Debrecen is the second-largest city in Hungary after Budapest. It’s located in the eastern part of the country and has been an important cultural center for several centuries now.
At some points in history, Debrecen served as the capital of Hungary, specifically during the Hungarian revolution of 1848-1849 and later by the end of World War II.
It’s a lovely city to visit if you’re interested in culture and history. There are plenty of cultural things to do in Debrecen, but the city also serves as a great base for tourists wanting to explore eastern Hungary.
Flower Carnival
Debrecen is famous for its flower carnival which is not just a great local event but also the country’s biggest cultural event. The carnival has recently been extended and now takes place over an entire week.
The carnival starts a few days before the 20th of August, Hungary’s biggest national holiday, and is so colorful and vibrant that it sometimes gets compared to the one taking place in Rio de Janeiro.
The main attraction of the carnival is the fantastic parade that not only consists of fantastically decorated flower arrangements but also marching artists such as stilt walkers, brass bands, and more.
Déri Museum
The Déri Museum is one of Hungary’s best historic, art, and cultural museums. It is named after Frigyes Déri, a passionate collector of artifacts representing the different eras of human civilization.
Today the museum has become an attraction that is well-known around Europe for its vast collection and its main highlight, the fascinating Christ paintings of Mihály Munkácsy.
The statues in front of the museum were awarded the Grand Prize at the 1937 Paris Exposition.
Aquaticum Medicinal and Thermal Baths
Aquaticum Medicinal and Thermal Baths is a fantastic spa that is not only an oasis of relaxation and fun but also a source of health as the local thermal springs are known for their health benefits.
The baths offer everything spa-lovers like a great sauna experience, beautiful exotic vegetation, various pools, medical treatments, and plenty of room to relax.
Hortobagy National Park
The Hortobagy National Park is located 20 km west of Debrecen and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique alkaline steppe.
The grasslands of the national park are Hungary’s biggest protected area. Unsurprisingly the area serves as a major wildlife hotspot and is home to around 300 bird species, water buffalos, horses, and Racka sheep.
Great Church (Nagytemplom)
The Reformed Great Church, called Református Nagytemplom in Hungarian, is one of the most impressive landmarks in Debrecen. Its construction work ended in 1818 and since then this monumental structure has been a symbol of Christianity in the city.
The design of the structure is characterized by its two towers and the large nave that accommodates around 5,000 people during the regular services.
The interior of the Great Church is simple yet elegant, as is typical for Protestant churches. There are also two impressive organs located inside the church.
Kerekerdő Adventure Park
Kerekerdő Adventure Park is a fantastic park for families with children as it guarantees its young visitors a day full of fun they will never forget. The park is situated on the Csereerdő stop of the Narrow-Gauge Railroad “Zsuzsi”, located a few kilometers east of Debrecen’s center.
Everything in Kerekerdő (which means round forest in English) is designed for children. Many famous fairy tale characters can be found here as well as more modern figures like the popular “Flintstones”.
All the beautifully decorated houses, playgrounds, and other attractions have a fairy tale theme and remind your kids of all the great stories you have told them when they were young.
Szent Anna Cathedral and Parish Church
The St. Anne’s Cathedral, sometimes called Debrecen Cathedral, is one of the most impressive religious buildings in the city. The building is characterized by its baroque style of architecture dating to the 18th century.
Over the centuries the church received numerous additions such as its two towers that were built in the 19th century by Povolny Ferenc. The ornate baroque decor found on the inside of the church and its magnificent altar also draw a lot of visitors to the St. Anne’s Cathedral.
Nagyerdei Stadium
The Nagyerdei Stadium is a top-class sports facility that is considered a UEFA Elite Stadium and houses the local football teams Debreceni VSC and Vasutas Sports Club. The stadium offers space for 20,340 spectators.
Hungarian football fans are considered very passionate in their support for their favorite teams. The fans of Debreceni VSC and Vasutas are no different and make every home game of their beloved club a real spectacle.
Pásti Street Orthodox Synagogue
Debrecen and its Pasti Street Orthodox Synagogue are home to the largest Israelite community outside Budapest. Visiting this religious site has become a popular tourist attraction as only recently a tourist and cultural center opened here.
The center displays the history of the local Jewish community and explains the faith of Judaism and traditions to interested guests. There is also a Holocaust memorial to be found here which was erected in 2015.
It tells the story of the six thousand Jews that died due to concentration camps and forced labor. Apart from the beautiful synagogue, there are also many interesting Jewish shops in the proximity.
Nagyerdei Water Tower
The Water Tower Adventure Center, found in the Nagyerdei park, is one of the most recent additions to Debrecen’s list of attractions. Even though the tower was built in 1913 it was largely ignored as a recreational facility for most of its history.
That changed in 2015 when two local architects decided to restore it and turn it into an observation platform, bar, and gallery. The tower is 31 m high and offers a breathtaking panorama of the city and its architectural highlights.
Its modern bar is very lively in the summer months when the heat makes the city’s residents thirsty for cool drinks. The tower and its surrounding park are a few kilometers north of the city center but a little excursion to this area is worth it regardless.
Apart from the water tower and the park, there is also a water park nearby and the Nagyerdei football stadium.
Harangház Bell House
The fascinating Harangház Bell House is named after two local artists, Edit Obozril and Tibor Jeney, who developed a unique bell system in the 1980s. The bell design creates a very distinct sound that is unique and completely different from conventional bells.
After the artist’s death, the bells were donated to the town of Hajdúszoboszló where they are now displayed. Every hour the bells are rung and visitors get to enjoy the unique sound of the bells ringing.
Hajdúszoboszló is located around 20 km west of Debrecen and serves as a popular destination for day trips as it not only offers the iconic Bell House but also charming small-town streets full of Hungarian history and flair.
Hajdu Folk Ensemble
Hungary’s Folk Dance traditions are very strongly represented in Debrecen with the Hajdú Folk Dance Ensemble. The ensemble recently celebrated its 65th jubilee and strives for the authentic continuation of the dancing culture of Hungary.
Over the years the ensemble won around 50 awards and honors for its performances which makes it one of the most decorated in Europe.
The Kölcsey Cultural Center is the home of the ensemble and also the place where many live shows are held. If you are interested in this tradition this is the place to come.
Reformed College
The Reformed College was founded in 1538 and is considered one of the most influential centers of theological science in Europe. The Reformed College consists of several educational institutes such as the Debrecen Reformed Theological University.
Many beautiful buildings serving the university can today be found scattered across the city. There is also a museum dedicated to its past found in the university buildings across the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen.
It offers a collection of artifacts showcasing the school’s history and the way students lived here for centuries.
Csokonai Theater
The Csokonai Theater is the oldest and largest theater found in Debrecen. It was inaugurated in 1865 and has since then been one of the cultural hotspots of the city.
This building is characterized by its beautiful Romantic style of architecture and the numerous Moorish ornamentations decorating its facades. Most of the famous actors and singers of Hungary’s history have performed here.
Today the theatre still serves as a venue for fantastic live events, including operas, theatre, ballet, and musicals. Make sure to check the schedule on the website of the theater.
University Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens are located north of the city center right behind the main campus building of the university. There are nearly 6,000 plant species on display including fantastic collections of cacti and succulent plants.
The collection is known to be one of the best in central Europe. Apart from the botanical gardens, there are also fantastic natural parks found here where you can go for a stroll in a scenic area, surrounded by nature.
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