The +36 country code is for Hungary. If you've seen a number starting with +36 or need to call someone in Budapest, Debrecen, or a village on the Great Plain, this guide explains the numbering system. Hungary is more complex than some countries because it uses area codes and a trunk prefix (06), which means you have to adjust the number depending on whether you're calling domestically or internationally.
The key thing to understand: when Hungarians give you their number, they usually include the domestic trunk prefix 06. You need to drop that 06 and replace it with +36 when calling from abroad. Get that right and the rest is straightforward.
Quick answer: Dial +36, then the area code (1 for Budapest, 2 digits for other cities), then the subscriber number. Drop the trunk prefix 06 if the number was given in domestic format. Budapest landlines: +36 1 XXX XXXX (8 digits after +36). Mobile numbers: +36 20/30/31/50/70 XXX XXXX (9 digits after +36).
How to call Hungary: quick reference
Hungary uses area codes and a trunk prefix (06). When calling from abroad, drop the 06 and dial +36 followed by the area code and subscriber number. The total length after +36 is 8 digits for Budapest landlines and 9 digits for mobile numbers and other city landlines.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +36 1 XXX XXXX (Budapest) / +36 20 XXX XXXX (mobile) |
| US/Canada landline | 011-36-1-XXX-XXXX (Budapest) / 011-36-20-XXX-XXXX (mobile) |
| Austria | 00-36-1-XXX-XXXX (Budapest) / 00-36-20-XXX-XXXX (mobile) |
| Germany | 00-36-1-XXX-XXXX (Budapest) / 00-36-20-XXX-XXXX (mobile) |
| UK | 00-36-1-XXX-XXXX (Budapest) / 00-36-20-XXX-XXXX (mobile) |
Understanding Hungary phone numbers
Hungarian phone numbers have variable lengths depending on the type. The trunk prefix for domestic calls is 06. When calling from abroad, you replace 06 with +36.
Budapest landlines
Budapest has a 1-digit area code: 1. Subscriber numbers are 7 digits. Total after +36: 8 digits.
- Domestic format: 06-1-XXX-XXXX
- International format: +36 1 XXX XXXX
Other city landlines
Cities outside Budapest use 2-digit area codes with 6-digit subscriber numbers. Total after +36: 8 digits. Common area codes:
| City | Area code | International format |
|---|---|---|
| Debrecen | 52 | +36 52 XXX XXX |
| Szeged | 62 | +36 62 XXX XXX |
| Miskolc | 46 | +36 46 XXX XXX |
| Pécs | 72 | +36 72 XXX XXX |
| Győr | 96 | +36 96 XXX XXX |
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use 2-digit carrier prefixes followed by 7-digit subscriber numbers. Total after +36: 9 digits.
- 20 - Telekom (formerly T-Mobile)
- 30 - Telekom
- 31 - Telekom
- 50 - Vodafone
- 70 - Yettel (formerly Telenor)
Domestic format: 06-20-XXX-XXXX. International format: +36 20 XXX XXXX. The prefix originally identified the carrier, but number portability means people keep their prefix when switching. A 70-number could now be on any network.
The trunk prefix (06)
This is the part that trips people up. Within Hungary, you dial 06 before the area code or mobile prefix. From abroad, you drop the 06 entirely. If a Hungarian friend writes their number as 06 20 123 4567, you dial +36 20 123 4567 from outside Hungary. The 06 is not part of the actual number.
Mobile carriers in Hungary
Hungary has three mobile network operators. The market recently went through ownership changes, with two of the three operators changing hands.
Telekom (~35% market share)
Magyar Telekom, majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom, is the incumbent operator and the largest by a slim margin. It's the former state monopoly (originally Matáv, then T-Mobile Hungary, now branded simply as Telekom). They have the most extensive network, including the best rural coverage in the Great Plain and along the eastern border. Mobile prefixes: 20, 30, 31.
Yettel (~30% market share)
Yettel was Telenor Hungary until 2022, when PPF Group (Czech-owned) and CK Hutchison acquired Telenor's Central European operations and rebranded them. If someone mentions Telenor Hungary, they mean Yettel. The network and coverage stayed the same, only the name changed. Coverage is strong in urban areas and along motorways. Mobile prefix: 70.
Vodafone (~30% market share)
Vodafone Hungary was acquired by 4iG Group, a Hungarian technology company with state-linked backing, in 2023. The Vodafone brand is being maintained for now. Coverage is comparable to Yettel, good in cities but somewhat thinner in remote rural areas. Mobile prefix: 50. Vodafone's prepaid plans have historically been popular with foreign workers and students in Budapest.
