2020 - Budapest Guide

New rules for entering Hungary (valid from July 15th)

Posted on July 13, 2020July 13, 2020 by Budapest Guide

We had a little break from the coronavirus topics in the newspapers for some week, but now they are returning once again. Due to the raising number of cases worldwide, and also in Europe, Hungary has decided to alter the rules and regulations related to who can enter Hungary.

Based on the new rules, valid from July 15th in 2020, the world is divided into three zones.

The Green Zone

EU countries not mentioned in the yellow zone.

People from these countries can freely enter and enjoy their summer in Budapest and in Hungary. There is no need to enter a quarantine after arrival.

The Yellow Zone

UK, US, Serbia, Romania, Sweden, Portugal, Bulgaria, Norway, Russia, China and Japan.

For people from these nations to come to Hungary, they will need to have two tests made within the last five days to confirm that they are well. If not, they will have to enter a 14-day quarantine upon arrival to Budapest.

The Red Zone

Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Kosovo, North-Macedonia, Moldovia, Montenegro, Ukraine, and all other countries of the world not mentioned elsewhere in the other zones.

People from these countries are not allowed to enter Hungary at all.

Make sure to stay up to date before coming to Budapest, because things change very quickly!

EU Members: Welcome to Budapest!

Posted on June 18, 2020August 2, 2022 by Budapest Guide

From June 19th, it will be free for EU members to visit Hungary. That is, if you live in an EU country, you can freely travel to Hungary and enjoy your summer holiday eating Goulash soup in Budapest, or swimming in the beautiful Lake Balaton.

Budapest Coronavirus — Welcome to Budapest – Source: Pixabay

This is fantastic news and something we have been waiting for a long time.

A frequently asked question has been about the UK. Are people in England part of the European Union, or are they not? Can people from the UK come to Hungary? According to official sources, people form the UK are still not allowed to enter Hungary. You can read more here and here.

But, what about Norway? What about Iceland? And what about Switzerland?

Those countries are no exception, meaning that people from these countries are also allowed to enter Hungary from June 19th. As a result, you can book your flight tickets, get in your car, and be ready to come and visit Budapest and Hungary once again. If you come from one of these countries, you will not need to enter a quarantine after your arrival to Budapest.

Let us hope it will remain like this for a long time. But, if a second wave will come this autumn, the borders will most likely close again. You can find updates and more information at www.budapestguide.org.

Germans can now enter Hungary without limitations!

Posted on June 8, 2020June 8, 2020 by Budapest Guide

The Hungarian minster of Foreign Affairs (Peter Szijjarto) announced yesterday that people from Germany can now freely enter Hungary. This is good news for Hungarians living in Germany who wants to come home, and it is awesome news for Germans who want to come to Budapest for their summer holiday.

Hungary is slowly opening up their borders, and last week, it was made possible for people from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria to visit Hungary without limitations. Now the same can be said about people from Germany.

Germans can come to Budapest again — *Germans can once again visit Budapest and Hungary.*

This is good news, not only for those visiting Budapest, but also for those who want to spend their summer holiday by Lake Balaton. This is a very popular area among German tourists in the summer, and it is now once again a perfect destination for those who want to spend their summer holiday by the Hungarian “sea.”

For more information about visiting Hungary and whether or not you are allowed to visit Hungary, visit www.budapestguide.org. There you can also ask questions if you have such on the topic of visiting Budapest and Hungary.

People from Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic can once again visit Budapest!

Posted on June 5, 2020June 5, 2020 by Budapest Guide

We are far from normal, but we are getting a little bit closer. As of today, people from Austria, Slovakia, and from the Czech Republic can once again visit Budapest. As a result, people with these nationalities do not need to enter into any quarantine, nor go into quarantine as they return back home after their stay in Budapest.

For the rest of the world, patience is needed.

For more information about entering Hungary, check out www.budapestguide.org.

Budapest is opening again!

Posted on June 3, 2020June 3, 2020 by Budapest Guide

Budapest is opening to tourists once again. As a result, you can once again enjoy a boat trip on the Danube, and you can once again visit all your favorite restaurants in Budapest.

This is good news for everyone who would like to come and visit Budapest in the coming week and months. We have recently received news from many restaurants, and they are all telling us that they are opening once again. They are following all rules and regulations, meaning that waiters’ were masks and gloves (often), and they have also made changes in order for the guests to keep the distance needed.

If you want to enjoy a boat trip on the Danube with food, that can also be fixed. Are you looking for an airport transfer, we are already doing that. So, if you need a taxi driver to pick you up at Budapest airport and drive you to the hotel, just let us know.

Not everyone is welcome to Budapest

Before you come to Budapest, make sure to check the regulations when it comes to arriving at Budapest from your country. If you live in Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, or in the Czech Republic, you can easily visit Budapest, and you do not even need to go into a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

But, if you live in Sweden and want to come to Budapest, or maybe somewhere else, a quarantine is what you can expect, and that will ruin your holiday. In other words, make sure to check whether or not you are allowed to visit Budapest before you come.

