Hortobágy National Park (Established 1973)

An 800 square kilometre World Heritage Site in eastern Hungary filled with history and part of the Great Plain of Hungary. It was home to a unique shepherding culture. You can visit the Shepherding Museum to find out more about them. There are landscapes such as wetlands, marshes, alkaline pastures, and meadows. The wetlands give home to hundreds of migratory birds. The park is an archaeological site, one of the first settlement sites of nomadic groups arriving in 2000 BC. If you like walking, try the Tisza Lake Water Nature Trail.

Aggtelek National Park (Established 1985)

With its many cave systems, this park in Northern Hungary is in the Gömör-Tornai Karst Region and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Underground caves are filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Baradla Cave part of which is under Slovakia should not be missed. The park offers guided tours, and there are also trails for bike rides, hiking, or horse riding. Handcraft programmes are on offer and traditional bread making.

Kiskunság National Park (Established 1975)

An important nature reserve in between the Tisza and Danube rivers it covers an area of 572 square kilometres. It was made a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. With lakes, alkaline ponds, marshes, and plains it is home to rare birds. The staff at the visitor centre will be happy to tell you what to look out for.An interesting natural phenomenon to see is the sand dunes.

Danube-Ipoly Nature Park (Established 1997)

One of the most popular parks, this is located in the tourist area of the Northern Danube, in the city of Esztergom. It starts north of Budapest and goes as far as the Slovakian border covering 600 square km. It has lots of caves and is home to flora and fauna. The park is protected along with all of the wildlife and plants within it. Hiking and camping are great and there are other things to do nearby – visit the ethno village of Ócsa and the Szemlő-hegyi cave.

Danube-Dráva Nature Park (Established 1996)
The Danube-Dráva Park is in south west, near the city of Pécs. It is around 490 square km, located between the rivers Danube and Dráva which means you can see a lot of water wildlife. It is famous for outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity. It is home to over 400 species of plants and animals. The period from June to September is perfect for camping when you can look out for black storks and wild geese. The Dráva Gate Visitor Centre and the Abaliget Cave and Bat Museum are good places to visit.

Őrség National Park (Established 2002)

This beautiful park is a mixture of alpine forests, peat bogs, moorland, and meadows in the south west corner of Vas County which borders Austria. It is spread over an area of 440 square kilometres. Visitors can go to local villages, where houses were built in the traditional style. The park protects rare species of flora and fauna. Hiking along the many forest trails is a popular activity, and the park is open to the general public all year round.

Bükk Nature Park (Established 1977)

Around this 423 square kilometre park in the Bükk Mountains in Northern Hungary, you will find a varied landscape with pretty mountain towns and roads, forests, lots of birds and wildlife such as wolves, falcons, bats, and places to camp. In fact, many species of plants and wildlife can only be found in this part of Hungary. The mountain roads are good for the cyclist and there are lots of hiking trails for walkers. As well as the wonderful waterfall at Szalajka-völgy thereare also prehistoric limestone caves to visit.

Fertő–Hanság National Park (Established 1991)

Situated in North-West Hungary the 239 square kilometre park is rich in natural features and is listed as a World Heritage Site. The Hany Istók nature trail follows the footsteps of Hany Istók, a mythical creature of folklore. The Esterházy Bird Observation Centre is interesting with hundreds of birds and insects. Saline lakes have lookout towers to observe the incredible views of the surrounding areas.

Spring in Hungary is absolutely phenomenal. Nature is getting reborn after the long winter months, flowers start to bloom and the temperature starts to rise. Just like nature, people also begin to revive. As days start to lengthen, we long for sunshine, walks in nature and a chance to rediscover some magical spots in the country. Let’s take a look at some must-visit hiking destinations that are best to visit during the spring! 

Dera Gorge, Pilisszentkereszt

Although Hungary is filled with wonderful hiking and walking destinations, the Pilis Mountains hold some of the most popular hiking trails. The spectacular Dera Gorge near Pilisszentkereszt is often called the “Hungarian Switzerland”. The 1.5 km long winding gorge lies on the path of the Dera stream. Both kids and adults love experiencing the natural beauty of the area while having fun crossing wooden bridges and jumping over cliffs and limestone rocks. As the hike is short and not difficult to make, it is a perfect destination for beginner-hikers or families with small children.  

Hármashatárhegy, Budapest

Only 15 minutes from the heart of downtown Budapest lies Hármashatárhegy, a pine-studded environment in the Buda Hills. Hármashatárhegy is crossed by the wide path of the Guckler Károly Trail. The forest trail levels at 370 m on the slope of the mountain, offering a pleasant walk in a natural forest environment not far from the city. It is easy to reach and is only 6.1 km long with a short ascent at the beginning and then a long and pleasant road through the forest. The trail offers two lookout terraces that provide breath-taking views over Budapest. 

Basa Garden, Babócsa

The village of Babócsa in Somogy County is famous for its Basa Garden Natural Protection Area. It is open for visitors and hikers, and its main attraction is the flower field of narcissi, the biggest narcissus field in Europe. Narcissi bloom in April making the field a magical mead of white blossom. But those who don’t visit at the time of the blossoms will not be left without things to see either. In Babócsa, interesting cultural and historical monuments have survived history, such as a church from the Arpadian Age and a Turkish bath that was discovered in archaeological excavations. 

Spartacus Hunting Trail, Visegrád

The iconic Danube Bend and the Danube valley in Visegrád are not unknown to anyone familiar with Hungary’s most famous hiking trails. One of the most atmospheric trails in the Danube Bend area is the narrow trail levelling on the peaks of Visegrád Mountains – the Spartacus Trail. It used to be a hunting path, but today it is a popular hiking walkthrough offering a glorious view of the deep valleys of Visegrád. Optionally, you can complete a round-trip in the Danube valley visiting the Abbey’s Spring Valley on your way. The steep slopes, volcanic rock formations and rapids will guarantee to make your hike unforgettable. 

Treetop walkway, Pannonhalma

The canopy study trail connected to the Pannonhalma Abbey offers a fantastic view of the landscape below the trees. The educational trail walks us around the abbey and the lookout, where we can learn about the curiosities of Pannonhalma. The metal and wood-covered walkway has the shape of a fish, which is one of the oldest Christian symbols. From the lookout point – which is the head of the fish-shaped walkway – we can see the valley of Pannonhalma and the hilly landscape behind it. The magnificent Turkey oak forest of the hills offers a memorable experience for the lovers of hiking and cycling. 

Old Lake, Tata

Hike around the Old Lake of Tata and you will surely enjoy a magnificent view of forests and wetland. The town of Tata is rich in thermal springs, mountain springs, lakes and marshes. The Old Lake offers a variety of attractions both natural and cultural. You can explore the area by following one of the several thematic tours. Explore the exciting place while learning about nature from the information boards around the lake displaying local natural and cultural values. In Tata, nature and history blend together. The town is rich in nature values and it makes a serious effort to preserve and show its beauty to visitors. 

Language Point: Van néhány latin eredetű szó az angolban, amelynek a többes száma furcsa, különleges. Ezek „-us”-ra végződnek, akárcsak a „narcissus”, és többes számban -i végződést kapnak (amit „ai”-nak ejtünk, mint az „I”- „én” szóban). Például: cactus – cacti, focus – foci, octopus – octopi. Úgy tűnik, ezt az anyanyelvűek is furcsának találják, mert egyre inkább terjed az a változat is, amelyben a normál főnevekhez hasonló többes számot képeznek ezeknek a szavaknak is: narcissuses, cactuses, focuses, octopuses.