When most people hear about Hungary, they immediately think of the Parliament building, Buda with its castle and the river Danube. Still, Budapest has lots more to offer you as an expat. Here are some basic facts you should know before landing in this beautiful city. By 2026, the city has solidified its status as a central European hub, balancing its historic charm with a rapidly modernizing infrastructure.
The spoken language in Budapest
Considering Hungary's background as a Soviet proxy state, many would expect the people to speak Slavic languages. In fact, Hungarian is a Finno-Ugric language and remains a core part of the national identity. English has become the primary bridge for the expat community, and while most locals under 40 speak it fluently, the older generation may still struggle with foreign languages, especially in the outer districts of Budapest, so learning basic greetings is essential for approaching people and making a good first impression.
Social life in Budapest
Hungarians love sharing their experiences, mostly bad ones with their friends, colleagues and even with strangers. In Hungary, one of the best sources for any kind of information is chatting, gossiping. Of course, this information is not always reliable, and vary from one person to another, but they are still useful, and help to connect with other people.
By this way, we arrive to another useful skill in Hungary: networking. Use it wherever you can, as with building your social circle, you can get to know about new job openings, special offers or hidden programs.
These characteristics come from their past when lots of things were forbidden, and people had to meet and share information secretly. This habit seems to live still in people when they do things unofficially, under the table, and not always following all the rules.
Eating and drinking in Budapest
Probably the most famous Hungarian product is the local cuisine, with 驳耻濒测谩蝉 and paprika the most well-known. Hungarians love their food, and one of the most discussed topics with your friends, colleagues or your family will be about food, what to eat or cook for the week.
骋耻濒测谩蝉 might be the most famous Hungarian dish, but the most traditional one is the Sunday lunch, a with some boiled or fried potatoes. Even though it doesn't sound extraordinary, for those who have grown up in Hungary, this was their Sunday lunch almost every weekend. In some places, it comes as a second dish after some chicken soup, but in many families, it remains the main dish with some cucumber salad or pickles. It's just as common here as a Sunday roast in England or a pasta in Italy.
尝谩苍驳辞蝉 and 办眉谤迟艖蝉办补濒谩肠蝉 are traditional Hungarian dishes as well, but first, you have to try 辫谩濒颈苍办补, a very strong shot made traditionally from fruits like plum that is used on many occasions, from greeting someone in a family to celebrating a special event, or even as medicine. from Tokaj, Eger and Balaton are famous too. The local food scene has expanded significantly, with traditional cantines now sitting alongside world-class fine dining establishments and a booming craft coffee culture in the inner districts.
If you are in the city centre, you can choose from a wide range of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs, but here you will pay extra for the location. The same food or drink might cost you a lot more in Districts V, VI or VII than in other, outer districts. Doing your daily/weekly grocery shopping should be easy anywhere you live, as you can find food stores like Spar, Tesco Express, Lidl, Aldi or the Hungarian chains like Penny or CBA all around the city. Bigger supermarkets like Interspar, Tesco and Auchan are rarer; you can usually find them in distant locations. These days, delivery apps are common and regularly used for shopping and restaurants alike, with being a standout regional service.
The Hungarians and the people of Budapest
Hungarians can be reserved at first with strangers, but once trust is established, the bonds are strong. Culturally, greetings often involve a firm handshake, though close friends may exchange a kiss on each cheek, starting with the left. In the political landscape of 2026, the environment remains polarized; it is generally best to observe local social dynamics before engaging in deep political debates with new acquaintances.
That said, Budapest's growing expat community and international outlook makes it much easier to acquaint yourself with than other parts of the country would. There are many notable cultural events and networking occasions for you to explore to get closer to the people of this wonderful city.
You can find lots of , from music concerts to family events, don't forget to check out local news and websites to find them.
If you want to see something more exclusive, you have a wide choice of options from theatres, cinemas, bars, clubs and cultural centres. A very unique place to spend your evening is a , which has become world-famous over the years. You can find them usually in old, eroded buildings which were bought by bar owners who opened cheap drinking places for students and intellectuals. At least originally, that was their purpose. Today, they are much more famous and expensive, attracting mostly tourists, but they are still worth to check out for their atmosphere.
The climate of Budapest
If you come to Budapest in the summer, expect heatwaves and a lot of sunshine with occasional thunderstorms. Climate change is impacting Hungary, too, with temperatures frequently reaching 37掳颁 in the city in July, and regular heat alerts throughout the season. As a consequence of this, air conditioning is extremely common.
There are more rainy days in autumn and spring, and some snow and freezing temperatures in the winter. At least, this was the weather in general in the past, but now it seems to change with more extreme weather and sudden changes in the temperature from one day to the next.
Good to know:
The hills of Buda are often several degrees cooler than the flat, paved streets of the Pest side.
Nature in Budapest
Even though the city is a bustling capital, Budapest residents enjoy quick access to nature. Public transport is well-connected to major green areas. Residents can enjoy numerous parks and green spaces to relax, with the Buda mountains offering hiking trails accessible by public transport. The dedicated public transport app called BudapestGO makes ticketing and navigation fairly straightforward.
Public transport is well-connected, the only time when you have to pay attention is during reconstructions, typically done in the summer when run instead of underground or tram lines.
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