About Szeged

Just moved here from another country? Check out our expat’s guide for some useful advice.

Where to go grocery shopping?

There are multiple international chains you’ll have no problem finding on Google Maps. If you want fresh local produce, check out the market at Mars Square, near the central bus station. If you’re studying the language, it’s a good place to practice your skill.

Where to have lunch or dinner?

If you are looking for traditional Hungarian cuisine to sample signature dishes such as the Szeged fish soup, pörkölt or túrós csusza, you might want to visit Öreg Kőrössy Halászcsárda where you can find various fish-dishes and a scenic view of the river Tisza. For a more centrally located spot, but still quintessential Hungarian cuisine, look for Vendéglő a Régi Hídhoz in the heart of the city.

If you’re looking for something else, the inner city houses a multitude of restaurants dedicated to international cuisine, from Ikura Sushi through Hummusbar to Memories of India . The latter two, specifically, offer a wide variety of vegetarian dishes.

Where to grab a tea or coffee?

Reök Confectionery is a centrally located spot in a beautiful Art Noveau building, the Reök palace – you can’t miss it! If you’re looking for a hearty breakfast to go along with your cuppa, check out Rudi és Fickó a few corners from Kárász street.

What about sports?

In the spring and summer, the road on top of the dyke along the river is a popular path for cycling, jogging and walking dogs. Another popular spot is the city park, located in the Újszeged area (across the river), right after the inner city bridge, with its jogging course and outdoor exercise equipment. The city park also houses a tennis court which offers a discount for university workers and students. The City Sports Hall (Városi Sportcsarnok, Újszeged area) houses an olympic-size swimming pool, a kid-size pool and a gym, and is easily accessible via bus.

What can I do for fun?

Szeged is home to a variety of cultural programs pretty much all year round, and you’ll find interesting events and places to visit, no matter what you’re looking for.

Szeged Wine Festival is usually in the late spring, occupying much of Széchenyi Square. Visiting will let you sample the wines of local vines.

Deja Vu is a 4-day music festival, held usually in June, is centered around a retro 80’s-90’s vibe.

SZIN is a 4-day music festival, held in late August. Stages are located on the left bank of the river Tisza, and you can see various modern performers, Hungarian and international alike.

Szeged Zoo  is a huge complex covering 45 hectares, with dense tree canopy coverage making it tolerable even in hot weather. Visiting every area is a whole-day program. Every year there is a “Zoo Night” event, usually in late August, when the park is open until 22:00, allowing visitors to get a better look at animals that are less active during the day.

Come Christmas, both Dóm Square (the square in front of the Votive Church) and Széchenyi Square are taken over by a Christmas Fair. Expect mulled wine, chimney cakes, open fireplaces and lots of gift shops. There are regular kid-friendly programs, such as the Hay Labyrinth.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Szeged is somewhat removed from the buzz of the city, but still easily accessible by car, bus, and makes a nice destination for a bike ride. The 17 hectare garden is over a hundred years old with sprawling hothouses, winding paths and tranquil gazebos – especially beautiful in the autumn. There are often special events and exhibitions, such as tropical butterflies or carnivorous plants. The botanical garden is also home to Szeged Observatory which offers regular constellation tours. Entry is free for University students / employees.

The Anna Thermal Bath built in 1896, takes after traditional Turkish baths and offers various types of pools, sauna, and wellness services. On Wednesdays and Fridays, it is open during the evening, 20:00-00:00.

I have kids. Are there preschools or schools with a curriculum in something other than Hungarian?

There is one preschool in Szeged, Teddy’s Club Day Nursery & Kindergarten, where English-Hungarian bilingual education is available. It is located in the Petőfitelep area, about 8 minutes driving from the city center.

In Szeged Hunyadi Square Preschool, bilingual German-Hungarian education is available. 

There are more preschools with some non-Hungarian language education programs, but those are usually not fully bilingual institutions.

As for elementary & high schools:

Madách Imre Primary School has an English-Hungarian bilingual curriculum and 25 years of experience in bilingual education. Madách Imre Primary has a fairly focussed bilingual curriculum, where most of the classes are in English.

Szeged International Primary School offers a one-year preschool program for 5-year olds, and a full English-Hungarian primary school curriculum.

Deák Ferenc High Scool (no English website) offers English-Hungarian bilingual curriculum. Some, but not all of the classes are held in English.

SZTE Gyakorló High School (sometimes called Ságvári) offers French-Hungarian bilingual curriculum. Some, but not all of the classes are held in French. You may contact them via

Where do I find a place to live? How much is it going to cost?

Airbnb is, of course, useful, but it generally caters to tourists rather than people who seek to live in Szeged for months or years. www.ingatlan.com is a good place to start if you’re looking to rent or buy. Rent is, on average, around 450 € / month, and does not include utility bills (this is an average value – rent will depend highly on the size and location of the apartment). Apart from rent, as a single person, you can expect to spend around 530 € a month on everything apart from rent, including utilities, food, transportation, etc. Again, keep in mind that this is a ballpark estimate, dependent on many factors, including the rate of exchange.

Are there any consulates in the city?

Szeged has a Romanian consulate. There are also honorary consulates of Austria, Finland, France, Italy, and Israel.

I’ve got a health problem! What should I do?

In case of emergency, dial 112. Szeged has an emergency department located at 6725 Szeged, Semmelweis street 6, open 0-24. Keep in mind that Hungary has universal health care, if you are legally employed or a full-time student in Hungary, you will never be charged for emergency medical care, or using an ambulance.