Most shops in Hungary will close on Friday, 23 October, for the national public holiday, but normal Saturday opening hours will resume the following day. Here is what residents, expats and visitors need to know about shopping, pharmacies, post offices and rubbish collection over the three-day weekend.
Hungary is heading into a three-day long weekend as 23 October, the national holiday commemorating the 1956 Revolution, falls on a Friday this year. While most shops will shut for the public holiday, many services will return to their usual schedules on Saturday.
If you need to buy groceries or pick up medication, it is worth planning ahead to avoid finding closed doors.
Don’t miss this: Budapest to mark 70th anniversary of 1956 revolution with concerts, torchlight procession and historic tram
Are shops open on 23 October?
According to 24.hu, under the general rules, shops will be closed on Friday, 23 October. Normal Saturday opening hours will apply on 24 October, while shops are expected to operate as usual on Sunday.
There are some exceptions for those who need to shop on the public holiday. Petrol stations and their shops may remain open, as may certain 24-hour convenience stores and smaller shops where the owner personally serves customers.
Other businesses that may open on the national holiday include:
- Standalone florists
- Newsagents
- Sweet shops
- Restaurants, cafés, bars and entertainment venues
Most shops inside shopping centres are expected to close on Friday. However, cinemas, restaurants and other leisure facilities within malls may still operate, depending on the venue.
Market opening hours will vary. Some markets have announced that they will close, while others plan to welcome customers, so check with your local market before setting off.
Never miss a headline: join Daily News Hungary’s official Telegram channel!
Where can you find an open pharmacy?
Pharmacies will operate according to the holiday duty rota over the long weekend, the National Public Health and Pharmacy Centre (NNGYK) has announced.
On Friday, 23 October, medicine supplies in most towns and cities will be provided by 24-hour pharmacies, pharmacies that remain open on public holidays, and those operating an on-call or emergency service.
You can find the addresses and telephone numbers of pharmacies that are open or on duty through the official pharmacy search database. The information is also available in Hungary’s EgészségAblak health app.
On Saturday, pharmacies that normally open on rest days will generally be available until noon rather than following their usual Saturday schedule. After that, on-call or emergency pharmacy services will be available.
The NNGYK advises people to make sure they have enough of their regular medication before the holiday. Families with children should check that they have suitable fever and pain relief medicines, while adults may also want to stock up on remedies for cold symptoms, coughs and sore throats. Older people and those taking regular medication should pay particular attention to having sufficient supplies.
Will post offices and rubbish collection services operate?
Post offices will be closed on Friday, 23 October, according to the Hungarian Post’s published holiday opening arrangements. If you need to send or collect something, check the opening hours of your local branch for the rest of the weekend.
Rubbish collection, however, will continue according to the usual schedule. If your bin is normally collected on Fridays, it should still be emptied on 23 October.
Schools will also close for the autumn break
The autumn school holiday begins on Friday, 23 October, and runs until Sunday, 1 November. Thursday, 22 October, is the final school day before the break, and classes resume on Monday, 2 November.
The holiday period includes not only the 23 October national holiday but also All Saints’ Day on 1 November.
Tip: If you plan to visit a shop, market, pharmacy or other service on Friday, check its opening hours online beforehand. Holiday schedules can vary, particularly for smaller businesses and local markets.