Some attractions in Budapest I forgot to tell you about

Central Market Hall/Great Market Hall

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Attraction | "You will find what you are looking for here"

Inside the Market Hall in Budapest Photo - Central Market Hall/Great Market Hall, Budapest, Hungary

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The Central Market Hall in Budapest was one of the first Market Halls I ever visited in Eastern Europe. I remember being totally bowled over by the atmosphere and all the colourful characters inside the hall as well as the numerous stalls selling just about everything you can imagine. I have been to quite a few Market Halls since but this is still one of my favourites and one I always visit when returning to Budapest.The market began to thrive as a modern market in the early 20th century, when goods were delivered via the Danube and an underground canal. It is always teeming with people on both levels and the best time to visit is probably late evening just before closing.The o...Read More

The Central Market Hall in Budapest was one of the first Market Halls I ever visited in Eastern Europe. I remember being totally bowled over by the atmosphere and all the colourful characters inside the hall as well as the numerous stalls selling just about everything you can imagine. I have been to quite a few Market Halls since but this is still one of my favourites and one I always visit when returning to Budapest.

The market began to thrive as a modern market in the early 20th century, when goods were delivered via the Danube and an underground canal. It is always teeming with people on both levels and the best time to visit is probably late evening just before closing.

The outside of the building is very attractive with its red and cream bricks interwoven with large arched gabled windows. The roof over the main entrance is colourful with a sort of green and yellow diamond design made by the tiles and every now and again along the whole length of the building a turret or two will pop up. In some ways the building inside and out reminds me of an old railway building. The shopping area, with its individual galleries and annexes, covers a length of 150 metres.

When you enter through the main entrance the interior seems very dark yet the stalls on the ground floor are some of the most vibrant I have come across.The staircase is made from steel painted blue as are the gateways to different stalls. The ceiling is high and has been reinforced with the same blue metal girders.The strings and strings of garlic and chillies spread from the front entrance to the back entrance and this shopping area must feature every type of Hungarian produce as well as imported exotic fruits. All the produce is displayed beautifully; fresh fruit and vegetables are colour co-ordinated and piled high. The aromas of smoked meats and sausages is overwhelming as are the sweet smells of evocative spices. Pastries, sticky buns covered with icing or chocolate look as though each one has been polished and shine out from display shelves.

On the top floor there is an excellent selection of embroidered textiles, allsorts of hats from a trilby, Russian hat with ear flaps, furry black and white hats that bury your head and keep you warm and snug, to a baseball cap. Handicrafts are displayed and are very bright and colourful. I love all the displays of Russian dolls with individual designs on the front and the large collection of chess sets and soft toys that come in all shapes and sizes.

On the top floor there are also many snack bars and this area can become hectic at lunch times and around 4 in the afternoon. So many different dishes on offer, it is difficult to choose what to eat. Not just Hungarian food but Asian, Italian, Sushi, Greek. I found this eating area overwhelming at first as the snack bars run centrally through the top part of the market on a continuous serving counter so you have to be quick to get your order in and have a bit of nouse when finding a place to sit. It's a matter of first come, first served. Still, it all adds to the fun and experience of eating in a new place.

You can find this spacious building known as the Central Market Hall immediately beyond the neo- Renaissance building that used to be the Harbour Customs House and is now the University of Industrial Science.

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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 17, 2012

Central Market Hall/Great Market Hall
Fovam Ter, Ix Kerulet
Budapest, Hungary

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St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika)

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Attraction | "Not a true basilica but still a pretty church "

Budapest Photo - St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika), Budapest, Hungary

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One of the busiest squares in Budapest is Deák Ferenc tér . One of the reasons the square is always buzzing with people is because the city's three Metro lines (M1, M2, M3) intersect here but there is another reason; from the square you can see the elegant cupola that belongs to St Stephen's Basilica. This beautiful neo-Romanesque church is about 300 metres to the north of the square and one of the main sights to see in Budapest.Why the church is called a 'basilica' I am not sure because the architecture doesn't exactly remind me of Roman styles. During its construction in 1868, the magnificent dome, collapsed due to bad structural planning, and it was only in 1906 that this church could ...Read More

One of the busiest squares in Budapest is Deák Ferenc tér . One of the reasons the square is always buzzing with people is because the city's three Metro lines (M1, M2, M3) intersect here but there is another reason; from the square you can see the elegant cupola that belongs to St Stephen's Basilica. This beautiful neo-Romanesque church is about 300 metres to the north of the square and one of the main sights to see in Budapest.

