Nicknamed the “Calvinist Rome,” Debrecen is Hungary’s second largest city and the cultural heart of the Great Plain region. Located on the east side of the country, Debrecen charms visitors with its lively universities, beautiful historic buildings, and proximity to the Hortobágy grasslands.

#	Activity	Description
1	Explore Debrecen’s Vibrant Pedestrian Zone	Enjoy strolling, shopping, and dining in Debrecen’s main street with early 20th-century buildings.
2	Visit the Déri Museum	Explore Debrecen’s culture and history through medieval to 19th-century exhibits.
3	Relax at Aquaticum Debrecen Thermal Baths	Unwind in thermal baths linked to natural hot springs, offering various wellness treatments.
4	Tour the Great Church	Visit Hungary’s largest Protestant church, a symbol of Calvinism, with a rich history.
5	Cycle Through Békás Lake Park	Enjoy cycling, jogging, or strolling in this expansive park with a central lake.
6	Learn About Hungarian Art at the MODEM	Visit this modern art museum showcasing Hungarian avant-garde and postmodern art.
7	Relive History at the Wooden Church	Discover the Oak Church, a rare type of small wooden church on the plains.
8	Explore Debrecen’s University Culture	Experience the youthful energy of Debrecen’s university campuses and join student café crawls.
9	Visit the Déri Museum’s Agricultural Exhibition	Explore historic agricultural buildings and machines depicting traditional rural Magyar life.
10	Take a Day Trip to Hortobágy National Park	Experience Hungary’s pastoral traditions and wildlife in this iconic national park.
11	Enjoy a Concert at Kodály Philharmonic	Attend performances by the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra in this renowned concert hall.
12	Take a Cooking Class	Learn to cook Hungarian cuisine and understand its regional influences.
13	Try Debrecen’s Thermal Water Spas	Soak in therapeutic thermal waters and enjoy holistic spa treatments.
14	Attend the Flower Carnival	Experience Hungary’s largest flower festival with floral floats, folk dancers, and food stalls.
15	Taste Hungary’s Wines at a Sommelier Evening	Sample regional wines and learn about Hungarian varietals at a sommelier-led wine tasting.

In 2024, Debrecen continues to be an inviting destination in eastern Hungary thanks to its wealth of museums, thermal baths, architectural marvels, and reputation for welcoming hospitality. From strolling through chilled parks to experiencing Hungary’s rural traditions, here are the top 15 things to do in Debrecen, Hungary in 2024:

Explore Debrecen’s Vibrant Pedestrian Zone

Name and Location: Debrecen Pedestrian Zone, city center

History and Significance: The Pedestrian Zone in central Debrecen features vibrant shopping streets closed to traffic, lined with restaurants, cafes, street performers, flower stalls, and historic architecture.

What to Expect: Visitors can stroll down the car-free streets to shop, dine at sidewalk cafes, see street musicians, people-watch, and admire landmarks like the Great Church.

Visitor Information: The main streets are open to pedestrians only. The zone comes alive on weekends and summer evenings when locals come to dine and socialize.

The focal point of the city is Debrecen’s long pedestrians-only main street, Nagyerdei út and Piac utca. Stroll past boutiques, restaurants, and cafés housed in ornate early 20th century buildings painted in warm pastel shades.

Stop for iced coffee on a terrace, browse upscale shops, or simply soak up the liveliness along this convenient artery that buzzes with activity. People watching here provides a great taste of urban life in Debrecen.

Visit the Déri Museum

Name and Location: Déri Museum, Déri tér 1, Debrecen

History and Significance: Founded in 1883, this city museum displays extensive exhibits on Debrecen’s history and culture in a monumental neoclassical building. Exhibits include artifacts, costumes, art, and recreated rooms.

What to Expect: Visitors can explore permanent and temporary exhibits on regional archeology, folklife, fine art, furniture,PHOTO excerpts from old newspapers, and more. Guided tours are available.

Visitor Information: The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Entry tickets cost 1,800 HUF.

One of Hungary’s best regional museums, the Déri Museum, named after its founder, provides an excellent overview of Debrecen’s culture and history. Wander through exhibits ranging from medieval artifacts to 19th-century furnishings recreating ornate parlors and workshops.

