Autumn is a particularly charming time to explore Hungary’s countryside, when the fields change colour and pumpkins take centre stage at numerous celebrations.
Strolling through fields of pumpkins, enjoying an evening cruise on the Danube or listening to vampire tales in the streets around Buda Castle are just some of the things you can do in Hungary during October. It’s a time when harvest celebrations, open-air festivals and Halloween activities fill the calendar in towns and cities, with things to do both by day and by night.
Amongst pumpkin fields, festivals and autumn traditions
In Hungary, pumpkins don’t just herald the arrival of Halloween. Their cultivation is linked to harvest celebrations, which every October draw numerous families to the country’s farms and rural areas. In Dunatetétlen, Tökforgatag opens its vast fields to the public, featuring large hay bale structures and seasonal hot drinks. The hills of Buda are home to Piczinke Póniudvar, a small petting zoo where children can ride ponies, take part in carving workshops and enjoy various games. Near Lake Balaton, the Rádpuszta Pumpkin Festival combines harvest activities with tastings of regional wines set against the backdrop of a traditional farmstead.
These fruits also inspire original decorations that transform certain spaces at this time of year. In Sződliget, a short distance from Budapest, Tündérkert Tökvarázs takes place – an autumnal event whose name means ‘The Magic of Pumpkins in the Fairy Garden’ – transforming an equestrian estate with seasonal decorations, vintage furniture and bohemian-inspired corners. Further south, the Szeged Botanical Garden organises Tök Jó Nap, a day dedicated to these vegetables and nature. Its paths, lined with trees and plants taking on shades of yellow and red, lead to botanical displays and large decorative installations crafted from these seasonal produce.
The tradition spills out onto the streets of Budapest, where October brings with it festivals and popular gatherings. The Tök Jó Fesztivál takes over City Park with pumpkin sculptures, craft stalls, attractions and street food specialities. A short distance away, Heroes’ Square hosts the Pumpkin Lantern Festival, a celebration that draws thousands of people at dusk. Attendees bring their own carved creations and, as they light them, fill this iconic spot in the capital with twinkling lights.
Stories of vampires, cruises and night-time parties
The Danube also takes on a festive atmosphere at Halloween, when various boats organise themed cruises around the capital. The Hungarian Parliament, the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle form part of the night-time backdrop to these cruises. On board the Halloween Cruise and Budapest Halloween Cruises, the evening is filled with music, fancy dress and cocktails specially prepared for the occasion. Younger guests can take part in Halloween Cruises on the Danube, featuring interactive games and the traditional trick-or-treating during the cruise.
Budapest’s most eerie legends take centre stage in the Buda Castle district, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its cobbled streets and historic buildings provide the backdrop for guided night-time tours that explore the neighbourhood’s most enigmatic corners, whilst guides recount tales of vampires, ancient legends of Hungarian royalty and dark episodes from the past. Count Dracula also plays a prominent role at the Madame Tussauds Budapest wax museum, which is preparing a special Halloween display amongst its famous figures.
Halloween night is also celebrated at other venues across the capital. In District IX, the Kiserdei Halloween Party offers a walk along woodland paths marked by carved and illuminated pumpkins, which take on a very different appearance after dark. The party continues on the A38 boat, a former vessel converted into a concert venue on the Danube. It hosts a fancy-dress event, live performances and DJ sets that go on until the early hours.
Beyond its monuments and famous thermal baths, Hungary boasts numerous attractions well worth exploring in autumn. The October celebrations offer a chance to experience local customs, explore lesser-known towns and enjoy Budapest at a time of year that provides fresh reasons to visit the country.
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The Hungarian Tourism Agency operates in international markets under the Visit Hungary brand. Visit Hungary carries out national and international sales and marketing communication activities related to tourism, manages international tourism representation, runs image and product campaigns both in Hungary and abroad, produces publications on tourism and image, conducts research and analysis to support marketing communication activities, and participates in tourism fairs and exhibitions to promote domestic and international tourism.
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Source: NEWLINK SPAIN