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Living in Budapest: Why a Swedish expat chose Hungary as his home
Our team is committed to giving a voice to people from abroad who have made Budapest/Hungary their home β whether for work, family, or other personal reasons. We want to understand what life here is really like for them: the challenges they face, the ways they find to adapt and integrate, and how they view both Hungary and the communities in which they live. To explore these experiences, we have launched a dedicated interview series in which foreigners living in Hungary share their professional paths, personal stories, and reflections on daily life in their new adopted home.
Author: Peter Strand
We invite you to read this article by Peter Strand, a Swedish national living in Budapest.
From a Swedish village to Budapest
“My name is Peter Strand, I was born and raised in a small village in the Swedish countryside. I started coming to Budapest almost 20 years ago, staying for longer periods each time, and finally decided to settle here 15 years ago. I work both at the South African Embassy and an international church called Equippers Budapest.
I live next to the DΓ©li train station, which provides my easy access to the amazing Balaton lake, where I also learned to swim as a young boy! During these years and several earlier journeys, I had the chance to explore most parts of the nation I love. More and more, I find myself going “off the beaten track” into the more untouched areas of Hungary. Many times I go by bike alone or with my friends to places like NΓ³grΓ‘d county, ArlΓ³i Lake, Deseda Lake, the top of Szentendre Island and the southern part of the Danube, especially from Kalocsa and down to the Croatian border.
Why the Hungarian countryside feels like βheaven on earthβ
I love the charm of the rural countryside here, far away from bigger roads, noise and tourists. Coming into these cities on my bike feels like βheaven on earthβ after spending a few weeks in the beautiful but busy capital. Entertainment-wise, I naturally gravitate toward sports arenas, mainly for athletics, basketball, and fitness β areas Iβve been connected to for most of my life. Within Budapest, I spend a lot of time on Margit Island running, walking, using the street gym, bringing my hammock to the Rose Garden, which has 48 different kinds of roses!
With Equippers, we also do many dramas, illustrations, games and social experiments for the tourists and people we meet on the island! After my years in Hungary, my hint would be for expats is not to spend all their time in the capital and “only” go down to Balaton to withdraw, but to explore, especially the parts of Hungary around the Danube and Tisza. The cities of Sopron, Eger and the neighbouring town of VΓ‘c are also gems to be put on the bucket list!
Food, faith and community in Hungary
When it comes to navigating food in Budapest, I always take my Swedish friends to Pipa, right next to the Great Market Hall at FΕvΓ‘m Square. Itβs an authentic, family-owned restaurant with a chicken paprikash worth dying for! Budapest also has over 200 churches, of which I have visited over 100! St. Stephen’s Basilica is the most beautiful one where a high-class concert now and then is of the highest importance!
As an expat, Iβve found Equippers Budapest to be the most exciting church, as it embraces people from around 40 different nations. We can often listen to high-profile international speakers who always give their best! Above all, dozens of teams from all over the world are coming to visit and help the team in the outreach ministry, which is often characterised by modern-style street theatre at the main squares around Hungary.
Why Hungary became home
After visiting all of the 50 nations in Europe (and having worked in several of them), there is no other nation I would prefer to settle down in than Hungary! The perfect location in the heart of Europe, the blue sky, the Danube, the hot pools, the unbeatable Budapest with its bridges, the lit-up Parliament at night, the Buda hills, crimson red goulash, fat dripping lΓ‘ngos and the sunsets at Balaton – you will see me around!”
If you missed it:
Expats and everyone else once you hit 60 ditch the fat dripping langos or anything else fat dripping if you want to make it to 70 and beyond. If you don’t understand why try dumping grease down your kitchen sink for a few years and see what happens. Hungary has one of the lowest life expectancies in the EU at between 76 and 77 years (men at 72-73) which is four to five years below the EU average. Diet has a big part in it.