Yes, US tourists can fly a drone in Hungary, but Budapest is one of the trickier cities in Europe. Hungary applies the EU drone rules, so you register as an EU operator and fly below 120 m. National rules then cap flights at 40 m in most of Budapest's control zone, ban drones within 300 m of Parliament, prominent heritage sites and key government facilities, and send every pilot to the official MyDroneSpace system for zones.
EU registration and training
Hungary's drone act took effect on January 1, 2021, alongside EU Regulation 2019/947. As a non-EU resident, you register as an operator in the first EU country where you plan to fly; that number is valid in Hungary.
- Register if your drone weighs 250 g or more, or if it has a camera. Every DJI drone we sell does.
- Put your operator number on the drone.
- Sub-250 g drones without an EU class label fly in subcategory A1 with no certificate. Heavier drones need the online A1/A3 certificate and fly in A3, away from people and towns.
See flying in Europe as a US tourist for details.
MyDroneSpace
HungaroControl, Hungary's air navigation service, runs MyDroneSpace, the official website and app for drone pilots, with current airspace information and restrictions. Use it to check every location before you fly. Data from the system can be shared with police and the aviation authority.
Budapest: No Drone Zone and the 40 m cap
HungaroControl's UAS airspace restrictions page explains the national rules:
- Hungarian law designates a No Drone Zone within the controlled airspace of Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport (LHBP), plus zones at the Kecskemét, Szolnok and Pápa military airfields and near Bácsbokod. Drones are prohibited there unless a specific exception applies.
- In the rest of the Budapest control zone (CTR), you may fly up to 40 m (132 ft) above ground without air traffic control permission.
300 m buffers around landmarks
Drones may not fly within 300 m of:
- Protected facilities under Hungary's act on the National Assembly, which covers the Parliament building on the Danube.
- Prominent national heritage sites under Hungary's cultural heritage act.
- Facilities important to the functioning of the state, and designated critical infrastructure.
In central Budapest, these buffers cover many of the sights tourists want to film along the river, so plan to fly elsewhere unless MyDroneSpace shows the spot is clear.
Other airspace rules
- Within 2 km of aerodromes without a traffic zone, and 750 m of rescue helicopter landing sites, you need the operator's consent and must notify the aviation authority at least two days ahead.
- Military low-flying areas and active danger areas are closed to drones.
Which drone to bring
- DJI Mini 4 Pro: 249 g, flies in A1 with no certificate.
- DJI Mini 5 Pro: 249 g, 1-inch sensor for Lake Balaton and wine country.
- DJI Neo: 135 g, still needs operator registration because it has a camera.
Carry liability insurance that covers Europe; see drone insurance for Europe.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Compare more countries in drone laws by country.
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