The Great Market Hall is one of Budapest's most popular and best-known tourist attractions, a regular feature in foreign guidebooks. It is a living museum, a gastronomic and cultural meeting place. Visitors can learn about the specialities of Hungarian gastronomy and folk art, with a wide range of Hungarian souvenirs and folk art products on the upper level.
Why is the Great Market Hall so special?
In the early 1890s, Budapest decided to build a central and several district market halls as the capital's population increased significantly. The markets of the time did not meet hygiene standards, and the main aim was to change this and the standard of service.
The location of the Central Market Hall was chosen near the Danube bank, next to the Main Market Hall, so that goods could easily be brought to the market by boat and train.
Built in 1897 Pecz Samu based on the plans of, in neo-Gothic architectural style. The call for tenders already called for the construction of a monumental market worthy of a world city, in a style similar to that of the most prestigious European cities of the time.
Many of the details of the building were specified in the competition - they are beauties that even today's visitors to the Great Market Hall are amazed to see.
Firstly, there are the huge, wrought-iron, ornate gates, which had to be able to accommodate loaded horse-drawn carriages when they opened.
The other thing to admire is the iron structure overhanging the huge marketplace, the huge iron beams and glass surfaces, the experience of the frames. It was a real masterpiece to produce these elements using the industrial techniques of the time.
Looking at the building from the outside, the main entrance with its two towers resembles a castle. The green-yellow-red Zsolnay ceramic decoration on the roof and the white-yellow Zsolnay ceramic decoration on the cornices add to the gloom.
Ceramicist Vilmos Zsolnay's factory in Pécs quickly gained a European reputation for its unique products. In Budapest, the colourful ceramics of the Zsolnay factory decorate many buildings (including the central building of the Technical University of Budapest, which is located directly opposite the Great Market Hall on the other side of the Danube).
Teams of stonemasons also worked on the decoration of the building, their handiwork adding wonderful detail to the building.
- Base area: ~10.000 m²
- Architectural awards: FIABCI Prix d'Excellence (1999)
- Recognition: CNN Travel - Europe's best market (2013)
You've been to the fair Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Tony Curtis, and even Emperor Hirohito of Japan too - and for good reason. This building is not only beautiful, it's a bucket-list attraction.
What can you buy and see in the Great Market Hall?
- Fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and bakery products
- Hungarian specialities: Pick salami, Csaba and Gyula sausages, Hungarian cheeses
- Red pepper in all forms
- World famous Hungarian drinks: Zwack Unicum, pálinka, Tokaj aszú
- Souvenirs, handicraft products
- Hungarikum Street products - 140 metres of Hungarian wonder
The Hungarikum Street: where Hungarian creativity finds a home
On the lower level of the Great Market Hall, a very special world opens up to you: the Hungaricum street. This 140-metre long thematic promenade offers not only shopping but also a journey back in time - a trail of Hungarian ingenuity, tradition and culture in a single corridor.
Walking around the stands you can get to know the the most famous Hungarian inventions and products, while being surrounded by peppers, brandies, lace and colourful ceramics. There really is a piece of Hungary on every shelf - not just as a souvenir, but as an experience.
Are there any restaurants in the Market Hall?
Yes! Located upstairs Restaurant Fakanál is the only air-conditioned restaurant in the market where you can sit and taste traditional Hungarian dishes such as:
- Goulash soup
- Stew with dumplings
- Baked potatoes
- Homemade strudels
And at lunchtime virtuoso gypsy music is also playing, the atmosphere is great. You can see the market from the gallery, with friendly, fast service.
Who is recommended to visit?
- For tourists wishing to visit the city's bucket list sites
- For those interested in monuments and architecture
- For food lovers who want to taste the real Hungarian flavours
- For families, groups, students who want a unique experience
- For souvenir hunters and gift buyers
When is the Fair Hall open?
- Monday-Friday: 6:00-18:00
- Saturday: 6:00-16:00
- Sunday: 10:00-16:00
How should you approach it?
- Metro: M4 - Fővám tér or M3 - on foot from Kálvin tér
- Electricity: 2, 47, 49 - Fővám tér
- On foot: a few minutes walk from the Danube bank
- Car: parking is possible in streets nearby or in underground car parks
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Which is the biggest market in Budapest?
The Central Market Hall, or the Great Market Hall.
Is there an entrance fee to the market?
No, free of charge during opening hours.
What gastronomic specialities can you taste here?
Traditional Hungarian flavours that are guaranteed to win you acclaim: goulash soup, stuffed cabbage, stew, home-made sausages, home-made strudel. And if you've got the guts, Hungarian pálinka.
Where can I sit down for a meal?
At the Fakanal Restaurant in the gallery, you don't have to stand to eat your chosen meal. The restaurant brings back the atmosphere of the old Hungarian homes.
Accessible without barriers?
Yes, you can take the lift up to the gallery.
Is there a guided tour or a gastronomic programme?
Yes, there are regular themed events and guided tours.
Why not miss the Great Market Hall?
If you visit one market in Budapest, this is it.
- Central location
- Unrivalled architectural heritage
- Hungarian flavours and traditions
- Live music and a fair atmosphere
- Hungaricum gifts and special inventions
Tip: If you are looking for real Hungarian flavours, visit the To the Spoon Restaurant for a bowl of goulash, and enjoy the bustle of the market with a glass refreshing lemonade or a glass of brandy next to!
Image sources: kitervezte.hu, Budapest Images, csodasmagyarorszag.hu, pestbuda.hu, Usa La Valigia, Budapest Guidata
Hungarian