What is wrong with Hungarian legislation? 11-year-old Tamás Till’s killer might walk free
The long-unsolved murder of Tamás Till, who disappeared 24 years ago, has taken a significant turn with the confession of János F., now 40. Despite his admission, legal complexities regarding his age at the time of the crime raise questions about his liability. Prosecutors argue that the statute of limitations for aggravated homicide has not expired, sparking hopes for a conviction. As the case unfolds, the Till family seeks justice amid ongoing legal uncertainties.
The tragic case of Tamás Till
As we reported HERE, the long-standing mystery surrounding the murder of Tamás Till, a Hungarian boy who disappeared 24 years ago at the age of 11, has finally been resolved. The Bács-Kiskun County Police announced that the killer, identified as János F., was just 16 years old at the time of the crime. Tamás’s remains were discovered this summer, buried in cement on a farm in Baja, revealing fractures in his ribs, skull, and spine. Following extensive investigations, including interviews with over 40 witnesses, János F. confessed to the murder during a re-interrogation on 28 November.
He admitted to luring Tamás Till to the farm under false pretences and attacking him without reason. Despite his confession, János F.’s criminal liability had expired due to his age at the time of the offence, allowing him to leave freely after questioning. The case, which had remained one of Hungary’s most high-profile unsolved crimes since Tamás’s disappearance in May 2000, involved numerous false leads and tragic developments, including the suicides of key figures linked to the case.
Possible motive behind the gruesome murder?
As Infostart writes, legal representatives suggest that sexual motives may have driven the murder. However, the exact motive remains unclear since János F. did not disclose it during his confession. The lawyer representing the Till family argued that the nature of the crime—marked by brutality and a lack of apparent motive—points towards sexual motivation, as there was no history between the victim and the accused.
The legal proceedings are complicated by questions regarding the statute of limitations for aggravated homicide, with prosecutors asserting that it has not expired despite János F. being a juvenile at the time of the crime. This situation raises concerns about how he will be held accountable in court, particularly given that he will be tried under juvenile sentencing practices despite being 40 years old now. Tamás’s mother expressed her hope that this development might bring some accountability after years of grief, stating, “Maybe it’s better now that this perpetrator (…) can be convicted.”
The prosecution’s view
On 12 December, the Prosecution Service of Hungary shared in a statement that the prosecution’s position is that in the case of non-expiring crimes, the calculation of the statute of limitations is conceptually excluded. In the ongoing criminal proceedings concerning the aggravated murder of Tamás Till, committed on 28 May 2000, the public prosecutor’s office has concluded—based on the interpretation of laws applicable at the time of the crime and those currently in force—that for non-expiring crimes, such as aggravated murder, the statute of limitations cannot be applied.
Consequently, if someone commits aggravated murder as a minor, it cannot expire in the same way as if an adult committed it. For these reasons, the Bács-Kiskun County Prosecutor’s Office, which oversees legality, has called upon the investigative authority to apprehend and interrogate the individual suspected of committing the crime. According to the newest information on the case, the Bács-Kiskun County Prosecutor’s Office has requested the arrest of a man suspected of murdering Tamás Till.
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Budapest Airport at Europe’s top in traffic growth, will enter a new golden age, says CEO
The European arm of Airports Council International (ACI Europe) ranked Ferenc Liszt International Airport as the fastest growing European airport in October in terms of passenger traffic. Passenger numbers in the first ten months of the year at Budapest Airport, powered by VINCI Airports, exceeded the total for the previous year, and the company expects similarly dynamic growth in the future. The airport’s new owners and the company’s management team are prepared to develop and expand the airport, in order to adapt the infrastructure to the expected passenger numbers and provide high-quality services.
Passenger traffic at Ferenc Liszt International Airport was 19.8% higher in October 2024 than in the same month of the previous year, making it the fastest growing airport in Europe, according to ACI Europe. Of the 20 airports surveyed, only seven recorded double-digit growth in October. With this growth, Budapest airport overtook major European airports, bud.hu wrote.
Budapest Airport has set individual records in each of the first ten months of this year, surpassing the passenger traffic figures of the record months in 2019, and by the end of October, total passenger traffic had surpassed the twelve months of 2023. Between January and October this year, the highest numbers of passengers flew from Budapest to London, Istanbul and Milan.
The airport operator expects significant growth in the future as well, and accordingly, the owners and management have started to prepare the airport for the increased passenger traffic and the expected developments.
Francois Berisot, the CEO of Budapest Airport, said, “The country’s appeal is attracting more and more people to explore Budapest and Hungary, which is clearly reflected in the airport’s passenger traffic. Every month has set an individual record this year and we expect similar growth in passenger numbers in the future as well. The owners of Budapest Airport are committed to developing the airport, with the first major milestone being the completion of detailed plans for Terminal 3 next year, and preparations for construction works also continuing. The upcoming developments will ensure that Ferenc Liszt International Airport will soon enter a new golden age, offering a better than ever environment for those arriving in and departing from Hungary.”
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- Budapest Airport bus may become much cheaper but more crowded
- Amazing news: Wizz Air launches new route between Budapest and Italian paradise!
Special LEGO Mercedes cars placed at Budapest’s Fashion Street – PHOTOS, VIDEO
“From beautiful copper fronts to world-famous brands and the best views of Budapest, you can find everything on Fashion Street”, the introduction on the street’s website reads. On 6 December, a new attraction arrived on the street with some unique LEGO Mercedes cars and a Mercedes-Benz G class. Check out some photos and a video about the exhibition below!
Exceptional LEGO tram in Budapest’s heart
We wrote about the magical life-sized LEGO tram of the Deák Ferenc Square in THIS article before. The LEGO tram was built with nearly 1.8 million colourful bricks, an extraordinary masterpiece of fusion of creativity, playfulness, and engineering that’s lighting up the Hungarian capital. It not only represents Budapest’s rich tram traditions but also the everyday magic that LEGO products can give us.
The LEGO tram is also exceptional because there is no other Lego block building in the world that is this big and even moves. The life-size Lego vehicles we know so far have been made using Lego Technic flexible elements. This tram, on the other hand, is built using only classic Lego blocks, which is a particular challenge when it comes to moving it. You may check out some photos and more details about the magical structure displayed on the Deák Ferenc Square available for everyone to visit in THIS article.