Don't confuse +36 with nearby codes
Hungary's neighbors all have different country codes, but a few are close enough to cause mix-ups.
| Code | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| +36 | Hungary | Area codes, trunk prefix 06 |
| +43 | Austria | Area codes, trunk prefix 0 |
| +40 | Romania | Area codes, trunk prefix 0 |
| +381 | Serbia | Area codes, trunk prefix 0 |
| +421 | Slovakia | Area codes, trunk prefix 0 |
The +36/+40 confusion matters more than you might expect. There are roughly 1.2 million ethnic Hungarians living in Romania (mainly in Transylvania), and calls between Hungary and Romania's Hungarian-speaking regions are extremely frequent. +36 is Hungary, +40 is Romania. If you're calling a Hungarian-speaker in Cluj-Napoca or Târgu Mureș, you need +40, not +36, even though they speak Hungarian.
+43 (Austria) is another one to watch. Austria and Hungary share a border and substantial cross-border commuter traffic, particularly between Vienna and the western Hungarian cities of Győr and Sopron. Budapest to Vienna is only a 2.5-hour drive.
Time zone considerations
Hungary uses Central European Time (CET), UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer (CEST). Same time zone as Germany, Austria, France, and most of continental Europe.
| Your location | Hungary time | When it's noon in Hungary |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (EST/EDT) | 6 hours ahead year-round | 6:00 AM your time |
| US Pacific (PST/PDT) | 9 hours ahead year-round | 3:00 AM your time |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 1 hour ahead year-round | 11:00 AM your time |
| Romania | 1 hour behind Romania | 1:00 PM in Romania |
| Germany / Austria | Same time zone | 12:00 PM your time |
Romania is 1 hour ahead of Hungary, which is worth knowing if you call ethnic Hungarians in Transylvania. When it's 6 PM in Budapest, it's 7 PM in Cluj. Germany, Austria, and Slovakia are in the same time zone as Hungary. From the US, the 6-9 hour gap is the same as calling any other Central European country.
Communication in Hungary
Business hours
Business hours in Hungary are typically 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM or 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Government offices (called "hivatalok") often close at 4:00 PM and may have reduced hours on Fridays. Banks usually close at 4:00 PM. Many shops are open Saturday mornings but closed Sundays.
Hungarians tend to be punctual for scheduled calls. Lunch is usually between noon and 1:00 PM. For personal calls, evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM work well.
Language
Hungarian (Magyar) is the official language. It's a Finno-Ugric language unrelated to any of Hungary's neighbors' Slavic or Germanic languages, which means there's no "close enough" option if you don't speak it. English proficiency is growing, especially among younger Hungarians in Budapest and larger cities, but it's less universal than in Scandinavia or the Netherlands. Many older Hungarians speak German as a second language, particularly in western Hungary near the Austrian border. In business contexts in Budapest, English is usually fine.
Phone menu systems (IVR) at Hungarian companies are almost always in Hungarian only. Large international companies and hotels may offer an English option.
Network quality
Hungary has good mobile coverage across the country. 4G LTE covers virtually the entire population, and 5G is available in Budapest and other cities. The country is flat (the Great Plain covers most of the east), which makes coverage easier. Call quality is reliable. You're unlikely to have connectivity issues calling any populated area.
Viber is the most popular messaging app in Hungary, more widely used than WhatsApp (the reverse of most European countries). Many Hungarians prefer Viber for international calls because it was adopted early and became the default. Facebook Messenger is also widely used. If you're trying to reach someone cheaply, ask if they use Viber.
The Hungary diaspora
Hungary's calling patterns are shaped by two things: Hungarian emigration to Western Europe and the US, and the large ethnic Hungarian populations living in neighboring countries since the 1920 Treaty of Trianon redrew Hungary's borders.
Ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries
This is the biggest driver of cross-border calling. Roughly 2-3 million ethnic Hungarians live outside Hungary in countries that were part of pre-1920 Hungary:
- Romania (~1.2 million, mainly Transylvania: Cluj-Napoca, Târgu Mureș, Miercurea Ciuc). Dial +40, not +36.
- Slovakia (~460,000, southern border region). Dial +421.
- Serbia (~250,000, Vojvodina: Subotica, Novi Sad). Dial +381.
- Ukraine (~150,000, Transcarpathia: Uzhhorod, Berehove). Dial +380.
