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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...
Életmentő App: The Must-Have Emergency App in Hungary

Életmentő App: The Must-Have Emergency App in Hungary

I don’t usually make sweeping declarations. But this one’s easy: everyone in Hungary should download the Életmentő app. Not just foreigners. Not just pensioners. Not just people who like wandering off into the woods with questionable mobile signal. Everyone. And yes,...

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Budapest Metro Price Increase: June 2025

Budapest Metro Price Increase: June 2025

It’s 29 degrees before lunch, I’m juggling prep for an AI event I’m hosting this Wednesday, and I’ve just boarded the tram to a morning meeting - only to realise my go-to single ticket now costs more. As of 1 June 2025, the Budapest Metro price increase is officially...

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Ragweed Fines in Hungary: Surprise! You’re Responsible

Ragweed Fines in Hungary: Surprise! You’re Responsible

When we bought our countryside cottage, I expected the usual homeowner chores: clean the gutters, trim the trees, keep the spiders out of the wine glasses. I knew ragweed from Canada, but I didn’t expect that in Hungary, you could actually be fined just for having it...

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Hungary Countryside Home Deals: Get a Flat for (Almost) Free?

Hungary Countryside Home Deals: Get a Flat for (Almost) Free?

It’s Monday, and I’m still running on the quiet rhythm of a perfect Sunday. Andrew and I spent the weekend in the countryside, specifically Badacsony, which delivered its usual mix of volcanic hills, lake views, and just the right amount of wine. Back at my desk now,...

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EUPR Rejections in Hungary: Time to Act

EUPR Rejections in Hungary: Time to Act

I’m not an immigration lawyer, but I’ve spent years immersed in Hungary’s immigration system. I write about it, share updates with expat communities, and work closely with legal experts to make sure the advice I pass on is solid. Much of what’s in my ebook comes from...

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Emergency Phone Alerts Hungary: Pings and Panic?

Emergency Phone Alerts Hungary: Pings and Panic?

Today I’m working from our co-working space at Kálvin tér in Budapest, enjoying the napi menü (yes, túrós csusza again, some habits are worth repeating). But while my lunch was traditional, the news definitely wasn’t. Parliament just passed a new law on emergency...

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Hungary’s New Property Law Is Here: Final Draft

Hungary’s New Property Law Is Here: Final Draft

After months of speculation, leaked proposals, and heated debates, Hungary’s controversial Local Identity Protection Act - also known as the Településvédelem Törvény  - is no longer just a political talking point. On 13 May 2025, the final draft of Hungary’s New...

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TikTok Live: Hungary Property Law and Expat Q&A

TikTok Live: Hungary Property Law and Expat Q&A

Hungary property law is changing—again. If you’re planning to buy a home, already own property, or just want clarity on what’s happening in 2025, join me for a live Q&A on TikTok this Saturday at 2pm CET. I’ll be unpacking what’s going on with Hungary’s proposed...

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21 Dog-Friendly Beaches in Hungary: Take the Plunge

21 Dog-Friendly Beaches in Hungary: Take the Plunge

There’s something about being a dog owner in Hungary that makes you more... seasonally strategic. I’ve got Sümi, my 2.5kg diva who thinks puddles are an existential threat - so no, you won’t catch her at any of the dog-friendly beaches in Hungary. But my sister’s dog,...

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Hungary Train Changes: What’s New for Passengers in 2025

Hungary Train Changes: What’s New for Passengers in 2025

A spring ride to Tapolca Although I’ve spent plenty of time around Lake Balaton, I usually travel there by car—usually along the familiar curve of the M7, with a podcast playing and a boot full of supplies for the weekend. But this week, I’m doing something different....

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Furnishing a Home in Hungary: How I Ended Up at IKEA

Furnishing a Home in Hungary: How I Ended Up at IKEA

Furnishing a home in Hungary sounds like a dream—until you realise the dream often arrives flat-packed with hex keys. After completing our countryside renovation near Lake Balaton, I had grand plans. The living room was ready. We’d restored the walls, added smart...

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Foreign Buyers in Hungary: Who’s Buying What in 2025?

Foreign Buyers in Hungary: Who’s Buying What in 2025?

You know the question. I’ve been asked it at dinner parties, in DMs, and even on Tiktok: “Are foreign buyers in Hungary still snapping up real estate in 2025?” The short answer? Absolutely - but the full picture is far more interesting. Let’s unpack the longer...

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