Fashion Street connects Vörösmarty Christmas market with the LEGO tram
The Fashion Street of Budapest connects Deák Ferenc Square with one of Budapest’s most beautiful Christmas markets on Vörösmarty Square. When you walk on the street, window-shopping in some leading fashion brands, you should not miss a new spectacle born from the cooperation of Mercedes and LEGO.
Brick Galaxy, one of the oldest Hungarian LEGO fan groups, created an installation there and inaugurated it on 6 December with the help of Zoltán Szujó and Santa Claus. Santa arrives in Hungary on 6 December, bringing mostly candies to kids. On 24 December, Baby Jesus brings presents for children in Hungary.
Unique LEGO Mercedes cars on Fashion Street
As Kreatív Online points out, there is a Mercedes-Benz model under a glass trellis, which you can compare to a realistic LEGO twin built by the group. On the car’s bonnet, there is also a LEGO® Technic™ Mercedes-Benz G 500 PROFESSIONAL Line model.
Péter Oláh, the marketing director of LEGO Hungária Ltd, told Kreatív Online that the exhibition not only celebrates the encounter of two great brands but also shows the unlimited power and infinite creativity of LEGO bricks. He added that trustworthiness and quality were crucial characteristics of LEGO and Mercedes alike.
The Human Telex Advertising & Event team highlighted that they installed the glass trellis on Budapest’s Fashion Street for the third time. They added it was fantastic to see that the idea could take shape and was realised in such a short time.
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UNCHAIN Fintech Festival returns in 2025 in Oradea-Nagyvárad
UNCHAIN Fintech Festival, the most prominent banking tech conference in Central and Eastern Europe, proudly announces its 4th edition, set to take place on June 19–20, 2025, in the well-established Fintech Fortress of Oradea (Nagyvárad), Romania. The event will continue to seamlessly merge business impact with an unmatched summer festival experience, delivering cutting-edge content and invaluable connections.
Building on three years of success, UNCHAIN enters a new growth phase with strengthened international partnerships. The strategic partnerships with LOT Airlines, Oradea Municipality, and Visa will boost the festival’s direct flight connections across the CEE, enhancing its accessibility and impact, and making it a significant milestone for both UNCHAIN and the region.
“Strategic partnerships drive growth and are the cornerstone of innovation in fintech. Through trusted collaborations, we aim to cultivate an industry revolution over time. Our alliance with LOT Airlines, for example, simplifies travel for participants, offering direct flights connecting all CEE capitals via Warsaw, along with exclusive perks like business lounge access. Similarly, Visa’s continuous partnership with UNCHAIN underscores their trust in the event, providing their international experts with a premier platform for learning, discovery, and innovation and turning them into genuine fintech ambassadors. Such initiatives embody our commitment to growing UNCHAIN into a truly transformative event, a vision made possible by a reinforced team focused on achieving even greater impact in the years ahead,” said Alexandra Pollack, Founder & CEO of UNCHAIN.
A Thriving Network at the Core
The strength of UNCHAIN lies in the network it creates and fosters. To enhance this, the UNCHAIN team consolidates by welcoming David Pollack, an expert in international projects development & financial markets, as a permanent member and growth driver. This renewed team will focus on expanding the community of business and industry advisors, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the region’s diverse fintech landscape. Their mission remains steadfast: to unite the CEE fintech ecosystem, amplify its collective voice, and encourage business growth.
David Pollack, Head of Growth & International Development at UNCHAIN, remarked: “Next year marks a strategic leap for UNCHAIN. We’re cementing the event’s foundation with robust partnerships but also with an elite advisory network that spans all major CEE markets. I am excited about the influx of financial institutions, regulators, innovators, and startups who will enrich the event through their knowledge, ideas, and collaboration.”
UNCHAIN’s Role in Regional Fintech
As the benchmark for fintech and financial services events in the CEE, UNCHAIN is dedicated to driving regional innovation through cooperation, resource access, and elite networking.
Alexandru Chira, Director General at Visit Oradea, stated: “The success of the UNCHAIN Fintech Festival highlights not only the remarkable potential of Central and Eastern Europe’s fintech ecosystem but also the importance of public sector involvement in driving innovation and collaboration. Events like this provide the economy with access to essential networking opportunities and relevant industry insights, fostering growth and development. Oradea is proud to play a pivotal role in creating the infrastructure necessary to support and nurture initiatives like UNCHAIN. Visit Oradea will continue working alongside the festival’s extraordinary project team to bring together regional leaders from fintech, regulators, banks, startups, and academia. We remain committed to contribute to their vision of fostering a collaborative spirit that will resonate across Europe.”
2025 Agenda Highlights
The upcoming edition boasts an expanded agenda, with more enhanced targeting of content. The main stage will transform into a general assembly focused on policy and public sector topics, while the sub-stages will further deliver exceptional quality content.
- Digital Banking, with focus on the rise of neobanking and how AI implementations shape the financial ecosystem;
- Payments, with focus on Cross-Border and P2P (Peer-to-Peer) models;
- Regulation & Compliance, Security being the main topic of discussion in nowadays’s changing digital landscape.
All this will be matched by a lively expo & networking area, enhancing visibility and improving connectivity for the partners
The organizers expect over 120 global speakers from 40 countries, with insights on emerging trends, plus participation from 700+ delegates and 350+ companies. With 70% representation from the financial sector, UNCHAIN is the definitive platform for impactful fintech dialogue.
Bankers, fintech creators and enthusiasts that want to meet global leaders, discover innovative solutions, and expand their network should seize the opportunity to join the most dynamic fintech event in the CEE. Immediate registrations will benefit from the Super Early Bird Offer — 750 EUR, meaning an exclusive 40% discount until January 31st.
See you all at this summer’s UNCHAIN Fintech Festival on June 19-20, 2025, for unforgettable moments.
Read also:
- 500+ delegates from over 40 countries gathered at the 3rd edition of UNCHAIN Fintech Festival
Scuffle at Budapest Airport: police officers forced passengers down from Wizz Air plane
A scuffle broke out at Budapest Airport after some passengers refused to pay extra for their oversized baggage. As we covered in a previous article, Wizz Air takes baggage sizes more seriously again, but the passengers disregarded the staff’s warnings and boarded the plane. Police arrived to solve the situation, and the plane could take off only with a delay.
