A Local Foodies Guide to the Great Market Hall in Budapest
Not far from the Liberty Bridge, on the Pest side of the river, lies one of Budapest’s top attractions: the Great Market Hall Budapest. From the outside, this magnificent brick building, in the neo-Gothic style, is reminiscent of a basilica. Inside, more than 180 stalls and small shops invite you to sample their wares and indulge yourself.
Feast your way through the Great Market Hall Budapest
Crates of fresh fruit and vegetables line the passageways of the ground floor of the great hall. Alongside these, you will find stalls selling spices, delicacies, salami and Kolbász (sausage). Souvenir stalls occupy the right-hand side of the market hall, offering a huge assortment of small gifts, from lavender bags to garlic honey.
The market hall, which was built at the end of the 19th century, was once a central meeting point. And even today, many residents throng the stalls, together with tourists, to stock up on fresh produce from local retailers.
Culinary tradition meets tourist magnet
If you look up at the imposing iron structure in the Great Market Hall Budapest, you can hazard a guess as to what the upper floor holds. You reach the gallery via the stairs. Here you will find detailed Hungarian handicrafts, colourful ceramics, leather goods and textiles. But there is also junk waiting to be palmed off on to the tourists.
If you leave this area behind you and follow the wonderful aromas wafting towards you as soon as you arrive on the upper floor, you will find yourself in the Great Market Hall’s ‘foodie heaven’. This area is full of bistros and snack bars. While the queues can be long, especially at lunchtime, it is definitely worth the wait, as the Hungarian specialities which are freshly prepared here are simply delicious and the prices reasonable. How about a hearty goulash soup or lángos? This traditional Hungarian flatbread, which is made of yeast dough and baked in fat, can be purchased in the Great Market Hall Budapest with every imaginable topping, be it traditional sour cream and grated cheese, or a sweet version with Nutella and fruit. Sinful and utterly delicious in equal measure!
Located immediately adjacent to the Great Market Hall Budapest, our hotel in Budapest city center is the perfect place to stay during your Budapest city break. Some of the modernly furnished hotel rooms offer a spectacular view of the market hall and Gellért Hill.
Great Market Hall opening hours:
Monday: 6 am – 5 pm
Tuesday – Friday: 6 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 6 am – 3 pm
Sunday: closed
