Last Updated on 21 August 2026 by ZoliBP
Top Programs In Budapest Recommended For Tourists
August 20. is Hungary’s most prominent National Holiday offers a varied and rich program every year. In 2026 state celebration is being organised in a simpler, more cost-effective form, with a total planned budget of around 3.91 billion forint – potentially the lowest of the past decade. The evening’s roughly half-hour show begins at 21.00. and combines
- music,
- light painting, a
- drone display and
- fireworks.
Besides the late evening festivities, a rich selection of other programs: concerts, foodie events, family events welcome tourists and locals alike in Budapest.
Here is our guide to the wide range of programs taking place between August 19 – 23, 2026.
Table of Contents -20. August
🤔 What Does Hungary Celebrate On August 20th?
August 20. is St. Stephen’s Day in Hungary and it is one of the most prominent national holiday.
We celebrate the foundation of the Hungarian state more than 1000 years ago.
The new bread is blessed on this day too at the Festival Of Folk Arts in Buda Castle.
Besides commemorations organized by political parties, countless programs await both locals and tourists all day round, including things to do for families with children.
Festivities start in the morning on August 20, Thursday with the spectacular show with fireworksclosing the the evening starting at 21.00.
💡 Local Tip
See also our guide to Fireworks Cruises in Budapest on St. Stephen’s Day or Book Your Place right now using the links below!
Main Programs & Venues On The St. Stephen’s Day Festivities
Chain Bridge Is Open To Pedestrians From August 15 till August 20
The Chain Bridge will be closed to pedestrians on its footpaths from the morning of August 15 until 12.00 on August 21 – but the roadway itself is handed over to pedestrians during this period.
It’s you best option to get to Buda from Pest and back.
On August 20, the bridge closes completely (including to pedestrians) from 19.00, reopening for foot traffic right after the fireworks.
The Street of Hungarian Flavours gastro festival starts right at the Buda end of the bridge and goes as far as Elizabeth Bridge, in front of the Castle Bazaar.
📍 The most notable events will take place at the following locations
- ✅ Buda Castle – Folk Craft Fair & Festival (Mesterségek Ünnepe)
- ✅ Várkert Bazár/Castle Bazaar & Gardens – Street Of Hungarian Flavours Gastro Festival
- ✅ Parliament & Kossuth Square – the main state ceremonial programs take place here in the morning of August 20: Flag Hoisting, Inauguration of military, plus an Open Day at the Parliament and an evening party
- ✅ Danube Embankments in Buda and Pest: Air Parade performed by the Hungarian Defense Forces, August 20
- ✅ Fireworks Show combined with a 3D drone show and light painting on the Parliament – along the Danube river between the Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge
- ✅ Margaret Island (Margitsziget) – Family activities, live concerts (Sziget Beats), and an evening light garden (Fénykert)
- ✅ City Park (Városliget) – Interactive military technology exhibition
- ✅ Szabadság tér – Gasztrokert: a relaxed, family-friendly gastro garden in the city centre with food and drink trucks.
- ✅ Szent István tér & Basilica – the Szent Jobb Procession (Holy Right Hand of St. Stephen)
Műegyetem Rakpart – Electronic Music, August 19-20
For two nights, the Műegyetem embankment in Buda (between the Petőfi and Liberty bridges) turns into an international-standard electronic music venue, pairing the contemporary electronic music scene with Budapest’s scenic Danube panorama.
DJ Reload, active on the electronic music scene for over a decade, headlines with a signature sound that blends deep house and techno – dynamic sets built on driving rhythms and captivating melodies designed to keep the crowd moving.
🧵 Folk Art & Craft Festival in Buda Castle August 20 – 23, 2026
This awesome 4-day event takes palce in the historic Buda Castle. If you want to get a look into Hungary’s varied folk art and craft traditions as well as see other nation’s artistry then definitely include this program in your itinerary.
Entry is FREE.
👉 See more details below or on our Festival of Folk Arts in Buda Castle page
🥨 Street of Hungarian Flavours, 20 – 22 August, 2026
A Gastro Promenade on the Danube Bank in Buda, in front of the Várkert Bazár/Castle Bazaar.
