Budapest Market Halls are open throughout the year with regular Market Hall Opening Hours, which are affected by Hungarian public / bank holidays to celebrate the rich history and culture of Hungary.
Hungary is a country rich in culture, history, and traditions, which also means that there are special days when Hungarians celebrate and shops are closed, special events are scheduled, which may affect how you plan your trip to Budapest, Hungary. We think one of the best ways to experience Budapest and the Hungarian culture is through its public holidays and non-working days even if it means that the Market Halls in Budapest are closed on these days.
Monthly Summary: Public Holidays and Bank Holiday Hungary
The following national public holiday days, celebrated throughout the year, provide not only a glimpse into Hungary’s national identity but also offer an opportunity for travellers to witness unique festivals, customs, and traditions that define the nation’s character. Here is a monthly overview of the key holidays and how they impact the travel opportunities in Budapest Grand Market Hall (Vasarcsarnok) and the tourism landscape in Hungary.
January – New Year’s Day / NYD
Hungarians ring in the New Year with festive celebrations on January 1st, a public holiday and non-working day. Visitors will find the streets quieter as locals recover from the evening’s festivities of Hungary, and of course, Budapest New Year’s Eve celebrations. Some of the best places to experience New Year’s in Hungary are Budapest’s many public squares, where fireworks and music fill the night sky. The Markets in Budapest do not open on Jan 1 public holiday but will welcome you back on Jan 2 onwards with regular opening hours.
March – National Day (Historical)
One of Hungary’s most important holidays is March 15th, marking the anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution against Habsburg rule and occupation. The day is filled with patriotic pride, and travellers can enjoy military parades, reenactments, and ceremonies at iconic locations like Kossuth Square and Buda Castle. Expect many businesses to be closed, including the Market Hall in Budapest. That said, some of the major national museums and cultural sites are still open and hold special exhibitions, often letting visitors enter free of charge (expect long queues, accordingly).
The Markets in Budapest do not open on March 15 public holiday but will welcome you before or after this day, depending on the annual status of the nearby dates. If March 15 e.g. is on a Tuesday, the Hungarian government may arrange a special four day long weekend as public holidays connected to each other. Please check the opening times closer to the date for the year of your visit.
April – Easter: Good Friday and Easter Monday (Spring Holidays)
Easter is a significant holiday in Hungary, and both Good Friday and Easter Monday are nationwide religious national holidays. Good Friday, introduced as a non-working day in 2017, is a solemn day, while Easter Monday is marked by fun – for some, outdated and slowly dying out – traditions like “locsolkodás” (the custom of sprinkling water or perfume on women seen as flowers who thrive better if sprinkled / cared for). Tourists visiting during this time can experience open air Easter markets, traditional Hungarian dishes, and church services in the city of Budapest. However, the Market Hall in Budapest is not open. Please schedule your market tour or visit before Easter or after Easter Monday is over (a moving date every year, so there is no set date for Easter for a given year).
May – Labour Day (International)
Celebrated on May 1st, Labour Day is a public holiday in Hungary, when many locals spend the day outdoors, attending fairs, festivals, and public concerts. The holiday kicks off the start of the outdoor season, and parks like the gree oasis of Varosliget (City Park) in Budapest come alive with activities. It’s an excellent time for tourists to engage with chill out activities in parks (weather allowing). On May 1 all Budapest Market Halls are closed. n on Jan 1 public holiday but will welcome you back on Jan 2 onwards with regular opening hours.
The Markets in Budapest do not open on 1st of May international public holiday but will be open before or after this day, depending on the annual status of the nearby dates. If 1 May is on a Thursday, for example, the Hungarian government may arrange a special four day long weekend as public holidays connected to each other (making May 2 in this case a special temporary holiday for the given year). Please check the opening hours closer to your date of market visit / market tour.
