March 15th is a bank holiday, commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The uprising paved the way towards establishing the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, granting the country partial independence from the Austrian Empire. Today, March 15th is honoured with celebrations nationwide. The day starts with a flag-raising ceremony before Parliament and family-friendly events then take place around Buda Castle such as in the Riding School.
If you’re in the Hungarian capital on 15 March, be prepared to meet a lot more people than usual on the streets, in restaurants, museums and parks - basically, in the busy places. Wherever you want to go, always check the opening hours, as many places have modified opening hours for the holiday.
There are always a number of free activities at the Hungarian National Museum, including guided tours, treasure hunt games and themed museum tours. (The National Museum has a special connection with the holiday as it was one of the iconic sites of the War of Independence of 1848.)
In the Buda Castle District and in the Castle Garden Bazaar you can experience a truly lively atmosphere on 15 March: craft activities, music programmes, historical walks, concerts, horse shows and other interesting events await you.
You can get free entry to the most popular museums. Check out for example the exhibitions of the Hungarian National Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Ludwig Museum, the Aquincum Museum, the Hungarian Agricultural Museum or the House of Terror.