Europe
Great Market Hall in Budapest – Photo Essay
Explore the different food, spices and craziness with our photo essay tour through the Great Market Hall in Budapest.
Published
9 years agoon




Travelling slowly and living like locals is our favourite way to explore a city. But when we are short on time, which often happens when exploring the world, then the only way to fit in is by visiting the local markets. The Great Market Hall in Budapest is definitely a local market you want to visit.
I love the feeling of walking up to the entrance, excitedly pushing through the ancient doors and waiting for the tantalizing smells to hit me.
The smell of freshly baked strudels and cakes waft through the air teasing my stomach with every breath I take. Overlaid by the slight pungent odour of the fish stocks tucked away somewhere near the back.
Locals bustle around the fruit and vegetable sections, shouting at each other trying to find the best deals. While shop owners voice their various wares out to the dawdling browsers, hoping to make a sale.
To make your way to the Great Market hall in Budapest then make sure you head out early from your accommodation in Budapest. You don’t want to miss out on all the bargains.
Great Market Hall in Budapest
The Great Market Hall in Budapest is only one of many markets the city boasts. However, it is easily the most impressive.
The building itself is absolutely stunning. At over 100 years old it looks as if it jumped right out of a storybook. Ancient yellow and red bricks on the outer walls have faded over the years. But the decorative yellow and green tiles on the roof still manage to capture the sunlight in summer.
Inside the three-story building, the roof is crisscrossed by interlacing support beams above the huge open selling ground. Balconies and stairs wind their way around the outer walls. And crowds of people drift about on every level.
Walking into the gigantic market my nose immediately led us directly to the first bakery stall. I began drooling as I anticipated my first taste of a traditional Hungarian cake.
With my hands and nose pressed up against the window, my eyes ping-ponged between the different cakes. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.
This candle inspired chocolate cake was so rich that we had to throw a quarter of it out!
As we wound our way up the stairs we found where the real food magic begins. On the narrow walkway the locals crowded together shoulder to shoulder vying for a position to order. Squeezed around the tables they were eating and drinking with their friends.
Hungarians love their comfort food and the Great Market Hall in Budapest seemed to attract everyone on their lunchtime breaks. Steaming ladles of hot soup and meaty dishes galore lined the stalls.
The tourists love it up here as well because of all the best Hungarian dishes including fried sausages, black pudding and traditional lángos. A delicious deep-fried round pastry rubbed in garlic and smothered in sour cream and grated cheese.
We had already tried lángos so decided on the stuffed cabbage, traditionally known as Töltött káposzta.
As we skewered our lunchtime snack, great globules of grease ran across the plate. But that didn’t stop us digging in. I was sold after the first bite, and wolfed down the rest of the meal in minutes.
With bellies bulging and and our bags stuffed full of Hungarian delights we attempted to work off our feast by wandering some more.
On the ground level you will find the most people and all the exotic fruits, vegetables and goods from around the world. Spices such as saffron can even be brought here much cheaper than back home.
It didn’t seem that many people ventured into the basement. But if you do then this is where you will find all the oriental spices, teas, and pickles. And to be honest, I am not sure it is worth making your way down there.
Extra Travel Information:
Great Market Hall location: Fővám tér, Pest end of Liberty Bridge. Get to it via Trams 2, 47 and 49. Or the nearest metro station is at Kálvin Tér (M3 blue line).
Great Market Hall in Budapest Opening Hours: Monday: 06.00-17.00, Tuesday-Friday: 06.00-18.00, Saturday: 06.00-14.00, Sunday & Public Holidays: closed.
If you want to avoid the crowds then go on Monday morning. But if you want to experience it like a local like us, then go on Saturday mornings when everyone descends for their weekend shopping.
Check out fly.co.uk for cheap flights to Europe and explore Budapest and the rest of Hungary.
Disclaimer: We were invited to step out of our comfort zone by the Visit Hungary Tourism Board for our trip to Budapest. As always our thoughts, recommendations and taste buds are always our own.
Adela is one half of the New Zealand Adventure Couple who have been travelling since 2009. She loves the outdoors and has a real passion for Snowboarding, Mountain Biking and Surfing (apart from being scared of sharks). She loves food and writes all our food posts. Consider following us via RSS Feed, Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to our Newsletter.



