Best cities to live in Hungary

No experience of living in a different city and the countryside is much of a muchness but you can't beat Budapest. I would advise people to live as centrally as possible, I am in inner 1X ; which is district nine. It is a relatively small city with lots of public transport but I can walk to most places within ten minutes.
It's still relatively cheap compared to the UK. I can go somewhere completely different everyday and there are still many places I have not explored yet and some I have yet to find.
There are a million and one festivals. Some beautiful parks and the river area. There are also many plans to upgrade different areas so there will be more nice squares to sit around in. The music scene is cheap and you can find whatever interests you including cheap opera tickets.
My advice is to get a two bedroomed apartment and if you have a flat mate all of the regular bills will be covered so that you can have a wider social life.

Under current circumstances, Vienna.

It is close but not in Hungary so off topic.

Sure if you like bigger cities and the compulsory traffic, smog, red lights and homeless people any city like Budapest, Pecs, Debrecen, Gyor, Kaposvar etc., will do.
But if you enjoy being near water, small city life, slower pace of life you should
consider places like; Fonyod, Balatonalmadi, Balatonboglar, or Tihany area etc.

We have been living near Pecs and absolutely loving it. Beautiful nature, lakes, nice old city, university ectr...😁 just missing friend's to play squad, tennis, mountain biking, enduro motorcycle, wind surffing ectr..lots of to do.

My husband was born and raised in district 5 Budapest.
He now says after being outside of Hungary for over 40 years that the city is just not as "happening" as it used to be in his youth.
Yes we admit we don't party all night long these days but we are still active people who enjoy a good time out. We go places and most people our age are either at home or in the graveyard. People  our age can hardly be seen out and dancing. In the US of course it is different, age groups tend to mingle  more and no one points you out for dressing young or acting young for your "age".
My husband and I often used to go dancing but since I have 2 left feet and not a great dancer, I really enjoy just sitting and watching my husband dance. problem is the young women don't know dancing and the old ones can't keep up with him. Sad...
We used to take our then 81 year old neighbor lady to senior dances so she could hook up with her 86 year old boyfriend. Her daughter did not approve of him so the old lady had to meet him on the sly. Funny really, they were cute together like teenagers kissing and hugging and dancing.
It was interesting but we were too young for that crowd and now too old for night clubs in the city. I must say however, those old ladies and some of those old guys could still out dance and out party people 50 years their jr. It was something to see, could barely walk but could dance for hours non stop.
Took a couple of ex-pats out with us one night, ( Anns) we danced so long that I personally could  not move afterwards for a good week,like I said, could be we are getting older and city life is for young people.
It of course was communist in my husbands day but there were many, many reasonable priced music and dance clubs for young people. They used to have clubs for older people as well, something for everyone in the old days. Now it is way too pricey for most to go out often.
The prices now are geared for tourists and the wealthy, younger people can not afford a night on the town.
He also says a  new breed of person is moving to the city, all from the countryside not exactly the most liberal or "hip" types of open minded people.
All the educated Hungarians with drive have either moved out of the city or out of the country.
I remember visiting Budapest in 1978, people seemed allot more well mannered and cool even if they had less material objects.
Times do change I suppose.
We are actually considering seriously moving out of Budapest and to a smaller town, maybe near Papa or more in the N. part of Hungary.
Not sure as of yet, someplace near fresh running water or a lake would be perfect.
Not a tiny village where everyone knows all your business .
What I like about living in Budapest is we can walk everywhere although we have a car. Doctors and services are all close by and of course just looking at the city makes one feel blessed, it is so beautiful.
Down side, beggars, drunks, people just standing in the middle of the walkway blocking walkers, bicycles and skateboards sharing the walkway and smog and the noise all the time.
Best is a weekend house perhaps? Best of both worlds.

I moved to Pecs seven months ago and I find it to be a fascinating city, full of cultural adventures for sight and sound, taste and feel.

I live in the belvaros, and can be in the erdo" in about ten minutes walking up winding streets past the park to the hiking trails behind the city. From there I can hike for weeks, if needed.

Housing is much more affordable here than Budapest. I love Budapest, and go about once a month by train, cost is $28 round trip, trains every hour of the day and evening. Very convenient. A three hour ride with lovely countryside and clean trains.

