Finding people to share your one of a kind experiences with can be difficult, but that’s why we’re here. Below are some useful tips for getting into the expat community.
Number of expats in Budapest
The exact number of expats in Budapest is impossible to pin down exactly but there is a vague estimate of about 7.3% of foreign-born people in Budapest from the 2011 census. This would put the total number at about 120 000 people just for Budapest without counting in the metropolitan area.
Budapest's Expat Community
The expat community in Budapest is alive and well with tons of websites to help you learn the ropes of the capital. Three stand out as the most comprehensive: InterNations which provides you with tons of info, but most importantly, with access to the community itself via its forums as well as through events which are posted on its site; Expat.com provides you with a lot of practical information, some advice on healthcare, job listings, as well as renting out expat flats in Budapest; and Expat Arrivals which is a good place for numerous articles on anything from international schools to upcoming events in Budapest and will be a valuable resource for going out and meeting people. And just like the first site, you can also chat with expats in Budapest on their forum.
Expat groups in Budapest
The tons of groups which one can join both online and in real life will be very helpful during your stay not just for socializing but also for getting important info or learning the language. A good place to start with finding expats in Budapest is on Facebook, such as in the groups Hungary EXPATS 😊 or Budapest Expats Group. They both provide vibrant and active communities around their shared experience of the capital of Hungary as well as useful articles or events where you can meet all the wonderful internationals.
But there are tons of groups offline too, such as the Budapest English Drama Workshop which provides English speaking expats with improvisation training, trust games and much more. If you’re into yoga, there is the Soulful Yoga in English which meets every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour and a half. There are also countless groups focusing on various languages, such as Japanese, Russian, or Spanish, each with their own meetups and events. The last is the Budapest Coworking & Digital Lifestyle Group which offers a space for coworking and networking for expats, locals, or even digital nomads who came to Budapest to promote their online business. Once there, you can learn from experienced people or share your own knowledge to the benefit of the whole group.
Meet English speakers in Budapest
There are three main gathering pubs which should tie you over if you’re interested in meeting new people. They are the Beckett’s Irish Pub, Caledonia Scottish Pub, and Jack Doyle’s Irish Pub. For a less random meet-up in a pub try the International meeting point. It focuses on new arrivals or people who wish to practise their English, taking place thrice a month in either a pub or a park, depending on the weather. Lastly, there is the appropriately named Budapest Fun Seekers which is less a specific group or an event and more a community of people who plan events together. They have a vast range and you yourself can suggest and co-organize something fun for everyone. If you’d like to read more about how to make friends in Budapest and how to meet people, you can read an article here on Flatio’s blog.