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Adventure Travel
Walking the Camino de Santiago Photos
These are my favourite Camino de Santiago Photos from my pilgrimage along the French Way in March. A truly beautiful way to spend a few weeks.
Published
1 month agoon
March 10, 2021



El Camino de Santiago kicked my ass. Well technically it kicked my feet. Turns out my minimal preparation for the Camino de Santiago was terrible. After a miserable effort of only 4 days, the doctor in Legrono told me that I wasn’t allowed to go on until me feet healed. I had walked just over 100 km’s and my feet were bloodied and blistered.
To be honest, I was relieved.
The thought of putting back on my shoes made my shudder. For the last 9 km’s I had stumbled along in jandals and socks. One of the travelling fashion sins I vowed I would never break.



Jandals on the Camino de Santiago
So while I have unfinished business with the Way of St James (an upcoming post), I did want to share with you some of my favourite photos from the Camino de Santiago. Because I had yet to reach some of the more “unsavoury” parts of the Camino that Sherry Ott had discovered, every step of my pilgrimage had been beautiful.



Puenta La Reina Bridge – Camino de Santiago Arrows
There is no way you can get lost on the Camino de Santiago. Arrows, scallop shells and signs point you in the right direction at every bridge, road crossing and intersection.



Camino de Santiago Scallop Shell
Reaching the top of Alto Pedron gave views back the way I had come from Pamplona, as well as views to where I was going. The rocky path on the way down proved to be my ultimate downfall, as my too small shoes caused my toes to smash into the front.



Alto del Pedron Camino de Santiago



Metal Pilgrims on Alto del Pedron
There were so many beautiful old churches along the Camino de Santiago. But since I was walking in early March, it seemed that most were yet to open for the busier summer season.



The Church of Obanos
And between every small village the well-maintained pathways of the French Way wound across the spectacular Spanish countryside.



The French Way – Camino de Santiago Photos



Puenta La Reina in the evening
Puenta La Reina has one of the most amazing bridges I have ever seen. It was also the 1st village I had the pleasure of sleeping in after busy Pamplona.



Puenta la Reina Bridge at sunrise
Most mornings I was up and walking before the sun began to sprinkle across the horizon.



Spring flowers on the Camino de Santiago



Pilgrims approaching Cirauqui, Spain
Every village and town was built on a small hill. Sure it looks beautiful until you realise you have to go back up again to go through them all!



Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos
While there were only about 20 pilgrims walking each section every day, it wasn’t uncommon for you to encounter them all. The people I met along the Camino de Santiago were some of the most inspiring and remarkable people I have ever spoken to. They are the ones that make the pilrgimage so special.



The endless French Way



The free flowing Irache Wine Fountain or “Fuente del Vino”



Hay bales along the French Way
Every village had at least one ancient church and it wasn’t uncommon to find them dotting the landscape in remote locations either.



Ermita de San Miguel



Iglesia de San Andrés de Zariquiegui Church
I have travelled through Spain in the past, including cycling in Costa Brava and surfing in San Sebastian with both independent planning and a vacation planner. But having the opportunity to walk at my own pace through some of the most beautiful scenery in Spain on the Camino de Santiago has so far topped them all.



Natural arches on the Camino de Santiago
Adventure Travel
Top of Cappadocia day trek – with Middle Earth Travel
Published
1 month agoon
March 2, 2021



Trekking through the valleys of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys with Middle Earth Travel feels more like the set of a Star Wars movie than a historical region once carved out and lived in by humans. Churches, homes and pigeon houses are scattered throughout the valleys, all waiting to be explored. The best part is, Middle Earth Travel know all the hidden secrets.


