An Informative Article for Travelers. Discover about Hungary on map, learn about its borders, neighbors, and population. Find out why Hungary is in the European Union but not in the Eurozone. What about the sea in Hungary? Yes, that’s right, every third question from tourists is about the sea (spoiler alert: there isn’t one here). You’ll find answers to many interesting questions that may seem obvious but aren’t top of mind when planning your journey through this country.
Hungary on Map: General Information
Hungary is a relatively small country in Central Europe. But as you can see in the photo below, you can pinpoint Hungary on map.
Here’s a dynamic map of Hungary. You can zoom in and explore specific regions in more detail.
To sum it up, here’s some general information about Hungary to give you an overall picture:
- Population of the country: Nearly 10 million people, ranking it 92nd in the world.
- Area of Hungary: 93,000 square kilometers, placing it 102nd in the world.
- In terms of population density, the country falls in the middle range on the global scale.
- Since 2012, a new version of the constitution has been in effect. Previously, the country’s official name was the Hungarian Republic, but now it’s simply Hungary.
- In Hungarian, the country is called “Magyarország” (pronounced as [ˈmɒɟɒrorsaːɡ]). In English, it’s Hungary.
Interesting to know:
The Hungarian language is very complex, unlike any other. Even reading a sign can be challenging to understand its meaning or subject matter. This is the case, even for someone who has a basic understanding of German, French, Spanish, and speaks English. You can learn more about the Hungarian language and find a bunch of life hacks for surviving without the language in a country where English is not widely spoken by following the link.
- The official language in the country is Hungarian.
- The official currency is the Forint. You can find out everything about Hungary’s currency, what to bring with you – EUR or USD, where to exchange it, and price information.
- Form of government: Parliamentary Republic.
Borders and Neighbors of Hungary
In a nutshell, the answer to the question about Hungary’s neighbors and borders can be summarized in a single image.
The current borders of Hungary, which remain in place today, were established after World War II. In 1945, Hungary lost a portion of its territory as a result of being on the losing side. For those unfamiliar, Hungary was an ally of Germany. A brief history of Hungary, everything a traveler needs to know to better understand the country.
Interesting to know:
The approximate size of Hungary is 270 kilometers by 570 kilometers. The total length of its borders is 2,010 kilometers.
So, the countries bordering Hungary, from north and clockwise (reference the map above):
- Slovakia – border length of 515 kilometers
- Ukraine – 103 kilometers
- Romania – 443 kilometers
- Serbia – 151 kilometers
- Croatia – 329 kilometers
- Slovenia – 102 kilometers
- Austria – 367 kilometers
Everything About the Sea in Hungary
Many people are surprised, but this section exists because it’s a question people often ask. Not everyone was fond of geography in school.
In short, the answer to the question, “What sea is in Hungary?” is: None. Hungary does not have a sea. However, some neighboring countries have access to the sea.
- Ukraine and Romania have access to the Black Sea. From Hungary, the shortest route to it is almost 1,000 kilometers and a 12-hour drive.
- Croatia and Slovenia have access to the Adriatic Sea. While Slovenia has a coastline of just about 10 kilometers, Croatia’s coastline is over 1,000 kilometers. From Hungary to the Adriatic coast via the highway, it’s only about 250 kilometers, or a little over 2 hours away. Everything about driving through Hungary by car: road tolls, petrol, vignettes, visas.
All Hungarians prefer to vacation by the sea in Croatia through Zagreb. It’s close and convenient.
But Hungarians do have their own “sea” after all:
Lake Balaton – the largest lake in Central Europe. The lake covers an area of 594 square kilometers. For comparison, the entire city of Paris covers 105 square kilometers, which is nearly six times smaller. Balaton is often referred to as the “Hungarian Sea” or the “largest puddle in Europe” because the lake is also quite shallow. For more details about this resort region in Hungary and where to stay at Balaton, you can read the article by following the link.
The EU, the Eurozone, Schengen, and Hungary: All You Need to Know as a Tourist
This is another common question that many people simply don’t fully understand. I often hear questions like, “How come Hungary is in the European Union, but they use Forints and not Euros?” or questions about visas for Hungary. Here, I’ll break it down in simple terms, so you’ll have a clearer understanding for your future travels in any European country.
- There is the European Union (EU), a political, economic, and trade union that unites 27 European countries. Within the EU, there are no customs duties, and goods can be freely traded, and businesses can operate without restrictions.
- Then there is the Eurozone (not the same as the EU), which is a monetary union where the common currency is the Euro. Nineteen countries are part of the Eurozone. For example, Hungary and Poland are in the EU but not in the Eurozone. Hence, these countries have their own national currencies.
- There’s also the Schengen Area, a visa union that allows for the free movement of citizens across borders without the need for checks. This area includes 26 countries, and Hungary is a part of it. This means you can visit Hungary with a Schengen visa.
It’s important to note:
Hungary is a member of the EU and the Schengen Area but is currently a candidate for joining the Eurozone. It is expected that Hungary will adopt the Euro between 2025 and 2030, at which point the Forint will be phased out, and the country will fully transition to the Euro as its official currency.
In conclusion, I hope you’ve gained a clear understanding of Hungary’s place on the map. In short, Hungary is located in Central Europe. The country does not have access to the sea, but it does have Lake Balaton, often referred to as the “Hungarian Sea.” Additionally, Hungary is a part of the Schengen Area and the EU, but it has not yet adopted the Euro as its currency.
IMPORTANT: Below are useful links that will help organize your trip to Hungary and Budapest:
- Flight: Aviasales – compares prices for flights among 30+ airlines flying to Budapest.
- Tours and excursions:
- Viator and GetYourGuide – the best services for finding tours in Budapest and Hungary with the largest database of activities in Hungary. They offer river cruises on the Danube, tickets to baths, and 1000+ tours (available in different languages).
- Accommodation, apartments, hotels, hostels:
- Car rental: DiscoverCars – the leading and largest car rental service in Hungary.
- Travel Insurance: EKTA.
- eSIM – Airalo virtual SIM card in Hungary.
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel