This marvelous metropolis known as The Pearl on the Danube certainly doesn’t disappoint. It might not have the glitz and glamour of a diamond such as Paris, but this diverse city is sure to charm you with its rich heritage, grand buildings, and vibrant nightlife.
Hungary’s bustling and beautiful capital city has been on the up-and-up for several years as a holiday destination but has now become a well known digital nomad hub due to its affordability when comparing it with Western Europe.
Full of character, this urban landscape is the ideal place for culture-vultures who are just starting out on their journey as a world traveler and/or digital nomad to base themselves while they find their feet. It has enough of a cultural blend of East meets West to feel different and exciting but still has the conveniences and comforts of home with English widely spoken/understood, a good expat/nomad community and good public transport system.
Known for its thermal baths, Budapest has no problem in keeping travelers and expats entertained through the day and into the night whether you opt to live on the Buda Side or the Pest Side (the city being split by the river). Live like a local and get yourself invited to a sparty – a spa party, visit one of the ruin bars or immerse yourself in the rich arts scene with festivals, concerts, and events held just about every week!
If you’re a foodie now is a truly exciting time to be in Budapest as the food scene is really starting to blossom. Tickle your taste buds with hearty comfort food, sizzling street food (so bad for you but oh so good!), or modern experimental food – Think pasta served with pear. Healthy eating and vegan options are only just starting to take a hold but there’s a thriving specialty coffee culture to ensure you get your caffeine kick each morning and the local wine is superb!
When work beckons you’ll find plenty of cool and quirky cafes to work from as well as lots of co-working spaces. If you’re struggling to settle, pack up the laptop and take a leisurely walk by the river or up to the castle and admire the views – You’ll come back refreshed and raring to go with new ideas.
Best time to visit Budapest
The best time to visit Budapest is late Spring or early Autumn when you can enjoy bright sunny days without the overpowering heat and crowds of the Summer. Like the rest of central Europe, Budapest has hot summers and cold winters though rarely gets snow. Still benefiting from 4 distinctive seasons, the weather can change quickly so don’t despair if you arrive and it’s wet and gray, you’ll likely enjoy bright blue skies the next day as Budapest can boast that it gets more sunny days than Barcelona!
November-February: Winters are cold compared with the Greek Islands but warm compared with Iceland, expect a mix of bright but cold days and some gray, wet days. The city rarely gets snow, but if it does it generally only lasts a few days. The cold season starts with a fun and festive Winter fair which lasts from the end of November until mid-December when the Christmas festivities take over followed by New Year celebrations. January is the coldest month with temperatures dropping below zero and is also the quietest month with not quite so many activities taking place but the city soon comes alive again with a colorful carnival before Lent.
March – May: By early March Spring is in the air and the trees are blossoming though the weather remains unpredictable and is often windy until mid-April. As April turns to May and the Spring flowers are in full bloom the temperature becomes more stable though don’t be surprised if you get some Spring showers. Easter is a big event in Budapest as is the 3-week long Spring Festival which takes place from the end of March until mid-April filling the city with jazz, opera, dance, circus acts, theater, and visual arts from Hungarian artists as well as international stars.
June – August: Through June the temperatures continue to rise though short Summer showers aren’t unheard of. July is Budapest’s hottest month with temperatures hitting 30c + which, combined with the crowds, can make the city almost unbearable. These Summer months are the busiest time for tourists as well as digital nomads who are in Europe for Summer but the locals tend to leave the city for vacation time at the slightly cooler lakes. The Summer festival runs from the start of June until the end of August with concerts, dance shows and kids activities happening around the city, the festival, and indeed the Summer season, closing with a superb firework show.
September-November: The hottest days of Summer might be over but Budapest still enjoys a leisurely Indian Summer until mid-October. These pleasant temperatures and settled weather make it a great time to explore the city with the crowds of Summer having packed up and gone. The rain increases and the temperatures start to drop from mid-October as the trees change color and eventually lose their leaves. The days continue to get noticeably shorter and colder with November weather unsettled, nighttime temperatures dropping as low as freezing.
