There’s something about pulling into Gyenesdiás that always makes me smile. Maybe it’s the tidy pavements. Maybe it’s the way the flowerbeds look like someone’s grandmother still fusses over them daily. Or maybe it’s just because this little village, like so many in Flowery Hungary (Virágos Magyarország), wears its heart in begonias.
And it turns out we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed. Gyenesdiás is one of many towns recognised in Flowery Hungary, an annual competition that celebrates blooming villages, civic pride, and the everyday beauty of community spaces.
This is one of my favourite things about living in Hungary: that small places like this, far from the tourist track, put so much care into looking after what’s theirs.
More Than Just Pretty Petals
Hungarians are, in many ways, deeply pragmatic. They’re masters at making things last, at repurposing and restoring, at doing a lot with a little. But that doesn’t mean they don’t care about beauty—in fact, quite the opposite. Beauty here is functional. A lovingly maintained flower box, an immaculately swept doorstep, or a riot of colour in the town square signals care, respect, and civic pride.
These villages aren’t just competing for titles—they’re reminding each other (and us) that how a place feels matters just as much as what it provides.
Gyenesdiás in bloom, featured in the Flowery Hungary (Virágos Magyarország) competition.
Photo credit: Hungary Today
The Culture Behind Flowery Hungary
On the surface, it’s about flowers—colourful public displays, clean streets, manicured green spaces. But underneath, it’s a reflection of something deeper: how Hungarians care for what’s theirs.
When a town like Gyenesdiás wins a Flowery Hungary accolade, it’s not just because someone watered the begonias. It’s because local residents, school groups, businesses—even the pensioners with their perfectly swept pavements—have poured time, love, and pride into where they live.
It’s neighbourly effort, not municipal marketing. And it tells you everything you need to know about this country’s relationship with home.
Gyenesdiás in Bloom
I’ve got a soft spot for Gyenesdiás, a charming town on the north shore of Lake Balaton. Our own holiday home is just a short drive away in the Balaton Highlands, and we often swing through for lunch on the way to or from errands, building supply runs, or wine-tasting “research.”
I remember one particular afternoon when we sat outside a lakeside restaurant, Olaszrizling in hand, watching butterflies drift across the flowerbeds. There was no event, no celebration. Just the town, in full bloom, doing its thing. And I thought—this is Hungary at its most honest.
No pomp, no fuss. Just care. Commitment. Beauty.
It’s these moments—the unfiltered, un-Instagrammed details of everyday life—that really define what it’s like to live here.
The application process for the 32nd “Flowery Hungary” (“Virágos Magyarország”) competition has begun, as with Visit Hungary, a subsidiary of the Hungarian Tourism Agency, inviting municipalities to submit their applications by May 15.
Lavender-lined paths like this are part of everyday life around Lake Balaton—and a big reason we fell in love with the area.
Living in a Country That Celebrates Beauty
Living in Hungary as an expat or holiday homeowner can sometimes feel like navigating a very beautiful maze. There are twists, turns, and the occasional surprise goose (true story). But in between the red tape and cultural curveballs, there are moments of genuine wonder—and often, they’re tied to small, intentional acts of beauty like this.
That’s one of the reasons I wrote HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond. It’s not just a guide to forms and fees (though it’ll definitely help with those); it’s a love letter to the small things that make this place worth the admin.
Because when you find yourself in a flower-filled village on the north shore of Balaton, halfway through a glass of Olaszrizling and contemplating whether to move here full-time, you’ll realise something profound: the flowers are not the extra. They’re the point.
Want to discover more about life in Hungary—beyond the tourist trail and paperwork pile?
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👉 HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond