Experience in Budapest, Hungary by Dóra

What is it like to live in Budapest? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I would definitely recommend to all of you to choose Budapest. Budapest is the capital of Hungary, and the last few years the city developed a lot. You have thousands possibilities how to spend your time here. Every year more and more students are coming here, and more and more tourists to discover the beauty of the city, and the friendly hungarian hospitality.

What is the student lifestyle like in Budapest?

It is very multicolored. There are some districts in the heart of the city, where you can find many many bars, pubs, clubs. We have also happy hours, where you can drink cheaper in a specified time. Every day you can find parties, because students never sleep :) Almost every weekend there are organized programs (even cultural) for the young people. For example: wine and palinka festival in the castle, live concerts on the famous "A38" boat, exhibitions, fairs. During spring you can go to the Margaret island (which is on the Danube, in the center) to walk with your friends. They started to built to the bicycle lovers the bike paths. Many stag parties are organized in Budapest, so you can meet easily with crazy people :) New Budapest is developed for the young generation, every year the new side of the city is even suprising the local people.

How much does it cost to live in Budapest?

Budapest is located in central Europe, our currency is HUF (forint). I travelled a lot in Europe, to compared with other cities, I think Budapest is cheap. U can drink a beer for 2euro. We have many places where the prices are made to "the purse of the students". We have daily menu almost everywhere. My favourite place called "Leves" means soup, u can eat for 2-3 euros amazing special soups. We love soups :) As an erasmus students you'll meet with a lot of locals, who will suggest you, recommend you places, and you can discover yourself also easily where to go. In the clubs the long drinks are around 8-10 euro, depends the place, and most of the clubs u have to pay entry fee (I am sorry girls, but from January also for us :D) The parties are nice, lot of famous Djs are coming to entertain the young people. You are not allowed to smoke nowhere inside the clubs, bars like everywhere nowadays, cigarettes are around 3-4euro, this is expensive. The transportation in the city is really good, you can buy student pass.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Budapest? Is there any advice you can give?

To rent a flat will depend on which part of the city you will live, but it is easier to share the flat with others. I think it is easy to find accomodation, here the students are also living like 2-3 of them together, it is cheaper. In the universities you can find posters who is looking for a flat mate, and everybody is really helpful.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is amazing, you have to try the hungarian kitchen for sure. As I mentioned we love soups, and we have many special traditional food like: lecsó, gulyás leves, paprikás krumpli, krumplis tészta, csülkös bableves, pörkölt, mákos guba, hortobágyi palacsinta :) and don't forget to try the famous Pálinka, it is our short drink, very strong, made by different kind of flavour :)

What places would you recommend visiting in Budapest?

Well, I adore Budapest during the night, the lights, the atmosphere - the mood of the city it is really gorgeous. Budapest is beautiful, you have to visit: Citadella, The castle in Buda, Heroes Square, The Opera, The Parlament, Andrassy street (our fashion street), Városliget (there is the zoo, fun park) during the winter here you can also ice skate, and we have the famous baths like Széchényi and Gellért bath.

Is it good to eat out in Budapest? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

I love to eat, so YES :D We have many fast foods of course, lots of traditional restaurants example Kakas, Fatál. Tourists really love the restaurant "Sir Lancelot", that takes you back to the middle ages, and we have many italian, mexican, greek, indian places, so the selection is quiet big.

Is the nightlife good in Budapest? Where is good to go?

It is wonderful and crazy :) the most popular clubs are: Ötkert, Kraft, Morisons, Doboz, Kolor, Symbol, Instant. Hungarians always go somewhere to drink before the party, to recommend you my favourite ones: Gozsdu udvar, Szimpla kert, Fröccs terasz, 400, Anker köz. These places are very near to each other. Remember three streets "Király utca" and "Dob utca" and "Nagymező utca", during the spring time Deák Ferenc square.

What advice would you give future students heading to Budapest?

Don't hesitate, you will like it for sure, the time what you will spend here gonna be always an incredible memory :) Sziasztok! :)