Nyíregyháza

Some of the most popular attractions can be found north of the city in the suburb of Sóstó. The city is mostly looked over by American and British tourists, though often visited by Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, and certainly Hungarian visitors.

• Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +36 42 310-735
  address: Kossuth tér 1.

• Tourinform Sóstó Thermal Bath

  phone: +36 42 411-193
  address: Nyíregyháza-Sóstó Thermal Bath, Water Tower,Sóstói road ~75

By bus

• Bus Station

  phone: +36 42 598177
  address: Petőfi tér
  More direct lines:Eger (2-3 per day), Fehérgyarmat (four per day), Kisvárda (four per day, 1hr 25min), Mátészalka (every half hour until ~19:00, 1½h), Miskolc (2-3 per day), Nyírbátor (16+ per day), Sárospatak (one morning, one afternoon), Tokaj (one morning, one afternoon), Vásárosnamény (16+ per day, 1hr 18min). Tiszafüred (Tisza Lake) via Debrecen (four per day).

By train

• Train StationDirect international service to Kiev, Lviv, and Moscow. - Trains leave from both the Budapest Nyugati and Keleti stations (hourly, Ft 5200, 2nd cl., three hours ). With InterCity You will have to pay an additional fee for your seat reservation (automatically issued at the ticket counter), but the limited seats may disappear quickly, especially on weekends when many students are travelling to and from the capital. InterCity trains run either through Debrecen (hourly, Ft 1100, ~30min) or Miskolc (hourly until 23:00, ~Ft 1900, 1 hour). Szolnok (hourly until 23:00, ~Ft 3700, 2 hours). Mátészalka: there are a couple of direct trains, but buses better (prices 2nd cl., IC, 2014). Timetable

If you choose not to take an InterCity to Budapest, the journey will last closer to 4 hours as the train makes more stops. The train also will likely be less clean and less comfortable.

By car

M3 motorway connects Nyíregyháza directly to Budapest. Otherwise from Polgár take route #36. From Miskolc take #37 to #38. From Debrecen take route #4.

The train station is located about 15-20 minute walk outside of the town center. Szabolcs Volán runs bus service throughout the city and to small villages in the region as well. Nearly all the buses from the train station (except #6 and #16) run through the city center. If going to Sóstó, Bus #8 (but not #8A) leaves from the train station and town center.
All tickets can be bought from any newspaper kiosk or from the driver at an additional cost.

The city is mostly devoid of must-see attractions, though you can take many pleasant walks with the squares and parks or see an exhibit or two. You will most likely want to spend most of your time in Sóstó to see the excellent Open Air Museum and the lake.

Museums, galleries, and collections

• Open Air Museum of Sóstó

  phone: +36 42 500552
  address: Nyíregyháza-Sóstó, Tölgyes utca 1
  It wonderfully preserves the architecture and customs of rural life in the region from a hundred years ago. The museum also often holds festivals and events where visitors can step back in time and experience life the way it used to be.

• Jósa András Museum

  address: Benczúr tér 21
  The city's main museum and houses several permanent exhibits and occasional temporary ones. The permanent collection includes exhibits on local painter Gyula Benczúr, the life and works of local author Gyula Krúdy, the life of the museum founder Jósa András, the history of Nyíregyháza until World War I, the Hungarian calvary or huszárs, and the history of money.

• Greek Catholic Art Collection

  address: Bethlen Gábor utca 5
  Artistic relics of the Hungarian Greek Catholic church dating back as far as the 16th century.

• Water Supply Historical Collection of the Upper-Tiszanian Region

  address: Móricz Zsigmond utca 48
  The collection contains items, photos, and portraits relating to water engineering in the county for the past 100 years.

• Kállay Collection

  address: Széchenyi utca 1
  Items relating to and owned by former prime minister Miklós Kállay.

Places of Worship

Nyíregyháza has long been a city of religious diversity and five different religions are represented in the downtown.

