Great Market Hall
Nagyvásárcsarnok
A neo-Gothic market hall beside Liberty Bridge, with paprika, salami and goose liver on the ground floor and food stalls and crafts upstairs; the place to buy souvenirs and try lángos.
The Great Market Hall opened in 1897, designed by Samu Pecz. Its steel frame and Zsolnay-tiled roof make the building a landmark in its own right. At 150 metres long, it is considered one of the most beautiful markets in Europe. The ground floor is where locals shop for fresh produce: whole hanging Hungarian red peppers (paprika, sweet édes and hot csípős), Pick and Herz salami, tinned goose liver, Tokaji wine, Unicum herbal bitters and honey. Prices are much lower than at the airport, making it the first choice for souvenirs. The basement has a fish market, pickles and an Asian supermarket. The upper floor has a street-food and souvenir area: try lángos (deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream and cheese, about 1,500 to 2,500 forints), goulash soup and grilled sausage with sauerkraut. Lunchtime queues are long, so come before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m. The upper floor also sells embroidered tablecloths, wooden toys and Hungarian folk embroidery, and prices are negotiable. Shopping tips: choose vacuum-packed salami, which is easier to take through customs, and buy paprika in tins. Next door is Liberty Bridge, the green iron bridge at the Pest end; it is a 5-minute walk across to the Gellért Baths and Gellért Hill. The southern end of Váci utca, the pedestrian shopping street, begins just north of the market; walk north along it to Vörösmarty Square to link up the inner-city Pest shopping route. Getting there: metro line M4 or trams 47 and 49 to Fővám tér station; tram 2 also passes nearby.
Opening hours
Mon 06:00–17:00, Tue–Fri 06:00–18:00, Sat 06:00–15:00, closed Sun
Nearby sights
- Liberty Bridge
- Hungarian National Museum
- Gellért Thermal Bath
- Dohány Street Synagogue
- Váci Street & Vörösmarty Square
- St. Stephen's Basilica
- Rudas Baths
- Szimpla Kert