It’s only mid-November, but Budapest has already given in to Christmas - and so have we. The air is sharp, barely six degrees today, and the lights are strung across Andrássy Avenue like a promise. The Budapest Christmas Markets 2025 open tomorrow, and Andrew and I...
It’s November 1, and instead of carving pumpkins or answering the doorbell to small vampires, Andrew and I are in Sümeg, where the hills are turning gold and the air smells faintly of woodsmoke. This weekend we’ve swapped Halloween chaos for candlelight calm....
When Pumpkins Arrived in Budapest When Andrew and I first moved to Hungary eight years ago, Halloween barely registered on the cultural calendar. You might find a small display of plastic bats in a supermarket or a lonely pumpkin or two at the market, but that was...
Life in Hungary 2025 presents an intriguing blend of tradition and modernity. When Andrew and I first moved here, we were seduced by the usual suspects: stunning architecture, thermal baths, and a cost of living that didn’t make our wallets cry. But let me tell you:...
If you’re confused about tipping in Hungary, you’re definitely not alone. I posted a video about this just last week and the questions are still rolling in. It’s Sunday morning here as I pack up for a family holiday and I still see people freeze at the card machine...
I’m a dual citizen. My parents are Hungarian, and I grew up with the food, the family stories, and just enough language to think I might have a head start here. I didn’t. Because while I thought I understood Hungarian cultural differences, I was frequently wrong. When...
If you’ve ever had a glass of wine on my terrace, you already know. I don’t just like Hungarian wine, I’m its unofficial international publicist. No commission. No logo tees. Just one woman with volcanic soil under her boots and a deep, ongoing love affair with this...
I'm writing this from our little winehouse in the countryside, where the only sound is birdsong and the occasional flap of Sümi’s oversized ears as she chases butterflies. Yesterday’s drive down was another story entirely - Whit Monday in Hungary has clearly evolved...
Just when you thought spring in Hungary couldn't get any better, along comes Magyar Fagylalt Napja - Hungarian Ice Cream Day - to add a cherry on top. Celebrated annually on May 8th, this delightful tradition offers ice cream aficionados the chance to indulge in...
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...
I’m Anikó Woods, a Canadian-Hungarian who’s been knee-deep in life here since 2017 - bureaucracy, culture, and everything in between.
Hungary can be a maze of paperwork, surprises, and cultural oddities – but you don’t have to figure it all out the hard way. Join my exclusive newsletter, and you’ll get:
Get the real, unfiltered advice about living in Hungary you won’t find anywhere else. Join now and be part of the conversation!