Kiskunság National Park

Kiskunság National Park (Kiskunsági Nemzeti Park) is in Southern Great Plain of Hungary. == Understand == The park covers an area of 570 km² and stretches across the Little Cumania (Kiskunság) region of the Great Hungarian Plain. Declared a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO. It is not a single territory, but comprises seven disjoint units, scattered throughout the area. One of these is the Kiskunság's Puszta where annual events are held reviving the old pastoral life and cattle breeding customs. Another is Lake Kolon near the town of Izsák. It is famous for its marsh tortoises, herons, expanses of untouched reeds and nine species of orchids which grow in the vicinity. An interesting natural phenomenon is the sand dunes in the vicinity of Fülöpháza. They are said to move under favourable wind conditions. Main areas of the park: 1 Upper Kiskunság alkaline Steppes. After the Hortobágy region, this is the second largest saline steppe of the Great Hungarian Plain; its most famous part is Apaj. The area is located in the former low-lying floodplain of the Danube River. (updated May 2026) 2 Peszéradacs Meadows. (updated May 2026) 3 Upper Kiskunság Alkaline Lakes (Felső-kiskunsági-tavak). (updated May 2026) 4 Fülöpháza sand-drifts (fülöpházi homokbuckák). (updated May 2026) 5 Orgovány Meadows (Ágasegyháza - orgoványi rétek). (updated May 2026) 6 Bugac puszta. (updated May 2026) 7 Mikla puszta. (updated May 2026) 8 Lake Kolon (Kolon-tó). birdparadise at village Izsák (updated May 2026) 9 Szikra and the Alpár Meadow (Szikra és az Alpári-ret). (updated May 2026) 10 Pusztaszer Landscape Protection Area (Pusztaszeri Tájvédelmi Körzet). (updated May 2026) 11 Mártély Landscape Protection Area (Mártélyi Tájvédelmi Körzet). (updated May 2026) 12 Körös-ér Landscape Protection Area (Körös-éri Tájvédelmi Körzet). (updated May 2026) Nature reserves managed by the Kiskunság National Park Directorate: The Habitat of the Grecian Foxglove near Bácsalmás The Mole-rat Reserve of Baja Csongrádi Kónya-szék Red Swamp of Császártöltés Geological Site of Csólyospálos Seven Valleys of Érsekhalma Sand Steppes of Hajós Hay Meadows and Loess Banks of Hajós Kalmár Forest Kéleshalom Sand Dunes Kiskőrös Swamp Fejetéki Swamp of Kiskunhalas Rattlesnake Fern Forest of Kunfehértó Szalag Forest of Kunpeszér Madarasi Marhajárás Lake Péteri Pusztaszeri Fülöp-szék Monument of the Seven Chieftains in Pusztaszer Pirtó Sand Dunes Lake Szelidi === Visitor information === Park website: Kiskunság National Park English website Visitor centers 13 Kiskunság National Park Directorate (Kiskunsági Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság), Kecskemét, Liszt Ferenc utca 19., ☏ +36 76 482 611, titkarsag@knp.hu. M-F 08:00-16:00. (updated May 2026) === History === === Landscape === The alkali lakes of the Little Cumania are found near Fülöpszállás and Szabadszállás. Their unique flora and fauna are of special value. Avocets, geese, and black-winged stilts nest in the area. The lakes provide a temporary home for tens of thousands of migratory birds. This ornithologist destination is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Lake Szelid near Kalocsa, Lake Vadkert by Soltvadkert, Lake fehér, and Lake Sós at Kiskunhalas are spots for bathing and camping. There are many tourist trails, study trails, and lookouts within the national park. The main visitor centre of the Kiskunság National Park, called the 'House of Nature', is in Kecskemét Landscape protection areas Pusztaszer Landscape Protection Area Mártély Landscape Protection Area Körös-ér Landscape Protection Area == Get in == === By plane === === By train === The line 150 (Budapest - Kelebia) runs on the west side of the park. The line 140 (Cegléd- Szeged ) run on the East/Central side of the park. The line 142 (Budapest - kecskemét) runs on the East side of the park The line 155 (Kiskunhalas–Kiskunfélegyháza) runs East-west on the center of park areas. === By bus === === By car === M5 (E75) Motorway from Budapest to Szeged goes on the east side of the park areas. M5 (E73) Motorway from Budapest to Szekszárd goes on the west side of the park. Road 52 (E66) goes (W-E) Dunaföldvár to Kecskemét croses near the central areas of the park. == Fees and permits == === Park rules === Protected areas are the museums of nature. Bike and train are the preferred means of transportation for reaching the protected areas. Park your car at the designated parking areas. Do not stray off the trails! Be silent and observant! Do not leave a thing behind! Careful with fire! Everything for the eye, nothing for the hand!.Do not pick flowers during your walk. Keep dogs on a lead! == Get around == === Parking === 1 Parking Felsö-Kiskunsagi pustza, 5205, Kunbábony, Kunszentmiklós. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Duck educational trail 1 parking lot (Réce-tanösvény 1. parkoló), Réce tanösvény, Apaj, Ráckevei járás, Pest. (updated Jul 2026) == See == 1 House of Nature, Liszt Ferenc Street 19, Kecskemét. M-F 08:00-16:00. The building hosts a permanent exhibition with the characteristic habitats of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve and traditional professions. 500 Ft, student or retired 400 Ft. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Shepherd Museum, Bugac (follow the dirt road after the Karikás Restaurant for 1.5 km). from 15 April to 31 October 10:00-17:00. The Shepherd Museum can be entered with a walking ticket purchased at the Karikás Restaurant. 950 Ft, students 550 Ft. (updated Jun 2026) 3 Reconstructed village from the Árpád Era (Árpád-kori falurekonstrukció), Szent István Street 1, Tiszaalpár. It illustrates how settlements looked like at the time of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Csólyospálos Geological Site. This geological formation of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve is the only stone of the plains.The Site, where a mixture of dolomite, limestone and dolomite mud was mined, was declared protected in 1978. The geological site is a strictly protected natural area; please do not leave the boardwalk when visiting. (updated Jun 2026) == Do == === Hiking === Apaj, Duck Trail Ágasegyháza, Grey Willow Study Trail Ásotthalom, Magic Meadow Study Trail Bodoglár, Long lasting pink study trail Bugac, Trail of Birds and Trees Császártöltés, Red Swamp Study Trail Csólyospálos, Toadstone Study Trail Dunapataj, Blue-green Alga Study Trail Dunatetétlen, Csárda Kurgan Dunatetétlen, Kentish Plover Study Trail Érsekhalma, Earthen Fortification of Érsekhalma Fülöpháza Sand Dunes, Dyer’s Alkanet Study Trail Fülöpháza Sand Dunes, Dune Study Trail Fülöpszállás, Avocet Study Trail Izsák, Aqua Colun Study Trail Izsák, Bikatorok Study Trail Kecel, Natura Study Trail Kiskunhalas, Fejeték Study Trail Kunadacs, Orchid Study Trail Lakitelek, Cuckoo-pint Study Trail Mórahalom, Bittern Study Trail Mórahalom, Csipak Study Trail Páhi, Orchid Study Trail Pálmonostora, Grebe Study Trail Pusztaszer, Monument of the Seven Chieftains Szatymaz, Gull Study Trail Tiszaalpár, Earthen Fortification Study Trail Vaskút, Vaskút Kurgans Study Trail === Birdwatching === 1 White Lake Ornithological Camp (Fehér-tavi Ornitológiai Tábor), Szegedi utca, Sándorfalva, Szegedi járás. (updated Jul 2026) 2 trail 1. bird observation tower (1. madár-megfigyelő torony) (park in Réce-tanösvény 1. parkoló and follow the trail to de East.). (updated Jul 2026) === Events === == Buy == == Eat == 1 Karikás Csárda, : 6114 Bugac, Nagybugac 135, ☏ +36 30 416 6439, info@bugacpuszta.hu. W Th Su 10:00-16:00; F Sa 10:00-20:00. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Kisbojtár Restaurant, Tavasz utca, Szécsitelep, Kunszentmiklós, ☏ +36 76351491. (updated Jun 2026) 3 Familia Söröző, Kossuth Lajos utca, Kunadacs, ☏ +36 70 231 2846. Pizza (updated Jun 2026) == Drink == 1 Napsugár Cafe (Napsugár Presszó), Kunszentmiklósi út, Kunadacs. coffee & ice cream (updated Jun 2026) == Sleep == === Lodging === 1 Kiskunsági Betyár Kuria, 0215/25 5211-es út, ☏ +36 76 352 427, kuria@betyar-kuria.hu. Hikers and equestrian programs. (updated Jun 2026) 2 Sarlóspuszta club hotel, H-2375 Tatárszentgyörgy, Sarlóspuszta, ☏ +36 29 319 118. The price of room includes breakfast, use of Finnish sauna and infra sauna, open-air swimming pool, jacuzzi and garden for sunbathing €90. (updated Jun 2026) 3 Varga Tanya, H-6041 Kerekegyháza Kunpuszta 150, ☏ +36 76 371 030, info@vargatanya.hu. from 35,200 Ft. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Hunor Lovastanya, H-6043 Kákás tanya 258, Kunbaracs, ☏ +36 20 316 1455, hunnatura@gmail.com. (updated Jun 2026) 5 Baracs Puszta Youth Hostel (Baracs Puszta Ifjúsági Szálló), 274, hrsz. 0140/21, Kunbaracs, ☏ +36 70 379 5347. (updated Jun 2026) 6 Adam's Farm Inn (Ádám Tanya Fogadó), H-6080 Szabadszállás, Balázspuszta tanya 146, ☏ +36 30 943 2793, adamk@t-online.hu. equestrian (updated Jun 2026) 7 Kígyósi Csárda - Restaurant and Guesthouse (Kígyósi Csárda - Étterem és Panzió), Fülöpszállás, H-6085 Székekpuszta 23/a, ☏ +36 78 488 800, kigyoscsarda@t-online.hu. (updated Jun 2026) 8 Csodarét Kúria, 6782 Mórahalom III.Runt Farm 65, ☏ +36 70 380 3421, fulopbt01@gmail.com. Caravan and motorhome are welcome from 26,000 HUF. (updated Jul 2026) 9 Kentaur Horse Farm (Kentaur Lovaspanzió), Road 45., between 47-48 kilometer, ☏ +3630 732 6207, kentaurpanzio@gmail.com. 16,000 HUF. (updated Jul 2026) === Camping === 10 Indián tábor (El Bronco Horse Farm), Izsák, Matyó dűlő 46, 6070 (turn off Szentimre Street at the EWO gas station; from there, a gravel road leads directly to the ranch), ☏ +36 70 252 9390, info@elbronco.hu. RV camping facilities €20. (updated Jun 2026) == Stay safe == == Connect == == Go next ==