Top of Cappadocia day trek – with Middle Earth Travel
On the 26th of July (which just so happens to be my birthday!) Middle Earth Travel took us on their private and guided Top of Cappadocia day trek. From Pasabag, along the top of Cappadocia and down through the Gulludere Rose Valley to Goreme, we trekked 15kms in one day! (We recommend getting your bearings with this map)
Upon arrival to the Middle Earth Offices, we were warmly greeted by our new friend Atil whom we had met a few days earlier while mountain biking through the Kizilcukur Red Valley. We were then introduced to our guide and given a briefing regarding the day. Normally, the Top of Cappadocia tour would start from Çavuşin, however, since we had already explored Çavuşin Castle, they adapted our tour to compensate ensuring we would explore new terrain!
With charged cameras, plenty of water and our running shoes on, we were driven to our starting point of Pasabag. We wandered through the fairy chimneys, coming across camels and markets – then the true hike began.
It was a slow and gentle incline. With no trees to provide shade, I quickly realised why our tour guide had chosen to wear fully covered clothing! As the sweat quickly set in (a waterfall in Moss’s case) we snapped away with our cameras and enjoyed the entertaining shapes of Imagine Valley and the amazing view. We also passed a lot of rock piles, which according to our guide mean ‘father’ and are built to help lead the way.
The higher we trekked, the more breath taking the views became! As we walked along the summit of Bozdag mountain (the Top of Cappadocia) we could see EVERTHING – Pasabag, Çavuşin Castle, Kizilcukur Red Valley, Gulludere Rose Valley and Goreme. We were on the Father of Valleys! After a quick nod of agreement to the guide, we pushed ourselves the extra distance and made our way to the flag, as this HAD to be the highest point and was definitely worth a photo and a selfie or two!
From the flag we looked down upon Aktepe Hill which is known as a popular destination for watching the sun set and could spot Kizilvadi Restaurant, our destination for lunch! Kizilvadi Restaurant is an attraction of its own. With its own historic winery and Grape church, plus some Middle Earth Travel treks even stay there for the night! After having a massive feed of soup, salad and pasta plus a surprise birthday cake, we made our way down into Gulludere Rose Valley.
The scenery is amazing, with strong colours visible in perfect layers on the chimneys, you would wonder what an artist was thinking, had it been a painting. Also, hidden to the side of the track we walked across a little bridge and not expecting anything to be there we were wowed by the massive church carved. It was absolutely huge and hard to believe that its most recent use has been as a pigeon house!
Middle Earth Travel Review
- The team at Middle Earth Travel were extremely knowledgeable and certainly know Cappadocia’s hidden secrets. They have friendships with local tea garden owners which is also of benefit as it gained us entry to locked churches and hidden rooms that we would not have otherwise seen.
- We covered a lot of ground, however we did not feel rushed. The whole day focused on showing us the region, therefore we had as much time as we needed to explore each church and to take ‘just one more photo’.
- It wasn’t all about trekking. With a whole day and 15kms to cover, there were a few silly poses (especially in Imagine Valley), and we learnt a lot about the myths, legends and way of life in Cappadocia.
- In conclusion I highly recommend Middle Earth Travel if you wish to go trekking or mountain biking in Cappadocia.
- Cost: Day treks with Middle Earth Travel range from 50-90 euro, depending on the number of people taking part. This includes lunch, guide, vehicle transfers and entrance fees to historical sites, but excludes alcoholic and soft drinks.
- Middle Earth Travel are outdoor enthusiasts and offer multi-day over night treks, mountain biking, abseiling, or custom made itineraries, in multiple regions throughout Turkey.
- www.middleearthtravel.com
Disclaimer: We were provided with a discount for the trek with Middle Earth Travel, however, as always our thoughts on our adventure travel blog our own.
Europe
Amsterdam Food Guide
If you think of Amsterdam you don’t think of food. However if you try the food here in our Amsterdam food guide you might get lucky.
Published
1 year agoon
October 26, 2019



