If you are travelling to Budapest and are unsure if the city is open on Sundays, you have made the right choice! You’re in the right place! This blog post will be a resource for you to have an understanding of the operating hours of the many establishments in Budapest that will allow you to navigate the city on the weekend.
Shops and Retail Stores
Budapest’s Sundays were formerly quiet days, when most shops and retail stores were shut, until recently. Since the rise of the tourism, shops and stores have gradually begun to open on Sundays, most on major streets (such as Váci Street, Andrassy Avenue, etc.) and major shopping centres.
Big shopping malls in Budapest, such as WestEnd City Center, Arena Plaza, and Corvin Plaza, are open on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. These malls provide a large choice in offered shops, for example shop, electronics, supermarket, etc..
There are also smaller convenience stores, called “non-stop,” “24/7,” or even “open 24 hours,” scattered throughout the city, that can also be open around the clock even on Sundays. Essentials, snacks, drinks are just a few items you can purchase at these stores.
Markets
If you’re looking to roam around the local markets of Budapest, you’re in luck! The largest markets such as the Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok), are open on Sundays. A must visit is the Great Market Hall which is the city centre’s busy district for local produce, Hungarian foods, spices, souvenirs and more. It is open from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays.
Restaurants and Cafes
Budapest is a foodie town and most restaurants and cafes are open on Sundays. You will find it from the traditional Hungarian cuisine to the international flavours. If, like many other establishments, yours has limited hours on Sundays, especially outside tourist areas, you’ll still have several options from which to choose.
If you are thinking about dining in a popular restaurant, it’s always good to make a reservation especially during huge crowd season. With this you’re guaranteeing you get a table and avoid disappointments.
Tourist Attractions
Budapest is a city that doesn’t let the Sun down on tourist attractions and cultural sites on Sundays. The city’s major tourist attractions, including Buda Castle, Széchenyi Thermal Bath and Hungarian Parliament Building continue to be open on Sundays, so tourists can explore and get soaked in the splendor of the city.
Nevertheless, little smaller museums or attractions perhaps have lower hours or they could be shut on Sundays. However, always good to check the official websites or the appeal directly first if they have an accurate operating hours.
Public Transportation
Sundays are busy for Budapest’s public transport system, including buses, trams and metros but on the day less often. The trains also run on Sundays (making day trips around to nearby towns or attractions outside of the city super convenient).
Also, note, that in the weekends especially Sundays there may be fewer frequent departures and longer intervals between services. You can either check in advance the transport schedules or utilize mobile apps to see when you will arrive live.
Conclusion
Certainly Budapest is open on Sundays, so your options for visiting it and enjoying yourself are broad. Whether you’re shopping and markets or eating and looking at tourist attractions, you’ll never be short of things to do on Sundays in this amazing city. Remember, though, that that smaller venues and/or attractions might be on shorter hours so before you plan your itinerary or visit, check their schedules.
