Prostitution has a long history in Budapest, and during the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was a legal and regulated activity. Sex workers were required to register with authorities and undergo regular medical examinations, while brothels operated under official control. After World War II, the communist government gradually eliminated the legal framework for prostitution and closed brothels as part of its campaign against activities considered incompatible with socialist society. During the socialist era, prostitution officially became illegal, although it continued to exist underground. After the political changes of 1989, prostitution became more visible again, particularly in Budapest. A major legal change came in 1999, when Hungary introduced a regulated system that legalized individual prostitution under specific conditions. Since then, adult sex workers have been allowed to work legally if they comply with administrative and health requirements, while brothel operation, pimping, and human trafficking remain criminal offenses. Local governments were given the right to designate so called “tolerance zones” where street solicitation could legally take place, but in practice very few such zones were ever established. Today, visible street prostitution in Budapest is far less common than it was in the 1990s, and much of the market has moved to apartments, escort services, and online platforms. At the same time, authorities continue to combat organized crime, exploitation, and human trafficking connected to the sex industry. Overall, prostitution in Hungary is not fully prohibited, but it operates within a restrictive and closely regulated legal framework.