What's open on December 31 in Hungary?

It's important to note that stores will have shortened hours on New Year's Eve, and most will be closed on January 1st. Here’s what you need to know:

Store Hours on December 31

Most large grocery chains will operate under holiday hours on December 31:

- Auchan: Open until 16:00 (closed on January 1)

- Penny: Open until 14:00 (closed on January 1)

- Spar and Interspar: Supermarkets generally open until 14:00; Interspar hypermarkets until 16:00 (closed on January 1)

- Tesco: Closes at 18:00 (closed on January 1)

- Aldi & Lidl: Open until 16:00 (closed on January 1)

- CBA and Prima: Varying hours on December 31 (closed on January 1)

For those looking to shop, gas stations, emergency pharmacies, newsstands, florists, sweet shops, restaurants, pubs, and small neighborhood stores will remain open on both days.

Pharmacies and Healthcare

Pharmacies will generally follow standard weekday hours on December 31, with some closing at 14:00. On January 1, only 24-hour pharmacies and those on duty will be open. It's advised that families stock up on necessary medications, especially for the elderly and children. A list of pharmacies on duty can be found on the OGYÉI official website.

Transportation Changes

Public transport schedules will shift during the last days of the year. On December 31, the following daytime services will operate all night:

- Metro lines M1, M2, M3, M4

- HÉV lines H5, H6, H7, H8, H9

- Tram lines 4, 6, 14, 17, 47, 50, and 56A

- Trolleybus line 80

- Bus lines 7 and 8E

Note that several night bus services will not run on New Year's Eve.

Train services will adhere to holiday schedules on December 31 and switch to Sunday schedules on January 1. Regular weekday service will resume on January 2.

Waste Collection

In Budapest and surrounding areas, municipal waste collection will follow the usual schedule on the last day of the year and on New Year's Day, with specific collections happening on Tuesday and Wednesday routines respectively.

If you're in need of assistance, victim support centers will remain open on December 31 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. They can also be reached 24/7 via the state-operated helpline at 06-80-225-225.

For complete details on the schedule and open facilities, visit Telex.