Find out about the Easter opening hours of main Budapest attractions, museums, shops and the baths. You will also find information about public transportation during the holiday.
This year Easter falls on
- 12 – 13. April, with the main religious ceremonies starting on
- 11 April, Good Friday, which is also a public holiday in Hungary, and 12. April, Holy Saturday.
Quick Links:
Museums – Parliament Visitor Center – Thermal Baths – The Zoo – Great Market Hall – Basilica – Matthias Church – Dohány Str. Synagogue – Sightseeing Tours – Public Transport
Shops, Markets, Services
Shops, markets will be closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday.
But don’t worry on
- Maundy Thursday (09. Apr) and
- Holy Saturday (11. Apr) larger food stores and supermarkets like Tesco, Auchan, Lidl, Aldi and Spar will be open till 20.00/22.00.
The Central Market Hall on Fővám Square is
- open: Tuesday – Thursday: 06.00 – 18.00,
- closed on Good Friday,
- open on Holy Saturday: 06.00 – 15.00
Banks, post offices and other services remain closed on on all four days of the holiday (from Good Friday till next Tuesday).
TIP: Visit also our main post about popular Easter programs and activities in Budapest!
Shopping Malls
- Cafes,
- restaurants,
- cinemas are usually open in the larger shopping centres (WestEnd, Allee, Mammut, Arena Mall Corvin Plaza) over the Easter weekend. But it’s good to check the individual websites of each venue.
Thermal Bath Opening Hours
Plan to have a dip in one of the handful of the city’s famous hot pools? No worries! Most baths, especially the well-known historic places like
10 – 13. April 2020
On Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday/Monday Baths are open according to Sunday opening hours and pricing.
- Gellért Bath: 06.00 – 22.00, outdoor pools are open, wave function is not operating yet (will be available from 29. April). Ticket with cabin: 21 EUR.
- Széchenyi Bath: swimming pools, steam department, thermal pools (one of the outdoor pools is being refurbished so it is not available): 06.00 – 22.00. Ticket with cabin: 20 EUR
- Rudas Spa: wellness and sauna: 08.00 – 22.00, swim pool: 06.00 – 22.00, steam bath: 06.00 – 20.00. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday the thermal department of Rudas Bath is open for visitors of both sexes.
- The drinking fountains are closed on Easter Sunday and Monday.
Gellért – Széchenyi Bath Entry Tickets (Skip-the Line, Fast-Entry)
TIP: Various massages can also be booked with your entry ticket!
Museums, Art Galleries
Museums in Budapest are open from Tuesday to Sunday usually between 10.00 – 18.00 (last entry is usually at 17.30 or 17.00).
On National and Public Holidays some museums are open even if it’s Monday (they are closed the next day, Tuesday though).
TIP: Gold of the Incas Exhibition
Address: Király utca 26. Budapest 1061, district VII.
Opening Hours: every day: 09.00 – 20.00, Ticket office: 08.30 – 19.30 – Last entry: at 18.30
Tickets (weekday/weekend):
- adult: 3 800 HUF/4 400 HUF,
- student, senior: 2 900 HUF/3 500 HUF
- children (aged 6 – 14): 2 500 HUF/2 800 HUF
- family (2 adults+max. 3 kids): 10 500 HUF/11 900 HUF
You can get easily get there by public transport:
- M1, M2, M3 metro lines – Get off at Deák tér station, then a couple of minutes walk
- Trams No. 47 and No. 49 – get off at Deák tér stop
- Trolley buses No. 70 and No. 78 – Akácfa utca stop, a short walk from there
- Trams 4 and 6, Király utca stop, an 8-10 minute walk
This unique and spectacular exhibition introducing the history and gold treasure of the famous Andes people, is a great program and its open all through the Easter weekend.
The vast collection includes hundreds of artefacts, around 150 original ones dating back to hundreds and thousands of years.
The 2 500 sqm display hall also features:
- models of original buildings and ritual sites,
- a wealth of up-to-date scientific knowledge on creatively designed graphic panles
- information displayed on large cinema and TV screens.
