How To Call Hungary From US: Updated For 2025

Quick Answer

To call Hungary from the United States:

• Landline: 011 + 36 + Area Code (1-2 digits) + Local Number (6-7 digits)
• Mobile: 011 + 36 + Mobile Prefix (e.g., 20, 30, 70) + Subscriber Number (7 digits)

Examples:

• For a Budapest landline (Area Code 1): 011 + 36 + 1 + XXX XXXX
• For a Debrecen landline (Area Code 52): 011 + 36 + 52 + XXX XXX
• For a Hungarian mobile phone (e.g., Yettel 20): 011 + 36 + 20 + XXX XXXX

Hungary is on CET (UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) in summer. This is generally 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET).

Understanding Hungarian Phone Numbers

Hungarian phone numbers are structured with the country code +36. When dialing from abroad, the national trunk prefix 06 (or a single leading 0) used within Hungary is dropped.

Landline Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 36 + Area Code (1-2 digits) + Local Number (6-7 digits)
• The area code for Budapest is 1, followed by a 7-digit local number.
• Other regions have a 2-digit area code, typically followed by a 6-digit local number. Some may have 7-digit local numbers.
• Total digits after +36: Typically 8 (e.g., 1 XXX XXXX or XX XXX XXX). Can be 9 in some regional cases (XX XXX XXXX).

Mobile Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 36 + Mobile Prefix (2 digits) + Subscriber Number (7 digits)
• Total digits after +36: Always 9 (e.g., 20 XXX XXXX).

Hungarian Area Codes (Fixed Lines)

This is a list of National Significant Numbers (NSNs) or area codes for landlines in Hungary. Remember to dial 011 + 36 before these codes, then the local number. The leading 0 or 06 found in domestic dialing is dropped.

Hungarian Mobile Phone Prefixes

Hungarian mobile numbers are 9 digits long after the +36 country code. They consist of a 2-digit prefix followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.

*Number portability is active in Hungary, so a prefix does not definitively indicate the current operator for a specific number.

Time Difference

Hungary operates on Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+1, during the winter months and Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2, during the summer months (roughly late March to late October).

The time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET):

• During US Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) & Hungarian Winter Time (CET, UTC+1): Hungary is 6 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 6 PM CET in Hungary).
• During US Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) & Hungarian Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2): Hungary is 6 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 6 PM CEST in Hungary).
• During brief transition periods when Daylight Saving Time changes don't align perfectly between the US and Europe, the difference can occasionally be 5 or 7 hours, but for most of the year, Hungary is 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast.

Hungary's Phone System

Hungary has a well-developed and modernized telecommunications infrastructure. The system is digitized and highly automated, with trunk services primarily utilizing fiber-optic cables and digital microwave radio relays. Mobile phone penetration is high, with major operators like Yettel, Magyar Telekom, and Vodafone providing extensive 4G/LTE and expanding 5G coverage. Several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) also offer services. Fixed-line broadband is widely available through technologies like ADSL, VDSL, and increasingly, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), supporting the country's goals for widespread gigabit connectivity.

Best Times to Call

Considering the time difference (Hungary is generally 6 hours ahead of US ET):

• A good window for business calls from the US is typically morning ET (e.g., 9 AM - 11 AM ET), which corresponds to mid-afternoon in Hungary (3 PM - 5 PM CET/CEST).
• Hungarian business hours are generally Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.