Budapest is set for major traffic restrictions this weekend as the 41st Wizz Air Budapest Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, 6 September. Temporary closures will affect seven districts and several major roads, including sections of four bridges: the Árpád Bridge, Margaret Bridge, Liberty Bridge and Chain Bridge.

The Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) has urged drivers to exercise particular caution and allow extra time for their journeys. The restrictions will be in place from Friday, 4 September, through Sunday, 6 September.

First closures begin on Saturday

Pázmány Péter Promenade in District XI will be closed between Műegyetem Embankment and Dombóvári Road from 8 AM on Saturday until 9 PM on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, further closures will affect Magyar Tudósok Boulevard, the Buda and Pest lower embankments, Műegyetem Embankment, Liberty Bridge and Szent Gellért Square. Some roads will be closed only temporarily as runners pass through.

Árpád and Margaret bridges affected

Between 6 AM and 11.30 AM on Sunday, sections of the race route will be closed intermittently. The affected route runs from Pázmány Péter Promenade along the Buda lower embankment and Árpád fejedelem Road, across the southern carriageway of Árpád Bridge, through Margaret Island and across the northern side of Margaret Bridge.

The restrictions will then continue through Jászai Mari Square, Újpest Embankment and the Pest lower embankment before reaching Fővám Square, Liberty Bridge, Szent Gellért Square and Műegyetem Embankment. The two affected bridges will not necessarily be closed for the entire period: police will impose temporary restrictions as the race progresses.

Chain Bridge also affected later in the day

A second period of intermittent closures is scheduled between 11 AM and 2 PM. The route will run from Pázmány Péter Promenade along the Buda lower embankment, Bem Embankment and Fő Street to Clark Ádám Square, before crossing Chain Bridge.

Runners will then continue via Széchenyi István Square, Eötvös Square, the Pest lower embankment, Fővám Square, Liberty Bridge, Szent Gellért Square and Műegyetem Embankment.

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Exact closure times

According to the BRFK, the main full closures on Sunday are scheduled as follows:

  • 4 AM–4 PM: Magyar Tudósok Boulevard in District XI
  • 6 AM–1.30 PM: Buda lower embankment in Districts I, II, III and XI
  • 6.30 AM–3.10 PM: Pest lower embankment in Districts V, IX and XIII
  • 8.20 AM–2.10 PM: Műegyetem Embankment in District XI
  • 8.55 AM–2 PM: Liberty Bridge and Szent Gellért Square in Districts IX and XI

The intermittent restrictions along the race routes will operate separately during the morning and early afternoon.

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Parking restrictions also in force

Drivers should also be aware that parking restrictions will begin before some of the road closures. No parking will be permitted in several locations from Friday, including parts of Magyar Tudósok Boulevard. Additional parking bans will apply from midnight on Saturday and Sunday at various locations around the Buda and Pest embankments, Árpád fejedelem Road, Műegyetem Embankment, Hunyadi János Street and Jégverem Street.

Police have advised motorists to check the altered traffic arrangements before setting off and to follow temporary signs and instructions. The BRFK has published detailed information on the affected locations and times, together with an interactive map showing the restrictions on individual road sections. The 41st Wizz Air Budapest Half Marathon will take place in the Hungarian capital on Sunday, 6 September, bringing runners through several central Budapest districts.

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