National Gallery (Buda Castle)
Address: Szent György tér 2., district I. inside the Royal Palace
Tickets:
- permanent exhibits: full price: 1 800 HUF, students, seniors: 900 HUF, free with Budapest Card
- temporary exhibits: from around 2 600 HUF
The Hungarian National Gallery will be
- open on 10 – 12. April, from 10.00 – 18.00 (cashier is open till 17.00)
- closed: on 13. April, Tuesday
Besides temporary exhibits you can view the following permanent displays:
- Gothic Art in the Hungarian Kingdom, 1300 – 1500
- Late Gothic Winged Altarpieces
- Nude Sculptures from the Turn of the Century
- Art in the 19th Century
- Mihály Munkácsy and the Realism of the Fin-de-siècle
- Modern Times – Hungarian Art Between 1896 and World War II
- Shifts – Hungarian Art After 1945
- Highlights from the Collection of International Art after 1800
TIP: The museum offers guided tours in English for free. See dates and time here.
Budapest History Museum/Castle Museum
Address: Szent György tér 2., “E” Building of the Royal Palace
Tickets:
- free with Budapest Card,
- full price: 2 000 HUF,
- student (ages 6 – 16): 1 000 HUF,
- senior (ages 65 – 70): 1 000 HUF
The History Museum will be closed on Easter Monday/02. April.
It is open on Easter Sunday – and the other days of the holiday – between 10.00 – 18.00.
The museum is a great place to learn about the city’s history from the earliest times till current days. It is in Buda Castle in the Royal Palace, one of the top attractions of Budapest.
Note: Buda Castle is more of a district than a single building and it doesn’t have opening hours. It welcomes visitors all year round. The handful of museums/smaller attractions do have opening hours though.
TIP: Set aside at least 2 hours for visiting the museum. The exhibitions are quite large and encompass several historical periods.
Hungarian National Museum
Address: Múzeum krt. 14-16., district VIII.
The National Museum will be:
- open on 10., 11. April, and on Easter Sunday: 12. April, between 10.00 – 18.00
- closed on 13. April/Monday.
Admission fees (permanent exhibits):
- full price: 1 600 HUF,
- student and senior: 800 HUF
See also the museum’s official website.
Visitors can get in-depth information on the history of Hungary and Hungarians. King St. Stephen’s – the nation’s 1st king – coronation mantle is the highlight of the museum.
House of Terror
Address: Andrássy út 60., district VI.
Getting there: Millenium Underground, get off at Vörösmarty utca or trams 4, 6, Oktogon stop, a short walk from there
General opening hours:
- Tue – Sun: 10.00 – 18.00, cashier closes at 17.30,
- the msueum is open on Easter Sunday, 21. April, but close don Easter Monday 22. April
Tickets:
- full price: 3 000 HUF,
- students (aged 6 26), seniors (aged 65 – 70): 1 500 HUF
- temporary exhibits: 2 000 HUF
Exhibitions and rooms furnished according to original historical details relate the history of the fascist and communist terror in Hungary during and after World War II.
You can find out more on the museum’s website.
Vajdahunyad Castle – Museum of Agriculture
Address: Vajdahunyadvár, Városliget Budapest, district XIV.
General Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 10.00 – 17.00,
Easter period: Open on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday & Monday (10.00 – 17.00)
Admission
(also valid for all permanent and temp. exhibits):
- adults: 1 750 HUF
- children (ages: 3 -14), retirees (62+): 1 550 HUF,
- family (2 + 29: 5 950 HUF
Recommended ages: 4 – 99
TIP: Magical Space Exhibition, till 26. May 2019
The Agriculture Museum regularly has exciting themed exhibits/adventure games for children in spring.
This year the Magical Space Interactive Exhibition invites everyone to a galactic adventure and imaginary space travel on 1 000 sqm.
During the adventure visitors will learn about the laws and nature of space. Besides a colourful notebook upon entry, everyone receives a reward at the end of the journey.
It’s a fun and educational program for the whole family!
Jewish Museum & Archives
Address: Dohány utca 2., Bp. 1077, district VII.
General opening hours:
- March 05 – April 29.: Sunday – Thursday: 10.00 – 18.00, Friday: 10.00 – 16.00
- April 30 – September 30.: Sunday – Thursday: 10.00 – 20.00, Friday: 10.00 – 16.00
Easter Opening Hours: same as the synagogue’s below
The museum is a tribute to Hungarian Jewish culture and heritage.
You can view historical collections, religious relics, photos as well as thematic temporary exhibitions.
Dohány Street Synagogue
Address: Dohány utca 2., Bp. 1074, district VII.
General opening hours: CLOSED on Saturdays,
Spring & Autumn (01. March – 25. April and 02. October – 25. October)
- Sunday – Thursday: 10.00 – 18.00
- Fridays: 10.00 – 16.00
Summer (28. April – 28. September)
- Sunday – Thursday: 10.00 – 20.00
- Fridays: 10.00 – 16.00
At Easter the Great Synagogue is closed on
- April 10. – Good Friday
- April 12. – Easter Sunday[
It will be open on Easter Monday between 10.00 – 18.00.