Why the church is called a 'basilica' I am not sure because the architecture doesn't exactly remind me of Roman styles. During its construction in 1868, the magnificent dome, collapsed due to bad structural planning, and it was only in 1906 that this church could be finally consecrated.

Inside, the building is very large and can seat up to 9,000 people. Seventy five percent of Hungary's population is Catholic and they especially make the pilgrimage to St Stephen's to visit the chapel to the right hand side of the church where religious relics have been carefully preserved.

It is a very atmospheric church with grand interiors but the best part of a visit to St Stephen's is to ascend the cupola. That's if you have a head for heights. The height is 65 metres, a steep climb but worth it as the view of the city is splendid and makes you realise just how large the city of Budapest is and how far it stretches. There is a lift but this only takes you some of the way. Once you leave the lift it is a spiral trek up 137 stairs.

Once the visit to the church is over it is pleasant to stroll around the square or sit on the steps leading up to the church. You will see many people taking photos outside the church's main entrance. Souvenir stalls are set up in the square selling memorabilia pertaining to St Stephen's and also a couple of book stalls set out their wares here. It was here I bought a very good Hungarian/English dictionary from.

At either side of the square apartment blocks with cafes line the pavement. These are quite expensive for just a coffee and a cake but worth sitting outside to soak up the atmosphere of visitors tooing and froing around the square. As you leave the square and walk to the rear of the church you reach Bajcsy- Zsilinszky út. If you turn left you will find yourself on the famous Andrássy Avenue which is one of Budapest's most attractive streets and a lot of fun to walk down.

I recommend a visit to St Stephen's if you are in Budapest. Best time to visit is early morning before the crowds gather. Easiest way is to take the Metro. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 18, 2012

St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika)
St. Istvan Ter District V
Budapest, Hungary 1051
+36 1 317 2859

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Matthias Church (Matyas Templon)

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Attraction | "Look out for those reflections"

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Matthias Church is situated in the centre of Buda's Castle District - actually next door to the famous Hilton Hotel where you can see the reflections of the church and surrounding buildings in the windows of the hotel's windows. This is fascinating and the detail of the reflections is astounding.Because of its proximity to the Hilton and the reflection of its attractive facade the church does receive hordes of visitors. A hundred years ago the church's Gothic foundation and walls received extravagant decoration but nowadays visitors are more interested in the way the light enters through garish modern windows. The interior seems to have lost any feeling of Gothic space and the wall hanging...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 19, 2012

Matthias Church (Matyas Templon)
Szentharomsag Ter 2 Castle Hill, District I
Budapest, Hungary 1014
36 1 355 5657

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Jozsef Nador Square

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Noisy and busy with traffic but worth a peep"

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József Nádor tér is one of the noisiest and busiest squares in Budapest mainly because of the number of vehicles passing through. It's worth a stroll though as there is a small park slap bang in the centre of the square with a mighty fine statue of the Archduke Joseph who ruled Hungary for the first half of the 19th century. Gross House is an enchanting building situated in the square; neoclassical in design and dates back from 1824. Next door is a stylish shop that sells Herend porcelain - there are some very interesting designs but all a bit to delicate and fancy for my particular tastes. It was interesting to find out that this type of pottery dated back to two centuries ago and the first artist...Read More

József Nádor tér is one of the noisiest and busiest squares in Budapest mainly because of the number of vehicles passing through. It's worth a stroll though as there is a small park slap bang in the centre of the square with a mighty fine statue of the Archduke Joseph who ruled Hungary for the first half of the 19th century. Gross House is an enchanting building situated in the square; neoclassical in design and dates back from 1824. Next door is a stylish shop that sells Herend porcelain - there are some very interesting designs but all a bit to delicate and fancy for my particular tastes. It was interesting to find out that this type of pottery dated back to two centuries ago and the first artist/designer and founder of the Herend company was born in Sopron.

Derra House, on the north side of the square has a newly restored façade and is very pretty to look at. Originally this house was built for a rich Greek merchant.

It is worth taking a small detour here, turning left down J. Attila utca to arrive at Roosevelt tér and the park that leads on to the Chain Bridge.

