12 Tips for Living in Budapest, Hungary

By BBIS

An expat talks about what it's like living in Budapest including best international schools, Buda vs. Pest, healthcare in Budapest and much more.

Expat Life in Budapest

Budapest is a beautiful, historic city with a reasonable cost of living. The architecture is stunning, the restaurants and cafes are plentiful and there are lots of things to see and do. It also has its fair share of green spaces, not to mention the scenic Buda hills.

Cost of Living in Budapest, Hungary

The cost of living is generally lower than other European countries.

Local Clubs and Organizations

There are plenty of clubs and groups to become involved with. A simple internet search will bring up many suggestions. Many have website, social media sites or both. You can normally send a message through Facebook to request to join a group

International Schools in Budapest

There are a good number of international schools to choose from in Budapest, ranging in the type of curriculum they offer. One in particular, Budapest British International School (BBIS) located in leafy Buda, classes itself as a boutique school and is the only school in Hungary to offer the prestigious Middle Years Program (MYP). With class sizes limited to 16 for Primary and 18 for Secondary it offers personalised learning and higher levels of engagement.

Shopping in Budapest

The main shopping spots are located in Pest's City Center. Vaci street is perhaps the most famous of these, which actually designated as a pedestrian precinct. The Great Market Hall in Budapest is the most beautiful and largest of all Budapest market halls

Public Transportation

The public transport system in Budapest is excellent, with a regular network of buses, trams and metro trains. You can also conveniently buy weekly, monthly or quarterly passes which cover you within the Budapest district.

Climate

Budapest has excellent, very hot Summers and very cold, but generally dry winters.

Restaurants and Nightlife

Budapest has an excellent nightlife, famous for it's stag parties and it's colourful and eclectic ruin bars. In Pest you can find restaurants of all types. The food scene in Budapest is continually growing and adapting to accommodate new trends and tastes.

What are local hospitals and emergency services like?

We are fortunate to live nearby to a hospital. Generally, medical care is cheap in Hungary.

Recreational Activities in Budapest

The Buda hills are home to many hiking trails with beautiful lookout points. Budapest is also famous for it's many incredible thermal baths.

Residency and Visa Requirements

The process is quite straight forward although it can take a few weeks for residency cards to be processed.

Crime in Budapest, Hungary

Crime in Hungary is generally low, although pickpocketing and bag snatching are common during tourist season.