From May 18, the government is lifting the curfew restrictions imposed due to the novel coronavirus epidemic in Budapest as well, with measures in the capital to follow the rest of the country with a two-week delay.
The number of those who have been infected with the virus is low and the number of new cases is also showing a favourable trend. Responsible behaviour and social distancing are particularly important in the capital until further notice. It remains compulsory to wear a mask in shops and on public transport in Budapest in order to prevent the spread of the infection.
From Monday, all shops and service providers are allowed to open. At restaurants, cafes and bars only outdoor areas and terraces can be opened in the capital. Catering units will not have to pay a fee for using public spaces for their terraces from Monday until September 1 having regard to the huge losses they have suffered. People over the age of 65 can still only visit grocery stores, drugstores, and pharmacies between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., and people under the age of 65 can only visit outside of this time. Municipalities may provide different opening hours for markets.
Public areas, parks and outdoor playgrounds can be visited from Monday. Outdoor swimming pools and open-air museums can be reopened to visitors from this week, whereas Budapest’s indoor spas are still closed until further notice. The Budapest Zoo is open again but the maximum number of visitors is limited to 2,500 per day with only online ticket purchase available and further restrictions on visiting certain showrooms.
The Municipality of Budapest opened the lower Danube embankment for pedestrians and cyclists last weekend while banning cars from the quays as part of the Budapest Restart policy. Margaret Island and Óbuda Island can be visited continuously from the second weekend of May.
Nevertheless, the reopening of the capital must be done cautiously and gradually. The suggestions of the Mayor of Budapest for the possible reopening of the capital city are summarised in the Restart Budapest program here.
Source: https://koronavirus.budapest.hu/en/
