Only shops that have a maximum of 200 square meters retail space may be open on Sundays, provided that the Sunday staff is the business owner himself or a family member.

A provision of the legislation allows shops to be open on Sundays during the Advent season, and on one additional, freely selected Sunday of the year.

Bakeries and shops selling only dairy products may be open on Sundays and holidays from 5am to noon, newsstands and florists from 6am to noon and shops in sports facilities may keep open throughout the course of the sports event on these days.

The scope of the legislation does not extend to fairs and markets, to pharmacies, petrol stations, airport shops and retail units at bus and railways stations, nor to retail activities of health care institutions, prisons and military objects.

Other exceptions are: trade-type tourist services and services provided to the retail sector, retail activity at tourist accommodations, the hospitality sector, retail units at world heritage sites and retail activities of spas and cultural organisations.

Taking into account the different characteristics of certain settlement parts, the legislation also allows for the setting of individual provisions differing from the legislation.

The exceptions laid out by the legislation provide the possibility of doing the shopping on Sunday to those who would like to do so.

In the government’s opinion the new legislation will not result in job losses, as the retail sector currently experiences a lack of labour force.

The compliance with the legislation will be controlled by the Hungarian Authority for Consumer Protection.

Source: Prime Minister's Office