For instance, no. 9 used to be an inn (it was rebuilt in 1840 by József Hild), in the banquet hall of which the 11-year-old Ferenc Liszt once gave a concert. Today it houses the Pest Theater. The façade of no.11 is covered with Zsolnay ceramics. Kristóf tér leads to Martinelli tér, where the Art-Nouveau ornaments on the house at no. 5 strike the eye, and behind the baroque façade of the Serviette Church, we can see the beautiful baroque building of the Town Hall (9-11 Városház utca, V). It was built between 1727 and 1735 to the designs of the Italian architect Martinelli to house disabled ex-service men. Since 1894, it has been the Central Municipal Town Hall. The 190m (210 yards) long façade, with its 47 windows surmounted in the centre by the tower of the former chapel, is an impressive sight. The neoclassical building at no. 7, Városház utca, now the Pest County Hall, was also built in the first part of the 19th century. In its artistically designed courtyard, open-air concerts are held.

As for shopping, Vaci utca was the only place Eastern Europeans could enjoy Western goods during the Communist occupation. Today, it is still a major shopping mecca for this part of the continent and is sometimes called the "Paris of the East."

Smaller shops tend to close for 1 to 2 hours at lunchtime. Frustratingly, some outlets even shut while the owner pops to the post office for 10 minutes. Rest assured, however, that he/she will return a couple of hours later, having met friends who insisted on a quick visit to the local pub or café. Look for a sign saying Azonnal (or Rogton) Jövök on the door. It’s up to you whether you wait!!

There are many outdoor cafés where you can enjoy a glass of wine or cappuccino while you rest your weary feet and enjoy the art of people-watching - just be sure to check your bill. Some of the cafés make a habit of charging tourists double.