In terms of appearance, there are two main variations of this Hungarian breed: the short-haired and the wire-haired . There is also a long-haired Vizsla, but it is not officially recognized. Dogs belonging to the short-haired variety have a short, smooth, and firm coat, 3 to 6 cm long, with or without an undercoat. The hair is a solid dark wheaten or golden yellow, with or without small white spots on the chest or feet. These dogs do shed some loose hair, but their coat requires little maintenance.

Hungarian wirehaired vizslas have short, rough, and wiry coats that are sandy yellow in various shades. The soft, dense, woolly undercoat is lighter in color and protects against all kinds of harsh weather. This variety also has small white spots on the toes or chest. When the wirehaired coat is mature, it can be plucked. At that point, the hairs will grow in clumps in all directions. A wide-toothed brush helps with daily grooming. Terrier brushes are very suitable for this breed, and a wide-toothed comb is ideal for the paws. Grooming these dogs removes all their dead hair in one go.

The Hungarian Vizsla grows to a height of about 52 to 62 cm. Females are generally slightly smaller than males, and the wirehaired variety slightly larger than the shorthaired variety. This breed typically weighs between 22 and 28 kg. Vizslas have a sturdy and muscular appearance, yet elegant. They have a broad skull with a long, square muzzle and medium-length, drooping ears. The eyes are oval and medium-sized, and the color usually blends harmoniously with the coat.