Why visit
Budapest is really two cities. Buda's hills and castle, Pest's grand boulevards and Parliament. Split by the Danube's UNESCO-listed panorama.
Budapest at a glance
City population
1.7 million
Metro: 3.3 million
Elevation
96 m
315 ft
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 DST)
Europe/Budapest
Airport
BUD
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International
Founded
1873 (merger of Buda, Pest, Óbuda)
Getting around
Metro (4 lines: M1 is a UNESCO continental first), trams, buses
Signature dish
Gulyás, pörkölt, lángos, chimney cake (kürtőskalács)
Neighborhoods for travelers
Castle District (Buda)Jewish Quarter (Pest)Andrássy AvenueCity ParkGellért Hill
Hungary at a glance
Country center
47.0°, 20.0°
Coast
Landlocked
Country area
93,028 km²
35,918 mi²
Country population
9.6 million
103/km²
Subregion
Central Europe
Currency
Hungarian forint (Ft)
HUF
Dial
+36
Language
Hungarian
Demonym
Hungarian
Internet
.hu
UN
Member state
ISO code
HU / HUN
Where in the world
47.0° · 20.0°
Hungary
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Budapest has more than 120 natural thermal springs inside city limits: it's officially a "spa city".
- The Budapest Metro's Line 1 (1896) was the first underground railway in continental Europe.
- Buda and Pest were separate cities until 1873. The Chain Bridge (1849) was the first permanent link.
- Budapest was created in 1873 by merging three separate cities: Buda, Pest, and Óbuda.
- The Rubik's Cube was invented in Hungary in 1974.
Bordering Hungary
Traveler notes
- Széchenyi and Gellért Baths are essentials
- Ruin bars in District VII (Szimpla Kert)
- Danube night cruise for the illuminated panorama
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Budapest
What currency is used in Budapest?
Budapest uses the Hungarian forint (Ft), ISO code HUF.
What languages are spoken in Hungary?
The primary language is Hungarian.
What is the international calling code for Hungary?
The calling code is +36.
What airport serves Budapest?
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International (IATA: BUD).
Other Europe destinations
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