This Northern Great Plain city has grown into a cultural hub with its philharmonic orchestra, theater, and museums. Its significant Roma community adds to the local social fabric.
Nyíregyháza, Hungary's seventh-largest city, lies in the country's northeastern region. You can watch tigers, penguins, and elephants at the Sóstó Zoo, swim in 36°C thermal waters at the Sóstó spa complex, or explore the 18th-century Baroque buildings in the city center. The city's Village Museum preserves traditional Hungarian rural life with its collection of original farmhouses and workshops, while basketball fans can catch a game at the Continental Arena.
Getting to Nyíregyháza
From Budapest, take the M3 motorway for a three-hour drive to Nyíregyháza. International travelers can fly into Debrecen International Airport, located 50 kilometers away, and take a bus or taxi to the city. Trains run regularly between Nyíregyháza and major Hungarian cities. The city's 2x2-lane highway ring road makes driving around the center easy.
Weather and When to Visit
Nyíregyháza has warm summers and cold winters. July temperatures average 21.4°C (70.5°F), while January drops to -1.2°C (29.8°F). Summer brings the most rainfall, making spring and early autumn good times to visit. The city gets about 546 millimeters of precipitation annually, with July being the wettest month. Pack layers for temperature changes between seasons.
Exploring Sóstó District
The Sóstó area's salt lake contains minerals that help with muscle and joint pain. At the Aquarius Spa complex, you can swim in indoor and outdoor pools ranging from 20 to 38°C. The Sóstó Zoo houses over 500 species including tigers, giraffes, and penguins. You can walk through their tropical greenhouse containing plants from Asia, Africa, and South America.
Museums and Cultural Venues
The András Jósa Museum displays Bronze Age tools, weapons, and pottery, along with exhibits about local life through the centuries. At the Village Museum, you can walk through original 19th-century farmhouses, see craftsmen's workshops, and visit a wooden church from the region. The Móricz Zsigmond Theater stages plays and concerts throughout the year, while the Continental Arena hosts Hübner Nyíregyháza BS basketball team's home games.
City Center and Historical Buildings
The downtown area contains Baroque buildings dating to the 1700s, built during Count Ferenc Károlyi's time. In the Jewish Cemetery, the preserved front wall of the Status Quo Synagogue stands as a memorial. The red-brick St. Nicholas Cathedral rises above the main square with twin spires reaching 43 meters high.
Where to Eat
Csülök Csárda serves traditional Hungarian dishes like pork knuckle cooked for six hours and hot goulash soup. At Hableány Restaurant, try local fish dishes including grilled pike-perch and paprika-spiced carp. The cafes around the main square bake rétes (strudel) and kürtőskalács (chimney cake) daily. Local restaurants cook with ingredients from farms in the surrounding Nyírség region.