The scuffle started at Budapest Airport due to oversized baggage.
According to Telex, the reason was the oversized bags of some passengers, which ground handling partner Menzies Aviation refused to approve. However, some passengers of the Budapest-Basel flight did not want to pay the extra charge for their luggage. A scuffle broke out, and the passengers boarded the plane without permission.
Finally, the jet crew forced them down with the help of police officers. However, the plane could only take off with a delay due to the incident, but, thankfully, they arrived in the Swiss town later on Saturday.
Budapest Airport told Telex that Menzies Aviation asked for the help of the police and promised to examine the circumstances with the ground handling service provider.
Police do not investigate
The Hungarian police wrote that they had to intervene on Saturday morning because of an argument between employees of the ground handling company and some passengers. They said passengers cooperated with the officers and the crew, and neither of the two sides wanted to press charges. They wrote that there were no ongoing police investigations concerning the issue.
Two readers of Telex wrote that one employee of Menzies Aviation behaved aggressively against a passenger, but it seems nobody wanted to report that to the police.
Telex has not yet received a comment from Menzies.
Read also:
- Budapest Airport bus may become much cheaper but more crowded – read more HERE
- Amazing news: Wizz Air launches new route between Budapest and Italian paradise!
Hungarians’ favourite porn categories revealed by PornHub: there are surprises
Sticking to tradition, Pornhub revealed its statistics about Hungarians’ favourite porn categories in 2024. Although the ‘lesbian’ category dominated the porn consumption habits of Hungarians for many years, in 2024, PornHub found that another porn type took the first place. They also revealed the biggest porn consumer countries, but Hungary is not among them even though many regard our country as a porn industry giant.
Hungarians’ favourite porn categories revealed
On the globe, the most popular porn category was ‘hentai’, a type always in the top 10. In 2014, it occupied only the 14th place but took the lead step by step. It “won” the competition every time in the last four years. The second place went to the MILF category, while the third was pinay referring to Philippine women, Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, wrote. Here is the top 10 in 2024:
- hentai
- MILF
- pinay
- lesbian
- anal
- big butt
- anime
- Japanese
- Latina
- Asian
The porn consumption habits of the Hungarians differed a bit from the global trend. The first place in Hungary went to the MILF category, while last year the lesbian took the first place.
Angele White tops internet searches
Concerning porn stars, the Australian Angela White is in the first place. The second place went to Abella Danger, and Violet Myers was third. In the men’s category, Alex Adams topped the list.
The statistics also showed from which countries people consume the most porn. Hungary is not even in the top 20. From the Eastern and Central European regions, only Poland (12th) and Ukraine (15th) are in the top 20. The top 10 countries are the following ones:
- United States
- France
- The Phillippines
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Brazil
- Italy
- Japan
- Canada
In two countries, women watch more porn
Interestingly, the time per capita spent on PornHub and consuming content was lower than last year. The average was 9 minutes and 40 seconds, 29 seconds less than in 2023. People spend the most time on average in Mexico, the Netherlands and the United States watching porn on PornHub.
Furthermore, women spend a bit more time watching porn than men. The difference is 17s. However, women watch porn at a bigger rate than men only in the Phillippines (59%) and Argentina (51%).
Read also:
- Hungarian “Porn Pope” ‘Kovi’ returns to make new XXX films and discover new talents
- Is it true that Hungary is a porn industry giant? – answers in THIS article
Featured image: depositphotos.com
New bulky waste collection system to clean up Budapest’s cityscape
Budapest is set to overhaul its bulky waste collection system, replacing street dumping with controlled collection points across the city. The initiative aims to enhance urban cleanliness, support recycling, and promote sustainable waste management practices.
Revamped bulky waste collection system
As Index reports, Budapest is set to modernise its bulky waste collection system, aligning with European cities adopting environmentally sustainable practices. Mohu Budapest emphasises that the current system, where household waste is left on the streets, causes public disorder, disrupts daily life, and harms the urban aesthetic. The city will introduce a controlled collection point system to address this, offering up to 10 supervised locations in each district. These collection points, typically within 800 to 1,000 metres of residents’ homes, will operate for three days at a time. Door-to-door services will remain available for free on a needs basis, alongside a year-round paid option.
This change is designed to ensure cleaner streets and smoother operations during waste collection, reducing the disruption to residents’ lives. The approach mirrors successful systems in other EU cities and large Hungarian towns like Zalaegerszeg and Nyíregyháza. The initiative supports Hungary’s circular waste economy and sustainable urban management goals by promoting cleaner waste fractions for recycling and proper hazardous waste disposal. Ultimately, the revamped bulky waste collection process will enhance Budapest’s cityscape, making it more appealing for both residents and tourists.
Safer waste disposal
Mohu Budapest stresses that the current bulky waste collection system allows hazardous and miscellaneous waste, including electronics, paint, and clothing, to be irresponsibly dumped on streets, undermining recycling efforts and Hungary’s landfill reduction commitments. The unregulated system also sees unauthorised companies adding to the problem, resulting in waste piles that block pavements, damage greenery, and tarnish Budapest’s urban image, which negatively impacts tourism and public safety. The new system addresses these issues by introducing secure collection points within 800-1,000 metres of residents’ homes, ensuring environmentally responsible waste disposal while supporting sustainability and maintaining a clean, orderly cityscape.
What can you bring to the collection points?
Mohu Budapest asserts that the new bulky waste collection system is both environmentally and economically sustainable, promoting cleaner waste fractions that can be effectively recycled. The controlled collection points will enable residents to dispose of wood, metal, plastic, glass, textiles, electronics, and hazardous materials responsibly, ensuring public spaces remain clean and orderly. While the system involves additional costs for infrastructure, staffing, and security, these measures are essential to eliminate the public disorder and unsightly waste piles associated with the current street-based collection, creating a more sustainable and visually appealing urban environment.
Read also:
- Bottle redemption system in Hungary did not kick off as smoothly as expected
- Will the cars of motorists driving far above speed limit be seized in Budapest?
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Hungarian surgeons have performed the first ever pacemaker implantation in African country
Hungarian surgeons have performed the first ever pacemaker implantation in Chad, the state secretary for helping persecuted Christians said on Friday.
