Parking Zones in Hungary’s Capital, Budapest

Budapest’s parking system is based on a unified zone structure: four parking fee zones have replaced the previous 27 parking zones, which were difficult to navigate. Hourly rates most recently increased on July 1, 2026, and the following rates have applied since then:

• Zone A: 800 forints per hour, typically from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., for a maximum of 3 hours.
• Zone B: 600 forints per hour, typically from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., for a maximum of 3 hours.
• Zone C: 400 forints per hour, typically from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., for a maximum of 3 hours.
• Zone D: 300 forints per hour, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no time limit.

Paid parking hours and maximum parking times may vary by zone, and some areas may have different hourly rates. You can check the up-to-date rates and operating hours for each zone on our Budapest city page, including by zone code.

The system aims to encourage drivers to use public transport instead of sitting in traffic jams stretching for kilometers and searching for parking spaces. The signs installed along the roads and for information make zone boundaries easy to identify.

Maximum parking times are also limited in addition to the rates: conditions are stricter in the city center and more favorable farther out. The rules apply to all passenger cars, three- or four-wheeled mopeds, three- or four-wheeled motorcycles, motorhomes, and goods vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes.

Parking is free on weekends in the vast majority of Budapest’s zones. One important change, however, is that since July 1, 2026, parking fees in Budapest can only be paid digitally; parking meters are being removed at different rates across the districts.

From January 1, 2027, cars with green license plates will also pay the full rate in Budapest. The double fee for cars weighing more than 2 tonnes has been postponed until January 1, 2028; we covered this in a separate article.

Last updated: 27. 10. 2026.