This is where you need a Covid certificate to party on New Year’s Eve in Hungary

New Year’s Eve is quickly approaching. There are only a few days left until the big event when we say goodbye to the old year and welcome in 2022 with a loud bang. But the fact that the coronavirus is still with us, it makes things a little more complicated than usual. Are you wondering for which events you need to produce a vaccination certificate? Find the answers below.

Hungary is relatively lax, considering the emergence of the new Omicron variant, but that also means that more restaurants and hotels can hold New Year’s Eve events. Although restaurants and hotels can normally welcome guests without restrictions or vaccination certificates, you still need to wear your mask when going to public places, but only until your food or drink arrives.

However, as a party can attract more people to a single location than regular restaurant dinners, you can face a few additional restrictions.

Hence, many restaurants and catering units have asked the Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association (HH&RA) to help them understand the exact restrictions.

According to Turizmus.com, the Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association (HH&RA) has written an inquiry to the Hungarian Department of the Interior to help shed light on the exact restrictions concerning New Year’s Eve parties.

Turizmus.com reported that the Hungarian authorities’ answer was the following:

Dance or concert events

If the main attraction of the New Year’s Eve event the restaurant or hotel holds involves partying and dancing, or listening to a concert, then by law, it is considered a “music and dance event” and have the following restrictions.

It is mandatory to have a vaccination certificate for

  • anyone who visits an event at an accommodation where dancing or listening to a concert is the main attraction, even if it is combined with a dinner, regardless of whether they are staying guests or just there for the event
  • anyone who visits a dinner at a restaurant that is combined with dancing or actively/purposefully listening to a concert

regardless of the size of the event or the number of guests.

Dinner events with live performance

According to Turizmus.com; however, if the main attraction of the event is a dinner, combined with live music or some other form of stage performance in which guests do not actively take part, then only the restrictions of a regular restaurant dinner are in place.

It is NOT mandatory to have a vaccination certificate for

  • anyone who visits an event at an accommodation where a seated dinner is taking place without dancing, even if there is a live performance of any kind (live music, comedian, magician, etc.)
  • anyone who visits a restaurant with an event similar in kind to the one mentioned right above.

You should also keep in mind that restaurants and hotels or other forms of accommodation can have their own safety precautions. We have only included some general rules; therefore, it is always worth getting informed about the event you are about to attend or contacting the establishment beforehand if you have any doubts.

The team of Daily News Hungary wishes all of you a Happy New Year!

Source: Turizmus.com