Published: July 25 2023
Hungary, a landlocked country in Central Europe, is full of cultural history and geographic diversity. Geographically divided into seven regions and further broken down into 19 counties and the capital city, Budapest, it offers a broad cross-section of landscapes and culture. Let's dive deep to know about these counties and regions.
Central Hungary
Central Hungary consists of Budapest and Pest County. Both are well-known for historical landmarks and urban lifestyle influenced by various eras.
- Budapest: The capital city, known for historical sites like Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament, and Fisherman's Bastion.
- Pest County: Encircles the capital city, with towns like Szentendre and Visegrád popular for their rich cultural heritage.
Central Transdanubia
Central Transdanubia boasts three counties: Fejér, Veszprém and Komárom-Esztergom.
- Fejér: Known for the town Székesfehérvár, a former royal city.
- Veszprém: This county, which includes Lake Balaton, is popular for its summer resorts.
- Komárom-Esztergom: Famous for its castle fortresses and Roman ruins.
Western Transdanubia
Western Transdanubia, consisting of Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas, and Zala counties, is renowned for its thermal waters and wine regions.
- Győr-Moson-Sopron: Famous for architecture from the Medieval and Baroque eras.
- Vas: Known for the vibrant city of Szombathely and Őrség National Park.
- Zala: Famous for historical spa towns like Hévíz.
Southern Transdanubia
Southern Transdanubia houses the counties Somogy, Tolna, and Baranya.
- Somogy: Popular for Lake Balaton's southern shore and traditional Hungarian folklore.
- Tolna: Known for historic towns and unique Hungarian wines.
- Baranya: Noted for its vibrant city, Pécs, which has Roman and Ottoman-era relics.
Northern Hungary
Three counties - Heves, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, and Nógrád - comprise Northern Hungary.
- Heves: Known for its significant wine production.
- Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén: The second most populous county, home to the Bükk National Park.
- Nógrád: Known for its natural beauty, offering a treasure trove of outdoor activities.
Northern Great Plain
The Northern Great Plain hosts three counties: Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Hajdú-Bihar, and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg.
- Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok: Renowned for the thermal spa of Szolnok and Jászberény.
- Hajdú-Bihar: Known for Debrecen, the second-largest city in Hungary and Hortobágy National Park.
- Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg: Famous for traditional folk arts and the Tokaj wine region.
Southern Great Plain
The Southern Great Plain, showcasing three counties - Bács-Kiskun, Csongrád-Csanád, and Békés.
- Bács-Kiskun: Known for the Great Plain and the city of Kecskemét, famous for Art Nouveau architecture.
- Csongrád-Csanád: Popular for Szeged, one of Hungary's most beautiful cities.
- Békés: Famous for its gastronomy and speciality, the Békéscsaba sausage.
By exploring the regions and counties of Hungary, you'll be able to experience the wide array of cultural, historical, and natural beauty that this vibrant Central European country has to offer.
