Eight cities in the Budapest agglomeration are emerging as central settlements around the capital, according to a new study by Budapest Corvinus University. In a statement on Tuesday, the university said urban centres are forming from Vác to Diósd and from Szentendre to Gödöllő, while urbanization in the south eastern part of the agglomeration remains limited.
The researchers found that access to motorways plays a far more important role in the formation of centres than railway connections. The study was conducted by Corvinus researchers János B Kocsis and Virág Varga, who examined 203 settlements in the Budapest metropolitan area based on their regional functions. Their findings were published in the Journal of Urban Affairs.
According to the authors, Budapest’s distinctive pattern of urban development limits the emergence of subcentres within the city itself in the classical sense. Instead, primary centres are concentrated mainly in the northern, north eastern and western parts of the agglomeration.
Fewer settlements with comprehensive service offerings and strong labour market positions were identified in the north western, southern and south eastern zones. In the north western area, geographical conditions, difficult accessibility and the lack of cross connections hinder development. In contrast, the southern zone contains several less developed subcentres, primarily with logistics and industrial functions.
The researchers identified eight main central cities in the agglomeration. In the south west, Budaörs, Törökbálint and Diósd form a cluster, while Budakalász and Szentendre stand out in the north, alongside Dunakeszi and Vác. In the north east, Gödöllő was identified as a key centre. These cities are distinguished by stable economic activity, higher level services and functions serving wider catchment areas.
Six additional settlements were identified as emerging secondary centres, including Biatorbágy, Dunaharaszti, Érd, Monor, Szigetszentmiklós and Vecsés. While several indicators are similar to those of the main centres, these towns are generally less economically active. The lack of significant subcentres in the north western zone was linked to poor accessibility and the incomplete M0 ring road in that sector.
The study also listed 14 significant local centres with a primarily economic and labour market focus, such as Dabas and Százhalombatta, which could evolve into residential and recreational hubs over time. In addition, nine settlements, including Pomáz and Ercsi, were identified as potential lower level centres.
According to lead author János Kocsis, infrastructure alone is not sufficient for long term success. He said historical factors, local community and identity, as well as socio economic status strongly influence which settlements can become sustainable centres, a pattern particularly evident in the south western subcentres.
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