Discover Barcs: Nature, the Dráva and Thermal Baths

Barcs combines nature, activities on the Dráva, thermal baths and culture. When planning your stay, you can choose from a range of interests: nature trails and wetlands, cycling and water routes, swimming or exhibitions. Distances, seasonal schedules and themes provide specific points of reference for planning your day.

Natural Areas and Nature Trails

Barcsi Borókás is a landscape in southern Inner Somogy shaped by meadows, ponds and marshy meadows. Peat forests developed there in standing water. The royal fern also grows here; within the Carpathian Basin, it is found only here.

The Borókás Nature Trail in Barcsi borókás is five kilometres long and has three stations. They introduce the characteristic flora and fauna of the sandy puszta of Inner Somogy. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

A shorter option is the approximately three-kilometre Üde-rétek Nature Trail: it starts at the Dráva Kapu Visitor Centre in Drávaszentes and ends at a birdwatching tower in a wetland. The visitor centre presents the natural and cultural-historical values of the protected areas along the Dráva, and offers programmes, talks and guided tours. The trails therefore differ in both length and subject matter, as well as in their endpoints.

The Dráva, Cycling and Outdoor Activities

The paved Barcs–Drávatamási cycle path is nine kilometres long and 2.3 metres wide; there is a rest area along the route. As surfaces and facilities may change through maintenance, it is worth checking current conditions before setting out. Barcs is also the central location on the 230-kilometre Hungarian section of the “Három folyó Nemzetközi Kerékpártúra” (Three Rivers International Cycling Tour).

The stretch of the Dráva between river kilometres 149 and 162 is suitable for water sports. Be sure to follow the applicable river and nature conservation rules. The renovated harbour in Barcs is the starting point for numerous water tours on the Dráva. Organised Dráva water tours run from mid-March to mid-September. Seasonal schedules and arrangements may change, so check dates and availability before travelling.

One-day walking and cycling tours in the area around Barcs, within Duna-Dráva National Park, are offered year-round. Equipment and trained tour leaders are available for these tours. In terms of both activity and schedule, they differ from the organised water tours, which run only during a specific season.

Thermal Baths and Swimming Area

Barcsi Gyógyfürdő is open year-round and has six indoor pools and one outdoor pool. Three additional seasonal pools are available in summer; check their current availability before visiting. The sodium bicarbonate water is 55°C and rises to the surface from a depth of 1,317 metres. It is particularly suitable for treating musculoskeletal conditions and inflammation.

Drávai szabadstrand is a designated open-water bathing area. It is the only designated bathing area of this kind on the Hungarian section of the Dráva. The park-like grounds offer opportunities for sports, cooking and camping. Check bathing conditions and seasonal opening before your visit. The open-water bathing area and the thermal baths, with their indoor and outdoor pools, thus offer different ways to swim.

Museum and Culture

The Dráva Museum collects ethnographic and historical material from Barcs, the Dráva region and the municipalities of the former Barcs district. It has permanent and temporary exhibitions; the temporary displays may change. The collection therefore links the history of the town with the wider region.

In addition to its religious role, the Roman Catholic church in Barcs is increasingly used as a venue for secular events and concerts. The programme of events may vary. The museum and church thus offer different cultural experiences: exhibitions and collections on the one hand, and events and concerts on the other.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Drávatamási, Tótújfalu, Csokonyavisonta.

Back to the main travel overview: Barcsi.