Essentials
- City
- Hévíz, Zala County, Hungary
- Population
- 4,500
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available via Magyar Telekom and Digi)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 395 HUF, 1 USD ≈ 365 HUF. OTP Bank and K&H are primary local banks.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality, though high in minerals.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Yettel, Vodafone, and Magyar Telekom. 50GB data for approx. 5,000 HUF ($14).
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are widely used; OTP Bank offers English-speaking services.
- Accommodation
- Large selection of 'Apartmans' and wellness hotels; Airbnb is common for mid-term stays.
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly friendly; cards accepted in most shops, cafes, and at the thermal lake entrance.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; average studio 18,000 - 25,000 HUF per night.
- Budget Accommodation
- Kis Helikon Residence Apartment Hotel (approx. 12,000 HUF/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Center (near Dr. Schulhof Vilmos sétány) for proximity to the Thermal Lake.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Egregy District (Vineyard area) for quiet work environments and lower long-term rates.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- No dedicated coworking; use Lotus Therme Hotel Business Lounge (Day pass approx. 5,000 HUF).
- Best Cafe for Work
- Macchiato Caffe & Lounge (Széchenyi u. 7) - Good Wi-Fi and quiet morning atmosphere.
- Networking Events
- Local Chamber of Commerce meetups in nearby Keszthely; Digital Nomads Hungary Facebook group.
- Social Events for Expats
- Wine tastings in Egregy; weekly Farmers' Market (Hévízi Termelői Piac) gatherings.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Bolt; use Hévíz Taxi (+36 83 340 045) or local 'Tele-Taxi'.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Heviz Bike (Public bike-share) - 1,000 HUF for 24 hours via 'Heviz bike' app.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Keszthely Libás Beach (6 km away on Lake Balaton) - Entry approx. 1,500 HUF.
- Top Regional Airline
- Wizz Air (Flying from Budapest or Vienna).
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa (Connecting via Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport).
- Highway Access
- M7 Motorway connects Hévíz to Budapest (approx. 2 hours drive).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Keszthely Train Station (accessible by 15-min bus from Hévíz Bus Station).
- Public Transport Passes
- Vármegye-bérlet (County Pass) for 9,450 HUF allows unlimited travel in Zala county.
- Regional Travel
- Volánbusz connects Hévíz to Keszthely every 15-30 minutes for 400 HUF.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hévíz Spa and St. Andrew Hospital for Rheumatology (State-of-the-art for therapy).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Zafír Wellness (Located inside Ensana Thermal Hévíz) - Drop-in classes available.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fit-Point Hévíz (Kossuth Lajos u. 5) - Monthly membership approx. 14,000 HUF.
- Laundry Services
- Bubbles Self-Service Laundry (located in Keszthely, 10 mins away).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodora (Limited service); local restaurants often offer direct delivery.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hévízi bivalygulyás (Buffalo Goulash) or Balaton Pike-Perch.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Az Én Anyósom (Héviz-Alsópáholy) - Excellent seasonal vegetarian dishes.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hofmann Cukrászda (Petőfi u. 7) - Traditional Dobos Torte and Eszterházy cake.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Hévízi Termelői Piac (Farmers' Market) - Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Emag.hu and Alza.hu (Fast delivery to local pick-up points).
- Grocery Delivery
- Tesco Online (Delivery from Keszthely hub).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The 'Row of cellars' in Egregy (Wine bars and taverns open until late).
- Local Brewery
- Sümegi Sörfőzde (CRAFT beer available at local specialty shops like Liquid Gold).
- Wine Bars
- Vilmos Pince (Egregy) - Local Cserszegi Fűszeres white wine.
- Street Food Stalls
- Lángos stand at the Farmers' Market (approx. 1,200 HUF for a classic cheese-cream lángos).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Brix Bistro (Rákóczi u. 16) - High-end International/Fusion.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Lake Hévíz (Thermal Lake) - 4,500 HUF for a 3-hour ticket.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Egregy Museum (Local history and Roman ruins).
- Historical Sites
- Roman Ruin Garden (Flavius Theodosius era) in Attila Street.
- Religious Sites
- Holy Spirit Catholic Church (The 'Blue Church') - Modern 7-tower architecture.
- Annual Events
- Hévíz Wine and Gastronomy Festival (August).
- Cultural Districts
- Egregy Vineyard District - Known for its 13th-century Árpád-era church.
- Theater Venues
- Balaton Congress Center and Theater (located in nearby Keszthely).
- Local Markets
- Hévíz Farmers' Market (Piac tér) - Regional honey, crafts, and food.
- Music Scene
- Outdoor concerts at Deák Square during the summer months.
- Street Art
- Statues of Dr. Vilmos Schulhof and the Hévíz Cherubs.
- Cooking Classes
- Local goulash cooking workshops occasionally organized by the Tourinform office.
- Art Galleries
- City Hall Exhibition Hall (Városháza u. 1).
- Historic Buildings
- The Bathhouse entrance (19th-century wooden architecture style).
- Local Heritage
- The Mud of Hévíz (Medicinal therapeutic mud certified by EU).
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Hévíz Canal (popular for winter canoeing Trips) - Starts at the south end of the lake.
- National Parks Nearby
- Balaton Uplands National Park (15 mins drive north).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Hévíz-Keszthely bike path (6km through safe, paved forest trails).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Festetics Viewpoint in Gyenesdiás (10 km away) for panoramic Balaton views.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Little Balaton (Kis-Balaton) wetlands - 20 mins drive.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated fire pits in the Gyenesdiás 'Big Field' (Nagymező) area.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Magyar Posta (Kossuth Lajos u. 4); Packeta lockers at Aldi/Lidl.
- Tech Repair Services
- PC-Szerviz Keszthely (Located in the nearby shopping park via bus).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Most larger wellness hotels like Hotel Carbona have facilities for guests.
- Language Classes
- Inter-Lingua Language School in Keszthely offers Hungarian for foreigners.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hévíz City Library (Városháza u. 1) - Free Wi-Fi and quiet desks.
- Community Centers
- Móricz Zsigmond Culture House (Local events and workshops).
- Gaming Lounges
- None in Hévíz; internet cafes available in Keszthely center.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Grand Casino Hévíz (located at the lot behind the central bus station).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,100,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 38.5M HUF / $105,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 850,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 29.7M HUF / $81,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,000,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 50M HUF / $137,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 780,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 39M HUF / $107,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 950,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 71.2M HUF / $195,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 720,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 54M HUF / $148,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 9% (One of the lowest in Europe)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Flat tax system for personal income; 15% PIT.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 15% (Flat tax)
- VAT
- 27% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, based on EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD).
- Property Tax
- Determined by local municipality (Local tax approx. 500 HUF/m² per year).
- Property Transaction Tax
- 4% Transfer Tax (Illeték) up to 1 billion HUF.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- White Card (Nomad Visa) offers 1-year residency; income taxed at 15% if tax resident.