Important: Budapest floods disrupt tram and bus services, cause road closures

Due to the rapid rise in the water level of the Danube, Mayor Gergely Karácsony has ordered a third-level flood protection alert on all flood protection sections of Budapest. As a consequence of the flooding, from Tuesday 17 September onwards, traffic on tram line 2 at Pesti quay will be restricted. If further measures are necessary, BKK will inform the capital’s residents soon.

For motorists, traffic order changes

The lower quays of Pest and Buda will also be closed from 8pm on Monday evening. Mayor Gergely Karácsony asked that cars parked there should be taken away by the afternoon at the latest, because from the evening the Municipal Police Directorate will remove the vehicles left there from the lower embankment. The Danube is forecast to reach the lower embankment on Tuesday morning.

From Tuesday morning, only vehicles that are involved in the protection operation will be allowed to enter Margaret Island. For the time being, pedestrian traffic is also restricted on the southern part of the island.

As we wrote today, Budapest’s highest-level flood alert is in effect; read details HERE.

Tram line 2, also used by tourists

Due to the high water level of the Danube, trams No. 2, 2B and 23 will operate on two sections from Tuesday, 17 September 2024: between Jászai Mari tér and Széchenyi István tér, and between Március 15. tér and their southern terminals.

Budapest, Tram line 2. Source: BKK

There is no tram service on the section between Széchenyi István tér and Március 15. tér. During the restriction of the tram 2, BKK recommends using other lines in the city centre, in particular the metro, trams 47 and 49, trams 4 and 6, trolleybus 72, bus 9 and bus 15.

BKK reminds passengers that real-time route planning for the limited section of tram 2 in BudapestGO is expected to be available only from Wednesday morning, 18 September.

Bus 34

Óbuda lines are also affected by the flooding: from Monday morning, 16 September, the route of bus 34 has been changed, with stops between Békásmegyer H and Rómaifürdő H not affected. The same applies to the 934 night service, which does not stop between Békásmegyer H and Római útti Wohnótelep, Varsa utca.

Further traffic restrictions

If the Danube’s water level continues to rise, further traffic restrictions may be expected. BKK will inform passengers about any changes as soon as possible on the BKK Info website and other official websites.