🕒 Opening Hours:
- August 20., Thursday: 09.00 – 24.00
- August 21., Friday: 09.00 – 24.00
- Augist 22, Saturday: 09.00 – 22.00
📍 Location:
Between Várkert Bazaar and Döbrentei Square in Buda (north of Chain Bridge) – View on Google Maps!
Programs start on August 20th, Thursday.
Visit the Street of Hungarian Flavours (Magyar Ízek Utcája) in front of the Várkert Bazaar, Buda, – a beautiful, refurbished series of buildings built at the end of the 19. century – to have a taste of traditional Hungarian food and drinks.
You Can Taste:
- Typical Hungarian dishes: stews, stuffed cabbage
- The winners of the St. Stephen’s day bread contest (a white sourdough bread made with potato)
- Cakes and pastries
- Milk loaves, scones and other delicacies (jams, preserves, honey, cheese).
Cake of Hungary – along with the Sugar-free Cake – will also be introduced there on August 20th that everyone can taste in the southern palace building of the Castle Bazaar/Várkert Bazár.
Note: Prepare for a long queue though.
👉 Read more details about the Street Of Hungarian Flavours festival in 2026!
🍰 Cake & Sugar-Free Cake of Hungary 2026
Each year a special cake is prepared to celebrate our country’s foundation.
The National Guild of Hungarian Confectioners selects the best recipe submitted by confectioners from all over Hungary.
The 2026 competition was announced with the theme of two popular local dairy products “Rögös túró” (Hungarian curd cheese) and “Tejföl” (Hungarian sour cream).
🎂 Cake of Hungary in 2026: Bíborfehér
This year’s winning cake, “Bíborfehér” (Crimson-White), was created by confectioners Balogh László, Balogh Zoltán and Kis Roland of Gyulai Kézműves Cukrászda – the same team that won last year too.
It combines
- forest berries,
- roasted almonds,
- a silky sour cream mousse and Hungarian curd cheese (rögös túró),
sweetened with black currant wine, with chocolate, vanilla, lemon and freeze-dried raspberry adding extra layers of flavour.
How much does a slice of Cake of Hungary Cost?
You can get a slice of this scrumptious dessert for around 1 500 – 2 000 HUF at cake shops in Budapest and in other places in Hungary.
📍 Where & When Can You Taste Cake of Hungary 2026?
You can first taste it – along with the healthier, sugar-free version torte during the Hungarian Flavours Festival at Castle Bazaar, which runs from August 20-22 this year.
Where?
- Between August 20-22, during the culinary programs of the holiday (Street of Hungarian Flavours in Buda at the Várkert Bazaar between Clark Adam tér and Szilágyi Dezső tér),
- Döbrentei utca 9., Bp 1013 (On map)
- Ybl Miklós tér 6, Bp 1013 (View on Map)
- In major confectioneries everywhere in the country.
Sugar-Free Cake of Hungary in 2026: Szilvafácska
With the sugar-free birthday cake people with diabetes or the health conscious can also enjoy a slice of dessert.
The delicacy is without any added sugar, made with natural and healthy ingredients.
This year’s sugar-free winner is called “Szilvafácska” (Plum Tree), created by the team at Promenád Kávéház in Balatongyörök: Puchovszki Alena, Pethő Gábor and Vadócz Jenő.
Inspired by childhood memories of a grandmother’s garden, the cake layers ripe plum, walnut and milk chocolate.
It features
- Layers of ripe plum, walnut and milk chocolate, a
- Light cinnamon mousse holding it all together, and a
- Touch of green tea for freshness.
The entire cake is crafted without any added sugar, making it suitable for people with diabetes and those mindful of their sugar intake.
A slice contains only 253.7 kcal, and only 15.3 g carbohydrates.
🍞 St. Stephen’s Day Bread of Hungary 2026: Pilisi Pityókás
Alongside the Cake of Hungary competition, the Hungarian Bakers’ Association also crowns a St. Stephen’s Day Bread every year.
