Budapest is preparing for significant traffic restrictions on 22 and 23 October as Hungary marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution. Road closures, commemorations, torchlight marches and visiting high-level delegations will disrupt traffic across the city centre, with several public transport services running on altered routes.
Residents, commuters and visitors to Budapest should plan their journeys carefully on Thursday and Friday, as major roads and sections of the Danube embankments will close for events marking Hungary’s national holiday.
According to the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK), the restrictions will affect both motorists and public transport passengers, particularly around the city centre, the Buda embankment, Kossuth Lajos Square and Andrássy Avenue.
The BKK recommends using the metro network and trams 4 and 6 for journeys through central Budapest. Metro line M2 and tram 2 will run more frequently than usual to accommodate passengers.
Real-time updates and planned changes are available on the BKK’s official national holiday transport information page.
Thursday, 22 October: Torchlight procession to disrupt Buda traffic
The Műegyetem Embankment will be closed from approximately 8 am to 8 pm on Thursday. A commemorative ceremony and wreath-laying event will take place near the Budapest University of Technology and Economics between 2 pm and 4 pm, followed by a traditional torchlight procession starting at 4 pm.
The march will travel along the Műegyetem Embankment, Szent Gellért Square, Szent Gellért Embankment, Döbrentei Square, Várkert Embankment, Ybl Miklós Square, Lánchíd Street, Clark Ádám Square, Fő Street, Jégverem Street, Bem Embankment, Csalogány Street, Nagy Imre Square and Fő Street before reaching Bem József Square.
The procession will cause temporary disruptions to several bus and tram services, particularly between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
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Which public transport services will be affected?
- Bus 107: Will run on a modified route via Bartók Béla Road and Móricz Zsigmond Circus. Between 4 pm and 5 pm, it will be diverted across Petőfi Bridge, skipping stops between Szent Gellért Square–Műegyetem M and Ferenciek Square.
- Tram 56: Between approximately 4 pm and 4.40 pm, the service will operate in separate sections, with a gap in service between the affected stops around Szent Gellért Square–Műegyetem M and Rudas Baths.
- Trams 19 and 41: Tram 19 will not run between Szent Gellért Square–Műegyetem M and Rudas Baths from 4 pm to 4.40 pm. Tram 41 will be diverted via Villányi Road, Alkotás Street, Széll Kálmán Square and Margit Boulevard. From approximately 4.40 pm to 6.30 pm, both services will run via Krisztina Boulevard between Rudas Baths and Szent Lukács Baths.
- Buses 7 and 133E: Between 4 pm and 5 pm, both services will be diverted across Petőfi Bridge, skipping stops between the Móricz Zsigmond Circus/Szent Gellért Square area and Ferenciek Square.
- Bus 16: Between approximately 4.20 pm and 5.20 pm, the service will be temporarily shortened to run only between Széll Kálmán Square and Clark Ádám Square.
- Buses 105, 178, 210 and 216: These services will be diverted across Erzsébet Bridge for approximately 30 minutes between 4.20 pm and 5.20 pm, missing stops at Clark Ádám Square, Széchenyi István Square and József Nádor Square.
- Buses 11 and 111: Between 4.40 pm and 5.30 pm, both services will terminate at Széll Kálmán Square instead of Batthyány Square. Bus 39 will also run on a shortened route between Goldmark Károly Street and Fazekas Street.
- Trams 2, 2B and 23: From 8 pm, these services will run only as far as Kossuth Lajos Square (Széchenyi Embankment), rather than their usual terminus at Jászai Mari Square.
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Friday, 23 October: Major closures around Parliament and Heroes’ Square
Friday will bring further restrictions as Hungary marks the anniversary of the 1956 Revolution. The official flag-raising ceremony will take place at Kossuth Lajos Square in the morning, with events continuing throughout the day.
Between 5 am and 8 pm, the following roads and areas will be closed:
- Kossuth Lajos Square and Alkotmány Street.
- Balassi Bálint Street, between Kossuth Lajos Square and Balaton Street.
- Szalay Street, between Honvéd Street and Kossuth Lajos Square.
- Garibaldi Street, Akadémia Street and part of the Széchenyi Embankment, between Balaton Street and Arany János Street.
- Honvéd Street, between Alkotmány Street and Szent István Boulevard.
The Kossuth Lajos Square metro station on line M2 may also be closed for security reasons between approximately 3 pm and 5.30 pm.
Andrássy Avenue and Heroes’ Square closures
A separate set of restrictions will affect the route between central Budapest and Heroes’ Square.
From 6 am to 8 pm on Friday, Andrássy Avenue will be closed between Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road and Heroes’ Square. Heroes’ Square itself, Állatkerti Boulevard and Gundel Károly Road will also be closed between Dózsa György Road and Hermina Road (Kós Károly Promenade).
These restrictions will affect several public transport services, including the city’s historic M1 metro line.
Which services will change on Friday?
- Metro line M2: Kossuth Lajos Square station may close temporarily between 3 pm and 5.30 pm for security reasons.
- Trams 2, 2B and 23: Will run on shortened routes throughout the day, terminating at Kossuth Lajos Square (Széchenyi Embankment) instead of Jászai Mari Square. The BKK recommends buses 70, 78 and 15 for journeys between the Teréz Boulevard area and Kossuth Lajos Square.
- Bus 15: Will follow a modified route, skipping the Vígszínház and Markó Street stops.
- Metro line M1: Trains will pass through Opera station without stopping between 3 pm and 8 pm.
- Buses 105 and 210: Will be diverted via Podmaniczky Street, skipping stops between Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road and Heroes’ Square.
- Trolleybus 81: Will follow a modified route near Heroes’ Square and temporarily serve the Heroes’ Square M (Gundel Károly Road) stop.
- Trolleybuses 70 and 78: From approximately 4.40 pm to 8 pm, both services will run on shortened routes, operating between Nagymező Street and their respective termini at Keleti Railway Station and Erzsébet királyné Road, underpass.
What this means for travellers
Anyone planning to visit central Budapest on 22 or 23 October should allow extra time for their journey and check their route before setting off. Travelling by metro is likely to be the most practical option for many central destinations, although temporary station closures and changes to stopping patterns should also be taken into account.
The BKK warns that the published times are estimates and that additional temporary restrictions may be introduced depending on the operational situation.
For the latest information on road closures, diversions and public transport changes, check the BKK’s official national holiday travel updates.