Set off well equipped: Unique habitats await, such as the broad reed bed of Lake Neusiedl, salt pans that periodically dry up, small sandy habitats, hay meadows, and pastures. This is a border region not just in the political sense: The national park is also a border area between the Alps and the Hungarian lowlands for animals and plants. There are species that are native to both Alpine, Asian, and Mediterranean areas.
The variety of bird species is unique throughout the year, because the national park is a popular stopover, widely used as a rest stop for birds migrating between Europe and Africa. The land is divided up in an interesting way: Around half is a purely natural area that is not used, while the so-called conservation zones are largely a cultural landscape. In these areas, old, endangered domestic animal breeds are successfully being preserved. So you might encounter a water buffalo, Hungarian gray cattle, or white donkeys.
This is only one reason why visitors keep coming back to the national park. Excursions have different themes depending on the season, so there is always something new to discover. For example, you can set off from Illmitz, hike along paved paths, and climb observation platforms in around three hours, including an old, disused Hungarian watchtower at Sandeck. Or you can explore the lakes between Podersdorf and Illmitz, such as Zicklacke.
Ready to visit this sunny paradise?