I swim every morning working out at a fantastic complex of indoor and outdoor pools called the Hullam Furdo, cost for an annual pass is about $200 USA dollars. From 6 a.m. till 10 p.m. Very clean, enjoyable, friendly staff.

There are many lovely villages within ten minutes of Pecs, but the city center really is a joy to walk each day. The university and it's law and medical school bring students from all over the world, over two hundred countries represented here. A very cosmopolitan city.

It is quiet, a much slower pace, and just right for an academic introvert like myself. It has been an excellent choice and so far, in my travels to all the regions of Hungary, Pecs is still my favorite.

Hope that helps!

Yes indeed! Don't have a heart attack outside a major city! I  guess I'm doomed if I have one!
Well such is life! LOL!

Are you kidding? I've got the best doctor I've ever had in my long life right here at the university hospital. People come from all over the world to Pecs to learn to be the best surgeons. Some of the most important cancer research is happening at this teaching hospital.

Pecs is not only a great place to live, but if I have to die from old age, or whatever, I know I will get the best care in the world right here.

Peter

Yes there are some great doctors that is true. Although many leaving the country for better pay. My brother in law is a senior doctor and he is very smart. Problem is equipment and time slot. The latter can be bought and so can the equipment so the "one time" use tube doesn't get used on you the fifth time but a poor Hungarian relying on state health care. Never the less you see this as a foreigner but there are same dark realities when it comes to health care in Hungary. No I'm not speaking of private hospitals but the rest. Next time go to the bathroom. Many hospitals you are lucky to find toilet paper. Forget the hand soap and hand towels or dryers. Once years ago I asked why there isn't any. The answer; because even if we had the money to put it out it disappears real quick! That is just fact weather you saw it for yourself or not - I have! And incidentally neither the FIDESZ or any other party has a real plan for health care! More money is spent on soccer stadiums, and tax breaks for casinos in Hungary than health care! AND THIS IS JUST SAD!

I have heard that Pecs is  a lovely city. Just drove through there once really quickly, wished we had more time then to look around more.
Heard the medical schools there were top notch too.
Nice to hear about the swimming pool there, one of my fave things to do, swim until I can not longer raise my arms.
I was a patient in a Budapest hospital 2 years back. Thankfully only in for 24 hours.
Yes, it was a bit of a nightmare, they did give you a list of things to bring from home. TP, soap, towels, fork and knife,  I brought my own pillow and of course be sure to bring ear plugs.
Sugar, salt etc. should also be brought from home if you need them.
Not the best hospital experience I have ever had, very weird and very low standard, the nurses hardly did a thing for me, only the very min. like give me a nighttime shot to thin my blood.
The hospital beds were from around the year 1900, needed help to adjust the back rest. Nurses acted like you were really putting them out if you wanted any help with fitting the beds proper to sit up. Had to do a tip as you go thing, no tip no service from medical staff.
My husband had a hernia surgery in Budapest at a different hospital then I had been in. He tipped his doctor so nicely that the doctor actually fluffed up my husbands bed pillows! Insane.
One should be sure to have a person able to bring them fresh food if possible to eat after surgery. Was literally given stale bread and luke warm watery tea, that's was it.
The staff acted like I was not even there, I was lucky one nurse gave me a walker to get out of bed with, she was the first to be tipped by us. No one ever came in post surgery to ask me to get up or if I needed anything at all.
Your sort of on your own in the public hospitals in HUngary, if you do not speak Hungarian then God help you.

Funny but very true Marilyn! I speak Hungarian but I dread the possibility that I have to go to the hospital. Once we saw a lady in the Emergency room that was brought in because of psychiatric episode. She was rolled in on a gurney and left in the hallway. A psychologist came and talked with her 2 minutes. She said something about her shift being over and left. The woman got up 5 minutes later and walkout out of the hospital. OH MY GOD! The issue of liability is a very strange concept in Hungary!!!

Pecs is a place Mrs Fluffy refers to as the "place where weird stuff" happens. 

The parallel place in Austria where weird stuff goes on is Graz.

peddington wrote:

Never the less you see this as a foreigner but there are same dark realities when it comes to health care in Hungary.