Hungary carried out two successful medical missions in Chad in the autumn which included fundamental life-saving screening tests, training, as well as the country’s first ever pacemaker implantation, Tristan Azbej told MTI.
The implantation was performed by a team of health-care volunteers from Budapest’s St. Ferenc Hospital as part of the Hungary Helps Agency’s medical mission, Azbej said. This milestone, he said, was the start of a new chapter in Chad’s health-care system, involving local doctors and experts.
The support provided through the Hungary Helps humanitarian scheme was indispensible in ensuring that pacemaker implantations could be performed locally, contributing to reducing mortality rates related to heart disease, he said. The programme’s long-term goal is to allow local surgeons to master the skills needed for implanting and programming pacemakers, ensuring that these procedures could be performed in Chad. Azbej added that the mission involved ECG and pacemaker programming training sessions.
Chad’s health ministry wants to ensure that pacemaker implantations can be performed locally so that patients do not have to travel abroad to get the procedure done, the state secretary said. The Hungary Helps Agency’s programme did not just provide life-saving care, but also laid the foundations for the local health-care system’s long-term sufficiency in this area, he added.
Hungarian volunteers spent 140 working days treating refugees, carrying out hospital duties and conducting training programmes in Chad over the last two months, in cooperation with the country’s health ministry, Azbej said.
The Hungary Helps Agency has also donated a significant supply of medicine to the most important hospitals in N’Djamena and outside the capital.
Read also:
- PHOTOS: Hungary gets brand-new military choppers, troops prepare for Chad mission amid French withdrawal
- President of Chad may invite Hungarian troops to his country during Budapest visit next week
PHOTOS: Dua Lipa is in Budapest and she’s spending Christmas here!
Christmas gift arrived early for Dua Lipa fans: the British-Albanian singer who already bagged three Grammies and won the love of tens of millions of people arrived in Budapest to stay until January. Here’s how you can meet her.
Dua Lipa is in Budapest
“Our Christmas gift arrived early: you asked, and we made it happen! Until the end of January, you can meet Dua Lipa’s figure in the attraction. One of your favourite singers flew straight from Amsterdam to us so you can party to her greatest hits together”, Madame Tussauds Budapest wrote in a Facebook post.
One of the most popular contemporary singer’s wax “alter ego” will remain in the Hungarian capital for a couple of weeks.
The superstar herself participated actively in the creation of her lifelike wax doppelganger since the artists needed her to remain still for hours to record her biological data. In Budapest, she’s wearing an extravagant satin dress that she wore in 2018, Turizmus Online wrote.
“If I wasn’t a singer, I’d probably be a fairy tale princess,” Dua Lipa once said. She is still below 30, but her career resembles a fairy tale already. Born to a family of Albanian origins in London, Dua Lipa moved back to London alone when she was only 15 to make her dreams come true. Now, she has three Grammies, the unquestionable love of tens of millions of people and four Madame Tussauds figures. Dua Lipa is currently one of the most valuable brands.
The singer’s wax figure came from Amsterdam and will stay at the Dorottya Street in Budapest until the end of January. Interestingly, she inaugurated her wax figure in Amsterdam in 2019. Here are some photos:
Some of the tattoos are also visible
Dua Lipa is a fan of discrete tattoos. She currently has 18 and some can be seen even on her wax figure in Budapest. For example, the inscription “Patience” on her left hand that reminds her to remain calm and patient. Other tattoos designed by the world-famous graffiti artist Keith Haring are also visible on the figure’s fingers.
Dua Lipa’s tattoos remind the singer of her past and the road that led her to where she is. Among others, her tattoos feature her family and even the annual Sunny Hill festival, which she organises with her father in Kosovo. The name is derived from a district in Pristina.
The figure wears a satin dress designed by Alessandra Rich. Millions of fans were able to see the loose, bold outfit at the 2018 Billboard Awards.
Dua Lipa performed twice at the Sziget Festival in Budapest. Furthermore, this summer, she visited Hungary in complete secrecy to record a video for her song “Falling Forever”. Unfortunately, her 2025 World Tour will not include Budapest, but her wax figure will stay in Budapest for more than a month.
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Balaton light ferry and decorated Budapest cogwheel railway makes Advent brighter – PHOTO GALLERIES
The Balatoni Hajózási Ltd. reported that passengers can cross Lake Balaton by the famous and astonishing light ferry daily. Furthermore, in Budapest, a decorated cogwheel railway serves passengers during Advent to make everyone’s Christmas happier and brighter.
New ferries, Balaton light ferry in operation during the Advent and Christmas period
According to turizmus.com, the company wrote on their official Facebook page that Lake Balaton’s light ferry carries passengers daily. In the morning, you may travel with the beautifully decorated light ferry between 7 AM and 8.15 AM. In the afternoon, you may take the ferry for a ride between 4 PM and 5.15 PM.
We wrote HERE that the state-owned Balaton Shipping Company (Bahart) received brand-new ferries and catamarans in 2023 built at the Komárom shipyard. The EUR 5 billion investment was made possible by the state’s capital increase of more than EUR 6 billion in Bahart in 2019.
First and foremost, the boats improved the transportation options for people living around Lake Balaton. Additionally, tourists can now have a better experience, and the crossing between the shores of the lake is also faster. Moreover, the vessels can transport more bicycles than the previous boats. The development could also reduce car traffic around Lake Balaton. Finally, one of the boats could be decorated for the Advent season to provide a unique experience for all passengers on board.
Decorated cogwheel railway in service
According to the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK), the Budapest cogwheel railway’s interior and exterior have been dressed in decorative lighting. The LED lighting contains 11,412 LED bulbs and is 500 metres long. The cabin is decorated with light nets and neatly placed artificial pine.
Check out the operating days and routes of the illuminated tram fleet of the BKK below:
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Culinary triumph: Michelin Guide acknowledges an unprecedented number of Hungarian restaurants
Hungary’s culinary scene is sizzling with success, as the latest Michelin Guide awards celebrate a wave of new stars, eco-conscious honours, and a surge in Bib Gourmand restaurants, cementing the country’s place on the global food map.
