Heating Season in 2025: Dates, Rules, and How to Prepare
It’s mid-August, and in Budapest we’re still wiping away the sweat after the hottest summer on record. Yet, while I’m watering the plants and dodging tiny flying gnats, my thoughts are already turning to radiators, bills, and boiler checks. Such is life here: autumn...
August 20th Traffic Changes: St Stephen’s Day
If you’ve experienced Budapest around St Stephen’s Day before, you’ll know the city’s transformation starts well before the 20th itself. In fact, many of the most significant traffic changes and road closures begin as early as August 15th and ramp up mostly from the...
Gas Pipes Budapest: A Family’s Unexpected Ordeal
If you live in Budapest, you might not know that the gas pipes in Budapest are an unexpectedly serious concern in the city’s classic apartments - especially those built at the end of the 19th century. Over the past three years, my whole family has been impacted by...
Hungarian TAJ Card: The 2025 Guide
Eight years in Hungary taught me the value of strong paperwork. My family’s experiences with the Hungarian TAJ Card show how the system works in real life. My sister works for a multinational firm. Her HR department registered her without fuss. I run a small Kft., so...
The Lake Balaton Mosquito Invasion: What’s Going On?
It’s early August, and across Europe, holidaymakers are settling into summer mode. Here in the Balaton Highlands, where we have a winehouse that doubles as a peaceful retreat from city life, I’m feeling especially lucky. Not just for the sunsets, the slower pace, or...
Life in Hungary 2025: Culture, Social Life & Language
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:...
Retire in Hungary: Can You Really Do It in 2025?
Let me just say this straight out: if I had a forint for every time someone asked me whether they could retire in Hungary, I’d have enough to buy a Balaton villa and still have change for a few bottles of Olaszrizling. Andrew and I have spent more time on the phone...
Buying Property in Mezőkeresztes: Protection or Prejudice?
I’m writing this from the terrace of our little winehouse, with a fan working double-time and my laptop precariously balanced between coffee and sunscreen. It’s another scorcher in the Balaton Highlands, but a cool front is (thankfully) on its way. I’m heading back to...
Compulsory Education in Hungary – 2025 Parent Guide
I’ll be honest: as someone whose own kids went through the Canadian school system, I arrived in Hungary with a pretty relaxed idea of when education “starts.” So you can imagine my surprise when I learned that compulsory education in Hungary kicks in the September...
Latest Hungarian Vignette Prices: A Clear Guide for Drivers
If you’re regularly driving through Hungary - whether commuting between Budapest and your countryside retreat or simply passing through on holiday - understanding the latest Hungarian vignette prices is essential. The motorway toll system is evolving in 2025, with a...
First Time Buyers in Hungary: The Otthon Start Revolution
Splitting my time between Budapest’s buzzing streets and the laid-back wine hills of Lake Balaton, I’ve seen firsthand how Hungary’s property market can feel like a moving target - especially if you’re a first time buyer. The government’s new Otthon Start loan scheme...
How to Get Hungarian Citizenship by Descent
If you’ve ever wondered how to connect with your Hungarian roots and gain Hungarian citizenship through your family history, you’re in the right place. I’m writing this near Lake Balaton on a grey morning, watching the clouds shift and thinking about how my own family...
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