15 March in Budapest: events, speeches and transport changes for visitors

Hungary marks 15 March (Saturday) as its national day commemorating the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, and Budapest will host a packed programme of official ceremonies, concerts and family events. Many programmes are free, but visitors should plan carefully: the biggest events bring major road closures and public transport diversions across the city centre.

Below is a practical, visitor-friendly guide to what’s happening and how to get around — including the state ceremony at Parliament and a large opposition march and speech later in the day.

If you want to know more about Hungary’s National Day: What do Hungarians celebrate on 15 March?

State ceremony at Kossuth Square: flag-raising, speeches and a concert

The main state programme starts early on 15 March at 7:30 am with a ceremonial flag-raising at Kossuth Lajos Square (outside the Hungarian Parliament).

The central state event begins at 1:00 pm, also at Kossuth Square, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is scheduled to deliver a speech. The programme is planned as a major public event with a stage show and musical performances.

The afternoon includes the Open Parliament programme: between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm, visitors can enter the Parliament building free of charge to see interior spaces and national relics.

A large stage programme is also planned at Kossuth Square, with the Cantemus Choir performing the national anthem. The musical line-up includes popular Hungarian performers such as Dér Heni, Gigi Radics, Attila Pataky, Curtis, Joci Pápai and Tamás Takáts, alongside ceremonial readings and political speeches.

Opposition march and speech: “Rendszerváltó March 15” with Péter Magyar

After the state ceremony, another major event is expected to affect central Budapest’s traffic and public transport.

Opposition politician Péter Magyar has announced a large march and rally branded as “Rendszerváltó March 15” (“Regime-changing March 15”). According to the call, the event starts at 2:00 pm, with participants gathering at Deák Ferenc Square and marching along Andrássy Avenue to Heroes’ Square, where a speech is planned.

In his message, Péter Magyar urged people to fill Andrássy Avenue and Heroes’ Square on the national holiday, calling it the biggest “National March” so far and encouraging a turnout of “several hundred thousand”.

For visitors, the key point is practical: Andrássy Avenue is already scheduled to be closed for the holiday weekend, and the march route runs directly through a central area where closures and diversions are likely to be tightened during the rally.

Museum lights, family activities and heritage walks

Budapest’s historic venues will also offer a lighter, family-friendly programme over the holiday weekend:

• The Hungarian National Museum will feature projection mapping on the façade on 14 and 15 March from 5:30 pm, and run free family programmes on 15 March from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Várkert Bazár is set to host an all-day free event, with craft workshops, interactive games and 1848-themed demonstrations.
• For those who prefer something more active, free Castle District history walks are planned, starting from the De la Motte–Beer Palace and visiting key sites linked to the revolution.

How to get around: expect closures, use the metro if you can

The simplest advice for visitors on 15 March: avoid driving. With multiple closures in central Budapest, the metro is usually the fastest option, though some stations may close temporarily for security reasons.

Key road closures to know about

• Andrássy Avenue will be closed from midnight on 14 March between Oktogon and Heroes’ Square, lasting until early morning on 16 March.
• Liberty Bridge is scheduled to close to traffic on 15 March from 12:00 to 20:00.
• A central corridor between Kossuth Square and Margaret Bridge is expected to be closed on 15 March from 10:00 to 14:00.
• Parts of Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road and Váci Road will also be affected.

Metro changes and possible station closures

• Metro lines will run more frequently, but some stations may be closed between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm: Kossuth tér, Deák Ferenc tér, Arany János utca and Nyugati pályaudvar.
• The historic M1 (Millennium Underground) will not stop between Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út and Heroes’ Square from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm — a time window that overlaps with the announced Deák–Andrássy–Heroes’ Square march.

Tram and trolleybus diversions

• The Tram 2 family will run only as far as Kossuth Square on 14–15 March.
• Trams 4 and 6 will have changing termini through the day: starting from Jászai Mari Square in the morning, later from Oktogon, and service will pause between Blaha Lujza Square and Oktogon in early afternoon.
• On the Buda side, trams 17, 19 and 41 may be partially suspended in the morning between Batthyány Square and Lukács Baths.
• Many trolleybuses (70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78) will operate on shortened or modified routes to avoid inner-city sections.

Buses: airport line and key routes

• 100E Airport Express: from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, it will depart from Kálvin Square instead of Deák Ferenc tér—leave extra time if you are heading to the airport.
• Bus 9 will not run through the inner city in the morning and will divert via Erzsébet Bridge later.
• Buses 105 and 210B will avoid Andrássy Avenue and run via Podmaniczky Street.

Tip: before you set off, check the BudapestGO app for real-time updates, as the exact diversions can change during the day.

Did you know? Why do Hungarians wear a cockade on 15 March?

Practical tips for tourists on 15 March

If you want to watch the ceremonies, the most convenient approach is to arrive early and be prepared for security checks and crowded areas around Parliament and the city centre.

If you’re mainly sightseeing, consider planning your day around places outside the tightest closures — for example, Buda Castle (while checking access routes), or museums and cafés that can be reached by metro without crossing the most restricted zones.

And if you’re travelling to the airport, remember the 100E change during the afternoon window and leave extra time, as inner-city traffic and crowd-related diversions can have knock-on effects.

A busy national holiday – but a great day to explore the city

With ceremonies in the heart of Budapest, evening lights at the museum and family programmes across key landmarks, 15 March can be a memorable day for visitors — provided you plan around closures. Stick to the metro where possible, allow extra time for transfers, and be ready for short-notice station closures during peak events, especially around Kossuth Square, Deák Ferenc Square and Andrássy Avenue.