This year’s Michelin Guide Awards
As Turizmus.com writes, Hungary’s gastronomy scene achieved remarkable recognition at the Michelin Guide Awards on 10 December. Pajta in Őriszentpéter received its first Michelin star as a newcomer, while all previously starred restaurants retained their titles. This year’s Michelin Guide spotlighted Hungary’s growing culinary excellence, with 78 restaurants recommended, marking a significant leap from previous years. The prestigious list now includes 57 Michelin plate restaurants, 10 of them new, showcasing the diversity and quality of Hungarian cuisine.
Hungary performs well in the region
The country also celebrated an increase in Bib Gourmand establishments, known for offering affordable yet high-quality dining, rising from six to eleven. Environmental sustainability was recognised too, with Natura Hill in Zebegény earning a Green Star, joining five other eco-conscious restaurants. Towns like Tata, Esztergom, and Őriszentpéter joined Budapest in boasting Michelin-starred venues, further enhancing Hungary’s gastronomic appeal. These achievements by the Michelin Guide underscore Hungary’s growing reputation as a destination for food enthusiasts and strengthen its position ahead of regional competitors like Serbia and the Czech Republic.
Further recognitions
Beyond culinary excellence, Hungary’s performance in the Michelin Guide has far-reaching effects on tourism and international perception. Awards for individual excellence, such as the Sommelier Award to Mátyás Székely and the Young Chef Award to Levente Lendvai, highlighted the talent driving this success. The Opening of the Year Award recognised Iszkor in Mályinka, one of the six new Bib Gourmand restaurants. As Hungary continues to impress on the global gastronomic stage, its vibrant culinary scene promises to attract more visitors, cementing its status as a must-visit destination for fine dining and unique flavours.
Two Michelin stars:
- Platán Gourmet, Tata
- Stand, Budapest
One Michelin star:
- Pajta – Őriszentpéter (new)
- 42 – Esztergom
- Salt – Budapest
- Costes – Budapest
- Borkonyha Winekitchen – Budapest
- Babel – Budapest
- Rumour – Budapest
- Essencia – Budapest
BIB Gourmand:
- Iszkor – Mályinka (new)
- Újváros Bisztró – Szarvas (new)
- N28 Wine and Kitchen – Budapest (new)
- Goli – Budapest (new)
- Platán Bisztró – Tata (new)
- Macok – Eger
- Morzsa – Pécs
- Casa Christa – Balatonszőlős
- Sparhelt – Balatonfüred
- Kistücsök – Balatonszemes
- Anyukám mondta – Encs
Green star:
- Natura Hill – Zebegény (new)
- Graefl Major Kétútköz – Poroszló
- Onyx Mühely – Budapest
- Salt – Budapest
- Villa Kabala – Szigliget
Recommended restaurants:
- Szaletly – Budapest (new)
- Kollázs – Budapest (new)
- Zazie Bistro – Budapest (new)
- Teyföl – Szentendre (new)
- Füge – Biatorbágy (new)
- Cut & Barrel – Budapest (new)
- Sho Tihany – Tihany (new)
- Virtu – Budapest (new)
- Aleli – Budapest (new)
- Bilanx – Budapest (new)
- Natura Hill – Zebegény
- Kreinbacher Birtok – Somlóvásárhely
- Hoppá! Bistro – Budapest
- A Konyhám Stúdió 365 – Fonyód
- Hosszú Tányér – Hosszúhetény
- füge – Tihany
- Öreg Prés – Mór
- Zelna Borbisztró – Balatonfüred
- Tihanyi Vinarius – Tihany
- Alkimista Kulináris Műhely – Szeged
- Horgonyzó Kisvendéglő – Tiszalök
- Rutin – Budaörs
- Neked Főztem – Zánka
- Zip’s – Miskolc
- Avalon – Miskolc
- NOON – Balatonfüred
- GÓRÉ – Kisharsány
- Graefl Major Kétútköz – Poroszló
- Umo – Budapest
- Bobajka – Tarcal
- Botanica – Dánszentmiklós
- Csopaki Resti by Laurel – Csopak
- MoszkvaTéЯ Bisztró – Budapest
- Tati – Budapest
- White Salon – Budapest
- Zincenco Kitchen – Budapest
- FLAVA – Budapest
- Fricska 2.0 – Budapest
- Piac 42 – Esztergom
- Nobu Budapest – Budapest
- Costes Downtown – Budapest
- Onyx Mühely – Budapest
- St. Andrea – Budapest
- Textúra – Budapest
- Mák – Budapest
- Arany Kaviár – Budapest
- Víg Molnár Csárda – Csopak
- IKON – Debrecen
- LAMAREDA – Győr
- Kővirág -Köveskál
- Végállomás Bistro&Wine – Miskolc
- 67 Sigma – Székesfehérvár
- Sauska 48 – Villány
- Villa Kabala – Szigliget
- Stand25 Bisztró – Budapest
- FELIX Kitchen & More – Budapest
- Spago by Wolfgang Puck – Budapest
Special awards:
- Young Chef Award 2024: Lendvai Levente, Virtu – Budapest
- Opening of the Year Award 2024: Iszkor – Mályinka
- Service Award: Lisztes Ivett, N28 Wine and Kitchen – Budapest
- Sommelier Award: Székely Mátyás, 42 – Esztergom
Read also:
- PHOTOS: Hungarian luxury hotel featured in Michelin Guide list!
- New Michelin Guide: these are the best Hungarian restaurants
Featured image: depositphotos.com
The ‘Butcher of Csantavér’ revealed who stabbed a Hungarian mother 70 times in Amsterdam
The mother of a 2-month-old infant was killed in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, and the Dutch authorities made a last attempt in November to reveal the identity of the murderer. They created the life-size hologram of the 19-year-old woman reaching out for help. It seems it rang a bell in the prison of Szeged where Csaba Dér, the butcher of Csantavér, wrote to the Dutch authorities that he knew the murderer of the young Hungarian woman working as a prostitute in Amsterdam until the terrible night of 19 February 2009. Read more about the bloodcurdling details in our article below.
The butcher of Csantavér, Csaba Dér, remembers
We detailed HERE how the Dutch police would like to solve a 15-year-old mystery case involving the brutal murder of a Hungarian prostitute. In a desperate move, they created the life-size hologram of Bernadett Szabó (Betty), being only 19 when her life was violently ended with 70 stabs.
