Budapest in March: Weather & 13 Best Things to Do (2026)

Budapest Weather in March

March is the beginning of spring in Budapest. While the beginning of March is still pretty cold, it starts to turn warm from the second half of March.

The weather can be unpredictable and in recent years, it has even snowed in Budapest in March. So, it is advised to check the latest weather updates just before your trip to Budapest.

Generally, the winter season comes to an end in March, and Budapest starts to receive more sunlight. The dark and gloomy winter days come to an end and it starts to be sunny and warm in March.

Budapest Temperature in March

The average temperature in Budapest in March is between 3.3-11 °C (38-52 °F). The beginning of March is still cold, but then it gradually starts to become warm. By the end of March, it is sunny and proper spring time in Budapest.

Does it Snow in Budapest in March?

There is a low chance for snow in Budapest in March but it can snow. The highest chance for snow in Budapest is between January and February, but weather patterns can be unpredictable and sometimes it can even snow in March.

Is March a Good Time to Visit Budapest?

Yes, March is a great time to visit Budapest! March is the beginning of spring season when the weather starts to turn warm and flowers start to bloom.

March is still a little bit cold, so not that many people come to visit at that time, so there are still not that many tourists in the city.

Some of the best things to do in Budapest in March is to go sightseeing, chill in the thermal baths, go on a boat cruise, try Hungarian food and go on day trips.

Crowds

March is still relatively low season, especially if you visit Budapest in the beginning of March.

If you prefer to visit Budapest at a time when there are not that many tourists, then March is still a good time to do so.

The weather starts to get warm towards the end of March, and also more tourists start to visit Budapest, but it still won’t be as crowded as during summer time.

Prices

March is still considered low season in Budapest, so if you are looking for affordable prices, March is a good time to visit Budapest.

The flights to Budapest are the cheapest for January and February, but you can also get some good deals for the beginning of March.

From the end of March, flight and hotels prices will go back up to the regular tourist season price.

The Best Things to Do in Budapest in March

1. GO SIGHTSEEING

Budapest is famous for its beautiful architecture and the River Danube splitting the city into two sides: Pest and Buda.

Exploring the historic buildings is one of the best things to do in Budapest! The weather starts to turn warm in March, so it is a great time to walk around Budapest.

The beginning of March is still low season, so there are also less tourists and places are not too crowded.

It is great to explore the city both during daytime and in the evening. Many of the historic buildings are located along the River Danube and they are decorated with lights in the evenings which make it even more special.

2. CHILL IN THE THERMAL BATHS

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths and one of the most popular things to do in Budapest is to chill in the baths.

The thermal baths in Budapest are open all year around and they have indoor and outdoor pool areas.

There are both warm and cold water baths, and relaxing in the warm water baths in March is one of the best things to do in Budapest.

The most popular thermal bath in Budapest is the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. It is usually full of visitors so it can feel a bit touristy. There are other, more “local” baths that are not that busy. Check out Lukács Bath, Veli Bej Bath or Dandár Bath for more local baths.

➡️ Book a Full Day Ticket to Széchenyi Thermal Baths here! (Rated 4.3/5 on 25,135 reviews)

3. GO ON A RIVER DANUBE CRUISE

A boat cruise on the River Danube is one of the best ways to see Budapest. A river cruise is a great activity all year round and the best time to go is in the evening to see the city decorated with lights.

Some of the Danube River Cruises include dinner, drinks and live music. Usually, when you sign up for a cruise, you can decide which type of cruise you’d like to go on.

In the beginning of March, it will still be pretty cold to stay on the outer decks of the boat for too long, so prepare with warm clothes. The boats also have indoor areas, where it is warm and cozy.

➡️ Book a Cruise on the River Danube here! (Rated 4.6/5 on 45,414 reviews)

4. TRY HUNGARIAN FOOD

Hungarian food is famous for goulash and paprika but it is so much more than that! You should try as many Hungarian delicacies as possible while you are visiting Budapest.

There are also food tours in Budapest where you can join with other travellers and explore the best Hungarian dishes with a guide!

🥘 Follow you stomach and join a Food Tour in Budapest here!

5. CHECK OUT THE BUDAPEST NIGHTLIFE

Budapest is known for its nightlife, with many pubs and bars in the city centre – especially on the Pest side!

March is the beginning of spring season in Budapest, the weather starts to turn warm and it starts to get more fun to go out at night.

Budapest is famous for its “ruin bars” that are bars made with unique designs and decorations. The ruin bars have a cool atmosphere with funny furniture, like bathtubs for chairs, or even furniture stuck to the ceiling. Two of the most popular ruin bars in Budapest are Szimpla Kert and Instant.

