Budapest is full of life even in the really cold and snowy months, but you need to research a bit on the current February events. Our handpicked list for things to do in Budapest in February only enlists the annually recurring festivals and fairs, for the February current events, please take a look at our Top Budapest Event Calendar / Event Guide, consult your Budapest concierge, or private tour guide, the hotel receptionist, ask locals in pubs, etc. You will surely find something exciting to do even if there are not many events promoted towards tourists in English in February.

Things to do in February – Winter Events in Budapest

Szechenyi Bath Winter: minutes before snowing

• Mangalitsa Festival – i.e. Furry Pig Festival. Mangalitsa Festival (or in Hungarian Mangalica Fesztival) is an annual gastronomical and cultural fest in February in the city centre, on the beautiful Szabadsag square in Budapest. The festival is not only about mangalitsa food, you can buy artisan crafts and listen to lots of music too. And drink. Just to keep warm.
• Taking an open air warm bath at the Szechenyi Spa Bath – the beautiful main pool outside is kept warm as the natural warm waters with lots of minerals thrush through from the underground. While the weather in February is cold, you can feel great in the warm healing waters. If the snow starts to fall, you will feel that your Budapest trip was well worth, no matter what: it can be truly magical to see the softly falling snowflakes on top of the bath through the steam over the pools. Like a rare moment, a gentle stroke or blessing. Of course, the snow is not provided by Szechenyi Bath, it is still a fantastic winter thing to do in Budapest. The bath has long opening hours, so you can also see the stars if the February sky is clear. How gorgeous is that? See the photo of Szechenyi Bath minutes before snowing.

Hungarian Mangalitsa Festival - Budapest

• Valentine’s Day in Budapest: despite the cold weather, love is in the air, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day (Bálint nap) in the romantic city of Budapest (romantic and affordable, which is a nice thing when you want to splurge on a special occasion like the day of lovers) – put February 14 in your Budapest trip calendar
• Carnival in Budapest (Farsang) – fancy dress parties are thrown all over Budapest: get dressed, eat Hungarian doughnuts (fánk) some filled with cottage cheese, others topped with home made apricot jams. If you want to see the most spectacular Hungarian carnival, you will need to make a day tour to the countryside and see the Mohácsi Busójárás in Mohacs
• Budapest Opera Ball is a spectacular end of carnival event thrown each year on the last Saturday of the carnival season. The ball is opened by over a 100 debutante ballet dancers. The Opera House in Budapest is well worth a visit for its architecture even if you are not an opera fan.
• Skating in the City Park – in winter time you can skate on the more than 140 year old open air artificial ice rink in the City Park of Budapest (the lake is a boating lake in warm months and in winter it turns into a popular ice rink, where skates can be hired
• Top Budapest Event Calendar / Event Guide to the current February events in Budapest, Hungary: click to see the currently highlighted events in Budapest in February this year.

Here are some winter photos of Budapest, Hungary – snowy, windy and chilly weather can be a challenge for taking good photos, but not a true obstacle:

The Christmas Market on Vorosmarty square, Budapest (the Xmas Fair at the Basilica is open until Jan 2) – photo by Budapest Moments

Views from the Citadel on Gellert Hill in winter time Budapest  – (photo by Neil Howard):

The Liberty Bridge, Budapest in winter time (photo by Frantisek Fuka)

The St Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest in winter time – photo by Neil Howard:

The Lions in a snowy cap at the Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary – photo by Neil Howard: