Sosto Zoo, Nyiregyhaza

The zoo at Sosto, on the edge of Nyiregyhaza, was laid out inside an existing oak forest, and the trees are still standing between the enclosures. That gives it a different feel from city zoos built on cleared ground: paths run under canopy, and many enclosures are large wooded pens rather than pits or cages. The collection is one of the biggest in Hungary and covers most continents, with themed sections that group animals by region. Indoor attractions include a tropical building and an ocean section with an underwater viewing tunnel, both useful in bad weather. It takes several hours to walk properly, and the wooded layout means you cover real distance between sections.

What you actually see

• Forest enclosures - large wooded pens under standing oak, with paths through the canopy.
• The tropical house - an indoor rainforest building with plants, birds and reptiles.
• The ocean section - underwater viewing including a walk-through tunnel.
• Regional themed areas - sections grouping animals and planting by continent.

When to go

April to June and September are the most comfortable, with animals active and the forest shading the paths. Summer weekends and Hungarian school holidays are busy. Winter opening is shorter and much of the outdoor collection is off view, leaving the indoor houses crowded. Arriving at opening gives the best chance of seeing animals before the heat and noise build.

Honest expectations

It is a long way from Budapest, roughly three hours by train, so it is a destination rather than a stop. The site is big and the walking is real, which tires young children before the end. Forest paths turn muddy after rain. Indoor sections get packed on cold or wet days. Signage in English is patchy outside the main attractions.

Nearby

The Sosto open-air museum and the district's own bath complex are within walking distance.