The highlight of this detour is the Four Seasons Hotel. The second building on the right in Roosevelt tér. The square here is named after Franklin and not Theodore). The building has had a large sum of money spent on renovation but it is worth it as the building now has a new lease of life and the building which was once one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in Europe is back to its former self.

Originally the building, designed in 1906 by Zsigmond Quitter, was known as the Gresham Palace and owned by a famous London banking company. Unfortunately, the building was split into apartments throughout the years of Soviet occupation and became a sad shadow of itself. Now, it's a different story. Money has been spent on the building making it into a beautiful hotel and the wrought iron gates shaped like peacocks are now back to their former glory, the Zsolnay ceramic tiles are shining like new giving off green and amber hues and the glass cupola in the heart of the building has been lovingly restored. Art Nouveau has been born again. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 2, 2012

Jozsef Nador Square

Budapest, Hungary

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Vaci utca

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Attraction | "Art Nouveau and colourful characters in Budapest"

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Andrássy Avenue is one of my favourite boulevards in Budapest but there is another colourful street that is worth visiting for lots of reasons - its name is Vaci utca. Why is it interesting? There is always something happening here throughout the year. Váci utca is a pedestrian precinct which emerges from the northern side of Vörösmarty square. During the day most activity focuses on the exclusive shops and in the evening on the many bars, restaurants, nightclubs and gambling houses that thrive in and around the Váci utca. There are numerous characters dotted around the precinct selling hand woven goods, embroidered cloths, furs and leather goods. These ethnic Hungarians are from Romanian Transylvani...Read More

Andrássy Avenue is one of my favourite boulevards in Budapest but there is another colourful street that is worth visiting for lots of reasons - its name is Vaci utca. Why is it interesting? There is always something happening here throughout the year. Váci utca is a pedestrian precinct which emerges from the northern side of Vörösmarty square. During the day most activity focuses on the exclusive shops and in the evening on the many bars, restaurants, nightclubs and gambling houses that thrive in and around the Váci utca. There are numerous characters dotted around the precinct selling hand woven goods, embroidered cloths, furs and leather goods. These ethnic Hungarians are from Romanian Transylvania, trying to make a few bob and keep the wolf from the door. The precinct would be a less colourful place without these bright and cheerful souls.

Walking along Váci utca you soon become acquainted with the hustle and bustle of a modern 21st century capital city as well as a look back at its history. At the first side street you will see evidence of the medieval town wall that marked the municipal border of Pest until 1789. Then, the area around the tower known as the Vaco kup became so overcrowded by the ever growing population that the tower and walls had to be demolished. There is a marker on the plaster which recalls the original city boundaries.

You won't be able to miss Number 9 on Váci utca. A wonderful building which has a lavish Art Nouveau interior and is home of the Pest Theatre where classical drama is popular. The theatre was once owned by the Inn of Seven Electors and a young Franz Liszt performed here.

The building at number 11, Thonet House, is worth a peep because of it Art Nouveau facade of zsolnay tiles. Very unusual colourings here - at first you see the rich browns and tans and then the shades of green and gold shine through. The Hermes Fountain is another elegant structure to take photos of especially the statue.

Budapest was rather late in introducing Postmodern architecture and one of the first examples is the Hotel Taverna which was built in 1985. Across the street the Millenium Centre is a must for shoppers as the ground floor is occupied by designer boutiques.

Back on the left of the street if you turn into Haris köz . The word, köz means alleyway/passageway and at the end of the 19th century a busines trader opened this alleyway to the public as a way of increasing the value of his property. The law at the time stated that he had to close the alley for one day each year if he wanted to keep his ownership rights.

From the right side of the alleyway you are able to enter the ornate and cavernous Párisi udvar (Paris Shopping Arcade) with one of the most beautiful stained glass cupolas I've come across in this part of Europe. This really is a beautiful arcade but to appreciate it fully you should enter from Kígyó u utca which runs parallel to Haris köz . There is a main tourist office in this building (IBUSZ) and they offer an extensive range of services.

Váci utca may not be as elegant and attractive as Andrássy Avenue but there are one or two stunning buildings to see and the precinct is always animated with allsorts of colourful characters. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 27, 2012

Vaci utca
Vaci utca (from Vamhaz korut to Vorosmarty ter)
Budapest, Hungary 1052

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