Winter has its own flavor and those people who long for a white Christmas or a snowy holiday now they see it happen. Of course, if you are planning the trip to Budapest, which is the capital of Hungary, you could be interested whether it will snow this year. In this blog post, I will discuss whether Budapest is capable of experiencing snowfall, and if it does, under what conditions it is skilled at it, and various other recommendations for having the best wintertime in Budapest.
Climate of Budapest
Budapest features a climate which is mild continental the best period of a year which is summer and cold and wet winters. The climate is characterized by all the four seasons of the year but the most chilling months are December, January, and February. It does not snow all the time during these winter months although the snow can accumulate and snow more often in certain years. It is imperative to note that the election of the right weather conditions as a forecast is not very easy.
Weather systems have shown incredible influence on the occurrence of various activities in people’s lives.
There are several weather systems which bring snow to Budapest. This physical geography and topography is accorded to the fact that the city is located far away from sea influences and as such is less affected by maritime air masses. But it only gets continental air masses with cold temperatures. These air masses can be cold and dry, in contact with warm and moist air masses and cause snowfall to occur.
Furthermore, Budapest is located in the Danube River areas that may cause affects to the regional climate. The wind blowing from the northern region may meet relatively warmer air over the River and set proper conditions for snowfall. But the strength and the duration of such systems may differ from year to year and, therefore, it can be challenging to foresee them in advance.
Historical Snowfall Data
Analysing other data referring to snowfall in history, we can get some general understanding of the possible conditions in Budapest. As for the climate, the average is 18 to 20 months with precipitation per year, and about 20-30 days – with snow. Nevertheless, this may fluctuate by season. Some years are allowed to have heavy snow while others get to have less snow in wintering. However, it would be important to highlight that climate change factor can also determine the changes of the frequency and intensity of snowfalls in the future.
Winter Activities to Enjoy
Depending on the weather you might not see snow in Budapest or you might be visiting during the winter but in any case there are many things to do. Here are a few suggestions:
- Ice Skating: Hungary has a number of ice rinks and when you are in Budapest, you can try one of the quite a few of them to skate on the ice in the form of a family or friends outing.
- Thermal Baths: It is widely famous for its historic spas or thermal baths. Take benefits of hot water and enjoy your swimming even in winter.
- Christmas Markets: Still, if you happen to be in Budapest during the Christmas time, you should visit winter Christmas markets with hot meals, drinks, and various souvenirs.
- Winter Cruises: Stroll or cycle along the Danube, then walk and take in the view as you admire the city’s buildings at night.
Instead of listing general guidelines on packing as is the norm, I will discuss a general list of what you should carry for your winter trip.
Winter time in Budapest whether it will snow or not, anyone planning for winter vacation must know the right clothes to wear or to pack appropriately for the occasion. Here are some essential items:
- Warm Clothing: Take coats, hats, scarves and gloves as the forecast is going to be very cold during the time of the event.
- Layering: Wear many layers of clothing because when temperatures fluctuate, it will be easy to make adjustments.
- Sturdy Footwear: Sneakers that you can wear without worrying about hurting your feet and which have a solid, grippy sole will be useful in case some streets are icy.
- Umbrella: Carry a small and small sized umbrella for use in case there is rain.
Final Thoughts
I have no means of telling the future, but I can surely say that the probability of an onset of snow in Budapest is rather high during winter. But it is also important to always consult the weather forecast in that region before going there. As you may guessed, even if there will be no snow, Budapest provides a rather diverse and enjoyable list of winter activities to help you have the time of your life.