This year’s winner is “Pilisi Pityókás”, made by HEL Pékség (the SÁSZ Pékség team). “Pityókás” is a folk dialect word for potato, and “Pilisi” refers to the Pilis region where the recipe originated.
The bread is made with a blend of BL55 and BL80 wheat flours and potato, using a traditional sourdough that’s fermented for 24 hours at 100% hydration.
➡️ August 20 – 23 – Programs
Besides the Festival of Folk Arts in Buda Castle (Aug 20 – 23) and Street of Hungarian Flavours (Aug 20 – 22) festival a range other programs will take place at various central venues in Budapest.
August 20, Thursday – Main Programs
🇭🇺 Festivities At The Parliament, August 20, 08.00 – 09.00
As usual, a series of state ceremonies launch the holiday programs in the morning, on St. Stephen’s day, August 20. to commemorate the Foundation of the Hungarian State.
The main venues of the state programs are Kossuth Square in front of the Hungarian Parliament, and Heroes’ Square.
Besides the state celebrations, a wide range of other programs welcome visitors both in the morning and in the afternoon ensuring wonderful time for the whole family.
- The celebration starts with the hoisting of the Hungarian national flag on Kossuth Square at 08.00 am.
✈ Air Parade – Banks Of The Danube, August 20, 09.00 – 10.00
Venue: over the Danube at the Parliament
Turn your eyes towards the sky at the riverbank where the Hungarian Defense Forces will perform a spectacular air show with the backdrop of the imposing building starting at 09.00.
🍔 🍺 Szabadság tér – Gasztrokert (Gastro Garden), August 20
The Gasztrokert on Szabadság tér aims to be one of the most relaxed, welcoming and community-focused spots of the whole St. Stephen’s Day program – a laid-back space where visitors can stop by any time of day to sit down, recharge, and follow the festivities at their own pace.
The area hosts a variety of food and drink trucks with a wide-ranging menu to suit most tastes. Comfortable seating, rest spots and a centrally placed screen mean visitors won’t miss any of the day’s celebrations, even while eating, chatting, or simply relaxing.
More than just a place to rest, the Gasztrokert works as a self-contained experience within the holiday program – a comfortable base for families, groups of friends and older visitors alike.
Street Of Hungarian Flavours – Várkert Bazaar in Buda
The impressive gastro festival on the river bank in Buda has been a central event of the St. Stephen’s Day festivities for many years now.
A huge selection of meat dishes, strudel, bread, lángos, chimney cake, lavender products, honey, paprika spice, craft beer, lemonade, pálinka (local fruit distilate) at a beautiful venue.
Festival of Folk Arts – Buda Castle, August 20 – 23.
The Festival of Folk Arts in Buda Castle will be still going during the August 20. holiday.
This year the festival will be focusing on the theme of traditional costumes and handmade folk jewelry.
Main Stage Programs – Holy Trinity Square, August 20:
- 10:00: Hot Buttered Rum String Band – American bluegrass band concert
- 11:00: Nino Reyos Dance Group – Native American traditional ensemble
- 11:30: Elechek presentation
- 16:00 – 16:35: FolkTrend – Traditional Roots, Modern Style – unconventional fashion show performed by the Fitos Dezső Troupe
- 17:00: Official Opening of the Festival of Folk Arts
- 17:30 – 18:00: Ceremonial Blessing of the Bread, celebrated by Father Balázs Forgács, priest of Matthias Church
- 18:30 onwards: Hot Buttered Rum String Band – American bluegrass band concert
- 20:00: Transylvania Express – performance by the Fitos Dezső Troupe
- 21:30 onwards: Folk dance house (Táncház)
The Basilica – Holy Mass & Procession of St. Stephen’s Holy Right Hand
The mass will take place in front of the St. Stephen’s Basilica at 18.00.
