District VI vs VII for a newcomer in Budapest — which one would you choose?
Posted by jecaman@reddit | budapest | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Hi everyone,
I’m moving to Budapest soon and I’m trying to decide between two apartments, and I’d love to hear opinions from people who actually live there.
One option is around Székely Bertalan utca 14 in District VI, near Kodály Körönd / Andrássy / Városliget. The area feels elegant, calm, residential and safe, with beautiful buildings and good connections, but not extremely lively at night.
The other one is more in the heart of District VII, around the Jewish Quarter area.
I’m a sociable person and I do enjoy nightlife, bars, cafés, meeting people, etc., but not in a “party every day” kind of way. More like enjoying being in a lively city with things happening around me.
My concern is:
- if I choose the quieter VI option, maybe I’ll feel too disconnected from the social side of Budapest and end up staying home too much.
- but at the same time, I’m worried the VII option could become exhausting long term because of noise, tourists and constant chaos.
From what I’ve seen:
- VI seems more elegant, calmer, residential and better for daily quality of life.
- VII seems more energetic, social and exciting, especially as someone new to the city.
For people who know Budapest well:
Do you think living in a calmer part of VI still feels “connected” to the city/social life?
Or does living in VII make a big difference for actually experiencing Budapest and meeting people?
Would really appreciate honest opinions, especially from expats or people in their 20s/30s 🙂
P1umberJack@reddit
I would also recommend the 6th district.
This part is located in such a way that it is very close to the bustling city center, yet it is quiet and relatively calm. The streets are perhaps cleaner than in the neighboring districts, but here too there are a lot of people living in a relatively small space, which is unfortunately also visible on the streets (as was told before, garbage, dog poop, etc).
You mention that the 6th district is elegant, this is indeed true for Andrássy and the area bordered by Bajza-Szondi-Andrássy, but the immediate area, which you wrote about, actually consists of narrow streets, with little green space, and many cars. It feels exactly the same as the outer part of the 7th district, and is very similar to the aforementioned Jewish quarter.
Another big advantage of the area is the proximity of the Városliget (City Park) and the Nyugati Railway Station.
sukha_para@reddit
Where in District VII?
jecaman@reddit (OP)
in nagy diofa 29
dokieduck@reddit
Thats so so close to my place, its a good location imo. I don’t think you will have trouble during the weekend either because clubs are on the next street. There is no commotion on yours! Metros, trams, buses - everything is accessible and Oktogon/opera is a 10 min walk!!
sukha_para@reddit
Hmm…
I think this boils down to what you want more: being 15 mins walking distance from an amazing city park or being 5-10 mins walking from all the busiest bars in party district. There is no wrong answer.
I personally like district VI. It’s gorgeous around Kodály körönd and honestly it’s still really close to everything. Plus if you get a bike you have the park up the street, the Podmaniczky Alagút (tunnel) that connects district VI to district 13 under the railroad tracks, etc.
if you want to just be in the middle of the party district for the first 6 months, then you could do way worse than Nagy Diofa near Klauzal ter, but I’d be using that as a home base to apartment hunt for something that fits you better long term because you’ll be just around the corner from masses of drunk tourists every weekend and most days in summer, and I don’t think that’s ideal long term
dokieduck@reddit
I live in the heart of the jewish quarter, the most famous square, all the restaurants and clubs are a max 10 min walk for me. I have been loving it so far, no noise because my flat is in the inner part of the building but everything is extremely accessible! I like the liveliness, personally. The weekends are wild and I haven’t felt unsafe ever. I would recommend VII only if your flat is in the inside part!
pontleszarom@reddit
You're talking about a \~20 min walking distance max. It does not matter at all.
Dazzling_Stretch_474@reddit
Exactly 😂 this question is ridiculous
Zakalwe_1@reddit
Or 5 on bike
neat_hairclip@reddit
I used to live in the heart of inner 7, and while it was fun, it was exhausting as well. I think it can be too much at times and hard on the residents.
At the same time I do not particularly like the part of the 6th where szekely bertalan is, but it is very close to the center and you will still feel like being part of the city! Quite a few of my friends live there and love living there.
jecaman@reddit (OP)
May I ask why you dont particularly like the part of the 6th where szekely bertalan is?
neat_hairclip@reddit
I don’t find it aesthetically pleasing. It is a bit dark, not much green (even though they are working on it!), the streets can be narrow sidewalks, cars parked left and right. Due to the not much green, dog piss and poop leaves things dirty. Some of the buildings are rundown.
