This post covers the January weather in Budapest, Hungary, including average temperatures, and rainfall, plus tips on what to pack.
January in Budapest tends to be cloudy, very cold, but somewhat dry.
Temperatures
Daytime high temperatures this month will tend to be around 2 C (37 F) with a few of the warmer afternoons reaching up to around 11 C (52 F).
The record high temperature in Budapest during January is 18.1 C (64.6 F).
Late night and early morning lows tend to be around -3 C (27 F) with a few of the colder mornings dipping down near -10 C (14 F).
The record low temperature in Budapest during January is -21.7 C (-7.1 F).
Sky and Precipitation
During January, Budapest typically has about 11-12 sunny, or at least partly sunny days with 19-20 days being mostly cloudy.
About 7-8 days record some precipitation, with most of these recording some snowfall.
On average Budapest records about 6 cm (2.4 inches) of snowfall during January, however, occasionally it will receive up to 18 cm (7 inches).
Daylight
The number of daylight hours during January increases from about 8.5 hours on the 1st to about 9.5 hours by the 31st.
Windspeed
Mostly light to gentle winds prevail this month at 6-19 kph (4-12 mph) but can occasionally be moderate at 20-28 kph (13-18 mph).
What to Wear in Budapest During January?
Winter in Budapest is cold so you should pack warm layers that include a thick, waterproof coat or thickly lined jacket.
Winter clothing including leggings and thermal underwear will come in handy, as well as warm water-resistant boots, leggings, or thermal underwear.
In addition, bring along warm socks, a scarf, a hat, and gloves.
Don’t forget to bring some comfortable walking shoes!
Things to Do in Budapest in January
Although it will be quite cold this month, you might actually get lucky and experience a snowy day, allowing you to take a free Budapest walking tour and see all of the major landmarks draped in snow.
However, if you're looking for a few ways to get out of the cold, there are a lot of great museums and other indoor attractions in Budapest.
One idea is to attend a traditional Operetta and Folk Show and experience some of the local culture of this city.
It's also worth noting that some of the Széchenyi Thermal Baths are indoors, allowing you to take a nice, relaxing dip in the middle of winter!
Here are a few more ideas you might want to consider. You can also check our full post covering things to do in Budapest in January for additional activities.
Fred Pickhardt
Ocean Weather Services