• Greek Catholic Church

  address: Bethlen Gábor u, 7

• Roman Catholic Temple

  address: Kossuth tér, 4

• Reform Church

  phone: +36 42 507048
  address: Kálvin tér

• Lutheran Church

  phone: +36 42 508770
  address: Luther str., 1

• Orthodox Synagogue

  address: Sip u
  This synagogue is no longer used, though it has been restored and can be visited.

Nyírség Autumn and Fruit Carnival (Nyírségi Ősz- és Gyümölcskarnevál). September is the best time to visit the city as the first weekend kicks off the Autumn and Fruit Carnival. Parade floats are made entirely out of fruits grown in the region. Besides the parades, free concerts are held in Kossuth square.

• Nyíregyházi ZooConsidered one of the best zoos in the country behind the zoo in Budapest. The zoo has a wide variety of animals from all the regions of the world, including Africa (lions, giraffes, elephants), North America (buffalo, cougars, raccoons), and the polar regions (polar bears, penguins).

• Móricz Zsigmond town theater

  address: Bessenyei tér 13
  Plays are frequently performed here in Hungarian.

• City stadium

  address: Sóstói út 24/a.
  Nyíregyháza Spartacus is the local soccer team nicknamed "Szpari." They play here. The team plays in the NB I, Hungary's top professional league.
• Hungarian Palinka Tasting (Zsindelyes pálinkakóstolás) Pamper your taste buds with a wide selection of different Premium Pálinkas, by Zsindelyes.

Bath houses

Thanks mostly to Sóstó (which is Hungarian for "Salt Lake"), Nyíregyháza has many opportunities to spend time in the water, for recreation or health.

• Aquapark

  phone: +36 42 596860
  address: Sóstói út
  A waterpark that is divided into three "worlds": thermal world, which is like a traditional bathhouse; fun world, which has slides and wave pools; and children's world, designed for little children.

• Park baths

  phone: +36 42 475736, +36 42 500-106
  address: Bernát u. 1-3 / Sóstói út 66
  A small waterpark with 7 pools, a giant slide, a mini-golf course, and nudist bathing (only on the female side).

• Sóstó bathhouse and hotel

  phone: +36 42 411191
  address: Nyíregyháza - Sóstógyógyfürdő, Sóstói út 75?
  2 mineral pools ideal for relaxing in, a jacuzzi, and a sauna. The most expensive of all the places in town as tickets start at Ft 1990 for an adult day ticket.

• Lakeside baths

  phone: +36 42 500 106
  address: Tófürdő, Blaha Lujza sétány 1
  Your only chance to swim in the lake. Only open from July to August.

• Júlia Bath

  phone: +36 42 504-030
  address: Malom u. 19
  The only bathhouse in Nyíregyháza. It is cheaper than the ones in Sóstó, and as such tends to be a bit more crowded. As a plus, there is a large pool specifically for swimming and not just sitting, as well as a warm thermal pool outdoors. The steam room is included in the admission, but you have to pay extra to use the sauna.

• MarketFor some fresh food.

• Flea MarketThe real show is this: hundreds of stalls selling all sorts of items, mostly of Chinese origin. This market is often frequented by Ukrainians and Romanians, which only adds the adventure.

• Nyír Plaza

  address: Szegfű u. 75
  A small shopping mall and contains various shops, a food court, a bowling alley, and a multiplex movie theater.

• Renomé

  phone: +36 (42) 410 437
  address: Szent István u. 4.
  Stationery and other office supplies.

• Flower Factory

  phone: +36 30 337 5577
  address: Hősök tere 15.
  Shop for fresh roses, carnations and other flowers.

As with all of Hungary, expect to find lots of places to eat a gyros. However, in the Nyíregyháza region you shouldn't expect the gyros to be served in a pita. It is always served inside a large hot dog bun with chicken meat.

• Anno 1366 restaurant

  address: Damjanich utca 6
  A medieval times-themed restaurant with a good variety of old-style Hungarian food. As a bonus, many foods are served to you on a sword.

• Royal Restaurant

  address: Zrínyi Ilona utca 1
  They serve a large variety of pizza and pasta, but be warned: Ketchup is frequently substituted for tomato sauce.

