What if anything is open in Budapest October 23, 2026 (uprising day)

"Uprising Day" sounds like what the russians would call it. LOL 1956 Revolution Commemoration Day or sometimes Republic Day are more common translations.

The shopping malls and all stores not dependent on tourist trade will be closed (so many will be open). Most restaurants and bars dependent on tourist trade will be open. The bath houses will be open. Public transportation will run, but on the holiday schedule. A few museums will be open and free but packed with people. Sightseeing river cruises continue. There will be street celebrations some neutral, some pro government and some against. This year there were two gatherings that exceeded 200,000 each. All peaceful and quick cleanup after. Not a bad day to visit neighborhoods for the architecture. Not a great day to try and walk across Andrassy ut, but up and down it to see the activities, yes. All in all a fun and educational time to be here.

Here is a pretty good resource. https://oktober23.kormany.hu/

All in all a fun and educational time to be here.

Interesting link describing 2025 events https://www.budapestbylocals.com/23rd-october-1956-revolution/

However, no one can predict how the atmosphere will be within a year. Hungary is the first EU pariah, increasingly isolated in the world. Orbán also faces economic and corruption problems domestically, which may help rising political challengers and makes the behavior of the population in future manifestations unpredictable.

So, if you would rather spend some time in peace on 23 October, get away from the hustle and bustle of Budapest and spend a day out of town. There are many places to visit around the capital: explore the Danube Bend, Gödöllő or the Etyek wine region https://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/outings-around-budapest

So, does this mean you are flying out on the 25th of October? That’s a good stay. So roughly speaking
Tuesday 20 / arrive mid-day
Wednesday 21 / half of Pest
Thursday 22 / Jewish half of Pest / Good night for a play or opera or ballet
Friday 23 / Buda Castle district and Szentendre (but would want to confirm what is open and happening in Szentendre).

Saturday 24 / special day for a particular interest which could be trains, art, museums, markets, deeper into Jewish history, bathhouse, Gödöllő, wine
Sunday 25 / fly home
If you haven’t found a hotel yet, https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-updated-hotel-list
When we get closer to the date, I will do something like this: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/list-of-budapest-events-july-through-october-25

Keep in mind that the holiday on the 23rd isn’t a Budapest holiday, it’s a National holiday. Things that will be open on the 23rd will be those things that serve the holiday, like museums, and those things that serve tourists. Going out of the city to escape tourism may mean heading to where everything is closed.

The talk about politics is pretty off the mark, but the suggestions do have merit.

The royal palace at Gödöllő is in a Budapest suburb and getting there is easy on the H8 commuter train. I suspect a good chance for something special might be going on for the holiday. The museum and the palace is open on that day.

"Exploring" the Danube Bend is a really difficult thing. The landmarks are open, but I doubt you will find many shops or restaurants or secondary stops that will be open on the 23rd of October. A lot of people want to see all three towns in a day, and it’s a really had day if you try. But two of the three are possible but best done by car. In Szentendre I don’t know for a fact, but I suspect that most of the old town of will be open. That’s about 45-minute trip from Budapest on the H5 commuter train. Visegrád is a bit further and more involved to reach but the Citadel (castle) will be open. Esztergom is still further away and the Basilica will be open.

Etyek can be a lot of fun, but it’s a Friday, Saturday or Sunday place to go. The 23rd is on a Friday and I wonder who will work on Saturday and Sunday or just enjoy the 3-day weekend. For Etyek, if that interests you, I suggest you do it with a wine tour guide that knows the wineries can confirm who is open and who is not open, and can arrange a for a good day (if possible that weekend at all). There is a festival of sorts every October but its generally the week prior to your arrival. https://etyekipiknik.hu/en/

Windyram,

Good post! Thanks

Happy travels

Windyram’s link is a good overview of the day, as well as some history. As far as Orban and his politics and the status of that part of the world, well, a year is kind of a long time and I doubt will have much impact on the ability to visit Budapest (and whether or not those politics affect the desire to visit is something we aren’t really supposed to talk about but would affect a whole visit and not just one day).

