Budapest Danube promenade project gets funding for Pest embankment renewal

Budapest has moved a major step closer to creating a greener Danube-side promenade on the Pest lower embankment after the Managing Authority approved funding for two long-planned riverfront projects, the Budapest Transport Centre, BKK, announced.

The decision means the capital may receive more than HUF 7 billion, or around EUR 20 million, in European Union and domestic funding for the permanent renewal of key sections of the Pest embankment. The projects cover the area around the Pest bridgehead of Elizabeth Bridge and a section of Id. Antall József rakpart between Kossuth Square and Chain Bridge.

The plans are part of a broader effort to make the Danube bank more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, while creating more green areas in one of Budapest’s most symbolic urban spaces.

Budapest Danube promenade to improve access to the river

According to BKK, the Pest bridgehead of Elizabeth Bridge will be renewed as a pedestrian public space in line with a concept dating back to 2015. A stepped riverbank structure will create a more direct connection with the Danube, turning the area from a traffic-dominated space into a place where people can walk, rest and get closer to the water.

The project will also create a continuous pedestrian route between Jane Haining rakpart and Belgrád rakpart. New green surfaces and trees are planned, helping to soften a section of the city that has long been dominated by asphalt, concrete and car traffic.

For foreign readers, the Pest lower embankment runs along the eastern side of the Danube in central Budapest. It lies close to several major landmarks, including the Hungarian Parliament, the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge. The area is therefore not only a transport corridor, but also part of Budapest’s most visited historic riverfront.

Trees, green areas and a more walkable riverbank

The renewal of Id. Antall József rakpart will focus on the section between Kossuth Square and Chain Bridge. BKK said the currently deteriorated pedestrian surfaces will be replaced by a Danube-side promenade lined with a double row of trees and green areas.

This section is especially sensitive from an urban heritage point of view. It passes near the Parliament and the Shoes on the Danube Bank, one of Budapest’s most important Holocaust memorials. The city has long faced criticism for the condition of the lower embankment in this area, where the quality of the public space does not match the international significance of the surroundings.

Earlier visual plans for the Pest lower embankment were presented in 2024, when Telex reported that the city wanted to create a greener, more liveable riverfront worthy of its World Heritage setting. At the time, however, the funding needed for implementation had not yet been secured.

More than HUF 7 billion approved

The newly approved funding comes through the TOP Plusz complex climate adaptation and public space renewal framework. BKK applied for the support on behalf of the city.

The Managing Authority approved HUF 5 billion, around EUR 14 million, for the Id. Antall József rakpart project, and a further HUF 2.2 billion, around EUR 6.2 million, for the area around the Pest bridgehead of Elizabeth Bridge. The full package is therefore worth approximately HUF 7.2 billion, or just over EUR 20 million, based on the latest official exchange rate of the Hungarian National Bank.

The use of EU funds comes with a deadline: the projects must be completed in 2029.

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What happens next?

The approval of funding does not mean construction will begin immediately. BKK said the next stage will focus on securing the necessary permits and professional approvals, including support from state bodies such as the National Architectural Planning Council.

After the full permitting process is completed, detailed construction plans will have to be prepared, followed by a public procurement procedure for the works. Only after these steps can the actual reconstruction begin.

Further parts of the Pest embankment, including Jane Haining rakpart, may be renewed later if additional funding becomes available. For now, the newly approved projects mark an important step towards transforming Budapest’s central riverfront from a traffic-heavy embankment into a more attractive Danube promenade for residents and visitors alike.

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