Hungary’s 1 May holiday: 4-day weekend, public transport changes and store closures explained

Hungary is heading into a four-day weekend from 1 to 4 May in 2025, as Labour Day (a munka ünnepe, 1 May) falls on a Thursday, and Friday, 2 May has been declared an official rest day. This extended break means several changes to store opening hours across the country, with most large supermarket chains closing for the national holiday.

What will be open and closed on 1 May?

shopping long weekend hungary — Illustration. Photo: depositphotos.com

1 May is a public holiday in Hungary, so most large retailers will be closed for the day, Startlap reports. However, some services and types of shops will remain open. Here’s what you need to know:

Grocery chains:

Aldi: All stores will be closed on Thursday, 1 May, but will reopen as usual on Friday and over the weekend.
Lidl: Closed on 1 May, then open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday following regular hours.
Penny Market: Shops will not open on Thursday but will operate normally from Friday through Sunday.
Spar & Interspar: Stores will be closed on 1 May. However, Spar Express locations at OMV gas stations, DESPAR non-stop stores, and select Spar partner or market stores may remain open. From Friday onward, regular hours resume.
Tesco: Also closed on 1 May, with normal operations resuming on Friday. Since opening hours may vary by location, it’s recommended to check Tesco’s website for specific details.
Auchan: Closed on Thursday, open on Friday and the weekend according to their standard schedule.
CBA and Príma: These stores will be closed on the public holiday but will reopen on Friday and continue normal operations through the weekend.

Where you can shop on 1 May

Despite the widespread closures, certain types of businesses are permitted to remain open, including:

Shops located at petrol stations
Convenience stores that operate non-stop
Flower shops
Newsstands
Confectionery stores
Tobacco shops run by the owner or family members
Restaurants and cafés

Online grocery services

For those preferring to avoid the holiday rush, online services like Foodora Market and Wolt Market will continue operating as usual, with home delivery available.

Pharmacies

Only 24-hour or duty pharmacies will be open on 1 May. If you need to visit one, be sure to check which local pharmacy is on duty.

As always during public holidays in Hungary, it’s advisable to plan ahead—especially if you’re staying in the country as a visitor or expat.

Extra info: key dates during the long weekend

The four-day weekend is a welcome break, but 2 May (Friday) will need to be made up — it will be a working Saturday on 17 May. The weekend will also include other notable dates: Mother’s Day in Hungary falls on Sunday, 4 May, and high school graduation ceremonies (ballagás) are expected to take place either on 2 or 3 May, depending on the school.

In fact, due to the long weekend, some schools may even hold their ceremonies earlier, on Wednesday, 30 April. Written final exams (érettségi) will begin on Monday, 5 May, starting with Hungarian language and literature.

Public transport changes: special train services and schedule updates

As Blikk reports, during the long weekend, Hungary’s national railway company, MÁV, will operate with enhanced services on popular routes to accommodate increased passenger demand. Additional carriages will be added to busy InterCity trains, including the Nyírség, Tokaj, Békés, Napfény, Tópart, Balaton, and Mecsek lines, depending on the number of advance seat reservations.

máv timetable changes clock change — Photo: MÁV

Travellers are encouraged to buy tickets ahead of time via the jegy.mav.hu website, which also shows how full each train is—helping passengers choose less crowded options.

MÁV has also announced special schedules for the weekend:

30 April (Wednesday) – Friday timetable
1 May (Thursday) – Saturday timetable
2–3 May (Friday–Saturday) – Holiday timetable
4 May (Sunday) – Sunday timetable
5 May (Monday) – Regular weekday timetable resumes

If InterCity services are fully booked despite capacity increases, passengers are advised to use regional trains as an alternative.

Volánbusz coaches will also follow altered schedules:

30 April – Weekday and last school day timetable
1 May – Public holiday timetable
2–3 May – Holiday timetable
4 May – Pre-weekday timetable
5 May – Regular weekday and school-day timetable

HÉV suburban railway lines will run on a public holiday schedule from 1 to 4 May. On the H7 line (Csepel), the Saturday schedule will apply on both 2 and 3 May.

Planning ahead and checking schedules in advance is strongly recommended to avoid delays or travel disruptions during the holiday.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com