MR Ê has also given you a good breakdown of a potential itinerary.

I will add that I was there for Revolution Day 3 years ago, as well as for half the day last month. Regardless of marches and speeches (no riots or violence or crime), the castle area had programs and games for families. It was a family day out. Other than trying to cross Andrassy (I didn’t), I had more trouble with a bike event messing up traffic on a previous visit.

There would be plenty to do and see (as the link shows) but if you wanted to head to Szentendre or Gödöllő, check hours first. I personally thought it was a good chance to see something very cultural (and I am sure all the posters here are aware the largest march this year was for Orban’s upcoming opponent).

I was complimenting windyram for noting that it would be better to not consider this "an all in all fun time" but rather that It is primarily a somber and reflective occasion. Tom the founder of our company (I was a minor partner) escaped as a child from Hungary with his family in '56. Much later we opened a small office in Budapest, which his cousin ran the office. We closed the office and Tom unfortunately has passed away. His cousin is still living there though.

I appreciated Windyram's frank assessment and concerns too. Of course I wouldn't let future worries of potential political change make me change plans beyond windyram's suggestions of things to consider outside of the city -- and also keeping an eye out.

I thought it was a good post!

Happy travels!

I've the 1956 Revolution Commemoration day 4 times that I can remember so I would guess maybe 5 times in all; and I have been here for many of the other rallies. I wont even call them protests, they are more rallies for one group or another. This year had the three largest rallies in history I believe; 2 on 23 October. I live 150m from the anti-government rally that filled most of the length of Andrassy ut 23 October and so I did go and visit it. Here are the enraged protesters: https://youtube.com/shorts/zxc3nWqmdag?si=ThHzk_9G0Hzpu9Xl

Ahhhh, but before someone else posts it.... cars were burned on Andrassy ut (a charcoal grill inside one of the cars) and rioters (actors) hid behind them when they heard the sound (recorded) of russian tanks approaching. https://youtu.be/K3ahXxD4N0Q?si=OWcSDcThVcm_zRJ5 There were a few of these along Andrassy ut and a couple of huge screens showing the history of '56. It was a pretty good day to be in Budapest.

The rallies were done with permits issued by the city of Budapest which has no great love for the federal government. It was reported that they began and ended within the limits of the permits. If I hadnt seen this before I would have been amazed, but when the rally ended and the 200.000 went home they stopped and picked up trash. The next morning you wouldnt know that anything had happened the day prior. The violence you see in other cultures just does not seem to be a part of this culture. I pray it remains that way. Questions are good, assumptions rarely have much value.

I have learned a lot from reading these replies! Thank you! I’m not sure why some search engine or another told me this holiday was called uprising day but I appreciate the correction.

Thank you all for links to local resources so I can be more prepared as we near the date of travel.

Mr E suggested an itinerary as follows, but we are leaving Saturday, not Sunday. Would you counsel me how to revise in light of the fact we fly home on a Saturday, late morning? Just chop off the suggestions for Saturday or should we move things around a bit? I think it would be nice to visit a thermal bath. We’ll be seeing Rome earlier on the trip so there’d be some symmetry seeing the ruins of what once were elegant Romans baths (eg the baths of caracalla, the Lacoon now in the Vatican museums that used to adorn it) and the existing elegant baths in Budapest. My husband is musical and so a concert or opera is a great suggestion. I’m still working on booking our flights between the destinations and not sure if we have the time or energy to take up your suggestion of going from the airport to Szentendre and the boating into Budapest. I like the suggestion but I don’t want to overpack the agenda.

“ Tuesday 20 / arrive mid-day
Wednesday 21 / half of Pest
Thursday 22 / Jewish half of Pest / Good night for a play or opera or ballet
Friday 23 / Buda Castle district and Szentendre (but would want to confirm what is open and happening in Szentendre).