For better or for worse, Expats that do not speak Hungarian, or have a family member (e.g. spouse) that does, often float in an Expat world very much unto themselves and often thus see Hungary very differently than Hungarians. This includes topics about what is the "best city" in Hungary -- and at an Expat forum the suggestions and reasons why will be from an Expat world view; even if Hungarians may "raise an eyebrow" at the Expat's suggestions or reasons why.

Personally, I like to know the local knowledge and opinion. And I hope others here also appreciate your comments as much as I do.

In the USA, I had a high deductible, medium premium health care insurance. A year ago, when I stepped on a needle and a one eighth of an inch piece broke off in my foot, I ended up having to have outpatient surgery at a local hospital. Because I had insurance, ever though it had a very high deductible and only paid 70% after that, all the doctors involved, podiatrist, anesthesiologist, radiologists, the lab, the use of the surgery unit room, (surgery took two minutes) and a bed they had me lay off before and after surgery for a total of an hour and a half.

My out of pocket cost was
$16, 786.

Yes, you read that right.

The hospital was beautiful, the staff friendly, but when I requested help with the bill, the hospital billing department politely told me they would attached my bank account and take any money they wanted whenever they wanted. It was my problem, not theirs. By law, because I had some kind of insurance, they could inflat the prices of everything, "so that we can make a profit over the people who have no insurance."

I spoke with two attorney friends about this, they said, the hospital can do it and there is nothing I can do but pay the bill. So am making payments, it's going on two years now and I will pay for another three, for a simply procedure.

I don't care if a hospital bed is 100 years old, or the waiting room looks like something out of Soviet Russian in the 50's, affordable health care is beyond the means of more than one third of all Americans, and that is a crime against humanity.

Just a thought. Thanks for listening.

Peter in Pecs

Thank you for saying so! While I speak the language and I'm ethnically Hungarian I spend ALL my adult life abroad. I lived in eight states in the US and lived three months or more in five different countries. As it happens I met someone in Hungary so I'm here for now.  They tell me that often I'm very critical of Hungary. Yes I do see it from a foreigner's point of view but as someone who understands the language and the nuances of Hungarian life. It is a strange combination! I met some foreigners on line that pride themselves on researching stuff on the internet and because they mad of their "home" country praise Hungary with a misguided perception. Many consider themselves knowledgeable when it comes to Hungary yet they admit to a very limited knowledge of language. And here is an interesting observation; if you are a foreigner and have trouble with the language you will get help and sympathy in most government offices. If you are a foreigner and you speak the language sometimes you get the "2nd degree". Because my name and my language knowledge I been told in government offices "you should of known" forgetting that I'm still a foreigner! I have never been nor am I now a Hungarian citizen. So go figure! Since you commented so nice I figured I share these thoughts with you and others. INCIDENTALLY IF ANYONE NEEDS HELP OR HAS A QUESTION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK! Be safe out there

Many can tell so called "horror" stories but the truth is that the biggest advantage of "insurance" is the "negotiated cost" meaning if the doctor or hospital billed you $58.35 for a bandage the insurance can say that they only agree to $22.51 for that bandage and the doctor/hospital has to accept that if they accept your insurance. If they don't that's on you! Healthcare is cheaper in Hungary for a number of reasons but mostly for two; 1. Doctors make very little money (kind of like a McDonald worker in New Jersey) 2. Because how the justice system is civil law suits are minimal.
But I guess what I'm saying; I rather have a heart attack in middle of Orlando than middle of Pecs when it all said and done! My chances would be just better as far as survival and collateral damage to my heart!

I have not visited Pecs yet so will put it on my list. As an incomer from the UK it's important for me to be near an airport. So far I have not needed to use the healthcare system but many of my friends have told me that it is excellent depending on area and hospital. This is exactly the same as in the UK, luck of the draw. We had an excellent service in Dorset but not so good in the Midlands.

Peter Fritsch wrote:

In the USA, I had a high deductible, medium premium health care insurance. A year ago, when I stepped on a needle and a one eighth of an inch piece broke off in my foot, I ended up having to have outpatient surgery at a local hospital. 

(snip) .....
My out of pocket cost was
$16, 786.

