HOW TO HUNGARY

02/08/2026

With everything happening in Hungary right now, this probably sounds a bit odd… but August has always been my favourite month. ❤️

Yes, we’re in the middle of a heatwave. The countryside is desperately dry, and the headlines lately have been full of water shortages, energy concerns and extreme weather.

But one of the things living in Hungary has taught me is that life doesn’t stop because the news is worrying.

Later this month we’ll celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary, and it will also be three years since little Sümi came into our lives and completely stole our hearts.

Then today we had one of those perfect Hungarian summer afternoons. Sitting in the garden with good friends, sharing a bottle of local wine, laughing, catching up and enjoying the shade.

Those moments are every bit as much a part of life here as the headlines.

I’m still hoping August brings some much-needed rain, but until then I’ll be making the most of everything else this beautiful country has to offer. ❤️

01/08/2026

It’s Saturday morning, parts of Hungary could hit 40°C today, we’re all being asked to use electricity wisely… and now Budapest is slowing down its public transport to save power.

I’m at our winehouse in the countryside, where today is all about closing the shutters, keeping the dog cool, drinking plenty of water and hopping in the pool as often as we can.

In Budapest, the city has announced new energy-saving measures. Metro trains and trams will now accelerate more gently, which is expected to save around 15 MWh of electricity every day, although journeys may take a few minutes longer.

On some weekday routes, electric trolleybuses will also be replaced by modern diesel buses with air conditioning as part of the city’s emergency energy plans.

It’s remarkable how quickly this heatwave is starting to affect everyday life. First the Paks nuclear power plant had to begin shutting down because of the Danube’s temperature, now public transport is being adjusted to reduce electricity use.

If you’re travelling around Budapest this weekend, don’t be surprised if things feel just a little slower.

31/07/2026

Budapest is already changing the way it uses electricity following the shutdown of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.

After yesterday’s announcement that the entire Paks Nuclear Power Plant is being shut down due to the Danube’s record-low water level, Budapest has begun implementing energy-saving measures.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that decorative lighting on more than 300 city-owned buildings will remain switched off during the shutdown to reduce electricity consumption and help ensure power is available for essential services. This comes into effect on Monday.

The important point is that this does not affect street lighting. Roads, pavements and other public spaces will continue to be lit as normal, so there is no indication that public safety will be affected.

The Mayor has also asked owners of privately illuminated buildings to consider doing the same. The city may look a little different after dark for a while, but the goal is to reduce unnecessary electricity use while Hungary’s energy system is under pressure.

If you’re visiting Budapest over the coming days, don’t be surprised if some of the city’s best-known landmarks aren’t lit up at night. It’s part of a wider effort to conserve energy while the country manages the loss of electricity generation from Paks.

* Reposted from this morning because I accidentally deleted this. 

30/07/2026

‼️BREAKING: Hungary says the entire Paks Nuclear Power Plant will be shut down because of the Danube’s record-low water level.

This story has escalated dramatically in the last few hours.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar has now announced that, for the first time in 44 years, the entire Paks Nuclear Power Plant will be shut down due to the Danube’s exceptionally low water level.

————

One of Hungary’s power plants has already gone offline. Now the Prime Minister says Paks could be next.

Yesterday I shared that Paks Nuclear Power Plant had reduced output because the Danube had become too warm for cooling. Today, Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned the situation could become much more serious.

If the Danube’s water level continues to fall, Paks could be forced to shut down completely as early as Thursday or Friday. That would remove around 2,000 megawatts of electricity from Hungary’s grid.

The Prime Minister said Hungary could replace that power through electricity imports, as the country currently has around 3,600–3,800 megawatts of import capacity. But the timing couldn’t be worse. He also revealed that the Dunamenti Power Plant has suffered a technical fault, taking almost 400 megawatts offline while repairs are carried out. If the damaged equipment can’t be fixed quickly, it could remain out of service for another week or two.

There is currently no indication that households should expect power cuts. But it’s a remarkable reminder that this heatwave isn’t just making life uncomfortable - it’s now putting real pressure on Hungary’s energy system.

I’ll keep following the story as it develops.

Photo: Daniel Kiss | MTI

30/07/2026

Thinking about Hungarian residency or permanent residency? My next Immigration Insider comes out later today.

It’s a free monthly email where I cover the latest Hungarian immigration updates, residency changes, permanent residency issues, citizenship pathways, and the practical details that actually matter when you’re trying to plan your life here.

It’s reviewed with expert input, sent once a month, and designed to keep you informed without sending you down a Facebook rumour spiral.