Dutch authorities hoped somebody would remember something helpful to find the murderer and solve the case. They also offered a EUR 30,000 reward. And it seems they were successful.
Csaba Dér, the butcher of Csantavér, serving his life sentence in the Szeged prison, wrote an 11-page-long letter to the Dutch authorities revealing the details. His lawyer told Blikk that, in the letter, he named the perpetrator.
According to Telex, he wrote he executed the perpetrator, a Croatian gangster, whom he shot in a local restaurant. Based on Mr Dér’s lawyer, Krisztián Gulyás, he did so to protect his life as a preventive action. But he already knew by then that the man had murdered a woman. He learned that information from an arms dealer from whom he bought his pistol before the homicide.
The Croatian gangster killed the woman with 70 stabs
Mr Dér got a life sentence for executing a Dutch man in the Netherlands in 2018 with a headshot and a Hungarian drug dealer in Budapest later.
Csaba Dér in Amsterdam:
Telex wrote he would offer the award of the Dutch authorities to charity, but he wanted to negotiate with them. He said Betty’s murderer was a ladykiller who all feared in Amsterdam back then. He liked to torture and beat women. He was very violent with women, humiliated sex workers, and probably killed the Hungarian woman because she asked him to behave.
Csaba Dér was put together with the murderer of a 36-year-old mother, whom he killed while jogging in Soroksár in 2013. Dér beat Szilveszter Rakovec in the cell for what he did. Dér’s lawyer said he could not bear femicide and people who killed women.
The first page of his testimony claiming he cannot stand people who killed women, children:
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Tax benefits change, 3rd-country guest workers will earn less in 2025 in Hungary!
Ukrainian and Serbian guest workers in Hungary should not be worried about the changes; however, Vietnamese, Indian, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Montenegrin, Venezuelan, etc. employees will earn less if they raise children, are below 25, or get a tax benefit due to marriage.
New rules will decrease the salaries of many guest workers in Hungary
Regarding tax benefits, the Hungarian state is rather generous to families raising three or more children. On the other hand, allowances based on social status are much lower than in most European countries because the Hungarian government believes such financial help should only be given to those who work and, as a result, contribute to the country’s GDP increase.
Although the Hungarian government seemed committed to attracting guest workers to Hungary with several alleviations, a significant change is coming in 2025 thanks to the modification of tax laws in Hungary.
According to Telex, many guest workers will no longer be eligible for family tax benefits, lose the allowance for young couples in first marriage, and can no longer receive the tax benefits for employees under 25.
The good news is that the modified tax rules do not apply to guest workers coming from neighbouring countries. Therefore, Ukrainians and Serbians should not be worried. However, all other citizens coming from non-EEA countries should be aware that their revenues may fall next year.
Three types of tax benefits will be unavailable
According to Telex, based on the LV. Law of 2024 about the change of several tax laws, from January, Vietnamese, Indian, Indonesian, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Venezuelan, Montenegrin, Filipino, etc. workers may earn less. The reason is that they and all other 3rd-country nationals not coming from the neighbouring countries will no longer be eligible for family tax allowance, the allowance for young couples in first marriage, and the tax benefits for employees under 25.
Telex wrote that one of the biggest Hungarian HR companies informed its employees about the changes. That means all of them will have to pay 15% personal income tax and 18.5% social security contribution. The calculation is simple: your gross wage minus 33.5% will be your net salary paid in cash or transferred to your bank account.
This means that if a 3rd-country employee not from neighbouring countries like Ukraine or Serbia is employed for a HUF 450,000 (EUR 1,100) gross wage per month, he gets HUF 299,250 (EUR 731) even if he e.g. raises three or more kids.
Employees raising one kid will get HUF 10,000 (EUR 24) less, and that number increases to HUF 40,000 (EUR 98) in the case of two kids and HUF 99,000 (EUR 242) in the case of three kids. Young employees under 25 will receive 15% less (because they will have to pay personal income tax), while young couples in first marriage will get HUF 5,000 (EUR 12) less.
Stricter conditions to hire guest workers
Earlier this year, the Orbán cabinet introduced stricter rules concerning the employment of guest workers. First, employers punished with administrative or OSHA fines in the previous 12 months cannot hire a guest worker. Secondly, they cannot hire a guest worker from a third country if they were punished for illegally employing guest workers before. Finally, employers under compulsory liquidation, and forced strike-off cannot hire a guest worker. Moreover, if a Hungarian employer rejects to hire a Hungarian job seeker due to unsupported claims, they should expect sanctions.
According to Telex, employers believe those modifications did not prevent the growth of the number of Asian guest workers in Hungary. FM Péter Szijjártó talked about 128,000 workers from countries outside of the European Union in Hungary in October. Of course, the majority of them are Ukrainians and Serbians. Meanwhile, the number of unfilled positions stood at 71,000 then.
The increase in the number of guest workers flattened
Károly Radnai, the CEO of Andersen Adótanácsadó Ltd, agreed with the abolishment of the tax benefits for 3rd-country guest workers since the government’s aim is not to settle those employees. According to the latest data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), the number of guest workers in Hungary stagnated in the past few months. Telex or the KSH did not give a reason, but it is a fact that the Hungarian government is struggling with multiple structural problems, and GDP growth is expected to be extremely low this year.
Read also:
- Will employment of guest workers in Hungary face further restrictions soon? – read more HERE
- Food courier crisis in Hungary: Labour shortage and opportunities for foreigners with KATA tax revisions
Featured image: depositphotos.com
PHOTOS: The buttress of the Western Gardens of the Buda Castle is shining in its original beauty!
The buttress of the Western Gardens at the astonishing Buda Castle has been renewed and is shining in its original beauty. Check out the details and some photos in our article below.
According to the Facebook page of the National Hauszmann Programme, the Palota Street connecting the Dózsa György Square and the Buda Castle was created following the plans of Miklós Ybl in the 1880s. The aim was to substitute the steep road from the Tabán.
The serpentine crawling to Castle Hill with sharp bends is supported by several buttresses to stabilise its weight.
According to their Facebook post, the renovation project contains the renewal of the Western Gardens beneath the Palace of Archduke Joseph. Based on the plans, the garden will be open to the public. Furthermore, they will create a third underground garage, expanding the number of available parking places in the district.
