Hungary is located in Central Europe and borders Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. The country dates back to the ninth century, and the population speaks the Finno-Ugric language Hungarian. It is mostly a plain, with low mountains in the northern parts of the country. Lake Balaton is a popular tourist destination and is the largest lake in Central Europe.
| Capital: | Budapest |
| Biggest city: | Budapest |
| State: | republic within the EU |
| Language: | Hungarian |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Surface: | 93 030 km² |
| Population: | 9.9 million (2013) |
| Population density: | 106 residents per km² |
| Life expectancy: | 73 years |
| Illiteracy: | 1% |
| Currency: | Hungarian forint (HUF) 1 forint = 0.03 kr |
| GDP per capita: | $ 18,700 (2010) |
| Time difference: | +0 hours |
| Electricity: | 220 V AC, 50Hz |
| National Day: | 20th of August |
| Country area code: | 36 |
| 2-Letter country abbreviation: | HU (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
| Business: | service sector 59%, industry 33%, agriculture 8% |
| Climate: | temperate |
The capital Budapest was originally two separate cities, Buda and Pest, and is located on the river Danube. It is rich in history and culture and famous for its healing springs. The old district of Buda is located on the western bank of the Danube, and the modern district of Pest on its eastern bank.
Since the early Middle Ages, Hungary has been the easternmost outpost of Western civilization in Europe. In connection with increasing autonomy within the Austrian Empire, a modern high culture flourished, and today Budapest’s cafés and cultural establishments are comparable to those found in Vienna.
Hungary grows a lot of peppers, which is reflected in the cooking with dishes such as gulyás, pörkölt and lecsó as well as the spice Pirosarany. Another Hungarian food specialty is the fried bread langos, which in Sweden has become known at various festivals.
WORLD HERITAGE
The following objects in Hungary are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.
- Danube Beaches and Budapest Castle Area (1987)
- Byn Hollokö (1987)
- Aggteleks karst caves (1995)
- Benedictine monastery Pannonhalma and surroundings (1996)
- The Cultural Landscape in Hortobágy (1999)
- Pécs Old Christian Cemetery (2000)
- The cultural landscape by Lake Neusiedler (2001)
- The cultural landscape in the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region (2002)
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in Hungary
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: C, F
Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Budapest
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average temperature °C | -1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Day °C | 1 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 16 | 7 | 3 |
| Night °C | -3 | -2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 2 | -1 |
| Rain (mm) | 40 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 70 | 60 | 40 | 70 | 70 | 60 | 60 | 40 |
| Rainy days | 11 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Soltim / day | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
Budapest
According to Countryaah, Budapest is the capital of Hungary. It consists of the city halves of Buda west of and Pest east of the river Danube. In 1873, Buda, Pest and Óbuda were merged into a single city, formerly the three separate cities. Just outside Óbuda, there are still traces of a Roman city from the 100s, called Aquincum. In 1361, Buda became the capital of Hungary. Budapest has suffered several major destructions but has resurfaced and today has a population of about 1.6 million (2005). The city is divided according to the Parisian pattern into 23 districts (kerület) with the castle height as the first district.
Pest is the city’s commercial and cultural center. Here are the boulevards or “ring roads” with a concentration of Parisian cafes, theaters and museums. Andrássy út, or “Andrassy Boulevard” with, among other things, the Hungarian State Opera opens into Hjältarnas torg, and the whole area is today on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Pest has several universities.
On the Buda side, which is more of a historical character, is the castle height with the royal castle, which today is home to, among other things, the National Gallery. Next to the castle is the Matthias Church (Nagyboldogasszony Temple, “Our Lady’s Church”), the oldest parts of which date from the 13th century. The church was a royal coronation church and here the last king of Hungary, Károly (Karl), was crowned in 1916.
Budapest is also known for its bathhouses. The water comes from hot springs. The Romans built the first bathhouses, but these are now in ruins. The more than 150 years that the city was Ottoman contributed to a well-preserved Turkish bathhouse tradition. Europe’s largest bathhouse is called Széchenyi and is located next to the city park (Városliget) on the Pest side. The island of Margitsziget is located in the middle of the Danube and has a large park with hot springs. Perhaps the most famous Gellertbadet is also located on the slope to Gellertberget. At the top of Gellertberget is the Statue of Liberty.
In 2002, the museum “House of Terror” was opened on Andrassy Boulevard. A museum that shows how Hungary went through two terrorist regimes, first Germany, then the Soviet Union. The house on Andrássy ut 60 was the Headquarters for both parties, with dungeons in the basement where you can, among other things, visit Raoul Wallenberg’s prison cell. A memorable museum.
Pécs
Pécs is a town in southern Hungary located near the Croatian border. The city is located at the foot of the Mecsek Mountains and has 156,576 residents (2005). Pécs is also the regional capital of the Dél-Dunántúl area.
The city is known for being one of the most romantic cities in the country. There are also remains from Celtic and Roman times that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the time the city was occupied by the Turks, there are a couple of mosques left. The largest is on the square in Pécs and is now a Catholic church. The famous op artist Victor Vasarely was born in Pécs, and he has donated several of his paintings to the Vasarely Museum.
The city is European Capital of Culture 2010.