You finally arrived, unpacked, found apartment for rent in Budapest and now want to meet all the lovely and exciting people living in the capital of Hungary. But where should you begin? Luckily, we’re here to give you tips on how to make friends in the new city, so sit back and take notes.
Where to meet people in Budapest?
Do you want to meet someone new and get to know the city at the same time? Go to the free walking tour. It takes place several times a day (usually morning, noon, and evening) and is either general or specific, meaning that it focuses, for example, on the late communist regime or on exploring the Jewish district. No booking is needed, just show up and mingle.
If this doesn’t strike your fancy and you’re more of an indoors type, try a pub crawl. The by now traditional pub crawl is based around meeting people you don’t know and visiting new and exciting bars and pubs. There are many different types and themes of pub crawls in Budapest but by far the best is Free Pub Crawl Budapest. Its traditional format enjoys mass popularity, but it is still as originally intended, with no more than 20 people per crawl. This gives it a cosy and intimate atmosphere which is perfect for getting to know people and making friends.
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How to get friends in Budapest
Making friends in Budapest can be taxing, but that’s true of any city that you just moved into. The two places above are a good place to start but they will not be enough, or they might not really be for you. In addition to more traditional tourist activities, there are places, groups, events, and websites that will give you access to all sorts of wonderful people, both locals and international travellers. And whilst navigating them can be a lot at the beginning, we're here to give you at least a few good tips to start with and to get you on your social feet.
Websites for making friends in Budapest
One of the online resources that will be invaluable to you is meetup.com. It has many groups and events that take place in Budapest. Anything from yoga and meditation groups, conversations in many world languages, networking, film screenings, or even interior design courses to science talks and writer groups, all this and more will be waiting for you to check it out and eventually attend.
Another great online resource for making friends is Facebook (unsurprisingly) and more specifically the many Facebook groups that have sprung up around communities in Budapest. One such group is Expat Info – Budapest which posts anything from art therapy courses, interesting pubs and restaurants, dancing courses, or even language classes and invitations to parties. Another is the Budapest Digital Nomads Groups which focuses more on the digital nomad lifestyle. There are tons of useful links and job offers but also many meet-up opportunities, further social site invitations, and much more. Head on to either of these and make friends in no time.
How to meet people online
Many people prefer to meet people online these days and perhaps you’re one of them. If yes, there are tons of places which can help you meet people who are from Budapest without leaving the comfort of your home. A good place to start are expat forums. There are tons of expat websites such as expat.com or internations.org where you can ask questions about your new home or just chat with people. The expat community tends to be very warm and inviting of people from all walks of life, of all nationalities and creeds and so you’re bound to meet potential future friends or meet someone interesting.
Hobby clubs in Budapest
There are more hobby clubs than we have the space to name here which only speaks of the cosmopolitan and lively nature of Budapest. But a few examples are a must. First is the Budapest Hikers. It’s pretty much what it says on the tin: a group of people who have left Budapest behind for and took to the nearby forests to see the beauties of Hungarian nature. Second is the Red Ball Theatre and Improv which offers more than just comedy groups or stage acting but also anything connected with speaking, presenting, sales, or using professional English. Lastly, if you want to get your hands dirty and like to create stuff out of raw materials, why not join the Budapest Open Wood Workshop? It’s for all ages, skill levels, and most importantly, all who are interested in some woodwork.
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Social groups in Budapest
The best way to meet new people in Budapest is through a shared interest and social groups do just that. There are tons of interesting and unique groups so here are a few that caught our attention. First is the North American Women’s Association, or NAWA, which aims to create a sense of community amongst the English speaking expat women in Budapest of all walks, nationalities, or ethnicities. They do events, meet-ups, and much more that will help you mingle and make friends.
The second group is 12 min meetup. Basically, short TED Talk-esque presentations primarily focused on business. The structure is based around 12 minutes as there are 12 minutes for presentation, 12 minutes for Q&A, and a 12 min break. It’s perfect for either networking or just enjoying some friendly business talk.
If you were wondering how you should find a friend in Budapest, by far the best way, though often the hardest, is just to go out and try all these different options and many more that the city of Budapest offers. There are tons of people just like you, looking for friends or just for a nice chat in the evening so there is no reason to be alone. And if you are going to live in Budapest for a few months, you will probably need some mid-term accommodation in Budapest.