August – Saint Stephen’s Day (Foundation Celebrations)
On August 20th, Hungary honours its first king and the founding of the Hungarian state with Saint Stephen’s Day as well as the Day of Bread. This is one of the biggest national holidays, filled with parades, processions, and a spectacular fireworks display over the Danube River in Budapest (see some Fireworks Cruises in Budapest). Saint Stephen’s Day is the perfect opportunity for tourists to immerse themselves in Hungarian history, culture, and tradition.
Many businesses, markets and shops close on Aug 20, including the Great Market Hall in Budapest, but you will find plenty of streetfood vendors and food stalls at the foot of the Buda Castle Hill where a whole street is closed off from vehicle traffic and turned into a Gastro Street on Aug 19 and Aug 20 every year. Up on Buda Castle Hill there is a charming festival called the Hungarian Festival of Crafts (Mestersegek Unnepe) where you can buy unique handmade items.
October – Republic Day (Nemzeti Ünnep)
October 23rd commemorates the 1956 Hungarian Uprising against Soviet occupation, which ended, as you may have guessed, with the victory of Soviet tanks and the start of Hungary’s relatively lightweight dictatorship dubbed ‘goulash communism’. 23 Oct is a day of remembrance and national pride. While it is a non-working national holiday, major tourist attractions in Budapest, such as the Hungarian Parliament and Heroes’ Square, are often focal points for commemorations (and / or protests). Travellers visiting during this time can gain deeper insight into Hungary’s contemporary 20th century history and political legacy.
23 Oct is a public holiday when the Central Market Hall on Vamhaz krt will be closed. If Oct 23 falls on a weekday close to a weekend, e.g. Tue or Fri, the Hungarian government may arrange a special four day long weekend as a chain of public holidays . Please check the opening hours of the Market Hall closer to the date for the year of your visit.
November – All Saints’ Day (after Halloween)
November 1st is All Saints’ Day, a day for Hungarians to honour their deceased loved ones. It is a solemn holiday marked by visiting cemeteries and lighting candles. While it is a non-working day, tourists will find a peaceful atmosphere in cities like Budapest, where locals gather to remember their ancestors. Cemeteries, such as Fiumei Road Cemetery, become particularly beautiful, bathed in candlelight at dusk.
Halloween, Oct 31 is moderately celebrated in Hungary due to the international cultural influence of Anglo American traditions (pumpkin lanterns, dressing up in costumes, party), but this is mostly limited to Budapest and is not a public holiday.
December – Christmas Holidays
The Christmas season in Hungary is magical, starting with Christmas Eve on December 24th and extending through Christmas Day on December 25th and Boxing Day on December 26th. These are all public holidays, and many businesses close for the festive period but there is always something nice to do in Budapest city.
Christmas markets, such as those at St Stephen’s Basilica and on Vorosmarty Square in central Budapest, are popular tourist destinations, offering handmade artisan gifts, traditional foods (pricy), and live musical gigs and performances. Tourists can also enjoy Hungary’s unique holiday traditions, including hearty Christmas feasts and the ceremonial lighting of Advent candles.
The Great Market Hall, along with the lesser known markets in Budapest, is closed on Dec 25, Dec 26. Dec 24 morning the market may still be open but all the shops and markets close early. 12pm – 2pm will see stores closing down and the public transport getting far less frequent. By around 4-6pm the city is quieter and Hungarians enjoy Christmas Eve celebrations as the peak of the Christmas holidays (which is different from other countries accent on Christmas Day and Boxing Day). So watch out on Dec 24 as it is a short day!
Festive Moving Days: Check the Calendar
Hungary’s public holidays provide a unique window into its national heritage and cultural richness, but they will affect the opening times of Budapest markets and Market Halls. While these non-working days may mean that some services are unavailable, you will often see festive alternatives specifically designed around a major event in Budapest. For tourists planning to see the beautiful architecture of Budapest Market Hall, it is helpful to be aware of these public holidays and how they might affect the availability of services, transportation, and other major attractions.
If in doubt, add your question in a comment or send us an email at info at budapestmarkethall .com
