Great Market Hall
Shopping and Sightseeing

The best time for a visit and shopping

If you want to avoid crowd visit the Great Market Hall on Monday morning, but if you want to see the vibrant Budapest market life the best time to pop in is on Saturday morning, when people do their shopping for the weekend.

Getting there
Address: Fővám tér, Pest end of Liberty Bridge, trams 2, 47, 49
the nearest metro station is at Kálvin tér (M3 blue line)Opening hours:

History
Explore the Great Market Hall
Where and What to Eat

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History of the Great Market Hall 

At the turn of the 19th-20th century, after Budapest was formed by unifying Buda, Pest and Óbuda, the city begun flourishing and expanding.

The chaotic outdoor markets could no longer adequately supply the growing number of inhbaitants with fresh produce. The city leaders decided to build covered market halls similar to those in Paris and other Western European cities.

Construtction of the Great Market Hall started in 1894 according to the design of Samu Petz. In 1896 a few days before the handover fire destroyed about half of the roof.

After repairing the roof the market opened on 15th March 1897 together with the other four Budapest Markets, built at the same time.

Budapest's Great Market Hall belonged to the most modern indoor markets at that time, with up-to-date lightning and refrigeration. Originally the vendors shipped their products into the hall through a network of indoor channels. They aren't in use anymore.

The Great Market Hall was reconstructed between 1991-94. Beautiful Zsolnay tiles cover the enormous roof structure, that make it the most spectacular element of the building from outside.

Explore the Great Market Hall

You'll only become aware of the hall's spacious interior under the gracious roof structure when you enter. The rich aroma together with the vivid colours of the fresh products displayed in the stalls will dazzle you. Strings of red paprika and garlic, Hungarian salamis, sausages, hams and other meat products, fresh pastries, dairy products, Hungarian wines and pálinka, just to give you ideas for buying souvenirs. Walk row by row and take your time to absorb the vibrant atmosphere.

Ground level

Among the three levels the ground floor is the busiest. To the right of the main entrance you'll find exotic fruits and vegetables from around the world. Hungarian paprika powder in attractive pakckaging and other authentic Hungarian food stuffs will entice you to buying, though this row is pricier than the other, less pretentious aisles. No wonder this part has the nickname "rich row".

Tip: You can get safron here at reasonable price. Hungarian paprika powder, Pick salami, dried fruits, tokaji aszú are the other temtations.

To get good bargains look around further inside where the more modest stalls offer fresh vegetables, fruits, paprika, salami and other products. On the north end of the hall you can get fresh and dried mushrooms and homemade honey.

Basement

Take the escalator to go down the basement where you'll find a supermarket, fishmongers, game and pickels.

Tips

1. The Ázsia delicatessen next to the Match supermarket sells oriental spices, teas, kitchen utensils, sweets. This is where I stock up on exotic spices like curry, bourbon vanilla and special herb mixes.
   
   
2. Try the pickels, gherkins, pearl onions, paprika stuffed with cabbage. Hungarians are experts in making them. We usualy have pickels with meaty main dishes, but they're excellent appetizers too.

Upper Level

The upper floor attracts lots of tourists because of the rich selection of Hungarian embroidery, white peasant shirts and other art and craft products. And this is the place to grab tasty and cheap Hungarian food, within unpretentios environment.

Where and What to Eat in Great Market Hall

Food stalls on the upper floor sell Hungarian fast food:

• fried sausages,
• black pudding,
• lángos (deep-fried disk-shaped pastry, rub in some garlic and spread sour cream and grated chees on top)
• pancakes.

Wash down the snacks with draught beer. There are also some restaurants if you prefer to sit down, like the Fakanál but they're rather pricy.

Tip

Brumi Food Bar ample choice of spicy Hungarian dishes dominate, gulyás, stuffed cabbage, lecsó. Most dishes cost around 600 HUF/2.4 €, a good value eatery.

Articles related to Great Market Hall and Shopping in Budapest

Budapest Markets - the best places to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, souvenirs and get a feel of everyday life in Budapest

Budapest Shopping - overview of need-to-know things about shopping in Budapest

Budapest Shopping Malls - large, modern shopping centers, that cater for your shopping hunger and entertainment.

Special Hungarian Foods list of Hungarian delicacies and tips on where to buy them.

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