- Route of the procession: Szent István tér – Zrínyi utca – Október 6. utca – József Attila utca – Széchenyi tér – Zrínyi utca – Szent István tér
👑 Open Day in the Hungarian Parliament August 20 – 22- Holy Crown Of King St. Stephen
The Parliament building can be visited without preliminary registration and free of charge from
- 10.00 till 18.00 on August 20, 21 and 22.
- Last entry is at 16.00.
You can view the
- Grand Staircase,
- The Holy Crown of St. Stephen, and the
- Dome Hall.
📋 Note: Expect a long queue!
🌾 Blessing of the Bread and Harvest Procession – August 20
The blessing of the new bread and a harvest procession
- Starts at 14.30 on Szent György tér in Buda Castle and
- Ends at the statue of St. Stephen (Fishermen’s bastion) with the blessing of the new bread.
Buda Castle – Two Extra Programs
On top of the Folk Arts Festival the Castle offers two other special programs during the holiday weekend.
1) Carmelite Monastery – Free Open Days (August 20-22)
The Carmelite Monastery in Buda Castle, formerly the Prime Minister’s Office, opens its doors to the public free of charge.
Visitors can walk through the former prime ministerial office wing, the terrace, the garden and the theatre hall, and even see the balcony and the room where past cabinet meetings were held.
📋 Note: Visits require advance online registration (up to 4 people per email address, maximum 30 visitors per time slot). Registration opens shortly before the long holiday weekend (August 20-22) – book carefully, as confirmed slots can’t later be changed or moved.
2) IV. Protestáns Sokadalom (Protestant Festival), August 19 – 20
A festival celebrating the values and traditions of Hungary’s Protestant churches, with
- Open-air concerts, a
- Choir meeting, an
- Organ marathon and
- Exhibitions throughout the day.
Family-friendly programs include a talk on the relationship between God and artificial intelligence, a Scottish bagpipe concert, and a galley-slave oratorio set to poems by Anna T. Szabó and music by Dániel Gryllus.
Organised jointly by the Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist and Methodist churches, the event is at once a religious occasion, a cultural experience and a chance to explore Hungary’s rich Protestant heritage.
Margaret Island (Margitsziget) – Élménysziget Family Festival, August 20-21
📍 Location of the Festival: Margitsziget – Alsó-Nagyrét (View on Google Maps)
A free, two-day family festival takes over Margaret Island, one of Budapest’s most beautiful green spaces, with something for every age group.
For the youngest visitors: a baby playground with developmental activities.
For older kids:
- face painting,
- a bouncy castle,
- a giant bubble show,
- workshops (from cow-milking simulations to screen printing),
- a Mini Ninja obstacle course,
- an inflatable climbing wall,
- a digital reflex course, a
- circus playhouse, an
- interactive eco-instrument demonstration,
- lasso throwing,
- arm-wrestling against “Toldi,” and hat-decorating.
On August 20, the Sziget Beats concert series also performs on the island during the day, and in the evening the Rózsakert (Rose Garden) hosts Fénykert – a breathtaking light installation.
The Csillagsátor (Star Tent) on Margaret Island runs interactive programs, live music and theatre for both days:
- August 20: circus playhouse and an eco-instrument demonstration with handmade instruments, plus a music session exploring vibration and sound
- 11.00-14.00: Interactive circus playhouse
- 14.20-15.15: Eco-instrument demonstration and communal music-making
- August 21: an instrument-making workshop with Bélaműhely, the interactive board game “Törzsi rítusok” (Tribal Rituals) exploring the ancient connection between people and music, closing with an improvised variety show by Grund Theatre
City Park (Városliget) – Military Technology Exhibition, August 20-21, 10.00 – 18.00
The Hungarian Defence Forces return to the Kós Károly Promenade in City Park for two days, offering visitors an up-close look at modern military equipment and everyday life in the army.
You Can View
- the Leopard 2A7HU tank, the
- PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, the
- Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle, the
- Gidrán, a 120mm mortar,
- HMMWVs,
- Polaris MZR4 and Sportsman XP vehicles, and an
- MB Unimog 4000/U4000, alongside air defence systems and radar (some as scale models).
