’ll know Lehel Market when you see it: the colorful structure looks like it’s trying to decide between being a spaceship or a water park. Either way, step inside and you’ll find loads of fresh produce, budget stalls, and two lángos vendors. My favorite one is just to your right as you enter the door closest to the metro station (Lehel Market is just 3 stops on the M3 from Deák Ferenc Tér). The Great Market Hall gets all of the tourist buzz, but I much prefer Lehel. It’s quieter, more local, and has a great selection of food and produce–without the tourist gimmicks or prices. If you’re staying in town for awhile and need to grab some groceries along with your lángos, here is the perfect place!

Mulled wine:

Glühwein, gløgg, forralt bor …whatever you want to call it, everybody has their own take on spiced, warm wine. It’s a perfectly festive accessory–and icy fingers definitely appreciate the added warmth when you’ve been walking through a winter wonderland all evening. And until this year I’d been oblivious that other flavors, like strawberry and raspberry, are for sale throughout the markets as well as the traditional kind. Sometimes you just need a tall cup of sugar with grape juice overtones, amirite?

Avg. Market Price: 825 Ft./ $2.90 for 3Dl

Cheaper: 450 Ft/ $1.50 for 3Dl at Retró Lángos Büfé. Mulled wine is ubiquitous at this time of year–so much so that it happens to be at the same place you can grab your lángos! I’ll never turn down that combination!

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So now you can enjoy the holiday vibes of the Budapest Christmas markets…and then enjoy some cheap eats somewhere else in the city center! Which market food would you try first? Let me know in the comments below!