Great Market Hall & Downtown

Nagyvásárcsarnok (Great Market Hall)

The Great Market Hall (1897) is one of Budapest's most beautiful buildings: a neo-Gothic iron hall with a colorful Zsolnay ceramic roof, reminiscent of a cathedral of food. On two floors, you will find everything that defines Hungarian cuisine:

• Ground floor: Fresh produce — paprika powder (the best in the world), salami (Pick, Herz), goose liver (libamáj), truffles, fresh fruits and vegetables, Hungarian wine. Perfect for souvenirs.
• Upper floor: Snacks and souvenirs — here you can get Langos (the best in the city: Langos Erzsi), goulash soup, chicken paprikash, and Töltött Káposzta (stuffed cabbage rolls). Main course: 2,000–4,000 HUF (5–10€). The tourist density is high, but the food is authentic.

Opening hours: Mon 6–17, Tue–Fri 6–18, Sat 6–15. Closed on Sundays.

Váci utca & Vörösmarty tér

The Váci utca is Budapest's shopping street — a pedestrian zone from Vörösmarty tér to the Market Hall. Historic buildings, international brands, souvenir shops, and street musicians. Touristy, but still worth a stroll, especially for the café Gerbeaud on Vörösmarty tér — the most legendary coffee house in Budapest (since 1858), famous for its cakes and Belle Époque decor.

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

The St. Stephen's Basilica (1851–1905) is the largest church in Budapest: 96 meters high (same height as the Parliament — the number 896!), neoclassical, with a walkable dome offering a fantastic view over the city. Inside: the Holy Right (Szent Jobb) — the mummified right hand of Saint Stephen, Hungary's state founder. Admission: Church free (donation requested), Dome: 1,400 HUF (3.50€).