Equipment on show includes digital soldier gear, bomb disposal and chemical protection suits, aviation and ceremonial uniforms, sniper camouflage, diving equipment and metal detectors.
Interactive stations for all ages: laser tag and shooting, airsoft weapons, a weapon simulator, a mobile obstacle course, face camouflage painting, a VR simulator, a bomb disposal robot, a drone obstacle course, and crime scene/accident investigation equipment.
Live Demonstrations on August 20 – 21:
- Explosive detection dog show: on August 20: 11.00, 13.30 – August 21: 12.30, 15.30
- Military close combat demonstrations on both days at 12.00, 15.00, 16.30
- Military brass band performance: on August 20: 13.00 – August 21: 11.00, 14.30
Entry is free. While you’re there, it’s worth visiting neighbouring Vajdahunyad Castle, which is also free to enter on these days.
🎇 Festive Audio Visual Show with Fireworks – August 20, 21.00 – 21.30
Perhaps the most special event of this year’s celebrations is an unusual evening show that uses modern technology to bring Hungarian history vividly to life.
Over 30 minutes, key moments in Hungarian history unfold through striking light painting and a drone show. The constantly shifting visuals draw on Hungarian painting, architecture and ornamental motifs, weaving shared traditions into the backdrop of contemporary Budapest.
On this special evening, the Parliament building becomes a symbolic screen, telling a shared story through light.
The light painting is scored by a joint musical arc from Zságer Balázs and DJ Bootsie, with over thirty creators – including animators, visual artists, composers, lighting designers and technicians – working to make the evening unforgettable.
The show closes with a 10-minute fireworks display.
Repeat of the Audio Visula Show (Without Fireworks) – 22.00 – 22.30
The light and drone show (without the fireworks finale) repeats at 22.00, so everyone can enjoy it comfortably – or watch it more than once.
Light Painting on Parliament & Chain Bridge – 22.30 – 1.00
The light painting show continues on the Parliament building and the Chain Bridge until 1.00 am.
Fireworks Display – August 20, 21.00 – Is it Still Worth Seeing It?
What’s Included in the August 20th Fireworks Show in 2026?
Due to budget cuts the fireworks itself will be 10 minutes long within a 30-minute festive show.
Highlights of the Festive Display:
- ✅ 1,500 drones displaying national motifs over Budapest, along with special decorative lighting on the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge.
- ✅ Fireworks launched from three barges (down from nine last year), across roughly a 1.5-kilometre stretch of the Danube between the two bridges.
- ✅The pyrotechnic show lasts ten minutes, closing with a 2 – 5 minute Bengal fire finale.
The scaled-down budget came about after the original contracts (worth 17.5 billion forint combined) were cancelled in late June due to legal proceedings and frozen bank accounts affecting the contractor, prompting a new, reduced-scope procurement process.
The event series carries the motto “Together we are the story. The celebration belongs to everyone.”
The dazzling show can be seen from numerous points in Budapest, especially the river banks in Pest and Buda. For those on a cruise, you’re in the best seats in the house.
Gliding along the Danube between the two bridges — right in the heart of where it all unfolds — means uninterrupted, panoramic views of the
- Drones, the
- Illuminated bridges, and the
- Fireworks reflecting off the water.
- It’s an atmosphere no riverside vantage point can quite match.
👉 Best Spots to View the Fireworks Show on August 20th:
The Pest and Buda riverbanks are classic spots for fireworks watching, but
- Fisherman’s Bastion,
- Várkert Bazaar, and
- Buda Castle terraces are also popular choices.
- On the Danube embankments between the Petőfibridge and Margaret Bridge
- Any spot from where the Parliament can be seen well: Fishermen’s Bastion in Buda Castle, the Citadel on Gellért Hill provide excellent viewing spots.
- A rooftop bar like the High Note Skybar of the Aria Hotel – offers a 360 degree view of the city (reservation is required).