It will be partially open on April 05. (closes at 14.00. The synagogue will also be closed on April 06.
TIP: You can visit the Great Synagogue and other Jewish sights on a guided tour, starting at 10.00 every day in April, except Saturdays and on Easter Sunday (12. Apr) and Good Friday (10. Apr).
St. Stephen’s Basilica
Address: Szt. István tér 1, Bp., 1051
Open for tourists: Mon – Fri: 09.00 – 17.00, Sat: 09.00- 13.00, Sun: 13.00 – 17.00 – religious rituals/ceremonies might change the general opening hours.
The Basilica on Szent István Square will have religious ceremonies relating to the holiday:
Good Friday, 10. Apr: Commemorating the Suffering of the Lord
- 09.00 am – Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis)
- 18.00 – Good Friday ceremonies: unveiling the cross, Passion According to St. John the Evangelist sung by the Basilica’s Choir.
Holy Saturday, 11. Apr – Easter Vigil Ceremony
18.00 – Fire, the consecration of Easter candle, the joy of Easter, Baptism, Resurrection procession.
Holy Mass Presented by Dr. Peter Erdő Cardinal Primate, Archbishop
Easter Sunday, 12. April – Celebration of Christ’s Resurrection
Masses:
- 08.30 – Food Blessing
- 10.00 – Festive Mass
- 12.00
- 18.00
Easter Monday, 13. April
Masses:
- 08.30
- 10.00
- 12.00
- 18.00
Matthias Church (Buda Castle)
Address: Szentháromság tér 2., Bp. 1014., district I.
Easter opening hours for tourists:
- Maundy Thursday, 09. April: 09.00 – 17.00
- Good Friday, 10. Apr: 09.00 – 14.00, Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis) ceremony starts at 15.00
- Holy Saturday: the church is closed for visitors, only open for worshippers.
Easter Sunday, 12. April:
- 08.30 Mass with organ
- 10.00 Ceremonious high mass
- 12.00 Mass with organ (music)
- 17.30 Litany
- 18.00 Mass with guitar
- Tourists can visit the church: 13.00 – 17.00
Parliament & Visitor Center
Address: Kossuth tér 1-3., Bp. 1055, district V. (tram 2 or M2 metro)
The imposing building of the Parliament on Kossuth tér will be open to visitors each day of the holiday.
TIP: Guided Parliament Tour + Danube Cruise
See the historic building on a 1-hour guided tour then enjoy a nice boat tour with buffet meal starting at 14.00.
Guided tours in English, German, Italian and other languages are also available and can be booked here.
You can also view the free exhibitions
- on the Hungarian legislation,
- In memoriam 1956 and
- the Lapidarium.
Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden
Address: Állatkerti krt. 6-12., Városliget, district XIV.
Getting there:
- M1 (yellow) metro line, get off at Széchenyi fürdő stop or
- trolley bus 72 (Állatkert stop), or 75, 79 ( Állatkerti út stop)
- buses 20E, 30, 30A and 105: Hősök tere stop
The Zoo in the City park will be open throughout Easter according to regular opening hours:
- March: Mon – Thurs: 09.00 – 17.00, animal houses: 10.00 – 16.30, Fri -Sun: 09.00 – 17.30, animal houses: 10.00 – 17.00
- April: Mon – Thurs: 09.00 – 17.30, animal houses: 10.00 – 17.00, Fri -Sun: 09.00 – 18.00, animal houses: 10.00 – 17.30
TIP: The Zoo usually hosts special programs over the Easter weekend such as bunny petting, show feedings, and animal shows as well as programs in the Magic Hill/Varázshegy.
Sightseeing Tours, Danube Cruises
Most tours – walk tours, (see the Parliament tour above), Segway tour, hop on hop off bus tours are available on each day of the holiday.
Boat tours on the Danube will also run every day, including:
TIP: The gigantic Ferris Wheel on Erzsébet Square will also operate at Easter.
Public Transport
Services will run as follows:
- 09 Apr/Thursday – according to Friday schedule in school holiday
- 10 Apr/Good Friday – Sunday/public holiday schedule
- 11 Apr/Saturday – normal Saturday schedule
- 12 Apr/Sunday & 13. Apr/Monday – Sunday/public holiday schedule
See more details on the Public Transportation Company’s (BKK) website.
Related:
April Things to Do – Easter in the Várkert Bazaar – Spring Fair on Vörösmarty Sqr.