These communities speak Hungarian at home, watch Hungarian TV, and call relatives in Hungary regularly. The dialing confusion here is real: you're calling a Hungarian-speaking person, but they're in Romania or Slovakia, so you need that country's code, not +36.
United Kingdom and Ireland
An estimated 200,000-400,000 Hungarians moved to the UK and Ireland after Hungary joined the EU in 2004. Many work in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Dublin. Calls back to Hungary are frequent, and Viber is the go-to app for most of these callers.
Germany and Austria
Germany has a substantial Hungarian population, concentrated in Munich, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt. Austria, particularly Vienna, has historical Hungarian ties and a steady flow of cross-border workers from western Hungary (Győr, Sopron). Vienna is close enough to the Hungarian border that some people commute daily.
United States (~1.5 million claiming Hungarian descent)
The Hungarian-American population is concentrated in the Midwest (Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit) and the Northeast (New York, New Jersey). Most are second- or third-generation and don't have close relatives in Hungary, but there are more recent immigrants who call home regularly.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile from the US
Your contact's number in domestic format is 06 20 123 4567.
Drop the 06, dial: +36 20 123 4567
From a US landline: 011-36-20-123-4567
Calling a Budapest landline from the UK
The office number in domestic format is 06-1-234-5678.
Drop the 06, dial: 00-36-1-234-5678
Note that Budapest landlines have area code 1 plus 7 digits (8 digits total after +36).
Calling a landline in Debrecen from Germany
The number in domestic format is 06-52-123-456.
Drop the 06, dial: 00-36-52-123-456
Cities outside Budapest have 2-digit area codes plus 6-digit subscriber numbers (8 digits total after +36).
Calling within Hungary
Dial the full domestic number including the trunk prefix: 06 20 123 4567 for a mobile, or 06 1 234 5678 for a Budapest landline. If you're calling within the same area code on a landline, you can skip the 06 and area code and just dial the subscriber number, but this only works for landline-to-landline in the same area.
Common mistakes to avoid
Including the 06 trunk prefix when calling from abroad
This is the most common mistake. If a Hungarian gives you their number as 06 20 123 4567, the 06 is the domestic trunk prefix. From abroad, you replace it with +36, giving you +36 20 123 4567. If you dial +36 06 20 123 4567 (keeping both the +36 and the 06), you'll get an error because that's too many digits.
Getting the digit count wrong
Budapest landlines are +36 1 XXX XXXX (8 digits after +36). Other city landlines are +36 XX XXX XXX (also 8 digits after +36). Mobile numbers are +36 XX XXX XXXX (9 digits after +36). If your call won't connect, count the digits. The most common error is adding or dropping a digit because people don't realize Budapest landlines and mobile numbers have different lengths.
Calling a Hungarian-speaker in Romania with +36
If the person you're calling speaks Hungarian but lives in Romania (Transylvania), their country code is +40, not +36. This catches people off guard, particularly when calling family in cities like Cluj-Napoca or Târgu Mureș. The language on the phone will be Hungarian, but the country code is Romanian.
Confusing Hungarian area codes with mobile prefixes
Miskolc's area code is 46. But 46 also looks like it could be a mobile prefix. It's not. Mobile prefixes in Hungary are 20, 30, 31, 50, and 70. Area codes include numbers like 46 (Miskolc), 52 (Debrecen), 62 (Szeged), and others. If you're unsure, check the digit count: mobile numbers are 9 digits after +36, landlines are 8.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +36 code?
+36 is the country code for Hungary.
How do I call Hungary from the US?
From a US mobile, dial +36 followed by the area code and subscriber number. Drop the domestic trunk prefix 06 if the number was given in Hungarian format. From a US landline, dial 011-36 then the area code and number.
What is the 06 in Hungarian phone numbers?
06 is Hungary's domestic trunk prefix, used for calls within Hungary. When calling from abroad, you drop the 06 and replace it with +36. So 06-20-123-4567 becomes +36 20 123 4567.
How many digits is a Hungarian phone number?
After +36: Budapest landlines are 8 digits (area code 1 + 7 digits). Other city landlines are 8 digits (2-digit area code + 6 digits). Mobile numbers are 9 digits (2-digit carrier prefix + 7 digits).
What time zone is Hungary in?
Hungary uses Central European Time (CET), UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer. It's 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast.
What is the area code for Budapest?
Budapest's area code is 1. From abroad, dial +36 1 followed by the 7-digit subscriber number. Domestically, dial 06-1 followed by the 7-digit number.
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