National park · Hungary
Danube-Drava National ParkDuna-Dráva Nemzeti Park
Enter Danube-Drava NP: pay the entry fee (check), hike the Gemenci loop (≈3 km (1.9 mi), easy) in spring–early autumn; avoid midsummer heat and flood season.Enter Danube-Drava NP: pay the entry fee (check), hike the Gemenci loop (≈1.9 mi (3 km), easy) in spring–early autumn; avoid midsummer heat and flood season.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
490 km² (189 sq mi)189 sq mi (490 km²)
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Mar–May
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Hungary ↗Hungary is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Hungary ↗The currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF), not the euro: decline dynamic currency conversion at cards and ATMs.
- Hungary ↗Motorways need an electronic vignette (e-matrica) bought before you drive on them.
At a glance
- Country
- Hungary
- Area
- 490 km² (189 sq mi)189 sq mi (490 km²)
- Current area is 490 km² as of 2026 (official park data).
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Mar–May
- Permits
- For some areas
Danube-Drava National Park protects extensive floodplain wetlands, oxbow lakes and riparian woodlands in Tolna County, offering birdwatching, beaver and otter habitats, and easy forest trails like the Gemenci loop.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland190 km² (73 sq mi) of Ramsar wetlands73 sq mi (190 km²) of Ramsar wetlands
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · 2021Core zone of the Mura‑Drava‑Danube transboundary biosphere reserve
Size and age
490 km² (189 sq mi)189 sq mi (490 km²) · national park since 1996
Current area is 490 km² as of 2026 (official park data).
Why go
- Large floodplain wetlands with rare birds and mammals.
- Extensive network of oxbow lakes and riparian woodlands.
- Part of a UNESCO trans‑boundary biosphere reserve.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCold but dry; trails clear.
- FebCold; water levels low.
- MarSpring melt, wildlife active.
- AprMild, birds nesting.
- MayWarm, water levels rising.
- JunHeat, possible floods.
- JulHigh flood risk.
- AugPeak flood season.
- SepFloods recede, cooler.
- OctAutumn colors, lower water.
- NovCold, dry.
- DecCold, quiet.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White‑tailed eagleMar–Oct · High density in the floodplain. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Eurasian beaverAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Ship sturgeonMay–Sep · Endangered, seen in Danube channels. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Budapest
Train to Paks or Dunaújváros, then bus or car to park entrances.
2–3 h
Open the page →
From Baja
Local bus or car north along the Danube to park access points.
30–45 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Gemenci forest area | Main visitor centre, trailheads, information board. | Open year‑round, fee at gate. |
| Drava floodplain | Wetland trails, bird‑watching hides. | Guided walks recommended. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from official park website; approximate for trailheads.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Check official site for current fee. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Pets
- Dogs allowed on leashes only on marked trails.
- Camping
- Only in designated campgrounds; wild camping prohibited.
- Fire
- Open fires not allowed; use designated barbecue areas.
Where to stay
Near the park
Baja
Hotels and guesthouses 20 km (12 mi) north of park.Hotels and guesthouses 12 mi (20 km) north of park.
Near the park
Mohács
Budget hotels and B&Bs 15 km (9.3 mi) east of park.Budget hotels and B&Bs 9.3 mi (15 km) east of park.
Safety
Flooding high
Heat medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor centre and short loops are wheelchair‑accessible.
- Longer wetland trails have uneven ground; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in locally owned accommodation.
- Buy food from park‑area vendors.
- Follow waste‑carry‑out rules.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Danube-Drava National Park?
Check the park’s official website for the current entry fee; a small per‑person charge is typical.
What are the best hikes in Danube-Drava National Park?
The Gemenci loop (≈3 km, easy) and the Drava floodplain walk (≈5 km, moderate) are popular and well marked.
When is the best time to visit Danube-Drava National Park?
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer mild weather and good wildlife viewing while avoiding flood peaks.
Can I see beavers and otters in the park?
Yes, especially along river banks in early morning; they are common year‑round.
Is camping allowed in the park?
Only in designated campgrounds; wild camping is prohibited.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Danube-Drava National Park
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