I see you’re interested to include Budapest in your EMLex adventure. Good idea!

The University: At KRE we were very lucky to find such a good organisation, course choices and interested staff. We got special attention by the professors and secretaries, we knew all formalities and deadlines with months in advance, and had a wide range of options for the elective courses, from linguistics to informatics, in classes with both Hungarian and Erasmus students. Tip: use the Szabó Library, right in front of the Faculty!

The city: Here you’d get to live in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Budapest is a real pearl, I guarantee you will love her. Combining western and eastern Europe, she offers all sorts of activities, events, vibrant day and night life even on a random Tuesday evening, a big network of local and international students, architecture and tourist attractions, essentially all benefits of a major European capital, in a more short and sweet way. Bonus: prices are very low ;) Tip: you can rent a bike for 2€/month — use it for night rides along the Danube!

Living here: You can find accommodation easily via FB groups, or you can come a bit earlier at an airbnb and search on the spot — there are always many options. You can also reach out to me or other EMLexers from BP :) I’d say it’s better with flatmates. There are many stores and 2nd-hand shops downtown, and supermarkets in every other corner. It’s very bike-friendly and you can also buy a semester ticket around just 45€ for all public transportation. Pay attention for free-entrance days at various museums. There are many parks and districts to explore. Challenge: can you learn Hungarian?

Mikko — Wiegand Cohort




Dear future EMLexrs! Aren’t you guys excited to come and study in this beautiful city in this coming? Generally, I can guarantee you that Budapest is a very lively city. There are plenty things to see, do, and experience in Budapest. Here are some tips I would love to give to you guys, so that you could enjoy your time here as much as possible!

Accommodation: I personally had no difficulties finding an accommodation in Budapest. I found accommodation on Facebook groups, such as Budapest flats and apartments for rent or Budapest Flats Apartments Rent & Sale. I know it might not sound reliable, but most Hungarians use Facebook actively, but please still go through the typical procedures of finding accommodation (texting, appoint for apartment visit, etc.). Concerning the area, anywhere in Budapest is fine I would say. The city is quite safe and not too big nor too small, so that you can reach anywhere easily. Generally speaking, the rental price in Budapest is very affordable, so you can even live alone if you prefer. But of course, living in a shared apartment will be cheaper.

Where to go and what to see: As I mentioned, there are so many things to see in this city. So, I will just recommend my favorite place, which is Gellerthégy. It is a little hill on the Buda side next to the Danube. Going up there on the first time might exhaust you and make you wonder if this was the right decision. But trust me, the view up there is worth it! Unfortunately, the highest point of the hill where you can visit the statue of Citadella is now temporary closed for renovation, but you still can explore the area around. Apart from that, the Margaret Island is also stunning, full of activities and things to see, such as the Palatinus Bath or the music fountain.

Public transportation: In my opinion, Budapest has a really simple but yet efficient public transportation system. You have trams, metros, buses, and trolley buses. The price is also very good, I recommend you buying a monthly student ticket which costs only 3450 HUF per month (around 10 Euros). With this ticket, you can travel in Budapest with any kind of transportation – anywhere, anytime!

Where to eat: Hm, this is a matter of taste! Personally, I’m from Asia and I can’t avoid accepting that finding Asian restaurants was important for me. Close to our university, there is one little Asian quick meal buffet place where you can choose several stuffs in one dish in a very affordable price. In fact, the area around our university is full of interesting restaurants, whether it be Hungarian, Asian (Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese), or Italian. I even didn’t have a chance to explore them all, there are many of them, so I think I will leave it to you!

Where to shop: Of course, I have to mention the Fashion Street of Budapest which is located at Deak Ferenc tér. There you have all the famous brands you could think of. If you prefer a shopping mall, Westend is always a good choice, as it is not too far away (get off at Nyugati station). Though, the biggest shopping mall in Budapest is Arena mal, which you can reach from the Keleti train station.

Other: One thing I really like about Budapest is its sunset. For me, Budapest is the city with the most beautiful sunset! If you go on a walk in the evening along the Danube and wait for the sunset, then you will understand what I’m trying to say here!

Have fun EMLexers!