Debrecen is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region. Debrecen is located on the Great Hungarian Plain, 220 km east of Budapest. Situated nearby is the Hortobágy, a National Park within Hungarian 'Puszta' famous for its wildlife and traditional agriculture.

Before Hungarians occupied present-day Hungary, a number of different tribes lived in the area. The town came into existence by the merging of the small villages of the area, and was mentioned by the name 'Debrezun' first in 1235. King Louis the Great grants the citizens of Debrecen the right to choose the town's judge and council. This opened new opportunities for the town. By the early 16th century Debrecen was an important market town. During the Ottoman period being close to the border and having no castle or city walls. Sometimes the town was protected by the Ottoman Empire, sometimes by the Catholic European rulers. In the 17th century Debrecen was elevated to free royal town status. The town played an important part in the revolution of 1848-49. The Hungarian government transferred its seat from the endangered capital to Debrecen. Today it is the most important city of this area.

Small Reformed Church was built in the 1720's. A simple wooden service-facility stood here till the 18th century which at first was called "Shed", then became "Small Church", since the "Big Church" was St. Andrew's Church. The fire of 1719 doomed the wooden church. The new 1600 seat stone church was raised from the donation of a citizen of the town.

The emblem of Debrecen is the Great Reformed Church. This church was destroyed in fire in 1564 and was rebuilt in 1626-28. After the Small Church had been built St. Andrew's Church was given the name "Great Church".

For centuries The Reformed College institution has been named "the school of the whole nation".

The Eclectic building of Déri Museum was built between 1926 and 1928. The Déri collection includes Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Etruscan material and the Asian collection of the founder. The Old Gallery offers 17th-19th century paintings, coins and engravings. The New Hungarian Gallery presents works of Hungarian sculptors. The most visited among the museums is the Munkácsy Hall of the Déry Museum, where the painter's famous trilogy is presented.

Flower Carnival 20th August, every year there's a whole day of celebrating the summer and national holidays, with moving pictures or statues mad of flowers.

In the agglomeration of Debrecen, there are several settlements worth visiting for their natural or cultural values. A few of these are the Botanical Garden of Erdőspuszta, Hajdúszoboszló, Vekeri pond, and last but not least Hortobágy. The visitor can find many great opportunities for active recreation in Debrecen. Horseback riding has a long tradition both in the city and in Hortobágy; the lovers of fishing can choose from many lakes; and hunting is organized at several nearby areas.