If you have any comments or questions or need help to find out about what regulations are valid for you, write a comment!

Flights to and from Budapest during the coronavirus

Posted on April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 by Budapest Guide

While more than 50,000 flights were flying above Europe every day one year ago, that number of flights has been lowered to almost 10% because of the coronavirus. But, there are still 5000 flights in the air daily, and some of them fly to and from Budapest.

Before you read on, do not forget that only Hungarians and people with a work permit in Hungary are allowed to enter the country. So, even though there is a flight to Budapest from your city, you will not actually be allowed to enter the country, unless you are a Hungarian citizen with a Hungarian passport, or if you have a residence permit/work permit in Hungary.

But, which are those flights and cities still connected with Budapest?

Based on information on the website of Budapest Airport, there are still daily flights connecting Budapest with the following cities:

Minsk (Belavia Airlines)
Stockholm (Wizz Air)
Basel (Wizz Air)
Eindhoven (Wizz Air)
London (Wizz Air)
Dortmund (Wizz Air)
Barcelona (Wizz Air)
Warsaw (LOT)

People who come to Hungary from abroad are to stay in a 14-day quarantine after arrival to Budapest and Hungary.

If you want more information about the coronavirus in Budapest, check this article. Would you rather see some pictures of empty tourist attractions in Budapest? Find all the information you need here at hungarybudapestguide.com.

Pictures from Budapest during the coronavirus!

Posted on April 1, 2020April 1, 2020 by Budapest Guide

Hungary is in nationwide quarantine. People can go for a walk, but they need to keep a 2m distance to other people. They can go to work and they can purchase groceries and medicines. But, with most people staying inside all day, and no tourists in Budapest, the streets are almost empty.

We visited some of the most popular tourist locations in Budapest to see what they look like during the coronavirus quarantine. Here you can see the pictures we made during our little excursion.

Coronavirus pictures from Budapest

Szechenyi Budapest — The Szechenyi thermal bath is closed.

Andrassy Budapest — The Andrassy út in Budapest

The Fishermen's bastion in Budapest — The Fishermen’s bastion in Budapest

Gellert hill Budapest — Beautiful spring colors in Budapest

The view is still amazing at the Gellert Hill

We hope these images will cheer you up! We hope for the coronavirus to disappear as quickly as possible, and once again make it possible to visit Budapest!

If you want to get the latest news about the coronavirus in Budapest and Hungary, click the link.

Nationwide quarantine in Hungary from March 28.

Posted on March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 by Budapest Guide

From March 28th, Hungary will start a nationwide quarantine that will last for two weeks. It might last even longer, but at first, it is supposed to last for two weeks only.

The nationwide quarantine was announced by the Prime Minister in a radio speech this morning. People are still allowed to leave their homes to go to work, and also to buy groceries and medicines. You are also allowed to leave you home to take a walk, but you should only walk with a distance from others and it has to be because of your health.

People who disobey the regulations can be fined receive fines between 5.000 and 500.000 HUF (15-1500 Euro).

When can I go to the store?

One big change that will take place due to the quarantine is how the grocery stores and pharmacies will operate. Those who are 65 years or older can only visit stores between 9.00 and 12.00. Everyone below 65 years can only visit pharmacies and stores before 9.00 in the morning or after 12.00.

For more information about the coronavirus in Hungary, check this article.

No spring fair in Budapest in 2020

Posted on March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 by Budapest Guide

We were all looking forward to the spring fair in Budapest in 2020. But, because of the coronavirus, we can now forget all about it, and instead, hope that the virus will stop joking around soon, and thus, we can at least prepare for the Christmas markets which should open in November.

Yes, the spring fair was supposed to open in April 2020 and remain open for three weeks. But, the way things are today, this is not even something to think about. Why not?

The people of Hungary are still allowed to be outdoor and walk the streets of Budapest. But, the fair is even more for tourists. But, considering that tourists are not allowed to enter the country, the main source of visitors and income for the market is not even present, and thus, there is no need to keep the market open. And even more important, such an event will make you meet lots of other people, eat together, and it is a perfect place for the coronavirus to spread. As a result, the latter is most likely the main reason why the spring fair isn’t going to be arranged in 2020.

Want to know more about other events in Budapest? Check our Budapest calendar.

Hungary will be closed for tourists as of today!

Posted on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 by Budapest Guide

The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary will close its borders for all private persons who are not Hungarian. As a result, tourists will no longer be able to enter the country.

As a result, there will be closed doors for tourists, meaning that they will no longer be able to enter the country. Local restaurants who have suffered a lot already will suffer even more because of this. But, there is even more.

As of today, restaurants, bars, and other stores will have to close at 15.00. The only exceptions are pharmacies, grocery stores, and those closely related to those categories.

Some theaters and cinemas have been living with the chance to have gatherings for crowds with less than 100 people. But, as of today, they will have to close as well.

Viktor Orban also said that so far it has only been about individual cases of the coronavirus in Hungary. It is expected, however, that in the coming days and weeks it will turn into crowds.

For more news on the coronavirus in Budapest and Hungary, check this article!