Current Time in Hungary
Check local time in Budapest and all Hungary cities. Hungary spans 2 time zones.
Hungary Quick Facts
🕐Time Zones in Hungary
Hungary uses CET (UTC+1) year-round. Budapest is the capital and largest city.
Hungary observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), known as Summer Time in Europe. Clocks spring forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and fall back on the last Sunday of October. During summer months, Hungary uses CEST (UTC+2).
Major Cities in Hungary (4 cities)
Click on any city to see detailed local time, sunrise/sunset times, and weather information.
📞Best Time to Call Hungary
To call Hungary from the United States, the best time is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM EST, which corresponds to 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM in Hungary. For UK callers, Hungary is typically 1 hour ahead (or the same time during summer months). Early morning or late afternoon calls work best for most European schedules.
Standard business hours in Hungary are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Standard business hours in Hungary are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.
✈️Time-Related Travel Tips for Hungary
Traveling to Hungary from North America typically involves a 5-9 hour time difference. The jet lag is usually manageable within 1-2 days. European business culture values punctuality, so arrive on time for meetings. Hungary follows the 24-hour clock format in official contexts, though 12-hour format is also common in casual settings.
💡Interesting Facts About Time in Hungary
- The capital Budapest is the political center of Hungary with a total national population of 9.7M.
- Hungary follows Central European Time conventions, making business coordination with other EU countries straightforward.
- Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines - they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
- The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.
About Time in Hungary
Hungary uses a single time zone (CET (UTC+1)). This makes it relatively straightforward to coordinate times across the country.
The capital city Budapest serves as the political and often economic center of Hungary. Major business activities are spread across cities including Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged.
When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Hungary, it's important to consider the time difference. CET (UTC+1) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Hungary.
Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint (Ft) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +36. Multiple languages are spoken, including Hungarian.
Cities in Hungary
Explore local time in 4 cities across Hungary:
🌍 Other Countries in Europe
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Vatican CityFrequently Asked Questions About Time in Hungary
Hungary spans 2 time zones: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2). The capital Budapest uses CET (UTC+1).
Hungary observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), known as Summer Time in Europe. Clocks spring forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and fall back on the last Sunday of October. During summer months, Hungary uses CEST (UTC+2).
To call Hungary from the United States, the best time is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM EST, which corresponds to 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM in Hungary. For UK callers, Hungary is typically 1 hour ahead (or the same time during summer months). Early morning or late afternoon calls work best for most European schedules.
Standard business hours in Hungary are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.
Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint (Ft) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +36. Official languages include Hungarian.