Debrecen Mini Guide
About The City
Debrecen is the 2nd largest city in Hungary and stands 220km east of the capital
Budapest. It is situated in Eastern Hungary between the border to Romania and the River Tisza. With it’s proximity to the
Ukraine and Romania, Debrecen is an important city as a trade centre and transportation hub, for the region.
How do I Get There?
Although Debrecen has its own airport, most flights into Hungary still land at
Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport. Now, with the new M35 highway, you can travel between Budapest and Debrecen in just under 2 hours. You can also use the rail service between the two cities – the direct service runs hourly and takes approximately 2 ½ hours. In Debrecen, you can explore the city and surrounds by using the local buses, trams and trolley buses.
What Sort of Things Can I See?
Hortobagy National Park is 25 minutes from the city, where you can learn about the traditional way of life, animal husbandry and folk art. During World War II, much of Debrecen city was destroyed, however, the Csokonai Theatre, the Great Church and Aranybika Hotel are worth a visit. The Deri Museum has an interesting collection of Egyptian artefacts and also has an art gallery.
I Want to Shop - Where Can I Spend my Money?
In Debrecen there are lots of opportunities to shop, whether you want to find a bargain in the major shopping malls or browse in the backstreet shops for something a little different. If the shopping gets a little too much, you can enjoy the thermal spa in Nagyerdo, known as the lung of the city.
What Can I Eat and Drink?
You could try the local speciality ‘slambuc’, a goulash made with mutton, paprika and pasta and served with traditional plum liquer. The area is famous for its spicy sausage, spare rib soup, Hortobagy pancakes and stuffed cabbage. The local dry wines from Alfold are perfectly paired with these dishes.
Any Special Events to See?
The ‘Flower Carnival’ is held on the 20th August, every year in Debrecen. It started in 1900, when a local bicycle club, dressed their bicycles with flowers. Now it is a spectacular parade with dancing, cars decorated with flowers and fireworks.