Debrecen

Debrecen is the "capital city of the Great Hungarian Plain", and the county seat and largest city of Hajdú-Bihar County in eastern Hungary. It is the second largest city in the country with over 200,000 inhabitants (2019), and historically the most important city in Hungarian Protestantism.

Understand
They used to say "who in their sane mind would build a city in the middle of nowhere where there are no mountains, forests, water or roads?" Still, the answer is a mystery, but Debrecen is the second (or third, depends on the census) largest city of Hungary.

It used to be Europe's largest Calvinist city (it was called "The Calvinist Rome"), and the Great Church (Nagytemplom) is a reminder of the city's heritage.

Debrecen also has a university with the beautiful main building.

By plane
Debrecen is served by about 4-5 flights a day, from several European cities, most of them flown by the budget airline Wizzair. As of summer 2017, there were the following scheduled flights: Charter flights also come regularly to the airport.
 * London-Luton, Wizzair, 10 times a week;
 * Munich Airport, Lufthansa, 3 times a week;
 * Eindhoven, Wizzair, 3 times a week;
 * Milan-Bergamo, Wizzair, 2 times a week;
 * Paris-Beauvais, Wizzair, 2 times a week;
 * Malmö, Wizzair, 2 times a week;
 * Ben Gurion Airport, Wizzair, 2 times a week.

Getting there: the airport bus takes you to the city centre, train or bus station. Taxi to the city center costs Ft 3000-4000 (2018).

By train
There are regular trains approximately every hour from Budapest Nyugati Station. The duration of the trip is 2½ hours. Check the following site for timetables.

Other possible destinations include Eger (need to change train at least one time, 120 km, Ft 2200, 2½ hr), Karcag (59 km, 7-10 per day, one hour, ~Ft 1200), Nyíregyháza (hourly, Ft 1100, ~1/2 hr), Szerencs (99 km, four direct, mostly change at Nyíregyháza, 67-136 min).

By bus
Buses to Eger (135 km, 7-9 direct per day more with change, 2½ hour), Karcag (direct three more with change, 80 min), Nyíregyháza (53-71 km, five direct, 60-110 min), Szerencs (three hours, all must to change at Tokaj or Miskolc, nine per day).

By car
Debrecen is connected to the national highway system by the motorway M35. From Budapest, follow M3 towards Nyíregyháza and then the M35 (diverge near the 186 km sign). A highway toll applies, and it had to be paid in advance (at most gas stations, price is about Ft 3000 for a regular car for 10 days.) It is about a 2-hour drive. Main road 4 is somewhat shorter, but it is not recommended because it is often overcrowded (hence much slower) and accidents are not uncommon.

By foot
There are many nice streets around, though there are many less attractive ones as well. Try your luck.

Nagyerdő (the Big Forest) is beautiful.

By public transportation
Public transport uses local tickets that cost Ft 440 (or Ft 550 if you buy it on the bus). Don't try to use Budapest tickets; they won't work.

The 'DKV' runs two tram, five trolleybus and sixty bus lines in Debrecen.

The tram carries people to the most frequently visited places. It starts at the railway station, goes along the main street, turns at the Great Church a bit, goes to the Old Forest, the Zoo, Theme Park and Public Bath, then around to meet the universities, and then back. A cheap way to see most of the city is to get a ticket at the train station, get on, and enjoy the trip until you're back where you started.

Bus lines are good, in that you can reach nearby places fast.

By taxi
There are three main taxi companies in the city: Bolt taxi City Taxi Debrecen and Főnix Taxi, both have mobile apps.

By car
Roads are okay. The city is small enough though that you could easily get around by foot or by public transportation.

See
The Nagytemplom is a must see and easily accessible. As for museums, the Déri Museum is definitely worth a trip, but all the others really depend on how much Hungarian art interests you. Most of the major attractions are in the city park, or Nagyerdő, where you could easily spend a pleasant afternoon.

Do

 * Football: Debreceni VSC play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their home ground Nagyerdei Stadion (capacity 20,340) is in Nagyerdő Park 2 km north of city centre.
 * Football: Debreceni VSC play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their home ground Nagyerdei Stadion (capacity 20,340) is in Nagyerdő Park 2 km north of city centre.
 * Football: Debreceni VSC play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their home ground Nagyerdei Stadion (capacity 20,340) is in Nagyerdő Park 2 km north of city centre.

Banks
Exchanging money can be cheaper here than in Budapest.

Eat
There are lots of nice cafes near the Great Church.

Drink

 * Around (old fish market), near the main square, you can find good places.
 * Around (old fish market), near the main square, you can find good places.
 * Around (old fish market), near the main square, you can find good places.
 * Around (old fish market), near the main square, you can find good places.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, Debrecen has 5G from Telecom, and 4G from DiGi, Telenor and Vodafone. WiFi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Eger &mdash; best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings (including the northernmost Turkish minaret), dishes and red wines.
 * Hortobágy &mdash; excellent for a day trip. This is an 800 km² national park in Eastern Hungary, rich with folklore and cultural history. The park, a part of the Alföld (Great Plain), was designated as a national park in 1973 (the first in Hungary), and elected among the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1999. The Hortobágy is Hungary's largest protected area, and the largest semi-natural grassland in Europe. It used to be believed that this alkaline steppe was formed by the clear cutting of huge forests in the Middle Ages, followed by measures to control the course of the Tisza River, allegedly resulting in the soil's current structure and pH. However, Hortobágy is much older, with alkalinization estimated to have started ten thousand years ago, when the Tisza first found its way through the Great Hungarian Plain, cutting off many streams from their sources in the Northern Mountains. The formation was finished by grazing animals, mastodons, and wild horses during the Ice Age, followed by domesticated animals. The Nine-holed Bridge is a popular site. Traditional T-shaped sweep wells dot the landscape, as do the occasional mirage of trees shimmering in the reflected heat of the Puszta.
 * Nyíregyháza &mdash; a smaller city with several parks and squares and the water resort of Sóstó.
 * Oradea, Romania
 * Szerencs - famous all around Hungary for its chocolate and medieval castle
 * Szerencs - famous all around Hungary for its chocolate and medieval castle