Don’t miss the wealthy Debrecen merchant culture showcased here, including unique ceremonial clothing. At the Déri Museum, Debrecen’s past vividly comes alive.

Relax at Aquaticum Debrecen Thermal Baths

Name and Location: Aquaticum Debrecen Thermal Baths, Nagyerdei Park 1, Debrecen

History and Significance: Opened in 1979, Aquaticum features indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, spa treatments, and water slides fed by Debrecen’s natural thermal springs.

What to Expect: Visitors can relax in the hot springs pools, enjoy massages and aquatherapy, go tubing and water sliding. Thermal bathing is popular year-round.

Visitor Information: Aquaticum is open daily 8am-8pm. Entry tickets start at 4,900 HUF. Book massages and treatments in advance.

After exploring the city, soak any tired muscles in the warm mineral waters of the Aquaticum Thermal Baths. Linked to Debrecen’s natural hot springs, this modern complex has over a dozen indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzis, saunas, and wellness treatments.

Lounge in the Zen garden sipping mineral water or try the refreshing ice chamber. Aquaticum is the ultimate spot to unwind during your visit.

Tour the Great Church

Name and Location: Great Church, Kálvin tér, Debrecen

History and Significance: The oldest building in Debrecen, Great Church was built in the early 16th century in Gothic style as a Catholic church, then became Calvinist after the Reformation.

What to Expect: Visitors can see the soaring interior, ornate organ, frescoes and take in panoramic views from the top of the church’s massive tower.

Visitor Information: The church is open daily 10am-4pm. Entry to the tower costs 600 HUF. Modest dress required.

Towering over main square is Debrecen’s most iconic site, the whitewashed Great Church. As Hungary’s largest Protestant church and a powerful symbol of the country’s Calvinism, the Great Church merits a tour.

Learn about its history from medieval Catholic origins to becoming fully Calvinist after the Reformation. Don’t miss the Rákóczi bell cast from cannons used in Hungary’s fight for independence.

Cycle Through Békás Lake Park

Name and Location: Békás Lake Park, Debrecen

History and Significance: These scenic lakes just west of Debrecen’s center have been used for recreation for over a century. Walking trails, activities and wildlife viewing make it a popular green space.

What to Expect: Visitors can rent small boats, ride bikes around the lake, walk nature trails, visit a small zoo, play mini golf and enjoy city skyline views from Cafe Békás.

Visitor Information: The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Entry is free. Bike rentals and boat rentals are available seasonally for fees.

Expansive Békás Lake Park on Debrecen’s north side spans over 230 acres and makes a wonderful spot for leisurely cycling, jogging, or strolling. Pedal past athletic fields, playgrounds, and shaded walking paths that encircle the large central lake.

Stop for a swim during summer or visit in late April when the park’s thousands of lilac shrubs burst into bloom. Enjoying this idyllic green space is a favorite local pastime.

Learn About Hungarian Art at the MODEM

Name and Location: MODEM Modern and Contemporary Art Center, Baltazár Dezső tér 1, Debrecen

History and Significance: Opened in 2013, MODEM hosts modern and contemporary art exhibits from Hungarian and international artists in a sleek contemporary building.

What to Expect: Visitors can view painting, sculpture, video, installation and new media art in the gallery’s rotating exhibitions and permanent collection focused on post-1960 creations.

Visitor Information: MODEM is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Entry tickets cost 1,200 HUF.

While not large, the MODEM contemporary art museum packs a lot into its light-filled galleries. See radically experimental works by 20th-century Hungarian avant-garde artists like László Moholy-Nagy. Exhibits also feature postmodern art, pop-art, and socialist realism, providing a look at Hungary’s varied creative landscape.

Don’t miss the building’s striking modernist architecture itself, clad in glass and oxidized copper.

Relive History at the Wooden Church

Name and Location: Reformed Wooden Church, Kossuth Lajos utca 35, Debrecen

History and Significance: Built in 1805, this is the oldest wooden church in Debrecen and one of few surviving Hungarian examples of vernacular religious architecture.