They have finished the structural construction of Palota Street’s Eastern buttress, which received a new surface of Süttő limestone. Moreover, they placed the cast iron handrail resembling the style of the Ybl handrail of Palota Street.
As a result, the buttresses and the handrails are shining in their original, 19th-century beauty.
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From border seizures to supermarket shelves: Dubai chocolate fever in Hungary
Surprisingly, the growing popularity of Dubai chocolate in Hungary has escalated from TikTok-fueled trends to high-profile smuggling cases. Customs officials at the Austrian-Hungarian border recently seized Dubai chocolate worth HUF 20 million (approximately EUR 48.5 thousand) from a Turkish bus attempting to cross the border.
The smuggling operation unfolded over two separate incidents at the Nickelsdorf (Miklóshalmi) border crossing. The first bust, conducted during a special operation in October, uncovered 1,500 packs of the luxury chocolate hidden in the bus’s luggage compartment, 24.hu reported. The second, a routine inspection in mid-November, revealed an additional 1,040 bars, packaged in 16 boxes, on the same vehicle.
Dubai chocolate: A growing phenomenon
Dubai chocolate has captured Hungary’s imagination, particularly as the festive season approaches. This Middle Eastern-inspired delicacy, made with crispy kadayif pastry, pistachio cream, tahini, and coated in milk chocolate, has become a must-have treat, thanks in part to viral TikTok trends. Its allure lies not only in its exotic flavour profile but also in its luxurious image, making it a popular holiday gift.
Retailers in Hungary have been quick to capitalise on this craze. Major chains like Aldi recently announced the availability of Dubai chocolate in their stores, Világgazdaság reported. Aldi’s offerings include 30-gram bars for HUF 499 (EUR 1.21) and 90-gram bars for HUF 1,499 (EUR 3.64), with a bulk price of HUF 16,655 (EUR 40.46) per kilogram. Rival retailer Lidl is also planning to stock the treat, emphasising its growing demand.
Enterprising innovations
The Dubai chocolate mania has even inspired Hungarian confectioners. One notable innovation is the Dubai chocolate-flavoured szaloncukor, a traditional Hungarian Christmas candy. Veresegyház-based Sulyán Confectionery launched this new product, describing it as “a journey into the flavours of Dubai”, Világgazdaság wrote in another article. At HUF 5,200 (EUR 12.63) for a 250-gram package, it caters to those seeking a luxurious touch for their holiday celebrations.
This seasonal treat has proven so popular that the confectionery has issued guidelines for ordering to manage demand. Customers can place online orders until 17 December, while in-store pick-ups are available until 19 December. However, due to high interest, delivery times may stretch to a week.
From luxury to legal challenges
While retailers and confectioners celebrate the Dubai chocolate’s success, the smuggling bust highlights the darker side of its popularity. Authorities are investigating the cases, underscoring the lengths to which some will go to profit from this high-demand product. The juxtaposition of luxury chocolate on store shelves and its illicit transport across borders paints a vivid picture of Dubai chocolate’s meteoric rise in Hungary. From influencing confectionery trends to fueling legal challenges, this dessert has become a true holiday phenomenon.
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Will the cars of motorists driving far above speed limit be seized in Budapest?
Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest, on Friday said he will propose a regulation that would allow the authorities to confiscate the vehicles of motorists caught driving in the city far above the speed limit.
Karácsony said on Facebook that he is proposing that the Budapest assembly call on the government to draft a regulation modeled after an Austrian law that would allow the authorities to seize the cars of drivers speeding far above the limit. Under the mayor’s proposal, extreme speeders would have their car seized for six months for a first offence, while repeat offenders would have it confiscated.
Under the law in effect in Austria, motorists who exceed the speed limit by more than 80 kph in built-up areas or by 90 kph outside built-up areas are fined, have their licence taken away and can have their car permanently confiscated.
Karácsony said speed cameras installed throughout the city caught 52,926 speeders in the first month. He said the most severe speed-limit violation happened in the 9th district on Üllői Road when a motorist did 158 kph in a 50 kph zone.
The mayor said stricter penalties were needed for extreme speeding in order to eliminate fatal road accidents in the capital.
Read also:
- Budapest Airport bus may become much cheaper but more crowded – read more HERE
- Historical Budapest palace close to Chain Bridge can be sold in no time
Russian missiles over Hungarian towns and villages: is the war in Ukraine escalating?
PM Viktor Orbán proposed a ceasefire this week in Ukraine for the Christmas festivities and later added that Kyiv “refused to accept it”. Now, it seems the Russians tried to escalate the war even to Hungarian-populated territories. Kárpáti Igaz Szó, a Hungarian newspaper in Transcarpathia (Kárpátalja ), the Westernmost region of Ukraine, wrote about another Russian missile attack affecting the region, populated by at least 100,000 Hungarians. The last similar attack took place in November. Before that, only in February 2022 did the Russians carry out acts of war in Transcarpathia.
Russian missiles over Transcarpathia, the home of at least 100,000 Hungarians
According to Kárpáti Igaz Szó, another massive Russian missile attack took place in Transcarpathia this morning when Russians targeted the energy infrastructure of the country. Two missiles flew into the airspace of Transcarpathia during the attack.
Miroslav Bilecky, the public administration head of the region, told the newspaper that air defence forces shot two Russian missiles over Transcarpathia today. Fragments of the first one touched ground near Munkács, where thousands of Hungarians live, while the other landed near Várkulcsa.
The local newspaper has not reported casualties or significant damage. A journalist from Ungvár (Uzhhorod) said the type of the weapon was the Kh-101 cruise missile. Authorities are searching for the fragments of the missiles.
The last time Russia’s war in Ukraine affected Transcarpathia was on 17 November, when the air defence also shot Russian missiles that fell near Munkács and Rahó.
Transcarpathia was not involved in the war
PM Viktor Orbán talked this morning in an interview about a Hungarian ceasefire initiative for the Christmas festivities and an exchange of POWs. He suggested President Putin accepted the offer, but Kyiv has not given the green light. The Hungarian prime minister remained hopeful that the 20 January inauguration of Trump will bring ceasefire and peace in Ukraine.