Saturday 24 / special day for a particular interest which could be trains, art, museums, markets, deeper into Jewish history, bathhouse, Gödöllő, wine
Sunday 25 / fly home“

Per Wikipedia:

Hungarian Revolution of 1956

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Part of the Cold War

Date 23 June – 11 November 1956
23 October – 3 November 1956 (main phase)
4–11 November 1956 (suppression) Location

Hungary
Result Revolution suppressed
Belligerents
Soviet Union
Until 28 October:
Hungary

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 (23 October – 4 November 1956; Hungarian: 1956-os forradalom), also known as the Hungarian Uprising, was an attempted countrywide revolution against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1989) and the policies caused by the government's subordination to the Soviet Union (USSR).[nb 2]

Tuesday 20 / arrive mid-day and do Andrassy ut and the Danube Corso. Great architecture, the Opera House and spectacular views along the river.

Wednesday 21 / half of Pest. This would be from the Central Market Hall to Parliament and points in-between.

Thursday 22 / Jewish half of Pest, I would do a guided tour to get the most out of it. Then the ruin pubs just to see what they look like if not partake. / Good night for a play or opera or ballet
Friday 23 / Because of the 1956 Revolution Commemoration (practice a little Hungarian so you can impress: 1956-os forradalom ünnepe) you are going to be a bit limited on this date.

The museums will all be open, but they will be crowded. If there is one of great interest to you, then do it when it opens. Otherwise, I think I would go to the Szechenyi Baths in the morning since I know you have that interest. Plan on at least 2 hours and 3 isn’t crazy. If you want a massage, I suggest you book it well in advance. The baths will be busy that day as this holiday shares some in common with how Americans do the 4th of July (or did when I was younger) with family and friend activities. There will be rallies not too far from the bathhouse but if like past years they will be a late afternoon thing and peaceful.

Then there are a few other ideas to consider for later in the day, but to be honest this day and any day for musical or theater performances you need to wait until about May of next year. Then the music schedules will be out and in September most of the plans for the 23rd around town will be known. But think about the Royal Palace of Gödöllő was an excellent, but given that this holiday brings out the Nationalists I don’t know how crowded the palace will be. Maybe fine. I really don’t know. The other to consider is the Castle District (my first choice). There is always something going on on this day in and around the castle. I would give the Castle Museum a try, very interesting museum. And finally, Szentendre where the open-air museum this past year had a special exhibition detailing the 1956 Revolution. https://skanzen.hu/en

For dinner on this date, maybe a restaurant with live entertainment, so its sort of an event?

Thank you Mr. E, for taking the time to propose a revised itinerary for me and my husband. You are making it very easy to come and visit your city! Thank you for that!

I have saved the details in my trip planning document and will plan on setting a reminder to check the schedule for concerts and operas in the springtime, April/May-ish, so that we can get some evening events onto the agenda.

I'm not sure if we want to try to book a massage at the Baths, but, I'll check in with my better half and see how he'd like to proceed, then try to set a reminder to book for the holiday date in the AM. Ending with a "spa day" or a "spa morning" doesn't seem like a poor way to end a long trip.

Its fun, I am happy to help. We did enough so you know it will work. Now wait till the date is a little closer and I can help you tie things down. Its a bit early still.

So, after seeing your Vienna post, I am assuming that you are considering arriving in Budapest by train on the 20th of October. Excellent. You will arrive at Keleti Station. I would suggest you take the 9:40 train to Budapest. That means you leave for the station at 8:40 by taxi or the U1 metro. That way you have time for breakfast and that gets you there a little early, but nothing is wrong with that in a new station.

You arrive in Budapest at 12:19 if the train is on time, but it rarely is, unfortunately. But you should be here by 12:40. The 2nd class trip will probably be under 30 euro with the seat reservation or 1st class probably under 40 euro with the seat reservation (do get the seat reservation) if you book it through MAV https://jegy.mav.hu/ Probably more expensive if you book through OBB, but maybe not. Worth checking. Do download the MAV app if you buy the ticket from them. Just easier to show your ticket to the conductor.