What to Expect: Visitors admire the church’s wooden shingled exterior, simple whitewashed interior with hanging pulpit, and artifacts like bibles and bells.

Visitor Information: The church is open to visit Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm. Entry is 600 HUF. Modest dress required.

A fascinating piece of ecclesial history sits just outside the center in Debrecen’s old village. Here you’ll find the Oak Church, a rare type of small wooden churches once common on the plains but now largely vanished.

Dating from 1805, this little church gives you a glimpse into rural Hungary’s simple traditional life of the past. Its age and wooden construction make it well worth the quick trip.

Explore Debrecen’s University Culture

Name and Location: University of Debrecen campuses

History and Significance: Founded in 1538, the University of Debrecen is Hungary’s largest university with over 30,000 students spread across campuses in the city.

What to Expect: Visitors can tour historic campus buildings, see students going to class, visit on-campus museums and libraries, shop for university logo gear, and absorb the academic environment.

Visitor Information: Campuses are open to the public. Guided tours can be arranged through the university visitor center.

With over 30,000 students at universities, Debrecen buzzes with youthful energy. The main campus of the University of Debrecen is a pretty park-like setting to walk through, with academic buildings that date back to the early 20th century.

Don’t miss the impressive main library, topped with a giant stained-glass dome. For a fun outing, join a student café or pub crawl and soak up Debrecen’s lively college town vibe.

Visit the Déri Museum’s Agricultural Exhibition

Name and Location: Déri Museum Agricultural Exhibition, Déri tér 1, Debrecen

History and Significance: This section of the Déri Museum recreates a historic Hungarian farmstead to showcase traditional tools, customs, architecture, crops, food, and animals.

What to Expect: Walking through the outdoor and indoor exhibits, visitors see tools, machinery, staff in costume, herb gardens, orchards, livestock, and folk art.

Visitor Information: The agricultural exhibit is included with regular Déri Museum entry tickets, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm.

After seeing Debrecen’s urban history, head to Déri Museum’s outdoor area across the road to explore its farming exhibits. Wander through the sprawling parklike setting to see over 400 historic agricultural buildings and machines that recreate traditional rural Magyar life.

See windmills and watermills, grape press houses from winemaking villages, cow herdsman’s cottages, and more. You’ll gain great insight into the agriculture heritage of the Great Plain region here.

Take a Day Trip to Hortobágy National Park

Name and Location: Hortobágy National Park

History and Significance: Located about 60km west of Debrecen, Hortobágy is Hungary’s first national park, known for it expansive grasslands, grazing animals, and traditional herding culture.

What to Expect: Visitors can take guided tours to see grazing cattle and horses, traditional csárda farms, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, walk nature trails, and visit the outdoor museum.

Visitor Information: Organized day trips to Hortobágy can be arranged from Debrecen. Individual transport and tours available. Entry fees apply.

Get a taste of Hungary’s wild puszta plains by taking a day trip from Debrecen 60km east to Hortobágy National Park. This landscape preserves Hungary’s pastoral traditions, with cattle herds, shepherds, and csikós cowboys.

See the famous Nine-Holed Bridge, traditional puszta villages, and stop for langos savory fried bread. Visiting these grasslands allows you to vividly imagine life on the plains centuries ago.

Enjoy a Concert at Kodály Philharmonic

Name and Location: Kodály Philharmonic, Nagyerdei Park 1, Debrecen

History and Significance: Home to the Debrecen Symphony Orchestra, the Kodály Philharmonic hall hosts regular performances of classical, opera, choral, ballet, and contemporary music.

What to Expect: Guests can attend concerts in a modern concert hall known for fantastic acoustics. The season runs September to June.

Visitor Information: Schedules and ticket info can be found on their website. Prices vary by concert type. Guided tours available.

Music lovers shouldn’t miss seeing a performance at Kodály Philharmonic Concert Hall, home to the excellent Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra. Named after the famous Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály, who was born in Kodály, the venue hosts orchestral and choral concerts in an ornate setting.

This is one of Hungary’s top classical music venues outside Budapest, perfect for an inspiring evening of music. Check the calendar to see what’s on during your Debrecen visit.

