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View from Gellért Hill along the Danube through Budapest, with the white Elisabeth Bridge, embankments and the city stretching to the horizon

Hungary

Budapest

Photo: Kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Budapest is adapting to climate change with a new stormwater strategy and sponge-city designs, while preparing the Nagykörút renewal and converting a disused school into affordable housing.

Updated · Checked against official sources

  • Population

    1,675,777 residents

    1 January 2026

  • Mayor

    Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest

  • EU programmes

    5

Latest

  1. Mobility ·

    Budapest starts building a protected two-way cycle path on Szent Gellért rakpart

    Budapest started building a barrier-protected two-way cycle path on Szent Gellért rakpart on 19 October, moving cyclists from a shared pavement onto a little-used parking lane along about 260 metres opposite the Rudas Baths, with completion expected in mid-November.

    Facts and source
    • Work began on 19 October and is funded by the city's participatory budget.
    • On a stretch of about 260 metres, cycle traffic moves from the pavement onto a little-used parking lane.
    • The works are expected to finish in mid-November, with minor traffic restrictions until then.

    Source: Budapest city hall, “Megkezdődött a Szent Gellért rakparton a védett kerékpárút kialakítása, a gyalogos és a kerékpáros forgalom különválasztása”

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  2. Mobility ·

    Permit plans ready for the renewal of Budapest’s Nagykörút boulevard

    Budapest has completed permit plans for renewing the Nagykörút between Nyugati tér and Boráros tér, with physically protected cycle lanes, sponge-city drainage and at least three new trees planted for every tree replaced on health grounds.

    Facts and source
    • Permit plans are complete for the Nagykörút section between Nyugati tér and Boráros tér.
    • For every tree that has to be replaced, at least three new trees will be planted.
    • The plans include physically protected cycle lanes.

    Source: Municipality of Budapest, “Elkészültek a Nagykörút megújításának engedélyezési tervei”

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  3. Climate and energy ·

    Budapest wins USD 50,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies for youth-led climate projects

    Budapest has secured USD 50 thousand, about HUF 15.5 million, from Bloomberg Philanthropies for a Youth Climate Action Fund that will support at least eight climate micro-projects led by people aged 18 to 24.

    Facts and source
    • Budapest receives USD 50,000, about HUF 15.5 million, from Bloomberg for the Youth Climate Action Fund project.
    • The city has committed to support at least eight youth-led climate micro-projects.
    • Around 300 cities worldwide can run their own calls under the initiative.

    Source: Municipality of Budapest, “Fiatalok klímavédelmi projektjeire nyert nemzetközi forrásokat a Főváros”

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  4. Mobility ·

    Budapest relaunches its MOL Bubi public bike system with e-bikes and a new operator

    Budapest relaunched its MOL Bubi public bike system on 3 August with operator Inurba Mobility, a new app and e-bikes; BKK plans 3,300 bikes after the start-up phase, rising to about 5,000 by 2027.

    Facts and source
    • The renewed MOL Bubi service started in Budapest on 3 August.
    • After the initial period BKK will provide 3,300 bikes in total, 2,500 classic and 800 electrically assisted.
    • The operating contract runs for five years and can be extended by a further 1.5 years.

    Source: Municipality of Budapest, “Elindult a megújult MOL Bubi szolgáltatás”

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  5. Regeneration and housing ·

    Budapest City Hall Park wins heritage permits, opening the way to detailed design

    Budapest's City Hall Park and Open City Hall plans have received heritage permits, so detailed construction plans can be prepared by early next year for a sponge-city park with 7,730 m² of planned green space.

    Facts and source
    • The heritage authority has granted the permits needed for the City Hall Park and Open City Hall plans.
    • The park is planned with 7,730 m² of green space, 6,966 m² of rainwater-collecting paving and 850 m² of permeable paving.
    • The design competition was launched in 2021 and decided in 2022.

    Source: Municipality of Budapest, “Indulhat a Városháza park kivitelezése”

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City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is matched automatically against the source text before publication, without an editor approving it first.

Projects we track

5 projects · 1 completed · 1 under way

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    AHA Budapest - Affordable Housing for All

    Converts an unused public building into energy-efficient social housing and tests a data-driven early warning system for households facing rent arrears and energy poverty.

    Budget EUR 4,985,110.40 (ERDF granted) Funded by European Urban Initiative (ERDF) Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Nagykörút (Grand Boulevard) renewal

    Permit plans are complete for the section between Nyugati tér and Boráros tér, covering tree rows, wider step-free pavements, physically protected cycle lanes and sponge-city drainage.

    Mobility

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    City Hall Park and Open City Hall

    Heritage permits are in place for a new central park built on sponge-city principles beside City Hall; detailed construction plans are due early next year.

    Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    New-generation MOL Bubi bike sharing

    The renewed public bike system launched on 3 August 2026 with a new operator, app and e-bikes; BKK plans 3,300 bikes after the start-up phase.

    Mobility

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Municipal food processing centre (Fővárosi Feldolgozóközpont)

    A new urban food distribution model that will use unsold but edible fruit and vegetables from the city's markets, funded through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge.

    Budget USD 1 million Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies Food systems

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

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