Transcarpathia was not among the primary or even secondary targets of the invading Russian forces in the last more than 1,000 days of war. A missile attack targeting Transcarpathian places was conducted only back in February 2022, which is why there is no curfew in Transcarpathia, which is exceptional among the Ukrainian regions.
In 2001, the first and only Ukrainian census found more than 150,000 Hungarians in Transcarpathia. As all Hungarian communities beyond the borders of Hungary in the Carpathian Basin, the number of Transcarpathian Hungarians has fallen steeply in the past decades. A 2017 survey found approximately 131,000 Hungarians in the region. Currently, estimates talk about 100,000 Hungarians.
Government hopes common sense prevails for Christmas ceasefire
The Hungarian government hopes that “common sense and humanity will prevail” in connection with the proposed Christmas ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Ukraine, the foreign minister said in Sofia on Friday. Péter Szijjártó said the war has been under way for more than a thousand days in the neighbouring country, and Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election had given new hope to the world that the war could end. “Christmas is approaching, and when we talk about Christmas, peace gets special emphasis, which is why Hungarian diplomacy — with the prime minister surely taking the lead — took some serious steps recently in order to improve the situation for people living in the affected area, even before the war finally ends,” Szijjártó said.
“We have therefore proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large exchange of prisoners, so that more people can celebrate Christmas at home and in peace even in that part of the world,” he added. “We presented this proposal to President Putin and and to several Russian government officials who received it basically in a positive and open manner, demonstrating an openness to considering the proposal and carrying out the related talks,” Szijjártó said.
“Unfortunately, the president of Ukraine rejected the opportunity to negotiate … but we are still hoping that common sense and humanity will prevail, and as many people will celebrate Christmas in peace, calm, safety and at home, also in the eastern part of Europe, as possible,” he added. Commenting on the situation in Syria, he said Hungary had a vested interest in the stability of the Middle Eastern country because if it faltered, a new wave of illegal migrants may be triggered.
Hungary will make every effort at international platforms in order to restore stability and protect Christian communities, so that extremist organisations and ideologies do not gain control in the area, he added. He also said that in such situations political players must ensure that they make statements in a responsible manner because fake news could have tragic consequences. “Unfortunately, several persons from the worlds of media and politics acted very irresponsibly, which proved that they are unfit to fulfil more serious positions,” he said.
“To give the impression that the Syrian president was in Hungary after a series of events carried out with the involvement of terrorist organisations and extremist groups posed very serious risks to Hungary, and to Hungarian people regardless of where they lived in the world,” he added. “I believe that those who spread such fake news solely for political sensation-seeking and profiting, have proved that they were not suitable for any serious position, and if they were to fulfil a serious position, they would pose a very serious danger to Hungary and to the Hungarian people,” Szijjártó said.
Read also:
- A surge of Ukrainian refugees: the disappearing Hungarian identity in Transcarpathia – read more HERE
- FM Szijjártó continues peace mission: he negotiated with Lavrov in Malta
Featured image: depositphotos.com
German tourist paid a shocking fee in Hungarian hospital for VIP care – MP pressed charges
The Uzsoki Hospital is in Budapest’s 14th district, Zugló, represented by Ákos Hadházy, a well-known Hungarian anti-corruption politician, in the Hungarian National Assembly. Mr Hadházy shared documents that a German tourist had to pay EUR 1,650 for VIP care in July in the hospital, a fee higher than what German private hospitals demand for similar treatment and examination. He suspects fraud, so he pressed charges against the healthcare institution, which no longer communicates with him.
German tourist chose VIP care instead of waiting for hours
Mr Hadházy shared the details of the suspicious issue on his official Facebook page. The MP of Zugló wrote that a German tourist, being in Budapest with her husband on a boat trip, struggled with high blood pressure and headache. Therefore, an ambulance doctor recommended that she should visit the Uzsoki Hospital. There, the employees offered them two options. The tourists could wait 6-8 hours to get proper medical help or pay for VIP care. They chose the latter, and the doctor made a head CT and X-ray on the woman, Hadházy cleared.
First, the hospital wanted them to pay in cash on the spot without getting an invoice. However, the husband refused to do so. Later, they got an invoice via email, so they paid the EUR 1,650 examination fee. However, the insurance company of the German couple refused to reimburse the costs because the invoice did not detail what examinations the doctor conducted.
A Hungarian doctor friend of the couple living in Germany tried to help, but the hospital told her that they never issue euro invoices. That is when the issue became problematic.
Uzsoki Hospital is more expensive than German hospitals
Since the Hungarian friend could not get any details from the hospital, the couple turned to them and asked for a detailed invoice, which they received. It came to light that the Uzsoki Hospital’s VIP costs were multiple times higher than those of the private medical institutions in Germany. According to Szeretlek Magyarország, in Germany, the maximum cost of the service would have been EUR 1,000.f
The events took place in July. Since then, the hospital told Hadházy that the doctors and nurses of the hospital work at the VIP unit, but beyond their work time. Therefore, patients do not pay for the hospital but for private service providers. The service provider in contract with the organiser of the German couple’s boat trip was Smart Hospital Ltd, so the invoice was issued by them.
That company is in the ownership of a Hévíz Fidesz councillor, János Gelencsér. Hévíz is a charming small town near Lake Balaton, known for the many Russian tourists who visited it before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Hadházy believes the head CT and the X-ray were made using hospital equipment because such devices are unavailable at the VIP unit. Therefore, he suspects fraud and reported the issue to the police.
The hospital did not even try to reveal the circumstances
Hadházy criticised the hospital’s fairness since the institution failed to reveal the circumstances during an internal inquiry.
In another case, a Hungarian citizen received a date for knee replacement surgery in the Uzsoki Hospital for 2026. But after he paid HUF 2 million (EUR 4,883) to the doctor, he did the surgery at the “VIP unit”.
Hadházy slammed the process, saying that ordinary people must wait hours and sometimes even years for examination, treatment or surgery, while others can buy extra services for money. He believes that, in general, it is not the doctors or nurses who should be blamed for that business. Hadházy says the Hungarian government intentionally underfinances the sector, so hospitals must be creative to gain money.
Read also:
- Hungary among recommended European countries for medical tourism – read more HERE
- The majority of Hungarians say hospitals are in a catastrophic state, government says all is well