- Intermezzo Restaurant and Rooftop Terrace of Hotel President in Hold utca (reservation for the dinner & fireworks: +36 1 510 3407)
- Margaret Island – the southern tip, Note: Margaret bridge will be closed off from 18.00 on Sunday and trams 4, 6 won’t stop on the bridge, so get to the island before 18.00. The bridge will be re-opened and tram servcie will be available from around midnight).
For a more exclusive experience, try
- the Philosophers’ Garden (On Map) on Gellért Hill,
- Gül Baba Tomb (address: , Mecset u. 14, Budapest 1023 (On Map),
- Nehru Park, between Petőfi bridge and Liberty Brigde on the Pest riverbank (View on Map), or
📋 Note: Most Danube bridges will be closed since the rockets will be lauched from there: Liberty Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge and Margaret Bridge.
Buda Hills: If You Want Less Crowd
Although the Buda Hills like Normafa or Hármashatár-hegy are a bit far from the city centre there will be less people but it’s still wise to arrive early (1 -1.5 hour before the show).
Normafa Hill :
- Getting there: Take bus 21 from Széll Kálmán tér to Normafa. The bus stop at Normafa is not the terminus anymore, so get off at the Normafai út stop.
- The bus runs every 10 minutes in the evening, and the last departure is at 23:13. The journey takes about 28 minutes.
Árpád Lookout, Hármashatár-hegy:
- Address & Getting There: Glück Frigyes út, Bp 1025 (See on Map)
💡 Local Tip
One of the best venues to enjoy the Fireworks is from a ship on the Danube. You’ll be also treated to a pleasant dinner and live music or just drinks.
👉 Read more details and browse our list of the Best 8 Fireworks Cruises on the Danube on August 20, 2026.
❗ 🚌 Traffic & Public Transport Changes During St. Stephen’s Day
Several bridges, embankments and streets close or run under restrictions around August 20, and public transport is adjusted to help visitors reach the festivities.
Plan ahead with the BudapestGO app!
Extended Metro & Night Service on August 20
Because of the events on
- Kossuth Square, at
- Műegyetem embankment and on
- Margaret Island,
metro lines M2, M3 and M4 run later than usual – until around 2.30 am.
Tram 6 (the Grand Boulevard route) runs more frequently all night, bus 26 to Margaret Island runs until around 2 am, and night bus routes serving downtown are adjusted to match demand.
Bridge Closures
- Chain Bridge: closed to pedestrians on its footpaths from the morning of August 15 until 12.00 on August 21 – the roadway itself is handed over to pedestrians during this period. On August 20, the bridge closes completely (including to pedestrians) from 19.00, reopening for foot traffic right after the fireworks.
- Margaret Bridge: footpaths close from the morning of August 17 (pedestrians use the outer lane). On August 20, the bridge closes completely from 17.00, along with the southern exit from Margaret Island.
- Elizabeth Bridge: closed on August 20 from around 19.00 to around 22.15.
Getting to the Main Venues
Buda Castle (Mesterségek Ünnepe / Folk Art Festival)
Take the M2 metro to Széll Kálmán tér, then bus 16A (runs more frequently). On August 20 only, the higher-capacity bus 216 from Batthyány tér is also an option. On other festival days, buses run more frequently between Clark Ádám tér and Dísz tér.
Várkert Bazár (Street of Hungarian Flavours):
Trams from the Óbuda direction (trams 19 and 17) run to Clark Ádám tér; trams from districts XI and II run via Döbrentei tér. From the afternoon of August 21, buses crossing the Chain Bridge also reach Clark Ádám tér.
Margaret Island:
Use Bus 26 (more frequent service) and Trams 4 and 6. On the evening of August 20, due to the Margaret Bridge closure, buses to the island depart from Göncz Árpád városközpont, reachable via the M3 metro or tram 1.
Műegyetem Embankment in Buda (concerts on August 19 -20)
The M4 metro is recommended, running more frequently in the evenings.
Kossuth Square events:
Trams 2 and 23 run a shortened route between their southern terminus and Március 15. tér on August 20-21.
