The Great Market Hall is an obligatory destination for tourists visiting the Hungarian capital, a fact that is also reflected in the goods on offer: perhaps no other market in Hungary sells such a great variety of souvenirs and Hungarikums. But the locals also like to visit, since the place is more than just a tourist hotspot, having also retained its original function: to this day, the market provides residents of the area with the widest selection of fresh farm produce.
Let’s do some shopping!
Stepping through the grandiose gates, you will find yourself in a gigantic hall, where finding your way around is no easy task. Let us see what you can expect on each floor!
- The basement houses shops selling special game and fish, and is also home to the best steak shop in Budapest. You can also find household appliance vendors and a supermarket here.
- The ground floor is where the staple market products are sold: fruit, vegetables, meat and baked goods. Of course, the produce sold here also includes traditional Hungarian goods: the shelves are stacked with salami, paprika, garlic, pálinka, wine and honey.
- The first floor – actually a gallery overlooking the entire hustle and bustle – is home to shops specialising mostly in goods for tourists: souvenir and gift shops. But the upstairs area is not only worth visiting for the souvenirs. This is also where you can find restaurants and sample the specialties of Hungarian cuisine, such as lángos, Hortobágy pancakes filled with meat, and stuffed cabbage, to name but a few.