Bright light, rich colours from fruit and vegetables, the smell of fresh herbs and above all: stunning architecture. These are just a few of the magic ingredients of a visit to the Central Market Hall in Budapest. You cannot see the Hungarian Capital without paying a visit to this great market hall.
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The great market hall is not just another market. No, the market has been called out to be The most beautiful market in Europe and has been rewarded with several awards for its architecture. And to make it even better: CNN claims it’s the most beautiful market in the world.
If that’s not enough, you will find a large amount of high quality products in the Central Market Hall in Budapest. This is also the reason a lot of locals like to buy there groceries here. You can buy very good fresh fish and high quality meat.
Opening hours Great Market Hall
Check here on what days and what hours you can visit the central market hall.
| Day | Opening hours |
| Monday | 6.00 AM – 5.00 PM |
| Tuesday – Friday | 6.00 AM – 6.00 PM |
| Saturday | 6.00 AM – 3.00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Next too all sundays, the market is closed on all national holidays too.
The different floors
There are three different floors in the Great Market hall, each with its own specialities.
First floor
The first floor is the floor with fresh products and this is the floor where you will find the most locals. You’re able to buy fresh fish and meat, vegetables and fruits, fresh spices, pastries and so on.
Second floor
On the second floor you will find stands with souvenirs. Be carefull though, since most of them are not original Hungarian and they are overpriced. There are also some food stalls here. They are cheap and unpretentious, but you can find some famous Hungarian bites here. Try Lángos for example, a delicious treat.
Basement
You can reach the basement of the market with an escalator. Here you can find a lot of pickles and stuffed paprikas.
Tips for your visit
Here are some tips for your visit to the Great Market Hall.
Tip 1. Enter the market from the back entrance of the building. It’s more quiet here and you will have some more private time.
Tip 2. Don’t buy any traditional souvenirs here. They are completely overpriced and most of them are not as original as they seem like.
Tip 3. If you want to have lunch, it’s better to go to another place. You pay a lot and there are a lot of places with better quality food.
Tip 4. If you think you are being smart to avoid the crowds by going early in the morning, you’re wrong. This is the time locals visit the market and it’s busy too. But offcourse there are much less tourists. The least busy hours are those between 10.00 AM and 12.00, or between 2.00 PM and 4.00 PM.
Tip 5. Bring cash since most of the sellers don’t accept payment by card.
Tip 6. It’s possible to take a culinary tour in the Great Market Hall. You will enjoy great tastes and learn more about the Hungarian kitchen. Check here for more information.
How to get there
Address: Vámház krt. 1-3
Tram: Take line 47 or 49 and get off at Fővám tér M. You are in front off the Great Market Hall.
Metro: Take line 3 (the blue line) to Kalvin Tér. Or take line M4 and get out at Fővám tér.
Looking for a hotel?
Check out my two personal favourites: TG Design suites Aparthotel & Hotel Rum (which is Buda-side of the city). Other hotels which are popular, have good ratings and are located very well are Roombach Hotel and AnVa House.
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