How to Call Hungary From the United States

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: February 18, 2023 References

Calling Hungary from the United States has never been easier. Hungary has updated its telecommunication network and you can make calls to landlines or cell phones. Since it may be expensive to direct-dial a Hungarian number, check your phone or cell phone's policies about how to get the cheapest international rate. Regardless of how you call Hungary, remember to take the large time differences into account.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Calling a Landline in Hungary

1
Dial the international exit code. You'll need to signal to the phone company that you're about to make an international call. To dial the international exit code, dial 011 from the United States or Canada.^{[1]
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- The exit code is specific to the country you're dialing from, not the country you're dialing to.
- Not all countries have the same exit code. For example, 011 is the exit code for Canada and the United States. But Mexico and much of Europe, including Hungary itself, use 00 as an exit code instead.
2
Dial the country code for Hungary. You'll need to indicate that you're calling Hungary. The country code for Hungary is 36 regardless of where in the country you're calling.^{[2]
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- The country code is specific to the country you're calling to. Country codes don't change no matter where you're calling from.
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3
Dial the area code. Once you've specified Hungary's country code, you need to enter the area code for the city or town you're dialing. Most Hungarian area codes are two digits (except for Budapest). Area codes for some of the largest cities are:
- Budapest: 1
- Debrecen: 52
- Miskolc: 46
- Szeged: 62
- Pecs: 72
4
Dial the remaining digits of the telephone number. Hungarian landlines are 8 digits long which includes the area code. Your call will go through once you've dialed the international exit code, country code for Hungary, the area code in Hungary, and the Hungarian phone number you want to reach.^{[3]
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- For example, a call from the United States to a landline in Budapest would be: 011 36 1 (123 4567).

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Calling a Cell Phone in Hungary

1
Dial the international exit code. Dial 011 before dialing any more of the cell phone number. 011 signals that you'll be making an international call. You can also use this international exit code if you're calling from Canada.^{[4]
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- The exit code is specific to the country you're dialing from, not the country you're dialing to.
- Not all countries have the same exit code. For example, 011 is the exit code for Canada and the United States. But Mexico and much of Europe, including Hungary itself, use 00 as an exit code instead.
2
Dial the country code for Hungary. After signaling that you're dialing a foreign country, you need to specify the country's code. Dial 36 to reach a Hungarian number. This number doesn't change regardless of what country you're calling from.^{[5]
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- The country code is specific to the country you're calling to. Country codes don't change no matter where you're calling from.
3
Dial the mobile code. The mobile code identifies which cell-phone carrier you're calling. These are two-digit codes and don't change regardless of which country you're calling from. The mobile codes for Hungary are:^{[6]
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- 20: Telenor
- 30: T-Mobile
- 31: Tesco Mobile
- 70: Vodafone
4
Dial the individual's cell phone number. Once you've dialed the international exit code, Hungary's country code, and the mobile code, you need to dial the cell phone number of the person you're trying to call. Cell phone numbers in Hungary are 7 digits long.^{[7]
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- For example, a call from the United States to a cell phone with someone using Telenor would be: 011 36 20 (555 5555)

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using an Online Calling Service or Application

1
Decide whether you want to make video or audio calls. Several calling services are available to download through your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Some services, like Skype, offer video and audio calling internationally while others, like FaceTime, are audio apps. Other free calling services include Google Hangouts, Viber, and WhatsApp.
- Although you can use Skype on your mobile phone, the audio and visual quality will be best if you're connected to high-speed internet.
2
Set up an account with your contacts. Once you've found an online service or application, you'll need to create an account. You'll need to provide your personal information, contact information for people you'd like to call, and possibly a method of payment.
- For some services, you can list your contacts, but you'll have to wait for the person to accept your request to communicate.
3
Download the program. Check to make sure the device you want to use is compatible with the service you've chosen. Since it may take a while to download, plan to give yourself plenty of time to do this before making your call. If you're accessing a service through your computer, you should make sure that your computer has a good camera and microphone or you may need to purchase them.
- If you're unsure about downloading an app, some operating systems will offer a preview of certain calling applications before you download them.
4
Decide how you'd like to pay. Many of these calling services offer a free calling program for international numbers if the other person is also using the same calling program. But, if you'll be using a service to call a landline or cell phone, you'll probably be charged a fee or international calling rate. Payment options might include:^{[8]
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- Setting up a monthly payment plan with a fixed number of international minutes
- Buy credit to use towards a pay-as-you go rate
- Talking with your cell phone provider to make sure you're using WiFi and not the data that you pay for
5
Test out the service or application. Don't wait to try out the online calling service till when you need to make an important phone call. Become familiar with how to make a call, set up your voicemail (if it's an option), and receive calls. If you find that you don't like using the service, you can always uninstall it and try a different service.
- While you're testing the service, ask the person you're calling how the audio and visual quality is on their end. If the other person can't hear you or see you, it may be a problem with their setup or with the service itself.

Community Q&A

Question

I will be calling Hungary (Budapest) from my Verizon cell phone to my wife's Verizon cell phone. I was told I could simply call her Verizon number directly without any country or area codes. Is this true?

Community Answer

Without knowing the specifics of your specific cell phone plan, you should speak with a Verizon representative to learn about their policies and dialing instructions.