I came to Budapest as an exchange student (Erasmus) in the Fall semester of 2024. I will be studying Computer Engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). I am excited to explore the city and learn about the Hungarian culture. I will be sharing my experiences here.
Arrival
I had some issues with my landlord when I arrived in Budapest. The apartment was not available as promised. Therefore, I had to stay in another place located in District 16 (luckily, only for a day). The house is far and the room is small, no utilities, and no internet (like for real?).
After that, I moved to the apartment in the city center. It is a shared apartment with 2 other students. The room is pretty small compared to my apartment in Finland, but it is cozy with great views of the city (not anymore as the landlord decided to lend the windows to place a billboard, well-done!)
Tips
If you not comfortable with noise, I would not recommend staying in the city center.
The Pest side is more lively and has more things to do, but it is also more noisy, especially you will have to hear sirens a lot. The Buda side is more quiet and has more nature.
Study places
I have been exploring the city and found some nice places to study. My criteria are cheap or free, power outlets, and wifi.
OMIKK library
The library is located in the BME campus. It is open to everyone, the main reading room is spacious and quiet. Though, during summer time, it can get hot in the library.
At the -1 floor, there is a huge collection of books and s. Most of them are in English. You can also find some old Hungarian books.
Caphe by Hai Nam
A Vietnamese coffee shop located near BME. The place is cozy and has a nice atmosphere. Wifi and power outlets are available. They also have a variety of drinks and food. Especially AC is a big plus during summer.
Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
A must-visit when you come to Budapest, the library itself is huge with lots of study and reading places. Fee for student with Hungarian student card is only 400 HUF for 1 year. However, it can be quite hot and humid during summer, the connection also not that strong compare to OMIKK but more stable.
