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 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.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The Hortobágy National Park's open puszta, the Nine-Holed Bridge, and the csikós horsemen's traditional riding displays.
The Great Reformed Church, a spacious main square, the Great Forest city park with its own thermal bath, and a genuine university-town energy.
The autumn crane migration and the park's wider birdlife, drawing serious birdwatchers alongside general visitors to the grassland.
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
Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.