Living in Hungary

Hungary lies in Central Europe in the Carpathian Basin and has around 9.8 million inhabitants. The Danube divides the country, while Lake Balaton, vast plains and wooded hills shape its natural landscape. The climate is predominantly continental: summers are often warm and dry, winters cool, with regional differences between the west, east and higher-altitude areas. In Budapest, many people live in apartments and use the dense network of trams, buses and the metro; outside the capital, cars and regional transport are more important. Jobs are more concentrated in Budapest and larger cities, while smaller towns are shaped by agriculture, industry and local services. Leisure activities include cafés, thermal baths, walks, sports and shared meals.