Vaci Street (Váci Utca)
The 7. Best Pedestrian Street in the World

Váci Street in downtown Budapest is one of the world's most attractive pedestrian shopping streets not only according to Hungarians.

Váci street received 76 points out of 100 outrunning well-known pedestrian streets of Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan. So if you visit Budapest do take a walk along this famous downtown street of Budapest.

Getting to Váci Street

Vaci utca starts from Vörösmarty Square and ends opposite the Central Market Hall at the Pest end of Liberty Bridge. You have several options to access the street especially if you stay at one of the city center hotels.

Since Váci street stretches parallel with the Danube you can reach the river side through small side streets.

At Vörösmarty square there's the M1 underground (yellow line) station, but the street is not far from Deák tér (M1 M2 M3 metros) or from Ferenciek tere (M3 blue metro line) either.

The tram 2 line along the Danube is also a good way of getting to Váci utca if you stay a bit far from downtown Budapest.

Váci utca Illuminated by Festive Christmas Lights

A Bit of Váci Street History

In the medieval era the boundary of the city stretched there, along Deák Ferenc utca was the city wall. The predecessor of today's Váci street lead the Váci gate which stood on today's Vörösmarty Square.

You can still see the remains of the gate at the beginning of the street a few steps from Vörösmarty Square. White stones line the outline of the original gate bastion and a tablet on the wall shows what the edfice looked like.

Váci utca became a main thoroughfare of Pest in the 18th century and you'll find beautiful mansions from this era.

Until the 1880-ies the main Promenade of Pest (Korzó) was the walkway lining the Danube between Eötvös Square and the Vigadó Square.

By the turn of the 19th-20th centuries Váci utca took over the role of shopping street from Király utca and the role of promenade fro the Korzó on the Danube embankment. Most of the protected buildings in Vaci street date from this period.

TIP: besides window shopping try to glance upwards occasionaly to admire the artistic facades of the buildings.

For example the building at at No. 9 was an inn that József Hild the renowned architecture of the era rebuilt and where the 11-year old Mozart gave a concert.

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How to Explore Váci Street?

The esplanade is a bit long from end to end but it's broken up by tiny sqaures (Kristóf tér, Szervita tér), and small passages.

TIP: Pálinka & Chocolates Drop by BARbár Cafe & Chocolate (Papnövelde utca 3., 1053 Budapest) for a cup of delicious hot chocolate (made from real Belgian chocolate), a refreshing cold drink and some snacks. The place is in a more peaceful part of central Budapest in a small side street of Váci utca (southern part). If you want to have a taste of traditional Hungarian fruit spirits (called pálinka) accompanied with either chocolate bonbons or a selection of local sausages Reserve a Pálinka Tasting Program in BARbár Cafe. The owners, a lovely young couple, speak English and will make sure that you have a wonderful time in their cafe.

The northern part of the street is the more touristy part which is teeming with people during summer and before Christmas during the Christmas fair on Vörösmarty Square. In early spring or late autumn the street is more peaceful.

I recommend to start from Vörösmarty tér and walk down to the Central Market Hall.

Before strating your exploration of Váci utca you can have a cup of cafe with a slice of cake in the famous Gerbeaud Confectionery on Vörösmarty tér.

Street Musicians on Vörösmarty tér

Just a few steps from the white marble statue of poet Mihály Vörösmarty you'll be among promenading tourists on Váci utca.

Terraced cafes line both sides of the street. Váci utca is geared towards tourists so the shops and cafes are a bit overpriced.

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The palette of shops is varied besides souvenir shops,you'll find folklore items, wine shops, and exclusive designer shops like Furla or La Nerella. There's a Marks & Spencer too. For booklovers the Libri Studium offers a wide choice of English and other foreign language literature.

The building where the Pesti Színház operates today was onece an inn. The Philantia flower shop boasts a beautiful sculpeted facade and the house next to it is a fine example of secessionist architecture adorned with Zsolnay ceramics.

A couple of romantic squares with statues add to the charm of Váci utca like the Halárus lány kútja on Kristóf Square(photo on the right):

The Statue of the "peeing" boy is a common rendezvous spot in downtown Budapest

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The oldest building of Budapest stands at the corner of Régiposta utca a small sidestreet at the Hermes Fountain. One of the first McDonalds and McCafe-s in Budapest operates in Régiposta street too.

There's a nice ceramic plaquette by the famous artist Margit Kovács depicting the old post coach.

At the former Taverna Hotel you reach the south part of Vaci utca which has a more relaxed atmoshpere and less crowd. Go down the the stairs to the undergound passage where an exhibiitons of posters from old photos provide a glimpse into the history of Váci street.

Coming up from the undrground passage you'll find the Budapest Gallery at Szabadsajtó utca 5 an exhibition hall of modern art.

At the corner building at Váci utca 43 a bronze plaque commemorates that Charles XII king of Sweden took a rest there during its 14-day trip from Turkey to his home country.

On the corner of Nyári Pál utca stands the Church of Saint Michael (Belvárosi Szent Mihály templom) a baroque temple from the middle of the 18. century. The church hosts the Baroque Music Festival in autumn.

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Hotels in Vaci Street Budapest

Due to its central location and fame Váci utca offers a range of hotels both in the street and in the close vicinity.

Here some hotels that are situated directly in the pedestrian street:

The newest hotel in the street is the Promenade Hotel at Váci utca 20 a friendly 3-star boutique hotel.

Hotel Boutique Zara is a fairly new contemporary hotel in a sidestreet of Váci utca.

A new luxury spa hotel the Buddha Bar Hotel Budapest will open in the northern part of the street in the Klotild Palace in 2012.

Hotel Mercure Budapest City Centre (the former Taverna Hotel)
Address: Vái utca 20. V. district) is a 3-star budget hotel

The hotel has its own restaurant and confectionery with an open terrace during warm weather welcoming non-hotel guests. See other budget hotels in downtown Budapest.

There are a couple of good hostels in and around Vaci Street like the 2nighthome Hostel.

Restaurants in Váci Street

The street is packed with restaurants, cafes and bars though most of them are overpriced which is not justified by the quality of meal or services.

I would pick one resturant though, it's called Babel Delicate and it is in the southern section of Vaci street at the corner of Szarka utca. Babel is an elegant high-end restuarant with uncomplicated menu along the lines of Hungarian cuisine, great wine list and polite, professional service. The polished black interior reflects urban elegance

There's different menu for lunch that is served between 12.00-17.00 and at dinner you can choose from 3 menus: dinner a la carte, babel international menu, and Hungarian contemporary menu. Lunch dishes are less expensive (950-2950) HUF.

If you're want a quick bite try Gusto Burger & Cafe (Váci utca 27., open: Mon-Sun: 7.00-03.00) , the Hungarain version of a McDonald's. The offer is similar that of a MacDonlad's. They also have Gyros for 650 HUF. Besides soft drinks and mineral water you can opt for draught beer or wine.

Related Articles

Although not pedestrianized, Andrássy Avenue is another nice place for a walk and shopping or just window shopping.

The New Main Street of Budapest (Új Fő Utca) is only partially pedestrianized but the area has some lesser-known historic sights and the refurbished street with benches, nice cafes, shops is really tempting for a stroll.

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