The Central Market is one of the most important places for tourists visiting the Hungarian capital, and this is reflected in the range of goods on offer. No other market in the country has so many souvenir shops and Hungarian delicacies. But it is still a popular place among locals, as it is not only interesting for tourists, but has also retained its original function. It is still a market that provides the largest selection of fresh goods to city and area residents. directly from manufacturers. It is located at the end of the famous pedestrian shopping street Vaci and on the Pest side of the Freedom Bridge at Fövam Square. The idea of building such a large market hall came from the first mayor of Budapest, Károly Kamermayer, and it was his largest investment. The basilicalike building was built from 1894 to 1897 according to plans by the Hungarian architect Samu Pecs. As early as the 1860s, it was proposed to improve the capital's food supply through the construction of market halls. One of the main goals set by the preliminary plans was to sell only proven food products. It was necessary not only to organize the creation of a retail network, but also to regulate the wholesale sale of goods. The market offers a wide variety of stalls on three floors. The entrance gate is decorated in neoGothic style. A distinctive architectural feature is the roof, which has been restored and covered with colorful Zsolnay tiles from Pecs. The building size is 10,000 square meters and is covered with a steel structure. During World War II the market suffered significantly and remained in deteriorating condition. It was not until 1991 that a thorough renovation was carried out to restore it to its original splendor. The building reopened in 1997 to great success and was awarded the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence in 1999. The Central Market continues to be one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.
In the basement you will find special game meats and varieties of fish, as well as the best steak shop in Budapest. Here you will also find hardware stores and a supermarket. The market's essential goods are presented on the ground floor: vegetables, fruits, meat and bakery products. Vendors here also offer traditional Hungarian products. The shelves are bursting with salami, peppers, garlic, paprika spices, palinka, wine and honey. The top floor is actually a gallery overlooking the entire landscape. Shops specializing in tourist attractions are located here. But the gallery is worth a visit not only for souvenirs, but also for restaurants where you can try specialties of Hungarian cuisine, such as lángos, Hortobagyi pancakes with meat, cabbage rolls and many others.