The Central Market Hall

The central market hall, in Budapest

The central market hall of Budapest is the largest and finest covered market of the city, an architectural pearl inaugurated in 1897. The Budapest audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this spectacular building with the air of a station, born from a sanitary necessity in the nineteenth century, recognisable by its roof of colourful glazed tiles and its stalls overflowing with Hungarian specialities.

The architectural pearl of the covered market

Surmounted by an immense access gate, this building, that has all the air of a railway station, is in reality the central market hall of the city. In the nineteenth century, times were hard for Budapest: food struggled to be conveyed, the state of conservation of the food left to be desired, and infectious diseases spread. In short, the state of sanitary emergency was at its peak. Anxious to find the best solution, the capital quickly had five covered markets built, including this one. The much hoped-for improvement occurred: the access and the quality of the goods improved clearly, even if it did not prevent the people of Budapest from protesting against the rise of prices, stronger still during the interwar period. Inaugurated in 1897 after eight years of works, the central market hall is an architectural pearl that is worth the glance on its own. From the outside, you notice first the roofs, magnificent in their mantle of colourful glazed tiles from the national manufacture of Zsolnay. Inside, under a vast metallic framework inspired by Gustave Eiffel, three levels come alive: on the ground floor, fruits, vegetables, meats, paprika and salami; upstairs, the counters of specialities to taste; in the basement, fish and preserves. A covered market and a jewel of architecture, the central market hall is a fine stop of the discovery of Budapest.

What to see

Here you discover the largest and finest covered market of Budapest, inaugurated in 1897 after eight years of works, born from a sanitary necessity in the nineteenth century; with the air of a station, capped with a roof of colourful glazed tiles by Zsolnay and supported by a metallic framework, it unfolds over three levels fruits, paprika, salami and specialities to taste. The central market hall is a jewel of Budapest. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The central market hall lies at the end of the Váci Street, near the Liberty bridge, in the district of Pest, reachable on foot or by metro. It is a covered market whose stalls follow their own hours, generally from Monday to Saturday, closed on Sunday. It is best to come in the morning to enjoy the fresh products and the atmosphere.

Why was the central market hall of Budapest built?

To answer a sanitary emergency of the nineteenth century: food was conveyed badly, kept badly and diseases spread; the city then had five covered markets built, including this one, inaugurated in 1897. It is today an architectural pearl with a roof of colourful glazed tiles by Zsolnay, the largest market of Budapest.

Where is the central market hall in Budapest?

At the end of the Váci Street, near the Liberty bridge, in the district of Pest, in Budapest, in Hungary.