August 20th Celebrations Wreak Havock in Public Transportation

Hey there, Budapest! It’s that time of year again when we celebrate our national holiday on August 20th. While it’s a fantastic time to enjoy the festivities, it also means some changes to our beloved public transportation system. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with all the details!

First things first, let’s talk about the road closures. The Buda and Pest embankments, along with the Margit, Lánchíd, Erzsébet, and Szabadság bridges will be closed off. Yep, you read that right – all those major bridges! There will also be restrictions in the Buda Castle area, Műegyetem rakpart, Kossuth Lajos Square, and József Attila Street. It might sound like a lot, but trust me, it’s all for the sake of the celebrations.

Now, what does this mean for our trusty BKK vehicles? Well, quite a few bus and tram lines will be operating on modified routes during the long weekend. If you’re planning to travel around the city center, my advice is to ditch the car and opt for public transport instead. The metro lines are going to be your best friends during this time!

The main attraction of the national holiday is, of course, the fireworks display. It’s happening on August 20th between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM, and you can marvel at it from the Buda and Pest lower and upper embankments, between Margit Bridge and Petőfi Bridge. To make getting to and from the event easier, many of our lines will be running more frequently before and after the show. How cool is that?

But wait, there’s more! Even before the big day, there will be some changes starting from August 15th. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge will be handed over to pedestrians, so the 105, 178, 210, and 216 buses will be rerouted to the Erzsébet Bridge. There will also be restrictions in the Buda Castle area, affecting the 16 bus family, and on the Várkert rakpart, impacting the 19 and 41 trams.

With all these closures and restrictions, plus the expected large number of visitors, BKK strongly recommends using public transportation, especially the metro lines. You can always check the BKK website for real-time updates on the traffic situation or use the BKK app called BudapestGO (iOS and Android).

So there you have it, folks! It might seem a bit overwhelming, but with a little bit of planning and patience, we can all enjoy the August 20th celebrations without any transportation headaches. Whether you’re heading out to watch the fireworks or just taking it easy during the long weekend, make sure to keep these changes in mind.

Happy National Holiday, Budapest! Let’s make it a memorable one!