Welcome to Travel Budapest Now

Hey, I’m Kris!

I run Travel Budapest Now, my travel blog about Budapest (and Hungary)!

I was born and raised in Budapest, and while I love to travel around the world, Budapest will always remain my home.

In the past 15 years, I have travelled and lived abroad in Asia and Europe, so now when I come back to Budapest, I have the perspective of both a Budapest local and a visitor – helping to share the most essential travel tips!

So, are you looking for travel tips about Budapest? Exploring hidden gems in the city? On Travel Budapest Now, I share all things Budapest!

A Little Bit About Me…

➡️ When I was 18, I moved to Dublin (Ireland) for a year (It was my version of a gap year. I worked in HMV when CDs were still a thing – it was my first time living abroad and honestly it was probably the most fun I ever had)

➡️ After a year in Dublin, I moved back to Budapest to complete my Bachelors. I missed being abroad and the international environment, so I applied for the Erasmus Scholarship and got to study in Belgium for a year.

➡️ After my Erasmus study program ended, I was back in Budapest and focused on completing my degree.

➡️ Then, I lived in London for a couple of years but I wanted to travel to places outside of Europe, and after one of my flatmates came back from a backpacking trip in Asia, I was confident enough to go solo travelling in Asia myself.

➡️ I loved my time in Asia. I started off in Mongolia, then went to Nepal and pretty much fell in love with Nepal on my first visit in 2015.

➡️ With Nepal being my new found home, I then lived between Nepal and London for a couple of years. I spent around 5 months in Nepal each year, and the rest I was studying and working in London.

➡️ Later, I got work for INGOs in India, Philippines, Cambodia, Hungary, Italy, and Ukraine. Between each deployment, I always used to get around 2 months back in Budapest when I could hang out in the city with my childhood friends and family, but also explore the city like I am just a visitor.

After spending so much time abroad, I got to really appreciate Budapest whenever I go home:

• How beautiful the city is (the architecture + River Danube)
• The Hungarian food (hmm, tasty!!)
• Public transport that works well and is affordable
• The bars and nightlife (you should check out the ruin bars!)
• And the good safety standards (even for women if you are travelling Budapest solo)

In recent years, I have spent around 2 months back in Budapest each year, but it does vary. In some years, I only get 1 month back home, other times, I am in Budapest every 3 months – it depends a lot on my work.

Nevertheless, Budapest is my home. I love to visit my old favourite places and explore new ones whenever I am back!

Places I Have Lived or Travelled

→ Budapest (my hometown)

→ Dublin, Ireland (lived here for 1 year)

→ Belgium (studied in Leuven for a year)

→ UK (studied and worked in London for around 5 years)

→ Italy

→ France

→ Finland

→ Germany

→ Austria

→ Netherlands

→ Czechia

→ Poland

→ Romania

→ Ukraine

→ Tajikistan

→ Mongolia

→ Nepal

→ India

→ Philippines

→ Cambodia

→ Indonesia