Short answer. HungaroMet's national network publishes a six-level Hungarian air quality index, updated every hour at 58 fixed and 2 mobile stations 1. Smog alerts (szmogriadó) are local: the government office notifies the municipality and the mayor decides 3. During a smog alert, spend as little time outdoors as possible 3.
Where can I check air quality right now?
The National Air Pollution Monitoring Network (OLM), run by HungaroMet, shows the index on a map of its stations, with hourly changes 12. Click a station to see the levels of its main pollutants for the past 3 days 1. The data has not yet been through final checks, so it is indicative only 1.
What do the index levels mean?
The Hungarian index has six levels, set by the worst of seven pollutants (benzene, CO, NO2, ozone, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2) 1. Fine particles use a running 24-hour mean; NO2 and ozone use hourly values 1.
| Level | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Advice for sensitive groups 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Kiváló (excellent) | 0-10 | Enjoy your usual outdoor activities |
| Jó (good) | 10-20 | Enjoy your usual outdoor activities |
| Megfelelő (fair) | 20-25 | Consider reducing intense outdoor activities if you have symptoms |
| Szennyezett (polluted) | 25-50 | Consider reducing physical activity, especially outdoors and with symptoms |
| Erősen szennyezett (heavily polluted) | 50-75 | Reduce physical activity, especially outdoors and with symptoms |
| Rendkívül szennyezett (extremely polluted) | above 75 | Avoid physical activity outdoors |
Sensitive groups are adults and children with breathing problems and adults with heart disease 1. The index describes the short-term situation, not the annual one 1. See Air quality index explained.
How polluted is the air on average?
The population-weighted median of Hungarian cities shows about 13 µg/m³ of PM2.5 (annual mean 2021-2023) 4, more than twice the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ 6. Nitrogen dioxide is about 10.9 µg/m³ 5, just above the WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³ 6. That NO2 figure is a regional background over roughly 80 km: a busy street will be higher.
HungaroMet notes health limit exceedances every year for NO2, PM10 and ozone 3. NO2 is worst in central Budapest and near busy roads; PM10 peaks in the winter heating season, mainly from solid-fuel home heating; ozone exceedances occur mostly in summer, in suburban and rural background areas 3. Valleys can trap pollution 3.
What should I do on a bad air day, or with smoke or dust?
- Smog alert: government offices watch pollution levels around the clock and notify the municipality when the legal criteria are met; the mayor decides whether to order, keep or lift the alert 3. For PM10, the decision rests on daily averages from previous days, not on a single reading 3.
- What to do: during limit exceedances and smog alerts, spend as little time outdoors as possible 3. Follow the index advice above; see Pollution episodes, Sensitive people and polluted air and Ozone days.
- Smoke or dust: Phaenyx found no official Hungarian guidance on wildfire smoke or dust. See Wildfire smoke, A clean-air room at home, Masks for smoke and Dust storms. How warnings reach you is on our Hungary alerts page.
A household plan can note who at home is sensitive to polluted air and where to stay on bad days.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hungary have its own air quality index?
Yes. HungaroMet publishes a six-level index from "excellent" to "extremely polluted", updated hourly 1.
Who declares a smog alert in Hungary?
The mayor, after notification by the government office 3.
Why is winter air worse in Hungarian towns?
PM10 comes mainly from solid-fuel home heating, so most exceedances occur in the heating season 3.
Are the live figures official?
They are indicative: hourly data has not yet been through final checks 1.
Sources
- HungaroMet – Országos Légszennyezettségi Mérőhálózat (OLM) — A magyar levegőminőségi index (AQ index tájékoztató) — https://legszennyezettseg.met.hu/levegominoseg/informacio/aq-index-tajekoztato (accessed 2026-10-27)
- HungaroMet – Országos Légszennyezettségi Mérőhálózat (OLM) — Automata mérőhálózat — https://legszennyezettseg.met.hu/levegominoseg/meresi-adatok/automata-merohalozat (accessed 2026-10-27)
- HungaroMet – Országos Légszennyezettségi Mérőhálózat (OLM) — Gyakran Ismételt Kérdések — https://legszennyezettseg.met.hu/levegominoseg/informacio/GYIK (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis — Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) — https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/datasets/surface-pm2-5/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) — CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) — https://ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- World Health Organization (WHO) — WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Hungary, worked out for your household.
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- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- HungaroMet – Országos Légszennyezettségi Mérőhálózat (OLM) · A magyar levegőminőségi index (AQ index tájékoztató) checked 2026-10-27
- HungaroMet – Országos Légszennyezettségi Mérőhálózat (OLM) · Automata mérőhálózat checked 2026-10-27
- HungaroMet – Országos Légszennyezettségi Mérőhálózat (OLM) · Gyakran Ismételt Kérdések checked 2026-10-27
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis · Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) checked 2026-10-27
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) · CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) checked 2026-10-27
- World Health Organization (WHO) · WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) checked 2026-10-27