We are total foodies and our travelling has allowed our passion for food to grow considerably (not to mention our waist lines)! We love trying new food when we visit foreign countries and always make a huge effort to eat the local cuisine. Check out some of the food we ate below in our cheap and delicious Amsterdam Food Guide.
We had heard from a number of people that the Amsterdam food was nothing to rave about. To be honest food was not really our main interest in visiting but then again neither was an Amsterdam Peep show and we ended up enjoying that!
However we were pleasantly surprised. I think the people whom we had talked to had it wrong. Sure Holland doesn’t really have a local cuisine but once we got over this fact we realised there is still some damn good food to be had from the various Amsterdam Restaurants.
The best meal we had was actually next door to the Red Light district in Chinatown. Crossing the canal to the east away from the neon lights your nostrils are attacked and your mouth begins salivating from the delicious smells wafting along the narrow cobbled streets.
As we walked into Bird Thai restaurant the enticing aroma hit us instantly leaving us drooling in anticipation. It was definitely up there with some of the best Thai food we have had. We went for the classic Green curry, fried rice and duck combo.
The Green curry was so flavoursome with the richness of the coconut milk blending perfectly with the traditional spices. The duck was cooked to perfection and for the first few minutes of the meal all you could hear was the crunching of the crispy outside layer as we devoured the duck in minutes. Needless to say the fried rice was a taste explosion too!
Cheap and delicious Amsterdam food is easy to come by. With hangovers and munchies affecting your hunger it is no surprise that there are an abundance of Fast Food chains and takeaways in Amsterdam. In fact it was actually more the way that the fast food was served that surprised us as you could buy it out of massive vending machines at Febo!
Hidden workers stand behind the vending machines churning out burgers, fries and sausage rolls so all you has to do is insert a Euro and “hey presto” you have a hot meal in your hungry hands.
Then there were the frites stores which seemed to be on every corner. The first thing you noticed about these was the tantalising smell. There is nothing like the smell of chips straight out of the fryer and covered in salt to get you tummy rumbling. Served in a triangle cardboard carton and covered in mayo which meant that that you couldn’t reach the chips at the bottom without covering your greedy fingers in sauce. Just a tad annoying!
But there is nothing like hot chips to warm you up on a cold day.
Finally, while hot chocolates are not typically food I feel they still deserve a mention especially because the usually come paired with waffles! Ahhhh the perfect breakfast.
We loved nipping into a cafe or bar like Cafe Bar Eddy in Amsterdam to warm ourselves up with a hot chocolate. It literally tasted like they had melted chocolate down and added cream. Heaven in a cup. And the choice of waffles was daunting as you could have whatever you wanted. Fruit, chocolate, syrups, cream or all of the above!
If you are heading here then don’t expect to find an array of traditional Amsterdam food. Instead treat yourself to a hot chocolate and waffle for breakfast, grab a quick bite from a vending machine and sample some of the different cuisines found near the Red Light District.
If you stick to this Amsterdam food guide then your taste buds will have a great holiday too!
If you have visited before then what did you think of Amsterdam food?
Meet Cole and Adela
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We think our blog is thought provoking and a little witty. But we have been proven wrong before. Find out more about us here...
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Marlys
September 28, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Oooh, markets are always a must-see for me wherever we go. Always assured to try local goodies. These look tempting!
Cole Burmester
September 30, 2012 at 5:40 PM
Best way to explore the local food in or opinion Marlys! 🙂
Karen @ Trans-Americas Journey
September 28, 2012 at 2:21 PM
As a person with more than her share of Hungarian blood I am, of course, very familiar with Töltött káposzta which my 100% Hungarian grandmother used to try to teach me to pronounced. It always sounded like Toot Toot Cap Or Stop to me but the stuff is delicious. Would love to try some in this market someday…
Cole Burmester
September 30, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Hahaha love your pronunciation! We didn’t even try to pronounce it right.
Jeff Titelius
September 29, 2012 at 12:32 AM
Wow, talk about teasing our taste buds with these scrumptious photos!! Extraordinary marketplace and that cake…wow!! I am all over that whenever I make to Budapest. Nice write-up and brilliant photos too!
Cole Burmester
September 30, 2012 at 5:45 PM
Hope you visit Budapest soon Jeff.
A Cook Not Mad (Nat)
September 29, 2012 at 3:22 AM
Can’t believe we both posted on the same subject today. We loved the Great Market Hall and went a couple of times while we were in Budapest.
Laurence
September 29, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Love that in motion shot of the great market hall. Eastern europe continues to be on my wish list (like so many places!). Also, your description of your eyes ping ponging cracked me up. Lovely way with words 😀
Cole Burmester
September 30, 2012 at 5:46 PM
Apparently I took a few lessons from a photographer over the last week. Proved useful 😉
Mike
October 1, 2012 at 4:39 AM
Local market is the one of the first stops when I travel. Many great deals and delicious food can be found there! Great Market Hall in Budapest is one of the bests so far I’ve seen. I wanna visit the market!
Cole Burmester