6. WATCH A HUNGARIAN FOLK DANCE SHOW

Watching a Hungarian folk dance show is great to see a traditional Hungarian dance performance, folk music and see the embroidery costumes of the dancers.

One of the best ways to see a Hungarian Folk Dance Show is on a river cruise on the Danube. The river cruises also include a dinner and you get great views of the historical buildings in Budapest in the evening time.

7. GO ON A DAY TRIP TO SZENTENDRE

The weather starts to turn warm in March, so it is a great time to go on day trips from Budapest.

Szentendre is located 22 km from Budapest and they are connected by regular public transport.

Szentendre is a small town and it is famous for its cobbled streets, architecture, churches and museums. It is a great place for a day trip from Budapest if you want to explore a small town near Budapest.

There is good public transport from Budapest to Szentendre. You can take a HÉV train from Batthyány tér (Budapest) to Szentendre if you want to go by public transport. If you prefer to go by taxi, there are many taxis in Budapest.

8. WALK ALONG THE RIVER DANUBE

The River Danube splits Budapest into 2 sides: Pest and Buda. Along the river, you can see many famous bridges and historic buildings, so it is great to go on a walk.

On the Pest side, as you walk, you pass the Parliament, the Shoes on the Danube, and can even walk to Margaret Island. You can also cross the Chain Bridge and walk across to Buda. Once you cross the bridge, you can go up to the Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion.

The views along the river are pretty great, and you can also go in the evening when the city is decorated with lights.

For the best view of the Parliament, go over to the Batthyány tér on the Buda side. From here, you can see the Parliament from across the river and it is the best place to take photos of the Parliament.

9. SHOP AT THE CENTRAL MARKET HALL

The Central Market Hall is located in central Budapest and is one of the biggest market halls in Budapest.

It is a proper Hungarian market hall where many locals do their weekly shopping. They sell many tasty Hungarian delicacies here, such as salami, pickles, spices, pálinka and wine.

Visiting the Central Market Hall is one of the unique things to do in Budapest as you can see what a Hungarian market is like, and you can try many different Hungarian delicacies.

The market has 2 floors, and there are restaurants on the second floor serving traditional Hungarian dishes.

It is also a great place to pick up some souvenirs from Budapest, such as paprika, salami or pálinka!

10. WATCH A PLAY AT THE OPERA

The Hungarian State Opera is the perfect place to see a play in Budapest. There are usually famous plays on all around the year, such as the Swan Lake or Aida.

You should book the tickets well in advance as the tickets sell out pretty fast. The ticket to a ballet shows like The Nutcracker costs around HUF 17,000-45,000 (USD 45-115), depending on the type of seat you book.

11. RIDE THE TRAM LINE 2

You might not want to get around using public transport in Budapest during your whole trip, but if you decide to take public transport in Budapest, it should be the Tram Line 2.

Budapest has a good network of trams for getting around the city and Tram Line 2 is great to explore and see the city.

Tram Line 2 starts from the Parliament and goes along the River Danube overlooking beautiful building and sights. It passes many tourist attractions and famous bridges.

As Tram 2 goes along the river, you also get to see over to the attractions on the Buda side of the city, such as the Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, and the Citadella.

12. SEE A MUSEUM EXHIBITION

Budapest is full of great museums, so if you like to visit art exhibitions or want to learn about the history of Hungary, there are many museums to choose from.

The museums are open all year around with various exhibitions. Each museum have permanent exhibitions, with additional temporary exhibitions that change from time to time throughout the year.

Some of the best museums in Budapest are:

• Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum of Ethnography (‘Néprajzi Múzeum’ in Hungarian)
• House of Terror
• Hall of Arts (or Palace of Arts, it is called ‘Műcsarnok‘ in Hungarian)
• Ludwig Museum

13. GO ON A WALKING TOUR

The weather starts to turn warm in March so it is a great time to explore the city on foot. If you visit in the beginning of March, you should still pack warm clothes as it can be cold. From mid-March onwards, the weather is warmer and more enjoyable to be outdoors.

Budapest is a walkable city and there are many attractions in the city centre that are in close walking distance to each other.

A walking tour is one of the best ways to explore and see everyday life in a new place.

There are different options for walking tours in Budapest, such as visiting the Basilica, Buda Castle, or the Parliament. The walking tours usually last between 1.5-4 hours, and costs USD 10-70.

✅ Book a Budapest Walking Tour here!