6 programmes in Debrecen for the summer holiday

In the city centre of Debrecen, you can (also) put together a programme rich in cultural experiences – and what a programme! You can travel to Japan or the land of the ancient pyramids if you visit the Déri Museum, you can take on the role of a hussar in the Reformed Great Church, but it is also worth admiring the Great Library, reminiscent of the world of Harry Potter, in the Reformed College! The art education classes at the MODEM invite you to creative work, so that you can even bring out the Picasso within us.

Hello Hungary tip: During your cultural walk, it is also worth stopping at the Debrecen Pagony book-store. In the book corner, hidden in the oldest pedestrian street of the town, you can find reading material or creative development games for all children, from toddlers to teenagers. If you are lucky, you can even take part in a slide show or craft classes!

One of the best starting points for nature adventures is the Zsuzsi Forest Railway, which starts from Debrecen and takes you through acacia and pine forests all the way to Hármashegyalja. At the terminus, a lookout point, rest areas and countless hiking trails await those arriving. It is worth taking a walk along the forest nature trail, but do not miss the House of Nature either! And if it is your cherished dream, we suggest you climb the 25-metre-high Hármashegy Lookout, also known as the “Wish Mountain” - according to legend, if you climb it, your wish will come true!

Scientific experiences cannot be missing from the summer holiday either. The Agora Science Experience Centre makes natural sciences interesting with interactive tools, experimental demonstrations, robotics stations and a mirror labyrinth. Here, among other things, you can ride a bike two metres high, try out whether you can really fly, or find out if it is possible to make rain by hand! Little scientists can then explore the botanical garden surrounding the centre, where you can learn about the flora through nature trails and information boards!

Adults (and children) who are familiar with the best playgrounds in our country would almost certainly not leave Debrecen off the list. This town has playgrounds of outstanding quality and quantity, which can easily capture the hearts of adults as well. The Great Forest is the “town’s green playground”, which is an excellent destination for an outdoor holiday programme. In the Sziget-kék Theme Park located here, the world of Magda Szabó’s fairy tale comes to life not only for children, but also for adults who love nostalgia. A giant slide winds through the foliage of the trees, there is a circus tent, and in the mini-town, little explorers can even take on the role of a firefighter. The wonderland, which can be visited for free, is open all year round, so it is open even in gloomy weather!

You can find another fantastic playground nearby, next to the Lake Békás. Here, children can climb into a playful giant frog, walk on the leaves of the water lilies, try out the slide or run around on the multi-storey boat. If you need a break, you can stop at the nearby buffet or restaurant, or find a quiet corner in the shade of the trees to recharge your batteries.

If you can't get enough of climbing, the little ones can test themselves on the climbing wall in the middle of the over a hundred-year-old Great Forest Water Tower. After the challenge, it is worth climbing up to the lookout tower around the dome and admiring the Great Forest from a bird's eye view!

The only permanent amusement park in Hungary is also located in the Great Forest, which awaits families with evergreen rides such as a duck train, a merry-go-round or a Ferris wheel. After playing, you can easily walk to the Debrecen Zoo, where you can observe more than 200 species up close, including the ring-tailed lemur, the reticulated giraffe, the tropical hippopotamus or the red panda.

Hello Hungary tip: As part of the Animals in Action programme, visitors are invited to watch feedings and demonstrations all day long from May to October, where they can get an insight into how the residents are cared for at the Debrecen Zoo in an entertaining but also informative way!

No summer weekend is complete without a water adventure? We understand! To please the little ones who love to splash, be sure to visit Aquaticum, where in summer you can slide, swim, exercise on the jumping platforms, or just cool off in the adventure pools in one of the most modern beach baths in the country. The 1900 m2 children's water paradise offers a special experience for the little ones, where there is also an adventure pool and a paddling zone. The best thing about Aquaticum is that you do not have to give up water experiences even in cooler weather or when it rains, as the indoor, Mediterranean-style adventure bath offers 15 different pools, slides, children's paddling pools, and whirlpools. Adults can relax in the wellness and sauna world or in the thermal pools of the thermal bath with different temperatures, while the little ones can have an adventure in the Jungle Bunker of Bubu or break the record on the dragon slide. The spa complex and the four-star hotel in the middle also offer great family-friendly services, such as animation programmes and child-friendly dining options, which make a weekend visit truly relaxing.