• John Bull Pub on Dózsa György u. 1., across the street from City Hall has a fantastic selection of Hungarian food and beer. Surprisingly, locals rarely come here and the restaurant is mostly frequented by foreign businessmen.

Youth hostel

• Kis Vakond Children - and Youth Camp

  phone: +36 42 443526, +36 42 440179, +36 42 784075
  address: Nyíregyháza-Sóstógyógyfürdő, Szódaház u. 4-6.
  A peaceful environment, near to the forest, at the lake. Suggested for entertainment and sport, Services: suitable for disabled people, garden, children's playground, children's supervision, board games, conference facilities, Table Tennis, Games, BBQ Facilities. Two quadruple rooms, nine multiple bed rooms. Mobile: +3630/3228638 and +36 30 3228638.

Hotels

• Hotel Barbizon

  phone: +36 42 475731
  address: Szódaház u. 14.
  Near the forest. Services: Banquet, garden, music bar, room service, catering, massage, babysitting/child services, children's Supervisory, open private parking in the yard, room-service, 24-hour reception, site suitable for conferences, sat TV in room.

• Bessenyei Hotel

  phone: +36 42 599400, +36 30 8362-110, +36 42 599-427
  address: Sóstói út 31/B.
  Air-conditioned rooms: 40 x 2 bed, 2 x 3-bed and 8 for handicapped guest.

• Hotel Dzsungel

  phone: +36 42 479710, +36 20 3626717
  address: Nyíregyháza - Sóstógyógyfürdő, Blaha Lujza stny. 41.
  16 rooms and 2 suites, all rooms with shower or bath, +36 20 3626717.

• Hotel Furdohaz

  phone: +36 42 411191
  address: Nyíregyháza-Sóstógyógyfürdő, Sóstói út 75.

• Korona Hotel

  phone: +36 42 409-300
  address: Dózsa György utca 1
  In the centre of the city, it became famous among tourists aiming to visit the eastern part of the country, and among internal and foreign businessmen. 35 air-conditioned rooms. Mobile: +36 20-2189667.

• Hotel Pagony

  phone: +36 42 501210
  address: Ilonatanya 15
  Rooms: Four singles, 18 + 46 double rooms, four apartments and four suites.

• Ozoon Hotel

  phone: +36 42 402 001
  address: Csaló köz 2.
  Features a children's playground and the price includes unlimited free entry to the Nyíregyháza Zoo.

• Pangea Hotel

  phone: +36 42 200 551
  address: 4431 Nyíregyháza, Blaha Lujza stny. 15
  Next to Sosto Lake and on the edge of Nyiregyhaza’s Zoo.

• Zsindelyes Cottage

  phone: +36 30 279 1726
  address: 4245 Érpatak, Zsindelyes tanya 3

• Balmazújváros - A few daily buses, more trains all via Debrecen (~Ft 1500, 1-2½ hours depend of connections. Local History Museum, Peter Veres Memorial Exhibition, Semsey Palace.
• Debrecen (Take an IC train, hourly, Ft 1100, ~30min) — the second largest city in the country

• EgerEger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings (including the northernmost Turkish minaret), dishes and red wines.

• Lake Tisza

  address: Tiszafüred
  Hungarians began to flock to the site for holidays, since it compared favorably with the crowded and expensive Lake Balaton, the traditional holiday site. The lake (or reservoir) has a new local ecology with a diversity of birds, plants, and animals.

• Hajdúszoboszló- a very nice bath city, also excellent for a day trip.

• Mátészalka (Buses, every half hour until ~19:'00, 1:30 h, also a few direct train), — a small town famous for it's early 20th century Jewish history and it's vibrant flea-market in modern times
• Miskolc (IC trains, hourly until 23:00, ~HUF1900, one hour, 2014),- the third largest city in Hungary located near the Bükk hills.
• Szolnok (Take an IC train, hourly until 23:00, ~HUF3700, two hours), - A small city on the banks of the Tisza river
• Tokaj (Buses, one morning, one afternoon, ~ an hour) - Hungary's most famous wine region.