Take a Cooking Class

Name and Location: Cooking classes in Debrecen

History and Significance: Debrecen offers hands-on cooking classes teaching participants to prepare traditional Hungarian dishes like goulash, rétes pastries, cabbage rolls, and more.

What to Expect: Typical classes run 2-3 hours, during which you’ll learn about ingredients, watch demonstrations, then practice making dishes yourself. The classes conclude with eating the Hungarian meal.

Visitor Information: Classes generally cost 40-60 EUR per person. Book through tour companies, hotels, or sites like CookEatHungary.

Debrecen sits in Hungary’s leading agricultural zone, making it a fantastic place to learn about Hungarian cuisine and take a cooking class. Join a small group class to make classics like goulash soup, stuffed cabbage rolls, or creamy chicken paprika.

You’ll gain culinary skills plus understand how geography shaped foods from the plains.Classes finish by enjoying the regional feast you helped prepare.

Try Debrecen’s Thermal Water Spas

Name and Location: Thermal spas in Debrecen

History and Significance: Debrecen has been known for its thermal springs since medieval times. Today visitors can soak in the mineral-rich waters at hotel spas around the city.

What to Expect: Most hotels like the Lycium andthermal-focused Aqua Palace have spa facilities with hot tubs, pools, saunas, massages and relaxation areas to enjoy.

Visitor Information: Day passes typically cost 15-25 EUR. Advance reservations recommended. Bathing suits required.

It seems everything in Debrecen is linked to the city’s abundant thermal waters, including its excellent spa scene. The Aquaticum Medi-Wellness Spa has therapeutic indoor and outdoor pools fed by the springs.

At Thermal Hotel Balance, soak in the warm waters then enjoy holistic treatments like mudwraps and massage. With many hotels even boasting their own thermal pools, there are plenty of healing waters in Debrecen to experience.

Attend the Flower Carnival

Name and Location: Debrecen Flower Carnival, Nagyerdei Stadium

History and Significance: Dating back to the 1970s, this annual August event celebrates flowers and horticulture with elaborate floral floats parading through the city.

What to Expect: Floats completely covered in thousands of flowers, some rising over 30 feet tall, drive past the main spectator stand. Music, dance, and costumes accompany the displays.

Visitor Information: The parade takes place over a weekend at the stadium. Reserve seats or standing room tickets online in advance.

Every August, Debrecen celebrates its superb horticulture by hosting Hungary’s largest flower festival, the Debrecen Flower Carnival. Giant floral floats parade through the city accompanied by folk dancers and music.

The weeklong festival fills the city with scented blossoms, handicraft markets, concerts, and delicious food stalls. Try to visit Debrecen during this spectacular display of Hungarian flowers.

Taste Hungary’s Wines at a Sommelier Evening

Name and Location: Sommelier Evenings in Debrecen

History and Significance: Debrecen restaurants and hotels host special evenings focused on Hungarian wines, led by knowledgeable sommeliers. Attendees learn about and sample wines.

What to Expect: The intimate events involve a sommelier explaining about 6-8 different Hungarian wines, paired with small bites, followed by time to mingle.

Visitor Information: Evenings run 2-3 hours and cost around 50 EUR per person. Reserve through the hosting restaurant or hotel.

Few visitors realize that winemaking is prominent around Debrecen, whose microclimate supports various white grapes and even Merlot reds. Attend a sommelier-led wine tasting to properly sample wines from the region’s small producers.

These programs provide education on Hungarian varietals and wine regions you can’t find internationally. You’ll gain great exposure to one of Debrecen’s lesser-known offerings.

Conclusion

With its vibrant energy, well-preserved historic architecture, thermal water treatments, and proximity to the rural Great Plain, Debrecen provides a memorable Hungarian experience away from mass tourism. Use this list to plan a visit that includes top museums, architectural marvels, outdoor escapes, cultural events, and delicious food and wine.

From appreciating Debrecen’s role in shaping Calvinism to exploring puszta village life, absorbing the region’s rich past is a highlight here. Youthful and progressive with a large student population, Debrecen also looks to Hungary’s future.

When visiting Hungary in 2024, make sure to save time on your itinerary to visit this welcoming and colorful city that encapsulates so much of Hungary’s heritage, creativity, and hospitality.