Current Time in Budapest, Hungary
Exact time synced with atomic clocks (IANA + NTP)
Country
Magyarország
Dialling: +36
City Details
Budapest
Lat: 47.4979° N
Long: 19.0402° E
Population: 1,750,000
Time Zone
Europe/Budapest
GMT+2
Public Holidays in Hungary
Easter Sunday
Húsvétvasárnap
Easter Monday
Húsvéthétfő
Labour day
A munka ünnepe
Via Nager.Date
Time Difference from You to Budapest
Business Hours in Budapest
Sunrise & Sunset in Budapest Today
Data via sunrisesunset.io
Current Weather in Budapest, Hungary
Data via Open-Meteo · Updates every 30 min
Moon Phase in Budapest Tonight
Overview
Budapest is the capital and largest city of Hungary, with 1.78 million residents in the city and 3.3 million in Greater Budapest as of 2025. Formed in 1873 by the merger of Buda (on the west bank) and Pest (on the east bank) across the Danube, it is the largest city in Central Europe by population in the Schengen area and receives over 5 million tourists annually. Its historic centre, thermal bath culture and 19th-century architecture make it one of Europe's most distinctive capitals.
Administrative Region
Budapest (capital city — independent from any county)
HU-BU
Local Currency
Ft
Metadata
- Web Domain.hu
- ISO CodeHU-BU
Culture & Daily Life
📜 History & Origins
The Danube bend where Budapest sits has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic. The Romans established the important garrison town of Aquincum (now Óbuda) on the west bank around 89 CE, the capital of the Roman province of Pannonia. Hungarian tribes settled the area around 896 CE. King Stephen I established the Hungarian Kingdom in 1000 CE with his court in Óbuda. Buda became the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1361. The three cities of Óbuda, Buda and Pest merged to form Budapest on 17 November 1873.
🗣️ Languages
👥 Demographics
✨ Leisure Highlights
- •Parliament Building — one of the world's largest, on the Danube
- •Buda Castle and Castle Hill District (UNESCO)
- •Széchenyi and Gellért thermal baths
- •Chain Bridge and Danube riverfront
- •Ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter (Ruin Bar District)
🎒 Visitor Tip
The BKK transit card covers the metro, trams, buses and the Danube hydrofoil. The metro is easy to navigate — the Yellow line (M1) from 1896 is the oldest electric underground railway in continental Europe. Thermal baths are the defining experience — Széchenyi (grand, outdoor pools, chess players) and Gellért (art nouveau interior) are both exceptional. The Ruin Bars in the old Jewish Quarter (Romkocsmák) are Budapest's most distinctive nightlife invention. Prices are significantly cheaper than Western Europe.
Geography & Climate
Land & Terrain
Surface area and physical characteristics
Straddles the Danube River at the point where it turns south through the Pannonian Plain. Buda (west) is hilly — the Buda Hills rise to Jánoshegy at 527m — while Pest (east) is completely flat at around 100m, part of the Great Hungarian Plain. The Danube is 300–500m wide through the city. Margaret Island divides the river in the city centre. The flat Pest side allows vast 19th-century boulevard networks; the Buda side is characterised by forests and Castle Hill.
Climate Stats
Humid continental (Köppen Dfb/Cfa transition)
Avg Summer
23°C
Avg Winter
0°C
Annual Rainfall
560 mm
Best Months (Sunshine)
Travel & Connectivity
✈️ Nearby AirportsIATA / Distance
🚄 Rail ConnectionsOperator / Distance
Nearby Cities & Excursions
Other times compared to Budapest
Frequently Asked Questions about time in Budapest
What timezone is Budapest in?↓
Budapest is in the Europe/Budapest time zone (Europe/Budapest), currently UTCGMT+2.
Does Hungary observe daylight saving time?↓
Yes. Hungary observes daylight saving time. Clocks in Budapest go forward in March and back in October, switching between Budapest and Budapest.
What is Budapest?↓
Budapest stands for Europe/Budapest. It is UTCGMT+2 and is the standard time used in Hungary.
How many hours ahead is Budapest compared to London?↓
Budapest is 2 hours ahead of London (GMT). During UK summer (BST), the difference reduces by 1 hour to 1 hour.
What is the time difference between Budapest and New York?↓
Budapest is 7 hours ahead of New York (EST). When New York switches to EDT in summer, the difference decreases by 1 hour.
How accurate is the time shown for Budapest?↓
The time displayed for Budapest is synced with atomic clock sources via NTP (Network Time Protocol) and uses IANA timezone data to ensure accuracy to the second. It automatically reflects any daylight saving time changes.
What does UTCGMT+2 mean for Budapest?↓
UTCGMT+2 means Budapest is 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for timekeeping.
What are the business hours in Budapest?↓
Standard business hours in Budapest are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Budapest (UTCGMT+2). Many businesses also operate Saturday mornings. Public holidays follow the Hungary national calendar.
Is there much time difference between Budapest and London?↓
Budapest is within a few hours of London, so scheduling calls is usually straightforward. Always confirm the current local time in both cities, especially around daylight saving time changes.