Hungary, Budapest and More

The 30th Anniversary Budapest Pride to Take Place on June 28 This year, Budapest Pride celebrates its 30th anniversary, with the parade once again serving as the main event on June 28. Organizers have prepared a special program for the milestone, running from June 6 to June 29. In the spring, a collection of short stories by contemporary authors will be published. The program will also feature an international human rights conference. Discussion topics will include advancing LGBTQ+ rights, challenges facing Hungary's LGBTQ+ movement, successful practices for protecting rights in Central and Eastern Europe, and the contributions of municipalities working toward equality. The anniversary slogan of Pride is Itt(hon) vagyunk ("We are here/at home"). It emphasizes that LGBTQ+ people are an integral part of Hungarian society, equal to other citizens, and that their place in history and culture deserves recognition. The chosen date, June 28, also coincides with the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1969. These events marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, when community members responded to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn bar in New York with a spontaneous series of protests.

1963: The Winter When It Was Last Possible to Walk on the Frozen Danube The last time the Danube completely froze was during the winter of 1963. By that time, no official activities were held on the ice, and the police chased away daredevils who ventured onto the frozen river within Budapest. The winter of 1963 was exceptionally cold and dry. The Danube froze overnight on January 8, causing the water level to rise by one meter. Temperatures dropped to -15 to -20°C (5 to -4°F), but due to strong winds, it felt like -40°C (-40°F). As a result, schools were closed from January 20 to February 4. Although the ice cover was continuous, its thickness was not always sufficient, and stepping onto the ice was strictly prohibited. However, some people defied the ban, including 15-year-old Károly Krekács, who later recalled: “We walked on the ice as far as the edge of Hajógyári Island. The ice brought all sorts of things; I found two beams, sold them for 50 forints, and spent the money on sweets.” In the 1980s, the Danube nearly froze twice more, but since then, the river within Budapest has not been covered in ice again. Source

The BKK Blocked Plans to Make Városliget Park Car-Free The plans to turn Városliget into a car-free zone, including the closure of Kós Károly sétány alley, were finalized but were blocked by the Budapest transport company, BKK, according to Népszava. BKK stated that it would give strategic approval to the project only if changes were made to meet its transportation infrastructure requirements. The project company overseeing the reconstruction of Városliget, Városliget Ingatlanfejlesztő Zrt., reported losing interest in completing some stages of the project, as meeting BKK’s conditions was deemed impossible.

Night of the Ice Rink On January 18, ice rinks across the country will welcome you with unique programs. Nighttime experiences will include an ice DJ, ice game skills, and virtual games. Visit the event website for the details

In one of Budapest’s burger joints, you can pay for food by running At one of Budapest’s burger joints—Billog—they’ve come up with a way to warm and delight guests during chilly January. You can get a discount on a burger simply by running, walking, or cycling to the establishment! The discount amount equals the number of kilometers you’ve covered to reach the burger joint. 📍 The promotion is valid at the branches on Falk Miksa Street and Maglódi Road. To confirm the distance traveled, you need to use the GeoGo app: start it at the beginning of your journey and show the result upon arrival. 💡 By the way, the idea has become so popular that running communities on social media are organizing group runs with a finish line and delicious rewards at Billog. More details about the promotion.

In case anyone missed it, the second season of the series "The Empress" has been released on Netflix. The premiere was back at the end of November, but I only just got around to watching it. In the second season, Sisi is still young but already the Empress of the Austrian Empire, forced to make difficult decisions in her relationships with the Emperor and his mother. There’s not much about Hungary in the series, but the plot is engaging, even though it’s based on historical events. Highly recommend!

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Physically Protected Bike Lanes to Be Built on Nagykörút Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that the Budapest Transport Company (BKK) project has been approved and will be funded by the European Union. The funds will be used for greening Nagykörút and improving traffic safety on Üllői and Váci avenues. 🔹 According to the mayor, the primary goal of Nagykörút’s development is to enhance greenery and create safer and more comfortable conditions for transportation. As part of the project, physically protected bike lanes will be built on both sides of the street, separated from car traffic by a multifunctional zone suitable for parking and unloading vehicles. Additionally, protected bike lanes are also planned for Üllői and Váci avenues to improve cyclist safety.

Wind Speed Record Set in Budapest A new wind speed record was set in Hungary’s capital on Friday, according to HungaroMet Zrt., as reported on its website Saturday. Data shows that during the night from Thursday to Friday, a cold front brought strong winds from the west and northwest, reaching storm levels. At the János-hegy weather station in Budapest, a gust of wind was recorded at 101.5 km/h, setting a new record for this day. The previous wind speed record for this date was 78.5 km/h, recorded in 2015 at the Ferihegy weather station. It was also noted that on Thursday, ahead of the cold front’s arrival, another wind speed record was broken. At the same János-hegy station, wind gusts reached 77 km/h.

Hungary — EU Leader in Housing Price Growth According to Eurostat data published on Friday, Hungary ranks first in the European Union for housing price growth over the past 14 years. Along with Estonia, the country recorded record-breaking figures: 🔹 In the third quarter of 2024, housing prices in Hungary and Estonia increased by 230% compared to the same period in 2010. In seven other countries — Lithuania, Latvia, Czechia, Austria, Portugal, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg — prices more than doubled, with growth exceeding 100%. The smallest increases were recorded in Spain, Finland, and Cyprus. Italy was the only country where prices declined, due to a real estate market crash in 2010. Rent Growth Rental prices in Hungary increased by 108% during this period, more than doubling as well. Hungary ranked fourth in terms of rental price growth. 🔹 The leader in rent growth was Estonia (216%), followed by Lithuania (183%) and Ireland (109%). 🔹 Greece was the only country where rents decreased, dropping by 16%. Source

The SZÉP card can now be used in furniture stores to purchase home goods As of January 1, SZÉP cardholders can use half of their card balance for home renovation. Experts from the Bank360 portal have compiled information about furniture stores, building material shops, carpet retailers, and other home improvement stores where the card is accepted. Major chains such as OBI, Diego, and RS Bútor already accept the SZÉP card. The list is continuously expanding. Many smaller retailers have also signed agreements with card issuers in both the provinces and the capital. For example, in just the first week of January, around 50 merchants signed agreements with OTP, allowing SZÉP cardholders to make such purchases. The full list of participating stores can be found on the websites of the SZÉP card-issuing banks. However, according to experts at Bank360.hu, ensuring compliance with the card’s usage restrictions may prove challenging for cardholders. Questions remain about how merchants and card issuers will technically ensure that customers purchase only legally permitted items and do not exceed the limit of half the card’s balance.

The Hungarian museum compared the outfits of Hollywood stars at the Golden Globes to its exhibits The Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest compared the looks of participants at the Golden Globes ceremony to its exhibits—and the results are incredibly cool! “We couldn’t help but notice the luxurious outfits at the Golden Globes ceremony once again. But instead of words, let our exhibits do the talking! Whether it’s an 18th-century edition or an iconic chair from the late 1960s, with this selection, we aim to make not only the participants’ looks unforgettable but also the matching items from the museum’s collection,” the museum’s statement read. For example, Timothée Chalamet’s outfit was compared to a 19th-century bed with blue drapery, and Zendaya’s look was likened to a 1970s floor lamp. All the comparisons are shared in the museum’s Instagram post.

A Cold Front Is Heading to Hungary: Snowfall Expected Late in the evening, a cold front will start moving from the northwest of Hungary, bringing rain and showers, which may turn into sleet and snow overnight, according to HungaroMet's weather forecast. Weather on Thursday Temperatures will remain spring-like, ranging from +10 to +15°C, except in the northern border regions, where it will be slightly cooler. Late in the evening, a cold front will arrive from the northwest, bringing cloudy skies and rain, which may turn into sleet and snowfall overnight. As the front moves in, the wind will shift to the northwest and strengthen to stormy levels. Weather on Friday On Friday, the cold front will continue its passage across the country. In the morning, cloudy to overcast skies with precipitation are expected. However, the clouds will begin to clear from the northwest in the morning, and by evening, precipitation will cease almost everywhere. According to HungaroMet, precipitation in the western regions of the country will transition to sleet and snow from early morning. The northwesterly wind will intensify, with gusts reaching storm force in some areas. Nighttime temperatures will drop to 0 to +7°C, while daytime highs will range from +2 to +7°C, with the highest temperatures in the east occurring in the morning. Snowfall and Precipitation Forecast According to Időkép, a fresh snowfall map indicates that early Friday morning, snow may fall in some areas of western and northern Hungary. The highest precipitation (2 to 5 cm of snow) is expected in the Mecsek mountain range.

