Budapest Ice Rink New Year

The enormous and lovely open air Ice Rink of Budapest is an ideal New Year attraction. Skating on the ice rink paired with a night bath in Szechenyi Bath is one of the best winter things to do in Budapest!

Ice Skating Rink Budapest

It is also on the top 10 list of Lonely Planet as one of the best places in Europe in winter time, paired with a warm bath in the Budapest baths, and a visit to the cool and hip ruin bars in Budapest, some of the best bars in Budapest.

The open air Ice Rink is a truly popular venue for skating, skating classes, ice hockey and even ice themed parties or winter sports festivals. Not only that, the Ice Rink Palace, where you can rent your skating kit at a reasonable price, is also the home of a fascinating cafe and multiple 19th century rooms for elegant events.

Opposite the Ice Rink Palace – which is actually a Boat Lake Palace in summer months – you can find Budapest’s most curious castle complex, the Vajdahunyad Castle (the home of Bela Lugosi’s statue). Do check out this museum, where the grand hall is so beautiful (perfect for a private gala dinner with round tables) while the individual rooms are shocking or quirky. Picture a whole room of antlers dedicated to the ‘Golden Age of Hunting’ in 19th century Hungary. Maybe it is time to move on.

Address: Varosliget Budapest, near Heroes Square (Hosok tere)

Opening Hours Varosligeti Mujegpalya

The opening hours of the Budapest Ice Rink can change day by day in the winter season, so the following hours are an average general guide for the opening times. After the summer and autumn season, the Ice Rink re-opens from mid November (definitely open from late November!)

Vajdahunyad Castle and Ice Rink Budapest – Gabriel Hess Photography

New Year Opening Hours

The below information has not been confirmed by the Ice Rink Palace yet.

• December 31: usually open from 10 am to 2 pm, closed in the afternoon
• January 1: usually open from 4 pm to 8 pm, closed in the morning

Tickets / Prices at Budapest Skating Rink

Full Day Ticket on Weekdays approx. HUF 1200 (including the price of the Cloakroom storage and the Insurance)
Full Day Ticket on Weekends approx. HUF 1500 (including the price of the Cloakroom storage and the Insurance)

Now picture a big artificial ice rink in place of the summer boating lake below.

Indeed, there is so much more: the City Park of Budapest – through the award winning Liget project – has evolved into one of the coolest parks all over Europe we think, and the prestigious award serves as proof of this. Recently, in Dubai at the International Travel Awards, the City Park / Liget project has won the medal for the World’s Best Tourism Development and Europe’s Best Family-Friendly Development. In addition, the House of Music was deemed as Europe’s Most Attractive Tourist Attraction, shared by forums (e.g. Guardian readers). The winter City Park is just as attractive as the green summer version with great walking paths, historical buildings, contemporary marvels (the House of Music and curvy Museum of Hungarian Folk Art), plus a whole range of further highlights dotted with lovely cafes, restaurants, Langos, Chimney Cake, Art Nouveau Zoo, exhibitions in the Biodomes, shows in the Circus, all this within 10 minute walk of Heroes’ Square and the Museum of Fine Arts.

In the Outdoor Ice Rink Palace you can rent skates, drink some hot drinks, get changed, get warmed up etc. Budapest Ice Rink is also home to winter festivals, sports events, charity events and more (Photo from Mujegpalya.hu)

Rental of Skates at Budapest Ice Rink

Skate kits are available for rental in all sizes, from toddlers to grown up large size adults including size 46 skates. Skate hire is backed up by a deposit and also you will need to leave an ID document, like your photo ID / driving licence to accompany the deposit)

There are many fun winter things to do in Budapest, but one of the best ones is surely the popular Budapest Outdoor Ice Rink in the City Park, aka Varosligeti Mujegpalya. See what Lonely Planet has to say about the Mujegpalya / Ice Rink and Boat Lake Palace

Budapest Skating Rink Video

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