Major traffic and transit changes in Budapest for 20 August national holiday

August 20 Budapest fireworks traffic restrictions
This year, too, we can expect a huge fireworks display in Budapest for August 20. Photo: BKK

Budapest will host a range of events for this year’s 20 August national holiday, leading to significant changes starting Friday, 15 August. Some of these adjustments will affect public transportation: the Széchenyi Chain Bridge will be handed over to pedestrians, and buses 105, 210, and 216 will be rerouted via Elizabeth Bridge during this time.

Traffic changes in Budapest for 20 August

There will also be restrictions in the Buda Castle area affecting the 16-series buses, and on Várkert Embankment, impacting trams 19 and 41 starting Sunday. Due to the closures and expected crowds, the Budapest Transport Center (BKK) recommends using public transportation, especially the metro. Real-time transit updates can be found at bkk.hu/nemzetiunnep.

Preparations for the festivities in Budapest begin 15 August with road closures on the Chain Bridge and changes in pedestrian flow across several bridges. Major traffic restrictions will also go into effect in Buda Castle, Műegyetem Embankment, Lánchíd Street, and Várkert Embankment. The full traffic plan is detailed below.

August 20 Budapest fireworks traffic restrictions
This year, too, we can expect a huge fireworks display in Budapest for August 20. Photo: BKK

Pedestrian access changes on bridges

Pedestrian access in Budapest will be restricted as follows:

  • Chain Bridge:
    • From 12:01 AM on 15 August to noon 21 August, the bridge’s main road will be pedestrian-only; sidewalks will be closed. On 20 August at 7 PM, pedestrians will be barred completely until after the fireworks, when the bridge reopens to foot traffic.
  • Margaret Bridge:
    • From the morning of 16 August, sidewalks close; pedestrians confined to a narrow outer lane. The bridge and the southern tip of Margaret Island will be fully closed from 4 PM on 20 August.
  • Elizabeth Bridge:
    • From 6 AM on 18 August to 6 AM 21 August, the north sidewalk nearest the Chain Bridge is closed; from 10 PM on 18 August, the south sidewalk near Liberty Bridge will also be shut until about 6 AM 21 August.
    • From 10 PM 18 August to noon 21 August, the bus lane heading toward Pest will be open to pedestrians.
    • The bridge will be fully closed to all traffic from 7 PM 20 August.
  • Liberty Bridge:
    • The north sidewalk (facing Elizabeth Bridge) is closed from 17 August to noon 21 August.
    • The south sidewalk (facing Petőfi Bridge) is closed from the morning of 19 August to noon 21 August.
    • From the morning of 19 August, safety barriers will be installed along both tram tracks. Pedestrian access will be allowed beside tram tracks until noon 21 August.

Road closures in Budapest

Major road closures in Budapest include:

  • Pest Lower Embankment between Margaret Bridge and Közraktár Street:
    • Closed 15 August, 10 PM – 16 August, 6 AM
    • Closed 16 August, 10 PM – 21 August, 6 AM
    • Also night closures 21, 22 and 23 August from 10 PM – 6 AM each day
  • Buda Lower Embankment from Rákóczi Bridge (Pázmány Péter Promenade) to Margaret Bridge (Üstökös Street):
    • Closed 15 August, 12:01 AM – 21 August, noon
    • Night closures 22-23 August from 10 PM – 6 AM
  • Chain Bridge closed to road traffic 15 August, 12:01 AM – 21 August, noon; entire road surface open only to pedestrians due to sidewalk closures
  • Buda Castle will experience rolling closures from 15 August, early morning – 23 August, 4:30 AM
  • Lánchíd Street closed 16 August, 12:01 AM – 22 August, 4 PM; Várkert Embankment closed 17 August, 12:30 AM – 21 August, noon
  • Műegyetem Embankment toward Petőfi Bridge closed 15 August, 1:01 AM – 22 August, midnight; except 19-20 August, one lane remains open to Szent Gellért Square. Full closure 19 August, 12:01 AM – 20 August, midnight; Budafoki Road may also close if needed.
  • Liberty Bridge closed to road traffic 19 August, morning – 21 August, noon

Public transportation changes

  • Chain Bridge closure:
    • Bus 178: 15 August – 20 August, 7 PM and 20 August till noon, only runs between Naphegy Square and Batthyány Square
    • Buses 105, 210, 210B: rerouted via Elizabeth Bridge between 15 August – 20 August, 7 PM and 21 August till noon
    • Bus 216: also rerouted via Elizabeth Bridge during that time
    • Night buses 916, 990: from 14 August night – 21 August morning, rerouted via Elizabeth Bridge, skipping Deák Ferenc and Széchenyi István Squares
  • Buda Castle area:
    • Buses 16A, 116: 15-16 and 21–22 August run between Széll Kálmán Square and Holy Trinity Square; August 17–20 run to Bécsi kapu Square
    • Bus 16: Not running from 15-22 August; frequency increased on buses 16A and 216
    • Bus 916: 15-16 and 21-22 August goes to Holy Trinity Square; 17-20 August goes to Bécsi kapu Square. On those days, it runs only to Dísz Square when coming from Uránia
  • Due to the Hungarian Flavors Street event:
    • Tram 19: 17–21 August, noon, runs between Kelenföld Station – Döbrentei Square and Bécsi út/Vörösvári út – Clark Ádám Square
    • Tram 41: 17–21 August, noon, rerouted via Krisztina Blvd – Széll Kálmán Square – Margit Blvd
  • Kossuth Lajos Square events:
    • Trams 2, 2B, 23: 16 August, noon–6 PM and 18 August, 6 PM – 19 August, 10 PM, run only between southern termini and Kossuth Lajos Square (Széchenyi Embankment); after 10 PM 19 August until close of service, run only to Boráros Square. On 20 August, except during fireworks, service runs between southern termini and March 15 Square
  • Műegyetem Embankment closure:
    • Bus 107 runs via Budafoki Road toward Infopark from 15 August, 12:01 AM – 23 August, morning
  • Elizabeth Bridge closures:
    • 18 August, 6 AM – 21 August, noon: Buses 8E, 108E, 110, 112, 907, 908, 956, 973, 973A do not stop at Döbrentei Square heading toward Buda

For safety reasons, the following MOL Bubi bike stations will be out of service:

  • Műegyetem Station: 14 August, 11 PM – 23 August, 6 AM
  • Clark Ádám Square Station: 16 August, 10 AM – 21 August, noon
  • Szent Gellért Square Station: 18 August, 4 PM – 21 August, 6 AM

On 20 August, the St. Stephen’s Procession and air show over the Danube will cause closures on both Buda and Pest upper embankments and near St. Stephen’s Basilica. Due to the fireworks, expect widespread closures within the area bounded by Margaret Bridge, St. Stephen Blvd, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road, Károly Blvd, Museum Blvd, Vámház Blvd, Liberty Bridge, Szent Gellért Embankment, Krisztina Blvd, Vérmező Road, and Margaret Blvd.

From 7 PM, Margaret Bridge, Chain Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, and Liberty Bridge will be closed to all traffic, including pedestrians and public transit. Immediately after the fireworks, Chain Bridge will reopen to pedestrians, and tram service on Margaret and Liberty bridges is expected to resume around 10:30 PM. Elizabeth Bridge may reopen after 11 PM. Metro service will run more frequently after the fireworks.

BKK vehicles will operate in accordance with the real-time traffic situation and restrictions. For the latest transit updates, visit BKK’s website.

A more detailed announcement about 20 August transit changes will be provided by BKK at a later date.

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