Your hotel in Vienna is a very nice 3-star hotel in a sweet location for tourism and I am guessing about 130euro a night. So the cost equivalent in Budapest in an equally attractive hotel is the 4 star Hotel Oktogon https://hoteloktogon.hu/home or maybe the Hotel Up for a more modern upgrade https://uphotelbudapest.com/ and here are some others to look at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-updated-hotel-list

Traveling light? From the train station you can take public transportation to both of those hotels. You will get off your train, go down the stairs at the front of the station and ahead on the right you will see the BKK office. Buy a 15 Budapest Pass https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/15-day-budapest-pass/ . I know you don’t need 15 days, but the 72-hour card is too short and the difference in cost is about $1. Now, you follow the signs to the M2 Metro line in the direction of Déli pályaudvar. Go one stop, get off and walk up the stairs to the street. Welcome to Budapest.

You will see a beautiful yellow tram. That is the 4 or the 6 tram. It doesn’t matter which you get on. You will take it in the direction of Széll Kálmán tér. You will get off at the 3rd stop “Oktogon”. Try and sit on the right side of the tram. Along the way you will see some wonderful architecture including the famous NY Café.

At the Oktogon you are a short walk to the two hotels I suggested and to most of the hotels on that list. You should be checked in and ready to start exploring by 13:30.

Or you can take a taxi. Download and use the City Taxi App https://citytaxi.hu/ and yes, Uber and Bolt will work too, but as standard taxi cabs that you pay on the meter.

Hello again Mr. E:

I was assuming we would fly, but your advice, once again, is saving me time, treasure, & trouble.

The train appears to be the better option all around from a Vienna to Budapest connection.

An added bonus I assume is that if we are not flying, I will not need to worry about the weight of my toothpaste tube and the amount of shampoo I have in my suitcase in order to get from Vienna to Budapest! JOY!

We expect to stay at the 3 Corner's Hotel Ave Hotel, near to Oktagon. You are correct that Hotel Three Corner's Ave is running about 133.20 Euro per night for 2 persons for a weekday, and about 151.20 Euro per night Saturday/Sunday, when directly booking, at a rate allowing a full refund with reasonable prior notice of cancellation. There was no "bump" in rate related to the weekday Republic Day Holiday in our case, that I can see.

Fun facts: Hotel Austria in Vienna charges roughly 136.5 Euro per night for a standard double room, direct book, fully refundable with reasonable prior notice, this rate being based (so I was informed) on an 8% early bird discount, and the rate includes a breakfast and 24-hour reception. I can no longer see a breakdown of cost per night, but this average cost per night rate is based on a saying over a weekend. Nicht schlecht. In contrast, Pension Suzanne in Vienna was charging roughly 194Euro per night for the same kind of room, similar full refund policy, also over a weekend, and does not include breakfast and reception closes at 11pm at night.

The Hotel Austria is marketed as a 3-Star, but sometimes the difference between 3 and 4 is something so small as a required tick box that you would never miss it. I say that because the Hotel Austria looks very nice for a 3 start, and the price, especially for Vienna, is very good. The Three Corners is marketed as a 4 star and its price is pretty much in line with the other 4 star hotels in the same area. I live a short walk away and walk past it from time to time but have never been in it. It looks like a boutique hotel and I suspect that it only occupies part of the building it is located in .... but dont know that as a fact. But thats sort of common here.

The choice will put you right next to Andrassy ut so getting aroud will be so easy. But at the Oktogon? A tiny stretch in description. Here is the hotel. The entrance is near those two flags: https://maps.app.goo.gl/k4zkid3BEGRQR59z7

Getting to the hotel from the train station, if you choose to take public transportation will be very easy but will require some walking down Andrassy ut which looks like this https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Andr%C3%A1ssy_%C3%BAt_Budapest_1896.jpg ooops, sorry. Here is a newer photograph: https://pohcdn.com/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph__text_with_image___twi_image/public/2022-07/opera_0.jpg

Here are the routes from the train station. I woud do the one that involves the M2 and the 4/6 Tram as fiding the bus stop at the train staion is a bit of a chalenge. Also the 4/6 is a bit more interesting for looking out he window. https://maps.app.goo.gl/frr1RX74j4witjTw7

22 October, pretty sure this will be open. https://youtu.be/QndU3I1mfqo?si=fN_vN_9UdSkp5ajZ