A neighbor here where I live in Hungary cut her toe. The doctors cut off her toe. Then they cut off her leg. Then they buried her. I would rather owe money and be alive then get cheap medical care and push up daisies.

Someone I know broke his jaw. His father had to drive him to the nearest hospital (45 minute drive) on bumpy back country roads because the local hospital that use to be in our city was shut down by the government. We now have two ambulances as a "replacement" to the hospital, but they refused to take him to the hospital because he was not "critical". He said the entire trip bouncing in the car was the most painful experience he ever had. And what if he had an undiagnosed spinal injury as well and the ambulance refused his transport? In Hungary forget about suing for "pain and suffering" because of stupidity or incompetence; the concept does not exist in the legal system. You are just paralyzed for life.

An elderly person my wife knows fell very badly. He went to the hospital and the hospital made him walk across the street to buy his own pain killer because they had none in stock.

A friend of my wife's lost his wife because the nearest hospital that could treat her trauma was in Pécs, but she had to go to other hospitals before the doctors admitted that. They finally called in the medivac helicopter, but she ended up dying in the air.

And that is just some of the stories I have.

You are indeed fortunate, being in Pécs, since it does have a medial school. And if one has medical issues they should certainly consider as a "best city" to live in Hungary as one with a Medical school. Even better if you have "Expat" insurance.

But for most on the Hungarian National health system across the country, it does leave a lot to be desired.

Both my wife's parents are MD Hungarian doctors who worked both in Hungary and abroad (now retired). And even they are not impressed by the Hungarian medical system.

When I badly broke my hand in Hungary, I went abroad to have it set in surgery, and did the PT abroad as well.

That is my "2 cents" worth.

Let me add to that if I may. My would be brother in law is a chief of staff at a major Hungarian hospital. He said that they often reuse a "one time use" item. It was manufactured for ONE time use but they will disinfect it and maybe use it up to five times. WHY? Money! The hospital stop using surgery around the 20th of each month because they ran out of money. I will refuse to go to a dentist here because they don't use disposable gloves and that makes me skeptical how often/much their instruments get's disinfected. The person that draws your blood doesn't wear gloves either and I yet to see any of them wash their hands (not saying they don't I just haven't seen it). I been to hospitals where there is no hand soap and paper towel or air dryer and it is a HOSPITAL! Hello! BUT there indeed are some knowledgeable doctors )often overworked). I seen one urologist diagnose a bladder tumor in 30 minutes, after doing four tests. Many doctors are leaving which leaves the over 50 doctors and the under 30 (inexperienced) doctors. So there is a problem!

Peter Fritsch wrote:

.....one eighth of an inch piece broke off in my foot, I ended up having to have outpatient surgery at a local hospital. Because I had insurance, .....

My out of pocket cost was
$16, 786.

....

I've done minor surgery on myself before like digging for deep splinters.  It's a challenge but it's possible.  Mrs Fluffy took my stitches out once.

For an 1/8" inch needle fragment, wouldn't it be possible to do it with bottle of vodka or a spliff, antibiotics, antiseptic, rubber gloves, pair of tweezers, some strong friends to hold you down?  Or just by visiting a GP, individual doc or even a nurse privately?

Of course I went to my regular MD first. He cut a hole after first taking an Xray of the location. He dug around for an hour and couldn't get it. Sent me to a podiatrist across the city who sent me to another lab for another Xray, then dug around for another hour, not exaggerating, and couldn't pull it out. That's when she scheduled surgery for the next day.

I arrived on time, was prepped, was being asked questions and was asked when did I eat last. I said that morning at 6a.m. It was 5 p.m. the same afternoon. I was scolded for not fasting for twelve hours, no one, at the hospital when they made the appointment, nor the podiatrist who scheduled the surgery told me to fast. I didn't think of it.

I had to go home, after paying them $220 for sitting on their bed while they asked me the questions. I went back two days later for the surgery, and was in and out.

This was at one of the best medical facilities in the northwest, privately owned by the doctors who work there.

I am an Episcopal priest and have heard hundreds of horror stories of medical dysfunction in the US. I worked in CA, TX MA and OR. I'm convinced the best thing to do is take good care of our health, find a smart, attentive MD to help us stay on track. And live life to the fullest! That's why I am in Pecs!!!

