Hajdú-Bihar County

Code:HB
Type:county
Population:519,141 (2022)
Area:6,211 km²
Capital:Debrecen

Introduction

Hajdú-Bihar County, on Hungary's eastern border with Romania, holds two very different reasons to visit: the Hortobágy National Park's open steppe grassland, Hungary's most direct living link to its Magyar steppe-nomad origins, and Debrecen, the county's own substantial city and the unofficial capital of Hungary's eastern plain.

Overview

The Hortobágy is the county's headline destination — the puszta's steppe-nomad origin and the csikós horsemen's genuine riding skills live in the Hortobágy deep-dive; what follows is the practical side of an actual visit. The national park's visitor centre near Hortobágy village organises access to the working grassland, horse displays and the Nine-Holed Bridge (Kilenclyukú híd), a substantial 19th-century stone bridge that's the longest road bridge in historic Hungary and the area's most recognisable landmark. Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, sits a short distance from the national park and functions as the region's real transport and accommodation hub — a spacious, calm city built around the Great Reformed Church and a genuinely pleasant main square, worth treating as a base rather than a pass-through.

Discover Hajdú-Bihar County

The Hortobágy visitor experience

The national park's visitor centre, near Hortobágy village, is the practical starting point for a visit — it organises access to the working grassland, sells tickets for the horse displays the deep-dive covers in depth, and runs the Shepherd Museum explaining the herding tools and traditions behind what visitors see in the field. Horse displays typically run at set times through the tourist season rather than continuously, so checking the current schedule before planning a visit day is worth doing.

The Nine-Holed Bridge

The Kilenclyukú híd — the Nine-Holed Bridge — is a substantial stone bridge completed in 1833, the longest road bridge in historic Hungary, spanning a stretch of the Hortobágy river that's often dry or nearly so, since the bridge was built generously for flood conditions rather than everyday water levels. It's become the visual symbol of the whole region, photographed constantly at sunset when the stone arches silhouette against the open steppe sky, and is a natural anchor point for a Hortobágy visit even outside the scheduled horse displays.

Debrecen: the region's real city

Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, sits a short distance from the Hortobágy and makes a genuinely comfortable base for the whole region rather than a place to simply pass through. The Great Reformed Church, a monumental neoclassical building central to Hungarian Protestant history, anchors a spacious main square lined with cafés; the Great Forest (Nagyerdő) city park, with its own thermal bath and botanical garden, gives the city a genuine green counterweight to the surrounding open plain. Debrecen's own university gives it a younger energy than its size might suggest.

Getting there and around

Debrecen is reached from Budapest's Keleti station by direct train, with the journey taking a little under three hours; from Debrecen, local buses and organised tours reach the Hortobágy National Park visitor centre in under an hour. Visiting the national park itself without a car is genuinely workable given this connection, though a car offers more flexibility for exploring the wider grassland beyond the main visitor area.

Ways to Experience This Destination

Steppe grassland and horsemanship

The Hortobágy National Park's open puszta, the Nine-Holed Bridge, and the csikós horsemen's traditional riding displays.

Debrecen city

The Great Reformed Church, a spacious main square, the Great Forest city park with its own thermal bath, and a genuine university-town energy.

Wildlife and birdwatching

The autumn crane migration and the park's wider birdlife, drawing serious birdwatchers alongside general visitors to the grassland.

Traditional livestock

Hungarian Grey cattle and racka sheep, ancient breeds kept specifically because the Hortobágy preserves the traditional grazing system they evolved for.

Hajdú-Bihar County Travel Notes

Debrecen is reached from Budapest's Keleti station by direct train, just under three hours each way.
Local buses and organised tours connect Debrecen to the Hortobágy National Park visitor centre in under an hour.
Horse displays at the Hortobágy run on a set seasonal schedule rather than continuously — check current times before planning a visit day.
The Nine-Holed Bridge is a short walk from the main visitor centre and worth timing for sunset photography.
Debrecen makes a more comfortable overnight base for the region than staying directly at the national park.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the Hortobágy without a car?

Yes — take the train from Budapest to Debrecen, then a local bus or organised tour on to the national park's visitor centre, under an hour further. A car adds flexibility for exploring the wider grassland but isn't required for the main visitor experience.

Is Debrecen worth visiting on its own, or just as a base for the Hortobágy?

Both — Debrecen is a genuinely pleasant city in its own right, built around the Great Reformed Church and a spacious main square, with its own thermal bath and botanical garden in the Great Forest city park. It's Hungary's second-largest city and comfortably worth a day beyond simply being a gateway to the national park.

What is the Nine-Holed Bridge?

The Kilenclyukú híd, a stone bridge completed in 1833 and the longest road bridge in historic Hungary, spanning the Hortobágy river. It's become the region's visual symbol, especially photographed at sunset, and sits a short walk from the national park's main visitor centre.

Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.