"Nine-Hole” Bridge

A truly iconic landmark in Hortobágy, the grandest and longest of similar Hungarian stone constructions was built in 1833 according to the plans of Ferenc Povolny. The nearby area is the venue of the renowned annual fair and open-air market of handicraft traditionally held on August 20. Legend has it that the “Nine-Hole” Bridge came into being when the nine lovers of an infamous outlaw (with the local gendarmes closing in on him) held hands and helped their beau cross the river on their shoulders and arms. After his lucky escape, the hapless damsels turned into stone.

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address4071 Hortobágy, Petőfi tér

Hortobágy Big Inn

Hortobágy Big Inn is the oldest and grandest of these traditional watering holes where you can sample “puszta cuisine” in its original locale. The exhibit room presents images and artifacts to illustrate the long-past “csárda” milieu populated by tough denizens of the prairie. You can even get your pictures taken rigged out in traditional garb. The thematic itinerary dubbed “The Trail of Inns” includes stops to display exhibits at the Kadarcs and Meggyes Inn Museums.

Hortobágy National Park Visitor Center & Craftsmen’s Yard

You can get detailed information on the programs available in the various tourist spots of the region including how to see National Park areas which are open to visitors. You can also check out a multi-media show presenting the uniquely rich wildlife of the puszta including the exhibit called “The World of Cranes.” If you’re into the arts, why don’t you explore the workshops set up in the yard where local artisans put their trades on display? A wide range of their products and other merchandise lays up for grabs in the gift shop.

Máta Stud Farm

Boasting a proud history of 300 years, the farm is one of Europe’s traditional establishments of this kind. It also has tourist programs on offer, the most popular of which is the “puszta” horse-and-carriage ride. It sets out to the heart of the grassland where you can get close to indigenous beasts in their natural habitat. The must-see equestrian shows display hundred-year-old cowboy traditions. Fancy swinging yourself into the saddle too? No problem, enjoy the ride. As of spring 2016, a top-notch tourist center is ready to take visitors to this prestigious facility. Be sure you check out the exhibits displaying the history of the stud farm, the impressive collection of carriages, and the workshops of local craftsmen whose trades are related to equestrian activities. Horseback riding is available after advance booking for experienced riders (children above age 9) in corral or cross-country. It has always been quite an event whenever Debrecen’s Sate Coach ceremoniously rolled into Hortobágy. The elite group of its most famous passengers includes Franz Joseph I and Edward, Duke of Windsor. They took rides on the carriage drawn by a team of five horses in 1852/1890 and 1937, respectively.

Hortobágy Wildlife Park – Puszta Safari

The park serves as a reserve for animal species that had populated the region before human habitation and encroaching civilization drove them off. Their ranks are completed by species that still inhabit the wilderness areas of the National Park. Take a ride on one of our specially souped-up buses and check out these beasts. If you are not one of the faint-hearted, you might even risk taking an “extra safari” and get up close to them.

Hortobágy Fish Ponds Narrow-Gauge Railway

You can discover the diverse flora and fauna of Central Europe’s most intricate system of fish ponds at your leisure, sitting in the small cars of this railway. The observation platform erected at the final stop and the boardwalks skirting the ponds will even provide opportunities to take close-ups of pond denizens. Accessible: by road on Route 33, towards Hortobágy Fish Ponds from the junction at Milestone 67 km; by rail on the Debrecen-Füzesabony line, from Hortobágyi-Halastó stop

Puszta Zoo

A park housing ancient Hungarian breeds of domestic animals. Why don’t you check out the exhibit on the history of the various species while your children feed and pet the critters, get active at the playground, or try handicraft activities? You can assist the chefs in cooking lunch in the outdoor oven and (to burn off some extra calories) challenge your kids in the various disciplines of the “puszta trials.”

Hortobágy Bird Park

This refuge for birds features exhibits, a clinic and flying ranges where recuperating avian patients can get much-needed practice before getting reintroduced into their original habitat. You can learn about what dangers wild birds have to face on a daily basis and even watch the treatment of injured or sick individuals.

Hiking in Hortobágy National Park

Hortobágy National Park has a system of designated trails and areas to provide tourists with opportunities for guided walking, bicycle, or small-train trips. More intrepid hikers may obtain special National Park passes and go on their very own solo expeditions. Check local information points for listings and advance booking. Demonstration Trails & Other Visitable Places in Hortobágy National Park • Hortobágy Fishpond demonstration trail • Egyek-Pusztakócs marshes • Szálkahalmi demonstration trail • Fishponds