Lovely city. I've traveled all over the world for forty years, this is my favorite place in my favorite country!

Yep, I can see that happening although I personally did not experience that kind of "runaround"! Maybe you been a victim of the "doctor-insurance company" conspiracy! LOL! But seriously in the US unfortunately healthcare is about making money and not about "healing". Look at the pharmaceutical industry and their thousands of "maintenance" medication. Or the guy that bought the HIV/AIDS cocktail formula then jacked the price up 150 fold (no not percent but X-s)! So yes you had some of the BAD! But I have a insurance which takes care of me pretty good. Yeah the government side is slow and sometimes inefficient but we know government not suppose to be efficient - right? I dread the day I need something major then maybe I too will have a "horror" story to tell!

Hello, that is very good. i have quite many problems because acident (not in hungary) and i have had very good health care(compare to FINLAND) . Only is English speakers are still few.. and miss sporting friends around world..But i love Pecs and around! specially i am out door people with two dogs.

Maube need new topict but is here any body to play tennis,squas?Pecs area. have to look that swimming pool!! i have lived now over year and only complaint is still very small amount people speak english. problems when need car service, now i take it mercedes because take speak english.. same in threrapy, massage ectr.. but not we live in country as country man live so.. if you dont like some like i ahve lived Sydney, London ectr.. move and see where you like. now i like Pecs very mutch

Sorry Pecs area allso, specially Orffy and Mecsek.

ENJOY!

I admit I have not yet read all the posts on this topic.
No, I am not spoiled, did not care if I had to sleep on an air mattress on the floor, just the attitude of the nurses while I was in hospital.'They first yelled at my husband for helping to adjust my bed so I could sit up. Later post surgery when I was unable to walk they turn their noses up and acted like it was really not their job to help me sit up in bed the next morning.
The 80 year old women in the next bed had it much worst then me.
She had been in hospital with a broken hip for 2 weeks.
She was old and very afriad, the nurses had had enough of her before I ever arrived.
They had removed her call bell and her pull up bar. She made her lay flat out in the bed all day long. She did nothing but cry all day long, I got up and tried to comfort her which did quiet her down for awhile, poor old thing.
Her grandson was tipping every day, she had a dish full of 100 fornits coins for tipping shehad spilled them all over the floor so I picked them up before my surgery to help her out.
They had her bed pan near the head of my bed then next morning full and sitting there for a good 20 mins while she was laid out exposed with her bottom uncovered and the room door wide open for the world to see.
They came in the night of my surgery , woke me up with their screaming at her,2 nurses had ganged up on this old women and were making her cry in the middle f the night.
Insane stuff like a mad house.
My husband was with me the day of my knee surgery but I sent him home to rest thinking I had many hours to wait pre surgery.
They took me early and I did not call my husband to come over because I didn't wish to overly stress him out, thought what the heck let him come after I was done, no harm done.
Wow, they sent in a dumb male orderly to prep me for sugery, why not a women?
he literally threw a sheet at me and motioned for me to strip naked right in front of him.
I got up to use the restroom to change out of my clothing and into the sheet.
The cleaning women also was no help.She was in the middle of washing up and would not leave to bath area so I could undress.
Went back to my bed, motioned for this rude orderly who reminded me of Lurch from the Adams Family , to turn around not not watch me undress.
He started to actually put at my clothing, my socks etc. He almost screamed it was just so weird.
I decided to be a bigger person and just placed the sheet over my head like a tent and undressed that way.
I did consider for a moment to just walk , or rather limp out and forget the whole operation.
He wheeled me to the op up the elevator and I was then nervous as heck being alone with this freak.
After he dropped me off, the actual OR staff were great.
It was the hospital staff that was from another reality, really odd people.
The next day before being released home, the PT lady came in a showed me how to use stairs and a few exercises to do post surgery at home. She was all business and sort of rude, until my husband put a 5,000 note in her hand, then it was all smiles and she ran out to make sure my crutches were delivered quickly.
All about money, it was just horrible I could take it for 24 hours but I felt horrible for my roomy.thankfully I had my husband inform her grandson about what happened to his grandmother and she was told she would be released in just 2 more days.
We hugged goodbye and that was it, never again will I undergo an operation in HU if possible.
My husband had hernia surgery at another hospital a year later, the staff was great there no problems at all.
Hit or miss.
Yes my husband had a heart thing in Las Vegas years back, spent 2 nights in a private room in Vegas, the only rooms the hospital had.
They ran a couple of tests on him, found it was nothing but stress related, bill was $32,000 for 2 nights in hospital and a bottle of xanax.
Get what you pay for maybe.
Was told my surgery was minor, just a "flushing out" of the knee would only be laid up for a week or two. Yes, 4 months on crutches and over a year using a cane. Had to return to the US for proper PT, all good now but knowing the surgery was not needed for my problem is still something that burns me up.
My cousin was a post op nurse at Jonh's Hopkins University Hospital, she had a good laugh at my relating this experience to her, so unprofessional and just like a comedy routine, would of been funny if I had been making it up but alas all true.

