Budget Family Trip to Hungary is absolutely possible. We didn’t set out to save money at any cost, but somehow everything just worked out. We managed to enjoy a comfortable vacation without tourist crowds, with fun activities for the kids and tons of great memories — all on a minimal budget. In this post, I’m sharing our autumn itinerary around Debrecen and nearby areas.
Our goal was to relax and entertain the kids (boys aged 7 and 3), without traffic jams or overcrowded attractions. In most places, we were either alone or accompanied by one or two other families. It was great to see that they didn’t skimp on heating, lighting, or the number of activities available.
Budget-Friendly Start: Flights and Accommodation
I usually don’t aim for a super cheap trip, but this time everything aligned naturally. While browsing the internet, I noticed that Wizz Air was launching a new route from Tel Aviv to Debrecen. I checked their site and instantly booked tickets for the October holidays — €50 for the whole family.
Everyone already knows what to expect from Wizz flights, so I’ll just add that the tiny Debrecen airport struggles with capacity — not the most efficient experience.
We rented a car from Hertz and were pleasantly surprised to get a station wagon instead of a regular compact — definitely more convenient with kids and luggage.
Our Airbnb cottage cost just €140 for the week, and we really liked the place. That said, it might not be ideal for everyone.
For the kids, it was paradise: chickens, cats, and a 9-hectare field. Two separate rooms and a kitchen in the middle. The host, Ica, was awesome. She greeted us with food and local pálinka, showed us around the farm, and let the kids pet the animals. For breakfast, we got fresh eggs straight from the hens.
When I asked about heating and hot water, she pointed to a pile of firewood: “Chop it, and you’ll have heat.” That’s what I call a truly budget-friendly family trip to Hungary! I thought she was serious – she laughed. But in reality, everything was indeed heated the old-fashioned way: each room had its own fireplace. When we were out, Ica would stop by and light the fire. By evening it was hot inside, and it stayed warm until the next morning, very helpful, since a few nights the temperature dropped to 3°C. Overall, the weather was good: mostly chilly but dry, with a couple of sunny and warm days.
And now to the important part. At first, we were a bit worried about how we’d spend a full week in eastern Hungary. As it turned out, we didn’t even manage to visit everything we had planned there’s plenty left “for next time.”
Water Parks and Thermal Baths
First of all, Debrecen itself has the “Aquaticum” – an indoor water park with slides, a lazy river, various pools, a Jimboree zone, Lego area, and other fun attractions. For adults, there’s also a sauna center with an ice pool.
In the adjacent building (connected via a passage) you’ll find thermal pools and another sauna complex – this one is more serious: no clothing allowed and complete silence. Above it is a hotel for those who don’t want to leave at all. At the entrance, you get a wrist chip that lets you pay for everything — food, massages, and more. You can easily spend an entire day there… or even a week. Just don’t park in their lot, it’s unreasonably expensive. Instead, park across the street for a fraction of the price and it’s even closer.
Secondly, just 20 minutes away lies the town with the long name Hajdúszoboszló. Its main attraction is the HungaroSpa, a huge thermal bath complex with a children’s AquaPalace the size of a small town. Judging by the number of outdoor pools and slides, it’s probably much livelier in summer, but in October only the indoor area was open. There are fewer slides than in Aquaticum, but it has seven themed pools, a playroom, and a nap area for toddlers. For adults saunas, ice pools, and all the typical spa features. In the neighboring building, there’s a sports center with a surf school (with wave machines), squash, and more.
According to my wife, the massages in both centers were quite decent. Saunas range from classic Russian to infrared, with various temperatures and humidity levels. They add mint and eucalyptus aromas, and there’s a bowl of ice you can rub on yourself. The plunge pools are cold, but not extreme. Unlike Austria or Germany, if you want a sauna master, you have to book them in advance and pay extra — it’s inexpensive, but still an extra step.
Both water parks have decent, cheap canteen-style eateries with spaghetti, schnitzels, and draft beer.
Parks, Museums, and City Walks
Nearby, there’s a large park that gradually turns into a forest — also with playgrounds for kids. At the entrance, there’s a fountain where promo videos of Debrecen are projected directly onto the water in the evenings, it looks really cool. There’s also a zoo and an old-school amusement park. Not far away, you’ll find the university and the children’s science museum Agóra Tudományos Élményközpont.
We spent half a day walking around the city center. It was clean and pleasant. A few nice-looking buildings, a beautiful church, shops, restaurants, and pastry cafés. There’s also the Forum shopping mall: it’s big, but nothing particularly special.
Kerekerdő Élménypark is just outside the city – it’s something like a countryside amusement park.
Out-of-Town Attractions
About 40 minutes from Debrecen is the Hortobágy steppe national park. You can get there by bus from the village of the same name. Wolves, boars, deer, buffalo, and other animals of the plains live there. In the village, there are also a couple of museums, a horse farm with riding shows, and an animal rescue center.
We accidentally stumbled upon the Grey Goose Festival – it was a blast. Locals were dressed in traditional clothing, singing, dancing, and cooking food in giant pots. When we asked if we could buy some food, they said it wasn’t for sale — then proceeded to feed our whole group for free and even poured us some pálinka.
There were plenty of local vendors selling all kinds of goods, and some very cool wooden games for kids — including a carousel that adults spun by hand once enough children climbed on.
Fish, Birds, and Boats: Tisza and Tiszafüred
Just 10 minutes away, there’s a station where a train runs to the lakes three times a day (on weekends during fall), offering a chance to observe migratory birds — mostly cranes and ducks.
About 30 minutes further in the same direction is the Tisza River and the town of Tiszafüred — a paradise for anglers. Everything there revolves around fishing: gear and boats are sold or rented everywhere. But what interested us most was the freshwater aquarium Tisza Ökocentrum. Carp, catfish, pike, perch, crayfish, and much more. Special attention is given to sturgeons, especially the beluga. There’s also a small zoo, a 3D cinema, boat rides on the river, and an observation deck on the roof.
On the way back, we decided to stop by the M3 Outlet that’s advertised everywhere. For those wondering — don’t go. Everything is expensive and the selection is poor. Plus, to get there you have to take a toll road. You pay at a gas station — around €20 — and they give you a stamped receipt and say, “You’re good to go, your car is on the list (!?)”.
Where to Eat Well and Cheap
The food in this region is tasty and cheap, although most dishes are quite fatty — either fried in oil or made with lard. But they’re well-prepared and nicely seasoned. Here are a few that stood out:
Debrecen
Csokonai — a well-known restaurant, reservations recommended. It’s nicely presented and the service is good, but the food wasn’t the best we tried overall.
IKON — a fantastic restaurant in the city center. Stylish interior, top-notch service, and professional staff. The dishes looked stunning and tasted great. We went for a business lunch, and it was quite affordable.
Calico Jack — a pirate-themed pub with curved walls, a stern, helm, masts, and hearty home-style food. A dish for €10 is impossible to finish with four people — several types of meat, sausages, and tons of sides.
Hajdúszoboszló
Kemencés Csárda — a tourist spot with folk music on certain evenings. The food is nothing special, but the atmosphere is charming.
Szilfa — the most expensive and tastiest restaurant of the whole trip.
Tiszafüred
Fehér Amúr Halászcsárda — very wide selection, especially of fish dishes.
Cormorant — the pike dish is finger-licking good.
So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly family trip to Hungary — this might just be the perfect option.
