Budapest has a classic continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm to hot, often reaching highs of 26–28°C, while winters are cold, with temperatures frequently near or below freezing. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant, making them ideal for exploring the city. Rainfall is moderate year-round, with occasional summer storms and winter snow.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Budapest experiences a humid continental climate, which means you’ll encounter hot summers, cold winters, and mild, enjoyable springs and autumns. Summer (June–August) is the warmest season, with average highs of 26–28°C and occasional heatwaves pushing temperatures above 30°C. These months are also the sunniest, with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day, but sudden heavy showers and thunderstorms can occur, especially in June and August. Humidity is moderate, making the heat bearable, and evenings tend to cool off nicely.
Winter (December–February) is cold and often cloudy, with average highs of 2–4°C and lows dipping below zero. Snowfall is possible, especially in January and February, but heavy accumulation is rare and usually short-lived. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional seasons, bringing mild temperatures, blooming flowers or vibrant autumn colours, and fewer tourists. Rainfall is moderate and spread throughout the year, with May and June among the wettest months (up to 70 mm), while February and March are usually drier. Budapest enjoys around 2,100–2,200 hours of sunshine annually, and wind speeds average 12–16 km/h, with breezier days in spring and autumn.
| Average climate data for Budapest, Hungary | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 22 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -3 | -1 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 4 | -1 | -3 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 29 | 33 | 27 | 22 | 39 | 36 | 28 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 33 | 338 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 121 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 70 | 57 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 49 | 206 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 8 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 22 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 85 | 81 | 68 | 62 | 68 | 66 | 59 | 53 | 61 | 69 | 78 | 83 | 69 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 55 | 57 | 44 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 26 | 23 | 30 | 37 | 45 | 49 | 39 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
The best times to visit Budapest are late spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October). During these months, you’ll enjoy warm but comfortable temperatures (18–24°C), plenty of sunshine, and fewer crowds than in peak summer. The city’s parks and gardens are especially beautiful in spring, while autumn brings colourful foliage and a cosy atmosphere for exploring.
The least favourable time for travel is winter, especially January and February. These months are cold, with highs barely above freezing, frequent grey skies, and limited daylight. Snow can occur but is usually light. While winter has festive Christmas markets, outdoor sightseeing is less enjoyable due to the chilly, damp weather.
Budapest has hot summers (up to 28°C), cold winters (often below freezing), and mild spring and autumn seasons. Rainfall is moderate throughout the year, with occasional summer storms and rare but possible winter snow.
Snow is most likely from December to February, especially in January. Heavy snow is rare and usually melts quickly, but it can create beautiful winter scenes, particularly around the city’s historic landmarks.
Budapest enjoys around 2,100–2,200 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months offer the most sun, with up to 10 hours per day, while winter months are much darker, with only 2–3 hours daily.
Summers are generally warm and pleasant, with highs of 26–28°C. Occasionally, heatwaves can push temperatures above 30°C, but nights tend to be cooler. Thunderstorms are common in summer, bringing brief heavy rain.
Pack layers for changing temperatures, a light jacket for cool evenings, an umbrella for rain, and comfortable shoes for walking. In winter, bring a warm coat, hat, gloves, and scarf for the cold and possible snow.
Yes, summer (June–August) is the peak tourist season, with larger crowds and higher prices. For a quieter experience, consider visiting in late spring or early autumn when the weather is still pleasant.
Budapest has several urban and riverside beaches, such as Sho Beach and Palatinus Bath, which are popular in summer. While not seaside, these spots offer sunbathing, swimming, and a lively atmosphere during warm months.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (28.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (2 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 15.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (17.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-2.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is May (38.9 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (16.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 338.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is May (14.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (6.8 days). Over the whole year there are 120.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (70.3 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 205.5 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (8.2 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 22 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (84.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (53 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 69.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is March (12.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (9.2 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 10.9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (57.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (23.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 38.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 11 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 3.9 h). Over the whole year there are 7.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.9.
