Biggest Cities In Hungary

Hungary, a country situated in the Pannonian Basin in Central Europe, covers an area of 35,920 square miles. It borders Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine, and Austria. Hungary is an official member of the European Union (EU). The official language spoken in the country is the Hungarian, the most popular Uralic language in the world. The economy of Hungary is world’s 57^th largest by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). The country is also a middle power and a substantial actor in the industrial and technological sector. Hungary has a population of about 10 million people with more than 25% living in the metropolitan areas or the big cities. The big cities are characterized by modern developments and facilities which continue to attract larger population. Some of the biggest cities in the country are discussed below.

Budapest

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and also the most populous city in the country with a population of 3,303,786. It is also one of the most populous cities in the European Union. Budapest is both city and a county, a center of the Budapest Metropolitan area. The city was originally a Celtic settlement becoming a Roman capital of the Lower Pannonia. The Hungarians began occupying the territory in the late 9^th Century. Budapest entered an age of prosperity in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries after many years of Ottoman Empire's rule in the region. The unification of Budapest took place in 1873 thus becoming a global city. Currently, Budapest is an Alpha global city of art, commerce, entertainment, media, and tourism. It is also the headquarters of some of the largest banks and companies and a leading financial center in Central and Eastern Europe. Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the most livable in Eastern and Central Europe.

Debrecen

Debrecen is Hungary’s second largest city with a population of 216,888. It is the regional capital of the Northern Great Plain. Debrecen was the largest city in Hungary before Budapest was founded in the 18^th Century and also the capital of Hungary between 1848 and 1849 and also at the end of the World War II from 1944 to 1945. The economy of Debrecen is driven by agriculture. It is one of the most developed cities in the country with several international companies having their headquarters in the city. It is also one of the most important cultural cities in Hungary. Debrecen is served by modern transport network system including Debrecen airport, railway stations, and road network. Its proximity to countries such as Ukraine and Romania makes it a significant trade center and a transport hub.

Szeged

Szeged is the largest city and the regional center of Hungary's Southern Great Plain near the country's borders with Romania and Serbia. The name Szeged came from Hungarian word which means “corner” because of the sharp bend of the River Tisza that flows through the city. The city is situated near the southern border of Hungary to the south of Maros River. It is one of the centers of food industries in Hungary. It is also the higher education center of the southern Hungary with thousands of international students studying there. The main attractions include the Szeged Open Air Festival held every summer.

Economic Role of Urban Areas in Hungary

These and other major cities and towns in Hungary continue to attract foreign direct investments from all around Europe due to the efficiency and ease of doing business in them, and the well-developed infrastructure found in these cities. The cities have highly developed transport system including roads, railways, air, and water. Cities such as Budapest, Szeged, and Debrecen have tram networks which serve their large populations efficiently across their metropolitan areas. These cities are also major tourist destinations because of their magnificent buildings, economic activities, festivals, and educational facilities, among other attractions.