Budapest’s Great Market Hall

The market in Budapest is more than just a place to shop. It is an architectural marvel, a major landmark in the city, and one of its most visited spots. It provides a glimpse into Budapest’s history and its culture.

Opened in 1897, on the site of the former salt warehouse, the market provided a safe source of food for the growing population of the city. Prior to the opening of this market, the smaller markets of the city lacked cleanliness standards for both the shops themselves and the foods sold. For that reason the city’s government proposed building a better regulated and more hygienic central market.

The huge market (over 100,000 square feet or 10,000 square meters) was built in neogothic style. It features a colorful exterior that looks more like a palace or a church than a commercial space. The tile-clad roof is a work of art.

Three floors high, the interior has huge windows, a steel framed roof which provides a visible interior “skeleton” across the ceiling, and ornate iron stair railings. The escalators are a more modern addition.

The ground floor has several fruit and vegetable vendors displaying fresh, seasonal produce. There are also cheesemongers and butcher shops selling all varieties of sausage and Hungarian salami (it was a hard pass for me on the “salami in stomach”)

Pastry shops sell strudel, cookies, and pozsonyi kifli (a curved, not too sweet pastry) filled with poppy seeds or walnuts. The scent of traditional chimney cakes baking filled the air. Locals arrive early to shop these booths.

Also found are specialty shops selling wines, pate, candy, local specialties and crafts.

And then there is the famous Hungarian paprika. At the market are many types, from mild and sweet to bold and hot. They come in simple bags, tins, fancy bags geared to tourists, and ceramic jars.

The second floor is a balcony which wraps around the edges of the building, open to the floor below. This is the place to grab an inexpensive lunch. The north end has several small spots dishing up Hungarian specialties like Goulash and langós (flatbread rounds with a variety of toppings).

The rest of this floor has souvenirs, trinkets, Christmas decorations, cloth goods, and embroidery pieces.

The Budapest Great Market Hall is a can’t miss stop in Budapest. Be sure to bring some local currency (Hungarian Forints) for small purchases and definitely pack the paprika in checked luggage on the way home!