True indeed! You get what you pay for. However in Hungary because salaries are so low (Even for Europe) that tipping is sort of expected and certainly welcomed. This however as of late is becoming very controversial. I know in private hospitals here while the fees are higher, tipping is forbidden at the risk of getting fired! So I'm told!

Hi everybody,

We are now completely off topic.
If you wish to discuss on the Hungarian medical system, please create a new thread !!

Here the subject is the best cities in Hungary.

P.S Please note that as from now, we shall remove any post which is off topic.

Thanks,

Priscilla 

Access to good quality health systems is very important when considering where best to settle . I am sure it is a factor we all need to consider. I prefer budapest because there seems to be a lot of choice in regard to districts, health care choices and transport.

Ok, thanks, will try to be good and stay on topic or start a new post.

My wife and I retired to Pecs some 3 years ago.
We are very happy here particularly as it is a university city there is plenty of international culture and unlike the Balaton area which we first looked at it doesn't close for the winter!
We find that the medical facilities here are superb and readily accessible.
Like a previous correspondent we go to Budapest by train for the weekend about once a month....the next one will be for the last six nations weekend on March 19th to hit the Irish bar.
I think Pecs is well worth a look unless you need all the good and bad of a capital city.

I must start seeing a bit more of HUngary.
Used to take weekend drives all over the country before we got lazy and moved to our flat in Budapest.
The city keeps us so busy we forget there is allot more to see then just that one city.
Have a car, just need to get out the door and start seeing things.
Used to go all over Hungary to different events, folk dance and local village events, love those sorts of activities.

Hi
I am English and my wife is Hungarian. We met in Eger in 1979 when I was on a university exchange. Long story short we got married 11 years ago. We work in UK but I will retire to Hungary in 18 months. We have a flat in district 2 which is a great district. We bought a house in the country north of lake Balaton between Tapolca and  Veszprem. The latter is a nice university town. Keszthely is not far away. Basically we love Bp but adore the quiet of the countryside. We have the best of both worlds. We also have the lake of course. Bp is two hours away by car or train or longer by direct bus to Nepliget. So, of course Pecs is great as is Debrecen and Eger but city life is not all it is cut out to be so consider doing what we plan to do and keep options open!
James

jdbm1959 wrote:

.....We met in Eger in 1979 when I was on a university exchange. Long story short we got married 11 years ago. ....James

Wow, that was an intriguingly long engagement! 

Mrs Fluffy and I took over 10 years before we tied the knot and that was almost 11 years ago.

Hi Fluffy
It is a love story with a 23 year hiatus but good things come to those who wait!

Yes I was also thinking, wow long engagement.
Husband and I tied the knot just before our boy turned 3, 5 years together before making it legal.
My mother used to bug the heck out of my husband to make it legal, by that time I was not really in the mood to marry at all, why bother?
Tax reasons were the only perk, married on Dec. 31st, just before tax cut off time, so romantic!!
My friend in Las Vegas just married her long lost love of over 35 years ago. Both are from Puerto Rico, made for each other, both had other marriages, and found each other again last year.
Love, who know why some people attract each other or not.

jdbm1959 wrote:

Hi Fluffy
It is a love story with a 23 year hiatus but good things come to those who wait!

Aw, romantic and Valentines day as well.  Love will find a way!