Getting Around Budapest This Sunday: What You Need to Know About Closures Near Batthyány Square

If you’re spending the day in Budapest and planning to explore the Buda side of the city, there’s something important to know before you head out. A major political event is taking place along the Danube embankment this evening, causing significant transport disruptions around Batthyány Square, and several tram and bus lines are already running on modified routes. Here’s everything you need to know to get around without any unpleasant surprises.

What’s Happening and Why

The Tisza Party is hosting its central election night event on Bem Embankment and the Lower Buda Embankment this Sunday — a high-profile gathering taking place directly opposite the Hungarian Parliament Building across the Danube. To accommodate the event, authorities have closed off the riverside road between Batthyány Square and Vitéz Street, as well as the section between Halász Street and Margaret Bridge. These closures are in effect from this weekend through Monday morning, with today being by far the most disrupted day.

For drivers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: if you’re trying to get from the southern part of Buda toward Óbuda by car, you’ll need to go the long way around, passing through Széll Kálmán Square instead of taking the usual riverside route. Given that the metro offers a quick and completely unaffected alternative, now is an excellent time to leave the car behind.

How Public Transport Is Affected

The road closures have a knock-on effect on several BKK lines that normally pass through or stop at Batthyány Square, and the changes are already in full effect today.

Bus lines 11 and 39 are not stopping at Batthyány Square all day. Bus 11 has been rerouted toward Széll Kálmán Square and is making temporary stops at the Bus 39 stops between Fazekas Street and Széna Square. Bus 39 is running on a shortened route, terminating at Széna Square and skipping the Mária Square and Batthyány Square stops entirely.

From around 5:30 PM onwards, the trams join the disruption. Tram 19 will operate on a shortened route between Kelenföld Railway Station and Halász Street, meaning it won’t reach Batthyány Square at all for the rest of the evening. Tram 41 is being rerouted via Széll Kálmán Square in both directions — between Rudas Thermal Bath and Széll Kálmán Square, look for the stops used by Tram 56, and between Széll Kálmán Square and the Buda side of Margaret Bridge, use the stops of Tram 17.

If you’re out late, the night bus situation is worth knowing too. The 990 night bus heading toward Normafa is running on a modified route tonight and won’t stop at Batthyány Square. It’s making temporary stops at Clark Ádám Square and Széll Kálmán Square instead, and Batthyány Square can be reached via the 990 coming from Széll Kálmán Square toward Rákoskert.

The Easiest Alternative: Take the M2 Metro

BKK’s official recommendation for getting to and from the Batthyány Square area this weekend is simple: use the M2 metro line. The red metro runs directly under the Danube, connecting the Buda and Pest sides quickly and completely unaffected by the surface closures. Batthyány Square has its own M2 stop, so even with the bus and tram disruptions above ground, you can still reach the area easily and efficiently underground.

This is especially worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to enjoy the area’s highlights. Batthyány Square is one of Budapest’s most iconic vantage points, offering a breathtaking direct view of the illuminated Parliament Building across the river — particularly spectacular after dark. The neighbourhood is also home to several excellent restaurants and bars, making it a great spot for a Sunday evening out.

Stay Updated With BudapestGO

Transport changes during events like this can shift in real time, so the best tool to have on your phone is the BudapestGO app, BKK’s official journey planning and ticketing application. It provides live departure times, real-time route updates, and step-by-step navigation across the entire Budapest public transport network. It’s free to download, available in English, and genuinely invaluable for navigating the city on a disrupted day like today. For road-specific updates, the BKK Info website also publishes service changes as they happen.

A Busy but Exciting Weekend in Budapest

It’s worth noting that this has been an exceptionally eventful weekend in the city. On top of today’s political gathering along the Danube, the 2026 IIHF Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship is in full swing at the Vasas Ice Centre, with matches continuing through April 18th. And earlier this weekend, a massive open-air concert organised by Róbert Puzsér and the Civil Resistance movement drew enormous crowds to Heroes’ Square and Andrássy Avenue, which also caused major road closures and transport diversions across that corridor. Budapest is buzzing right now — just plan your routes a little more carefully than usual, lean on the M2 metro, and you’ll have no trouble getting wherever you want to go.