Heading south-west from Kálvin tér to Vámház körút,
you'll come across the largest of five market halls opened towards the end of the 19th-century -
the Central Market Hall. This grand structure originally incorporated an
indoor canal by which goods were delivered to the market's traders. Restored
in 1994, the sheer size and grandeur of the hall reflects an era when
Budapest was a city with big ideas.
Although the canal is long gone, visitors can still marvel at the amazing
variety of fresh produce, meat and flowers for sale. Housed beneath a
beautifully restored Zsolnay tiled roof, the immaculately laid out market
stalls charge the senses with a combination of vivid colours and
intoxicating smells.
As is the case with many of Europe's great market halls, if you plan to
visit, do so early in the morning. Saturday in particular, is the best time
to see this impressive market in full swing.