October 1, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Love picking out local foods and taking them back to wherever we are staying to cook them up! Hope you visit soon Mike.
Candice
October 1, 2012 at 1:36 PM
I love local markets! They are a great way to try local cuisines without spending too much money. I have been to this market in Budapest, and I agree that is is well worth the visit.
Cole Burmester
October 1, 2012 at 2:38 PM
We just love being able to cook with local ingredients. Makes it so much more worthwhile, rather than eating out all the time.
Bret@ Green Global Travel
October 1, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Man, these photos are making me Hungary! Get it? Budapest? Hungary? OK, so maybe I shouldn’t be Stumbling after working out on an empty stomach…
Cole Burmester
October 1, 2012 at 9:11 PM
I don’t know if that is sad or funny Bret 😉 But it was well deserved haha.
Steve
October 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM
Along with your great photos the market building is very impressive. Keen to try one of those cabbage rolls now…
Cole Burmester
October 2, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I want one for lunch now 🙂
Natalie - Turkish Travel Blog
October 2, 2012 at 5:21 AM
Wow – That market looks like a big place. Would not bother with the rest of it, just the comfort food upstairs!
Cole Burmester
October 2, 2012 at 4:43 PM
Haha we went back the next day and skipped everything. Just headed straight upstairs 😉
D.J. - The World of Deej
October 2, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Great stuff…reminded me of my visit to the San Francisco Ferry Building, but on a much larger scale:)
Cole Burmester
October 2, 2012 at 4:42 PM
I love the San Francisco markets though. Great little spot!
Angela
October 2, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Fantastic market, I would love to get lost in its alleys 😉
Cole Burmester
October 2, 2012 at 4:42 PM
So many tasty treats to be found. Just have to avoid the crowds!
Mary @ Green Global Travel
October 2, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Yum! We love visiting and supporting local markets. They’re my favorite place to buy souvenirs 🙂
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:00 PM
We try and stay away from the souvenirs these days. Weigh down our backpacks too much 😉
Christina @ Packed Suitcase
October 3, 2012 at 7:33 PM
You had me at “great globules of grease”! 😉
I love going to markets during my travels, and that Hungarian food looks delish!
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Hungarian food is total comfort food! Would be so nice on a winter day there.
EurotripTips
October 4, 2012 at 11:58 AM
I can’t believe I haven’t been to Buda yet!
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Get there fast! Well worth it just for the food 🙂
Jess | GlobetrotterGirls
October 5, 2012 at 11:48 PM
This looks amazing you guys! I love love love Langos, which oddly enough reminds me of Christmas in Germany since it’s at every Christmas market I’ve been to there. I can’t wait until we finally get to Hungary, which thanks to you will be sooner rather than later! 🙂
Cole Burmester
October 6, 2012 at 9:08 AM
You wouldn’t want to eat too many Langos though! They were pretty filling and I am sure they can’t be that good for you haha. Can’t wait for the Christmas markets to start in Edinburgh! Yum, Yum, Yum!
Jade - OurOyster.com
October 8, 2012 at 3:03 AM
I loved the market in Budapest – I bought myself a ridiculous hat there 🙂
Cole Burmester
October 8, 2012 at 9:06 AM
Haha I want to see that hat!
Abby
October 8, 2012 at 7:44 AM
I’d love to see Budapest someday. It was actually the first place my mom went that I have never been. Go Mom!
Cole Burmester
October 8, 2012 at 9:08 AM
Budapest was a great surprise for us. Definitely cannot wait to go and explore the rest of Hungary now. And way to go your Mom 🙂
Sophie
October 8, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Wow. Budapest looks great. I so want to try that chocolate cake! I’ve been thinking about going on a city break before the end of the year and I think from these photos I have decided it’s time to try Budapest!
Cole Burmester
October 8, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Definitely try out Budapest! Delicious food, cheap accommodation and lots of direct flights 🙂
Bijaya Ghimire
October 12, 2012 at 2:49 PM
I felt like i saw everything with my own eyes while reading. Thanks for naturalistic way of presentation
Ali
October 15, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Markets are great to visit while traveling. Looks like a great one!
Cole Burmester
October 15, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Perfect spot to fill us up at lunchtime 😉
Stephen Schreck
October 18, 2012 at 2:16 AM
I got extremely hungry just looking at all this food. My stomach is compelling me to go here this summer.
Cole Burmester
October 18, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Nice and cheap food too Stephen!
Stephen Schreck
October 18, 2012 at 4:12 PM
“Nice and cheap food” Might be my favorite sentence in the English language :).
Arti
November 2, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Love visiting the markets or bazaars as we call them! A great place to mingle with the locals 🙂 These are fabulous shots!
Cole Burmester
November 2, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Cheers Arti. We love visiting Bazaars too 😉
Alexandra
December 7, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Love the third photo! Visiting a local market is a MUST in any new city
Ricky devnix
June 7, 2013 at 8:17 PM
I have visited this market last month Its good specially food is too Delicious i enjoyed a lot with my family.
Alberto
July 21, 2013 at 8:13 PM
I agree the local market is a must, allow you both to see a side of “real life” of the place and meet a lot of people.
Askan
May 30, 2014 at 5:05 AM
The market hall is a nice place, but I believe predominantly for the architecture. But it is a good place to buy culinary and other souvenirs.