Overall, when I wall around there I do not have a good vibe?
I prefer the part between Andrássy út and Damjanich/Király utca. It has fancy parts but also some very similar to Székely Bertalan yet somehow different?
Bajza utca is quite nice too!
It all kinda depends how you are going reach your place. When I go to Székely Bertalan it is often from the Nyugati direction, not from the Andràssy. Very different experience.
This is all preferences though. Again, my friends never complain about living there and when changing they stick to the same area.
I used to live on Damjanich for a few years and miss it to this day <3 but you know, when I head to take M2 a lot and had to walk to and from Keleti to reach there… it made the day-to-day experience different.
Ok-Escape-2795@reddit
Budapest local here — great question and you've actually analysed it really well yourself already.
My honest take:
Choose District VII for your first year. Here's why specifically for your situation:
You described yourself as sociable, enjoy nightlife and cafés, want things happening around you — that's District VII. The worry about it being "exhausting long term" is valid but only really kicks in after year 2-3. For a newcomer it's exactly what you want — you'll meet people, find your favourite spots, and naturally build a social life around you.
District VI is wonderful but — and this is the honest truth — the Andrássy/Városliget end feels quite residential and you will end up mostly staying home. It's where people move after they've already built their Budapest life.
The compromise nobody mentions: The western part of District VII — around Klauzál tér and Király utca — has all the energy and social life but is noticeably calmer than the Kazinczy/Szimpla end. Best of both worlds. Look for apartments around there specifically.
Practical note: District VI just introduced new short term rental restrictions so longer term rental supply there has actually decreased — might affect your options.
Good luck with the move — Budapest is a great city to land in! 🙂
eatfrog@reddit
district 6 easily. less party people. its not disconnected from anything, its considered part of city center.
torzsmokus@reddit
VI has a much better mayor
Csikito@reddit
7 is a disgusting shithole, do not recommend
elysiumkids@reddit
6th, i love living here.
Gold_Combination_520@reddit
Budapest's center is not that big that you'd need to worry about being far out. Also public transport is great and frequent, so choose whichever flat/area you like better.
FxGnar592@reddit
Yeah avoid the inner VII like the plague, unless you want to stay awake at 4am to drunk revelers all days of the week. You wont be too far out of the city with your vi option, but it is more quiet at night.
p_121212@reddit
I recommend the 6th district it’s much calmer than the 7th, while still being located in the city center. Székely Bertalan utca is about a 10-minute walk from Teréz Boulevard, which is full of bars and entertainment venues. But in general, everything within downtown is easily accessible.
If you’re considering other apartments as well, I’d also recommend the 5th district. It’s a bit more expensive than the others, but in my opinion it’s one of the best areas to live in within the city center. I’d also recommend Újlipótváros in the 13th close to Jászai Mari tér.
TheWalrusMann@reddit
SOPRONI RAAAAH
VszVszVsz@reddit
in district vi, you're more likely to accidentally step in dog shit.
in district vii, you're more likely to accidentally step in human shit.
it's funny if you think that district vi is disconnected from the rest of the city, it is part of the city center.
Jinniblack@reddit
VI. but I'm biased. It *is* quiet. When I want some 'action' so to speak, I go to VII or XIII near Jászai Mari tér. The transportation can't be beat.
Moist-Occasion5303@reddit
I live in district VI, i recommend you rent there! They are veeery very close to each other, and since its close to Andrassy, you will definitely not feel disconnected from people! Its also quite close to Nyugati and Oktogon, two of one of the busiest areas of Budapest! I love district VII, i spent a lot of time there and i loveee partying and meeting new people, but at one point it just becomes too much. That point is when you start living there! So i honestly wholeheartedly recommend VI, cuz you can still live a very very social life but thankfully not 24/7, cuz you would go crazy from it tbh
advocatus77@reddit
6-7 😀😀😀
vahokif@reddit
They both have great public transport so they're connected. VI has a great mayor who is improving things while VII is falling apart a little bit. Try to find a flat on a quiet one-way street.