Road Closures (Key Dates)
- Pest lower embankment (Margaret Bridge to Március 15. tér): closed August 14, 17.00 – August 24, 6.00 (on August 20 specifically, between Közraktár utca and Dráva utca)
- Buda lower embankment (Rákóczi Bridge to Margaret Bridge): closed August 15 – August 22, 22.00
- Chain Bridge: closed to traffic August 15, 4.30 – August 21, 12.00
- Buda Castle area: restrictions August 15-25
- Műegyetem embankment: closed August 15 – August 22, 20.00
- Lánchíd utca & Várkert embankment: closed August 19 – August 23, 16.00
- Upper embankments near Kossuth tér: possible restrictions on the morning of August 20 due to the Air Parade
- József Attila utca & the Basilica area: restricted August 20, 16.00-23.00, for the Szent Jobb Procession
- Margaret Bridge: closed August 20, approx. 17.00-22.30
- Elizabeth Bridge: closed August 20, approx. 19.00-22.15
- Upper embankments and downtown streets: possible further restrictions during the evening show
Evening Show & Fireworks (August 20)
Expect the heaviest restrictions within the area bounded by Margaret Bridge – Szent István körút – Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út – Károly körút – Múzeum körút – Vámház körút – Liberty Bridge – Szent Gellért embankment – Krisztina körút – Vérmező út – Margit körút.
The Margaret Bridge, Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge all close to traffic, public transport and pedestrians ahead of the fireworks; the Liberty Bridge and Szent Gellért embankment may also be restricted if needed.
🕒 Opening Hours Of Shops, Cafes, Baths, Museums
This year St. Stephen’s Day falls on Tuesday. Most shops, markets, services will be closed on these day.
The majority of cafes and restaurants – especially in the city centre – are open though.
Most Museums also welcome visitors on the holiday. The thermal baths, lidos are also open:
- Széchenyi Bath: 06.00 – 22.00,
- Rudas Spa: 06.00 – 20.00
📋 Note: Public transportation services operate according to holiday schedule but with the Fireworks and other festivities changes in service – especially trams 2, 2B, and 23 along the Pest riverbank – can be expected.
Most of the bridges in the city centre, Petőfi Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, Liberty Bridge, Chain Bridge, Margaret Bridge will be closed off all traffic on 20. August between cc. 18.00 – 23.00.
August 20 – Historical Background
Stephen (István in Hungarian, was born in 969. and died in 1038.) was Hungary’s first king and he laid the foundation of the state by converting the nomad and pagan Magyar people (Hungarians) into Christianity.
Foundation of a State
Until the end of the 10th century the seven Hungarian tribes often attacked and robbed Western European nations. After a major defeat in 955, the Hungarian leaders decided to
- give up the raids,
- focus on settling down and
- found a strong state.
István realized that he can only achieve this by converting Hungarians into the Roman Catholic religion.
The Crown of the First King
He received a crown from Pope Sylvester II and became Hungary’s first king in 1000 AD. The Holy Crown has survived the coming centuries and it is now Hungary’s most precious treasure.
You can view the Holy Crown in the Parliament (open day on 20. August)
King Stephen consolidated his power.
He built churches all around the country and invited Catholic priests to help to lay down the foundations of Christianity. István formed new, strict legislations instead of the former pagan rules and took administrative measures to organize the country.
As a result of King Stephen’s efforts, Hungary became a strong state and a protector of Western Europe during the Medieval Ages. Read more about the History of Budapest.
The Holy Right Hand
Stephen was canonized on 20th of August in 1083 and became the patron of Hungary. For the canonization procedure King Stephen’s remains were exhumed.
According to the story his right hand was found as fresh as the day he was buried.
The hand was detached and since then everybody can view our first king’s mummified right in St. Stephen’s Basilica .
20. August became Hungary’s national day and stayed to be until 1945, when Communist leaders prohibited celebrations due to the religious nature of the holiday. In 1990 the Hungarian Parliament declared 20. August national holiday again.
Related:
Sziget Festival – More Budapest Programs in August – Jewish Cultural Festival – Free Mini Concerts – Our Facebook