Sign up today so you don’t miss this edition:

👉 Join the H2H Immigration Insider for monthly updates on Hungary’s visas, residency, and citizenship - explained in plain English.

29/07/2026

The Danube has hit a record low, and it’s now affecting the output of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. Here’s what it really means. 🇭🇺

UPDATE: complete shutdown will happen by Monday, August 3.

29/07/2026

The dog tax is gone.🐕 On 28 July, Parliament passed a tax package that scraps five separate taxes, with the changes applying from August 2026. A few of them actually touch the people who live here, so here they are...

Gone: the ebrendészeti hozzájárulás, the dog-registry fee that around 16 municipalities charged. Also gone: the települési adó, the local settlement tax that roughly 25 towns could levy on top of everything else. If you own a second place somewhere scenic, that is the one I wrote about a LOT over the past year (and will write more about it in a blog ASAP).

Finally, the immigration special tax is scrapped too, though that one was never really collected in the first place.

However, it is not a blanket giveaway. The air pollution charge doubles, and the rules on trust and asset-management structures get tighter. The whole package is tied to unlocking EU recovery funds, which is why it moved quickly.

Small changes, but they add up. And if your tax or residency situation is anything but simple, check with your accountant before you assume it applies to you.

28/07/2026

If you regularly take prescription medication in Hungary, there’s some good news. 💊🇭🇺

Speaking in Parliament this morning, Health Minister Zsolt Hegedűs defended the government’s decision to make prescription medicines VAT-free from 1 September. The change will remove the current 5% VAT, meaning prescription medicines should become a little cheaper at pharmacies across Hungary.

During the debate, he said the measure will apply to the vast majority of prescription medicines, noting that around 35,000 of Hungary’s more than 41,000 registered medicines require a prescription. There was also political debate over whether the original campaign promise referred to all medicines or only prescription medicines, but the practical change from September is that prescription medicines will no longer have VAT.

Having grown up in Canada, I already found prescription medicines in Hungary shockingly affordable compared with what I was used to. I know that’s not everyone’s experience, but I imagine this will be especially welcome news for people who rely on several medications each month or are living on a pension.

I’m curious how this compares with where you’re from. Are prescription medicines in Hungary cheaper or more expensive than in your home country? And do you think removing the remaining 5% VAT will make a noticeable difference for you?

27/07/2026

🥵 Up to 42°C? That’s what parts of Hungary could be facing later this week.

Andrew, Sümi and I have actually changed our plans because of the forecast. We’re getting everything done in Budapest early this week before heading back to the countryside, where thankfully we have a pool to escape the worst of the heat.

If you’re living in Hungary or visiting this week, don’t underestimate these temperatures. Stay hydrated, take extra care of children, older family members and your pets, and keep an eye on the latest forecasts because they continue to evolve.

26/07/2026

Every now and then, I have one of those days where my Canadian and Hungarian lives come together so naturally that it almost feels surreal.

This afternoon Andrew and I were honoured to attend a reception hosted by His Excellency François Lafrenière, Canada’s Ambassador to Hungary, celebrating the Canadian artists performing at the 35th Valley of Arts Festival. With Ambassador Lafrenière soon completing his posting in Hungary, it was a lovely opportunity to spend time with him again before he returns home.

What made the afternoon even more special was where it all happened. Here we were, in the tiny village of Vigántpetend, just a short drive from our own little place in the Balaton Highlands, surrounded by fellow Canadians and Hungarians who all share a love of this remarkable corner of the country. It was also a pleasure to meet Natália Oszkó-Jakab, whose vision has helped transform the Valley of Arts Festival into one of Hungary’s most extraordinary cultural events.

The highlight, though, was undoubtedly Montreal’s Cordâme Duo.

As someone who trained as a classical musician, I found the concert fascinating. Their original compositions blurred the lines between classical, jazz and contemporary music in a way that felt completely fresh. Every piece seemed to tell its own story, and hearing it all inside a beautiful village church made the experience even more powerful. (Hear them in my stories).

One of the reasons I love this festival is that it proves world-class culture doesn’t only belong in big cities. It can happen in a tiny Hungarian village, surrounded by vineyards, where artists from across the world come together with local communities to create something genuinely special.

I left feeling incredibly grateful. Grateful for the invitation, grateful to celebrate Canadian talent in the country I now call home, and grateful that after nearly nine years back in Hungary, experiences like today still remind me just how lucky I am to belong to both places.

Thank you to Ambassador François Lafrenière, the Embassy of Canada to Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the wonderful team behind the Valley of Arts Festival- Művészetek Völgye, and of course Cordâme Duo for an unforgettable afternoon.