The Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) in Budapest
The Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok), or to give its official name the Central Market Hall (Központi Vásárcsarnok), is located on Fővám Square (Fővám Tér) in the 9th district of Budapest, in the downtown area of Pest. It is the largest indoor market in Budapest and was designed and built by Samu Pecz. Budapest‘s covered market halls were built in the 1890s, during the city’s development boom, to replace the open-air markets and the Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) was finished in 1897 with the distinctive Zsolnay tiled roof that is also to be found on other important buildings in the city.
The building was renovated inside and out during the 1990s, returning it to its former glory. Once inside the market you will feel the vibrant, city buzz as the locals bustle from stall to stall shopping for fruit, vegetables, meat and baked goods and tourists stock up on Tokaji wine, paprika powder, goose liver pate and other traditional Hungarian items.
A stall in the Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok)
The basement has stores with traditional Hungarian pickled vegetables, fresh seafood, game and a wide variety of herbs and spices. The first floor has the green grocers’, butchers’ and bakers’ stalls whilst the first floor has the Hungarian souvenir stalls with traitional arts and crafts.
Whether you want to buy your groceries, some souvenirs, a Hungarian snack or just to have a look at the bustle of this busy market, the Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) is well worth a visit.
Inside the Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) in Budapest
To get to the market take the trams 2, 47 or 49 or the Metro Line 3 to Kálvin tér. It is on Fővám Tér, off Vámház körút, near Liberty Bridge (Szabadság hid) and easy to walk to from many downtown locations.
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Destination guide Dan.
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