Nature tourism in Hungary

In Hungary, East meets West. This is true not only for the country's geopolitical location, but also to its natural characters, its wildlife and vegetation. In the west and on the northern hills from the Bakony to the Zemplén Hills, there are extensive deciduous forests with many species of songbirds, large herds of elk, mountain sheep and wildboar. The rest of the country, most of which is the famous Great Plain harbors partially shifting sand dunes, numerous alkali lakes, fragments of mixed grass steppe and endless alkali steppe. These habitats offer some of the best birding places in Europe. Both, nesting and migratory species are abound, including many rarities from the east, such as rose colored starling, red-breasted goose, black-winged pratincole, Dalmatian pelican, saker, steppe or imperial eagle, that are hardly seen anywhere else west of Hungary. Not only are these places rich in birds and other animal species, but also in various plants that are telling witnesses of the past. Many of these plants originated from or have their relatives on the eastern steppes, while others are relics of the cold glaciation periods. Most of them are very attractive and colorful, but also threatened or endangered.
Below is a list of the most notable sites for bird watching, photographing and general wildlife viewing, most of which are under protection.

The areas covered:

Western Hungary:

Fertõ-Hanság National Park
Kisbalaton
Duna-Dráva National Park
Somogy Forests