The Esztergom Basilica, the cathedral church of the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and the seat of the Esztergom Chapter, opens its doors to everyone for the most important feast days of the liturgical year. On these occasions, Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, or, by his delegation, the Provost of the Chapter, celebrates festive Masses, inviting locals and visitors alike to join. The basilica stands at Szent István Square (Szent István tér) 1, 2500 Esztergom, a landmark that crowns the skyline and anchors the city’s spiritual life.
Christmas and Year-End Masses
Mark your calendar for three cornerstone liturgies that frame the Christmas season and the year’s end in Esztergom. On December 24, 2025, the traditional Midnight Mass gathers the faithful at the basilica to usher in Christmas with candlelit solemnity and choral grandeur. The very next day, December 25, 2025, the Cardinal’s High Mass elevates Christmas Day with full ceremonial splendor. And on December 31, 2025, a Cardinal’s Mass closes the year with gratitude and prayer, offering a moment to reflect before the New Year. All three Masses take place in Esztergom, within the soaring nave of Hungary’s largest church.
Plan Your Visit
If you’re heading to Esztergom for the liturgies, think ahead about logistics. The basilica sits in the heart of the city, making it easy to combine religious observance with a relaxed city break: accommodations, cafés, restaurants, museums, the city center, the Little Danube Promenade, the Aquasziget water park, the municipal sports pool across the way, the Primate’s Palace, and the Maria Valeria Bridge (Mária Valéria híd) to Slovakia are all within arm’s reach. Esztergom’s center is walkable, and many stays offer direct basilica views that become unforgettable in winter’s crisp light.
What Else Is On
The season stretches beyond the Masses. From November 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026, lace up at the Széchenyi Square ice rink, a festive draw for families and night skaters. On January 11, 2026, treasure hunters descend on the Antiques Fair. January 17 doubles down at the market with the 3rd Böllér Festival (Böllérfesztivál) and a companion event, celebrating traditional butchery craft and hearty Hungarian flavors. On February 23, the stage lights up for MESEAUTÓ, tickets from $11.60. Spring brings insight: on April 15, 2026, Dr. Imre Csernus delivers his talk “New Challenges Instead of Burnout” (KIÉGÉS helyett ÚJ KIHÍVÁSOK) in Esztergom, with tickets from $16.30. Summer crescendos with MCC Feszt from July 30 to August 1, 2026.
Where to Stay
Options span cozy to grand. A family-run guesthouse sits beneath the basilica at the foot of Castle Hill and St. Thomas Hill, ideal for those who prize proximity: 16 tastefully furnished rooms, 2 elegant suites, and 1 spacious apartment, many with sweeping basilica views. Expect en-suite bathrooms with showers or bathtubs, SAT TV, minibars, phones, and free internet.
The Bellevue Hotel, 3.1 miles from downtown in the Búbánat Valley, lives up to its name—bellevue means “beautiful view”—with vistas over the Danube. Some of its 75 air-conditioned rooms face the river; there’s a 160-seat buffet and à la carte Tiffany Restaurant, a Panorama Terrace, and a rooftop sun terrace above the wellness-fitness wing. For something down-to-earth, Boszitanya offers clean, well-kept rooms with bathrooms and TVs, plus a bar with billiards and a garden for outdoor cooking.
Closer in, Decsi Panzió is a five-minute walk from downtown on a quiet street beside the Alpesi Vendéglő, built over a wine cellar dating to 1895. It offers seven double rooms (with extra-bed options) and three four-bed rooms. The El Greco Café, Gallery and Guesthouse awaits in Víziváros at the foot of Castle Hill. On Prímás Island in a picturesque setting, a 4-star superior conference and wellness hotel provides modern meeting spaces with built-in tech. The Grante Motel sits along Road 111 with free Wi‑Fi, free parking, and an on-site restaurant. H11 Rooms blends classic hospitality with modern automation, including accessible rooms. Hotel Adalbert’s two buildings are steps from the basilica: Szent Tamás House at the foot of Castle Hill about 1,150 feet from the basilica, and Szent György House between the Danube and the basilica, right by the Szent Adalbert Event Center.
Where to Eat and Drink
Start at 42 Restaurant, Esztergom’s Michelin-starred destination, where creative, often surprising flavor pairings turn local ingredients into a fine-dining experience. A family restaurant in the city center revisits Hungarian and international classics with modern textures, pairing rich flavors with fine wines and craft beers. A friendly, Mediterranean-style spot offers international dishes and local specialties, serving traditional, Italian-inspired, and street-food plates all week, with pizzas fired daily except Sundays. Cakumpakk bundles the best: warm hospitality, clean and healthy ingredients, real know-how, enticing flavors, a friendly setting, and plenty of smiles. Craving bold bites? There’s American, Tex-Mex, steak, and seafood street food. The historic Szamos location in the center, known to locals since 1841, features a Babits corner honoring the poet who often lingered there. For quick comforts, there are soups, stews, one-pot meals, fresh grills, salads, and desserts to stay or go; home-style weekly menus; and a bright café with fresh, house-made sandwiches, new-wave coffee, and tasty lunches.
The organizers reserve the right to change times and programs.
