Access, transport

Debrecen is the second biggest town in Hungary and, at the same time, the centre for the second biggest region in Hungary. The Northern Great Plain region embraces three counties (Hajdú-Bihar, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg) and has a population of 1.5 million. Debrecen is the economic, cultural and educational centre of the region which has an over the average higher educational and R&D potential in the country. In terms of tourism this is one of the most attractive parts in the whole country. Hundreds of thousands would visit its medicinal baths and recreational pools a year, moreover Hortobágy National Park - a World Heritage site - offers fascinating natural resources as well. The great number of festivals and cultural programs, including the probably most outstanding, the one-week Debrecen Flower Carnival, also generate significant tourist attraction.

Pan-European Transport Corridor V, connecting Venice (Italy) and Lviv (Ukraine), crosses the region. The railway line of Transport Corridor IV, providing connection between Dresden (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey) also passes by.

In terms of road transport the motorway developments completed in the past few years meant a great step forward: today a motorway connects Debrecen with Budapest and with other major provincial towns as Nyíregyháza or Miskolc. From Slovakia (via Miskolc) and from Ukraine (via Nyíregyháza) the town is similarly mostly accessible on the motorway. From Romania (directly from Oradea) main road no. 47 provides for direct road connection.

In terms of rail transport the hourly running InterCity trains (14 trains a day) offer a comfortable travel option. In terms of air transport Debrecen Airport - which has been in operation as a permanent international commercial airport since April 2003 - plays a highly outstanding role. Passenger transportation is presently managed in charter flights but the airport fully meets the Schengen criteria and has a non-stop international access control system. In its development projects the airport soon plans to start and receive international scheduled flights.