Coffee shops Fancy a healthy dose of caffeine to keep you going while you write assignments or study for exams? Our first suggestions are: Tamp&Pull, Espresso Embassy and My Little Melbourne. The skilled baristas know everything about how to create the perfect coffee to get you through a stressful study session. Fekete is also a good option if you are up for an artisanal experience.
Unfortunately, most of these places close around 8pm, but well-known coffee chains like Costa Coffee, Starbucks or California Coffee Company are open until about 11pm at some of their locations. Remember, while most of these places should have super fast free wifi, some don't so if that's important for you, double check before your visit.
Partying
There are some ongoing party series dedicated to university and/or Erasmus students in Budapest. For example, F ME I'M ERASMUS, Student-Night Parties, the International Meeting Point nights for all kinds of foreigners in the city, and the BPMP monthly parties for everybody from expats and couch-surfers to students of course! Everyone's welcome! What is so great about these parties is that they won't just spice up your night, but, if you don't speak Hungarian, they also make it easier to make new friends.
Students who come to Budapest usually look for places where they can get drunk without spending a lot of money, dance until the moon becomes the sun and just shake it, shake it, shake it. Of course, Budapest wouldn't be famous for its nightlife if there weren't some places where you could get a beer or a shot for a very reasonable price. Morrisons Opera and its ‘bigger brother’ Morrisons 2, Morrison Közgáz, which is the former School Club in the Corvinus University cellar, the Living Room club and Instant are among the most popular meeting places attracting thousands of thirsty students night after night. We of course can't forget to mention the world-famous gathering spot for foreigners and especially students in Budapest: Szimpla Kert.
Libraries
As someone, who doesn't speak Hungarian, your best source for foreign language literature will be the National Library of Foreign Literature. And it's not just a perfect place to rent compulsory readings, but also a certified research centre thanks to its documents about world literature, linguistics and music. The collection continues to expand based on readers' demands, so be sure to check in as often as you can.
If you want to study or just hide from the world, the National Széchenyi Library is also a good option, although books here are solely for library use - you can't rent them. Still, it has a good collection of foreign language books – and the building itself is breathtaking. The Szabó Ervin Library has a smaller collection, but its cozy armchairs and special atmosphere guarantee, that you won't just run through it and be done in five minutes. Stay a while and browse through the books and maybe meet new people...we all know the library is one of the best places for this! Finally, if you just want to get your hands on some English-language books, we wrote this great big roundup of bookstores here.
Parks
Sometimes, you'll want to get away from the noise and the traffic to relax or study in peace. On sunny days, Margaret Island is a must-see: it is big enough to find yourself a shady spot under a tree, then just lay back and start filling your brain with all the things you need to know to pass your upcoming exam. If you get tired, take a walk and recharge your batteries; there's also a running track around the island if jogging helps you stay focused.
Kopaszi Dam, the 10-acre green area at the Buda side of Rákóczi Bridge, provides a magnificent riverside setting for all the things that require some tranquility. There are several benches, but we would advise you to sit somewhere in the grass or close to the water as reading a book there is a unique experience. There are restaurants here so if you want a bite to eat you could choose one of these, or even pack a picnic and eat on the grassed areas instead.
Cheap pubs
If you don't want to wear out your dancing shoes, but you are still up for some drinks and good company (and maybe some cheap food), you have plenty of places to start/finish the night. Könyvtár Klub (just a shot away from ELTE university) is among the most well-known of them. Until 4pm, booze is banned as if it were 1930s Chicago (without Al Capone) so until then Könyvtár Klub functions as a coffee house. But after 4pm the beers and shots begin to flow and it turns into a vibrant pub. Wichmann on Kazinczy Street is also great, especially because getting drunk here practically costs nothing and they also have homemade pálinka and sandwiches! Vaskapu Taverna is arguably the best pub in District VIII. The interior is made up of bare brick walls, candles and shadowy nooks that are fit for a date too. Due to the friendly prices and the youthful vibe, it’s extremely popular among students - to the extent that reserving a table is highly recommended. Táskarádió is another good option.
Csendes, the favourite afternoon and early evening bar of many, is close to Károly Garden. The classic interior is spiced up with vintage knick-knacks, which conjure a ruin pub-ish vibe, though, at the same time, create an atmosphere that overshadows rivalling venues with its uniqueness. The vintage treasures covering the walls and ceiling are reminiscent of a surreal movie scene, and attract artists, university students, and young couples sipping a glass of wine or steaming tea from a huge, polka dot mug, while sitting beneath century-old chandeliers! Martos Csocsó Klub (Martos Foosball Club), housed by the basement of Martos Flóra Dormitory, is extremely popular among BME university students. Six foosball tables keep your wrists fit for taking notes, and two projectors are constantly showing football game broadcasts. Cheap drinks, concerts, and DJs establish the foundations of wild parties almost every night.
Free wifi
There is absolutely no shortage of places to find free wifi in Budapest. We recommend: Castro Bisztro, Kisüzem and Lumen Cafe where you can grab something to eat or drink and use the super fast wifi as long as you want.
