The Hortobágy does not sleep in winter either. This is when the puszta shows its most intimate side: misty mornings are filled with eagle watching, evenings with starry skies, and the long winter days with science, nature conservation and experiential learning at the local visitor facilities.
For early 2026, the Hortobágy National Park Directorate (HNPI) has put together a package of tourism and educational programmes aimed at nature enthusiasts with a deeper interest, families and city visitors looking for experiences alike.
In February the bird world shows yet another face: the evening roost flight of crows at Debrecen Public Cemetery is a special urban nature experience, while Eagle Day at Hortobágy-Halastó brings the puszta’s iconic birds of prey up close, with tripod-mounted telescopes and explanations from expert guides. At the end of the month, the Open Stables Weekend and planet-observing programmes complete the winter offer.
Those looking for other experiences beyond the programmes should also visit the Hortobágy’s permanent exhibition sites. The interactive exhibition at the Shepherd Museum brings to life the world of livestock farming and pastoral life on the puszta, while the modern displays at the Visitor Centre highlight the importance of preserving biodiversity. The Hortobágy Wildlife Park is a real journey back in time: visitors can meet wolves, jackals, wildcats and white-tailed eagles, even on an extra safari.
The Hortobágy-Halastó demonstration area, covering nearly 2,000 hectares, is spectacular in winter too: thanks to its nature trails and observation towers, visitors can gain an insight into the life of one of Europe’s most important bird habitats, where nearly 300 bird species have been recorded over the past decades.
Source: Turizmus Online