Rising Housing Prices Push Youth Out of Central Budapest According to the December price index from ingatlan.com, housing prices in Hungary increased by 7.8% in 2024, with an even sharper rise of 11.8% in Budapest. Experts note that the market is already responding to the anticipated surge in demand in the coming months. This expectation is tied to significant payouts from government PMÁP bonds, which will provide investors with approximately 1,400 billion forints, some of which are likely to be spent on real estate purchases. The average price per square meter in Budapest’s secondary housing market ranges from 739,000 to 1.9 million forints, depending on the district. Newly built properties are even more expensive, with prices between 933,000 and 2.9 million forints per square meter. The most significant price increase was recorded in Budapest (11.8%). The average price per square meter in the capital has reached 1.16 million forints, with secondary housing averaging 1.12 million forints and new builds 1.4 million forints. Large price disparities between districts severely limit the options for young buyers. While new builds in the Örs vezér tér area can still be found for under 1 million forints per square meter, in the city center, the price of even secondary housing approaches 2 million forints per square meter. As a result, more and more young people are moving to the suburbs or outer districts, while the city center is increasingly dominated by investors. The most affordable district in Budapest remains District XX, while the most expensive is District V. Among Hungarian cities, Debrecen leads in secondary housing prices. Subscribe for updates on Hungary, Budapest, and more!

Over six months, more than a billion bottles were returned in Hungary. The company Mohu reported that over the past six months, more than a billion plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass bottles were returned in Hungary. Between Christmas and New Year's, over 10 million packaging units were returned daily, breaking the August record of 8 million. Since the introduction of the mandatory packaging return system, residents of Budapest have returned over 180 million units. Following the capital in return activity are Debrecen, Szeged, and Miskolc. In Budapest, the highest number of returns was recorded in District XI. According to the company, Saturday remains the most popular day for returns, while the least busy days are Tuesday and Wednesday. However, even on these days, the total number of returns nationwide exceeds 4 million. Currently, there are about 4,500 return points in the country, 1,500 of which are manual REpont stations. Customers most often choose to receive vouchers as refunds, with over 40 billion forints already paid out. There is also an option to transfer funds to a bank account, which is used by about 16% of clients. Additionally, money can be donated to charity, with over 118 million forints already collected for children's hospitals through this method.

The Frida Kahlo photo exhibition extended until February The photo exhibition of Frida Kahlo, which opened at Mai Manó Ház in October last year, has been extended due to high visitor interest. Initially, the exhibition was scheduled to close on January 12, 2025, but it can now be visited until February 9. The exhibition features 241 photographs from the personal collection of the famous Mexican artist. These images offer a unique and intimate glimpse into her life and fate. If you haven’t had the chance to visit this extraordinary exhibition yet, you now have an extra month to immerse yourself in the world of Frida Kahlo.

Hungary Airlines Receives Official Status On January 7, it was announced that the new Hungarian airline, Hungary Airlines Kft., had obtained all the necessary permits to operate aircraft. In December, the airline was issued an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and assigned the ICAO code “HUA” and the callsign “BUDAPEST,” confirming its status as an official air carrier. On December 23, 2024, Hungary Airlines conducted its first test flight using a state-owned Airbus A330F cargo aircraft under the company’s management. In January 2025, additional training flights were carried out between Budapest and Kecskemét, as well as the dispatch of an aircraft to Shanghai for scheduled maintenance. Hungary Airlines has partial Hungarian roots, but a significant portion of the company is owned by Chinese investors. It was previously known as Hungary Cargo Airlines Kft. and earlier as Universal Translink Airline Hungary Kft. (UTA), as part of a Chinese logistics holding. The airline’s primary operations focus on cargo transportation between Europe and China, including routes such as Budapest–Hangzhou, Budapest–Zhengzhou, and Hong Kong–Madrid.

How the Rules for Transporting Dogs on Public Transport in Budapest Are Changing Starting from early 2025, significant changes have been introduced to the rules for transporting dogs on public transport in Hungary. Under certain conditions, four-legged companions can now travel for free on MÁV trains and BKK transport. Free Travel on MÁV Trains As of January 1, 2025, within Budapest, dogs and bicycles can travel for free on all trains operated by the MÁV Group if the passenger possesses: • a Budapest travel pass, • a Pest County travel pass, or • a national travel pass. Important! These rules apply to all local and international trains, as well as HÉV lines and VOLÁN regional buses operating within the capital. However, for InterCity, express, and certain international trains, an additional ticket is still required for bicycles, even within Budapest. Changes for Dogs on BKK Transport From January 7, 2025, dogs will be able to travel for free on BKK transport (including buses, trams, and HÉV lines) if the following conditions are met: • the dog is wearing a muzzle, • the owner has a valid travel pass (BKK, regional, or national). These changes also apply to individuals who are already entitled to free travel (e.g., children under 14 and people over 65). They will now be allowed to bring one dog with them for free. Additional Opportunities Passengers with travel passes, as well as those entitled to free travel, will also be able to transport one bicycle for free on certain public transport routes where this is permitted.