RAKPART - Budapest's car-free embankment along the Danube

 


Normally, I don't spend much time in Hungary, so I don't know much about what is happening here. I did hear some time ago about Budapest's car-free embankment in the summer months, when they close off the Pesti alsó rakpart (Pest lower embankment) to traffic. Now, checking it, I see that it started in May 2020. It was only on weekends at first, like in so many great cities around the world, but now it is all week long, although on weekdays only in the evening. 

I checked it out once before, but it was at a quite infantile stage: nothing particularly interesting, just a car-free embankment (rakpart), which is normally one of the busiest thoroughfares in Budapest. It was nice being able to stroll along the Danube without all the cars and everything that comes with them — fumes, noise, and the misuse of public property — but it wasn't really exciting.

What brought me down here again was that I saw that a solidarity programme with Palestine was being held. It was nice to see the event, but I also discovered that the Nyitott Rakpart (Open Embankment), also known as Szabad Rakpart (Free Embankment), or more recently simply RAKPART, has become one of the liveliest places to be, with lots of venues, live acts and fun activities. This pro-Palestine event was just one of many events taking place here.

First, about RAKPART.

In 2026, on weekdays it is car-free from 17:00 until 05:00 the next morning. On weekends and public-holiday long weekends, it is car-free all day. This special weekday-evening arrangement is expected to continue until around mid-September. After that, it goes back to weekends only, with the weekend season continuing until 25 October 2026.

The main car-free stretch runs along the Pesti alsó rakpart, broadly between Margit híd (Margaret Bridge) and Erzsébet híd (Elisabeth Bridge). There are places to sit, exercise, cycle, eat and drink, as well as various free cultural and community programmes. The Antall József rakpart and Jane Haining rakpart sections are particularly active.

About the Palestine solidarity programme. 

It was great to see that, even if not massive in numbers, there are people who care about the ongoing genocide. And there were more people than I saw at other demonstrations in previous years. There were also DJs, free food and a free market. It was the “Really Really Free Market”, as the slogan said, and all the clothes were absolutely free: give or take. The food was also free for everyone, prepared by volunteers.

You could also support the Palestinian cause with money — what better way — by buying beautiful handicrafts and traditional black-and-white shals (scarves). Actual Palestinian people spoke about their struggle and their desire not to be genocided and ethnically cleansed.

It should be a matter of conscience not to remain silent when one of the world's greatest atrocities is taking place. 






































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