Moving to Budapest? Here's How to Find Friends and Feel at Home

Moving to Budapest is exciting, but for many expats the hardest part is not the paperwork. It is making friends and feeling at home. ==You are not the only one==: more than 112,000 foreign citizens live in Budapest, and many of them started with an empty calendar too.

Budapest has 1.7M residents and more than 112,000 foreign citizens, so many people around you are new too.
Hungarian is hard to learn, but you can build a social life in English while you study.
Repeat activities beat one-off parties. Seeing the same faces is how friendships start.
Joiner is now launching in Budapest: small dinners for six and plans people create themselves.

One newcomer put it simply:

"I lived in Budapest for half a year and still spent most weekends alone. After my first Joiner dinner I had a group chat with five new people, and we have met almost every week since."

So, if you are wondering how to make friends in Budapest, let's break it down.

Budapest in numbers: how many newcomers live here?

Budapest is big, international and full of people starting over.

1.7M | People living in Budapest (1 Jan 2025) 112K | Foreign citizens living in Budapest (1 Jan 2026) 13%+ | Share of Budapest residents born abroad

That is more than 100,000 people who moved here from another country. Students, remote workers, families and people with new jobs all face the same question in their first months: who do I spend my evenings with?

What are the top 5 challenges expats face in Budapest?

In Budapest, most newcomers name the same five problems. Knowing them helps you plan around them.

Language barrier. Hungarian is a Uralic language, not related to its Slavic, Germanic or Romance neighbours. Many younger locals speak English, but deeper friendships often grow in Hungarian.
Closed social circles. Locals tend to keep friends from school and university for life. Newcomers are welcome, but you rarely get invited by accident.
Too much tourist nightlife. The ruin bars of District VII are fun, but a crowded bar full of visitors is a hard place to meet people you will see again.
Not knowing where to start. Events are spread across group chats, websites and venues, and it is hard to know what is right for you.
Loneliness and isolation. Remote work and long winters make it easy to go days without a real conversation.

Sound familiar? The good news: each of these has a simple fix.

Friendships are not found, they are repeated. The same faces, a few times, in a setting where talking is easy.

How do you make friends in Budapest fast?

In Budapest, the fastest way is to join small, regular activities instead of waiting for chance meetings. A small group makes talking easy, and repeating it turns strangers into friends.

Pick one regular activity | A weekly dinner, run or games night, not ten random events. Go alone, on purpose | People who come alone are open to talking. You will not be the only one. Choose small groups | Six people at one table beat sixty people at a party. Say yes to the second meeting | Friendship starts when "nice to meet you" turns into "see you next week".

Why small groups work: everyone hears everyone, nobody is left at the edge, and there is a natural reason to meet again. For a deeper look at the idea, read our guide on where to meet new friends when you know no one.

How does Joiner help expats in Budapest?

In Budapest, Joiner helps newcomers and locals meet in real life through shared plans. Joiner is now launching in Budapest, and the app works in two ways.

A dinner for six at one table | A run, a walk or board games you create No planning on your side | You set the time and the place Matched for good company | The right people find your plan

Why Joiner works for expats

Meet people in real life. No swiping and no endless chats. It is not a dating app.
Meet like-minded people. Groups are matched on interests, so conversation comes easily.
No awkward approaches. Everyone at the table came to meet someone new.
Locals and expats together. Events run in English, so the city's international crowd fits right in.
Host your own plan. Cannot find what you want? Create it and let others join.

More than 20,000 gatherings have already happened on Joiner in its first cities. If you have never tried a table of strangers, here is how dinner with strangers works and what to expect at your first dinner.

[TIP] Nervous about the first minutes? Bring one easy question. Our list of conversation starters for dinner with strangers works at any table.

What do expats in Budapest say about Joiner?

Newcomers often say the city starts to feel like home once they have a few familiar faces. Like this story:

"I moved here for work and only knew my colleagues. One evening at a Joiner table in District VII turned into Sunday walks on Margaret Island. Now Budapest finally feels like my city."

Why wait months when you can start building friendships this week?

What else can you do in Budapest to meet people?

In Budapest, the city itself gives you plenty of reasons to go out. Use these spots as places to return to with the people you meet.

Run on Margaret Island. The island in the Danube has a soft running track around it and is busy with runners every morning and evening.
Go to the thermal baths. Széchenyi Thermal Bath in City Park is a classic weekend plan, and it is much better with company.
Try a ruin bar with a group. Szimpla Kert in District VII is the most famous one. Go as a group and it is a great night, not a lonely one.
Shop at the Central Market Hall. The big market at Fővám tér is a good start for a cooking night with new friends.
Join a language exchange. Practising Hungarian with locals is the fastest way into their circles, and it shows you care.

A good rule: pick one activity from this list and one regular group. The activity gives you something to do, the group gives you someone to do it with. Building a group from scratch? These ideas on how to start a social club as an adult help.

Ready to start?

If you are tired of waiting for friendships to happen and want to enjoy life in Budapest now, sign up for Joiner and start meeting people this week. Moved to the Baltics instead? Read our guide on making friends in Vilnius.

FAQ

Do I need to speak Hungarian to make friends in Budapest?

No. Many younger locals and most expats speak English, and Joiner events in Budapest run in English. Learning some Hungarian still helps you get closer to locals.

Is Joiner a dating app?

No. Joiner is for friendships. Tables are groups, matching is about good company, and there is no swiping.

How much does it cost?

The price is shown in the app before booking.

When do Joiner events start in Budapest?

Joiner is launching in Budapest now. Exact dates for the first events appear in the app first.

What if I am shy?

Most people are, for the first ten minutes. A small table and a clear end time make it easier than a party where you know nobody.