The relatively short, 137-kilometer border between Hungary and Ukraine is located in the historic region of Transcarpathia, a frontier where the vast, flat Great Hungarian Plain meets the green foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. You will find five road crossings connecting the two countries, along with several rail crossings. The most important by a significant margin is at Záhony in Hungary and Chop in Ukraine. This crossing is a major hub for both road and rail traffic and serves as a key logistical entry point into Ukraine from Central Europe. Other, smaller road crossings include those at Lónya, Barabás, and Beregsurány, which serve more local traffic.
This border is particularly notable for the large ethnic Hungarian population living in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast, a region that was once part of the Kingdom of Hungary. This shared heritage creates a steady flow of cross-border traffic for family, work, and cultural reasons, and you will find that Hungarian is widely spoken on both sides of the line. In recent years, this border has also taken on increased importance as a humanitarian and strategic corridor, highlighting its critical role not just for the local community but for the wider region as well.