When mechanical engineering graduate and entrepreneur Lexi Vindisch wanted to run her business from a remote location, she didn’t pick a town in North America where she lived. Instead, Budapest was top of her list.

With its mix of grand sights, cafés, cultural events and inexpensive public transportation, the Hungarian capital has become a popular place for digital nomads — people embracing the “work from anywhere” trend that took off during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Based at co-working space Create26 in Budapest, Vindisch runs a domestic cleaning company based in Victoria, Canada, as well as overseeing Lead Machine, a marketing software firm for home service businesses.  

Hungary ranked fifth for digital nomads on a 2025 list of countries, behind Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Montenegro and the Bahamas. The index, compiled by visa information website VisaGuide, considered factors such as taxes, income and cost of living.

Vindisch, who has worked in many European and North American cities, but has Hungarian roots, said Budapest feels different. “I’ve been in locales that are super beautiful, well organized, great facilities, but they lacked a personality … I’ve never been able to replicate the feeling that Budapest holds anywhere else,” she said.

EU citizens can work remotely from Hungary long-term if they meet certain requirements, while Hungary’s White Card scheme, which provides one- or two-year residency permits for digital nomads from outside the EU, requires a net monthly income of at least 3,000 euros ($3,370).

There are around 35 co-working spots in central Budapest, according to the Coworking Hungary Association, several of which are in the bustling District VI, near the fashionable bars and restaurants of the Jewish Quarter. Alongside these hubs, the city offers around 35 serviced offices, including locations from larger providers such as Regus and DBH Flex.

“Budapest has its own vibe,” said Áron Levendel, a founder of co-working space Kaptar, which is within view of the city’s striking St Stephen’s Basilica. “Whoever wants to connect, make friends or meet people, has an easy job. Whoever wants to have fun, learn or get experiences in English, will have the challenge of choosing from hundreds of options every evening,” he said.