Weather in Budapest in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Budapest and ranks 132nd of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Budapest is 4.3°C cooler by day and 5.1°C cooler at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Budapest peaks at 3.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 8.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -2.9°C; one night in ten drops to -8.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 14.8°C (2002-01-29) and the coldest night -18.4°C (2003-01-13).

Rain in January

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 36 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2015 with 79 mm, the driest 1991 with 5 mm. Humidity averages 83%.

Sunshine and daylight

Around 2.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:28 and sets about 16:18 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 69%.

Is January a good time to visit Budapest?

January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Budapest on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.

Pack for freezing nights, not just chilly days

The main catch is the cold after dark: an average night is below freezing, and the coldest 10% of nights fall to -8.2°C or lower. A warm coat, gloves, a hat and layers you can remove indoors are sensible essentials rather than optional extras. Choose footwear that keeps your feet warm and has good grip if surfaces freeze. Plan longer outdoor stretches for the middle of the day, but do not expect lunchtime warmth. The warmest 10% of days reach 8.6°C or more, so a milder spell is possible; it is not something to build your packing or itinerary around.

Use the short daylight window well

January brings about 8.7 hours of daylight, with sunshine taking up only part of that window. Put the outdoor parts of your day before dusk and leave indoor plans for later, rather than relying on a bright afternoon stretching into the evening. There are about 8 rainy days, so waterproof outerwear is useful even though rain need not dominate the whole trip. Keep room to swap an outdoor plan for an indoor one when conditions turn wet. This is a better fit for travellers who enjoy a slower pace with warm breaks than for anyone hoping to spend most of the day outside.