15 March 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 (9am), followed by a ceremonial hussar march towards the Hungarian National Museum. Anyone is welcome to join, the route includes Alkotmány utca, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út, Károly körút, Astoria, and Múzeum körút. Family-friendly events will take place at the Hungarian National Museum, with its façade getting illuminated with a special light projection after 5:30 pm. Also, there'll be free events in the Buda Castle, like workshops and games at the Royal Riding Hall and dance performances at the Csikós Courtyard (details on the Hungarian site here).
You can also visit some museums free of charge on 15 March, such as:
- During 'Open Parliament', you can explore the Grand Stairway, the Dome Hall, and the Holy Crown inside the Parliament building from 10 am to 6 pm
- Hungarian National Gallery
- Hungarian National Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Museum of Ethnograpy
- Budapest Aquincum Museum
- Ludwig Museum
- Budapest History Museum
- House of Terror
- Vasarely Museum
- Hungarian Agriculture Museum
- Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology, and Transport
- Petőfi Literary Museum (PIM)
Read more here.
