Central Market Hall - Timings, Best Time to Visit, Things to Buy

Central Market Hall, Budapest Overview

With a façade of patterned orange bricks and tiled roofs, the Central Market Hall is the oldest and largest indoor market in the city. The stalls and counters here sell exotic spices, Hungarian wines and seasonal products along with souvenirs, clothes and snacks.

At the end of the famous Váci Street in the Pest side of Budapest sits the oldest indoor market of the city – the Great Market Hall. With its completion in 1897, this market has witnessed World Wars and has undergone alterations in its structure with tiled roofs and patterned front to become a tourist attraction of the city. Built in 1897, It was with the construction of Central Market Hall that rules were enacted for the proper inspection and governance of food, and a mechanism which was fair to the vendors of the city. In the three floors of this market, a wide variety of fruits, spices, bags, clothes, souvenirs, traditional crafts, Hungarian wines and paprika are available along with a self-service style cafeteria, the Fakanal Restaurant where you can hop into after your shopping. The Great Market Hall makes it to the list of top Budapest attractions and if you decide to visit this place, carry a few bags and some time in hand.

History of the Great Market Hall

The Great Market Hall is a 20th century structure in Budapest, Hungary designed and built by Samu Pecz in 1897 in three storey style. It is the oldest and largest indoor market hall in Budapest city and was a hotspot for vendors and merchants during its early days. This building suffered significant damage during World War II and remained for a long period of time in its downhill state until the 1990s. Although it underwent prior reconstructions, the former beauty of the building’s design could not be achieved. However in the 1990s with renovations and restoration of the space, the Great Market Hall returned to its glory state becoming one of the major tourist hotspots of the city at present.

Best time to visit the Great Market Hall

To have a peaceful shopping experience, the early hours of the day are the best picks throughout the working days (Monday - Friday) as the crowd is less compared to the weekend (Saturday).

Things to Buy at the Great Market Hall

The Nagyvasarcsarnok, Hungarian name for the Great Market Hall, holds food items and Hungarian cuisine on its three levels with the range from fresh produce to stored wines. It is a Gourmet heaven with an overwhelming variety in cheese, pastries, snacks and wines as well as the famous Hungarian paprika, which serves as a good souvenir to bring back home. The traditional handicraft items which can be seen there include embroidered shawls, handmade soaps and toys and leather and porcelain items. Dolls dressed in their traditional costumes and decorated Easter eggs make excellent souvenir choices and shopping here is preferred by most because of the reasonable price and huge collection. If you like the taste of wines then Great Market Hall is one of the best places to try the white dessert wine, Tokaji aszú along with Hungarian beers and to pick up salamis and pickles to wrap back home.

How To Reach Great Market Hall

By Tram: Tram services are available to reach this market hall. Take Tram 47 or 49.

By Walking: This market space is just a 15 minute walk from the Vörösmarty tér (Vörösmarty square) on the famous Váci Street. It is located at the end of this street.