Page 213 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

SHOPS AND M ARKE T S  211

clothing to electronics. More of
a mall than a depart ment store,
the Duna Plaza on Váci út is
smart but not centrally located.
Many large stores are
clustered in the old buildings of
Váci utca, such as C&A and Zara,
though most of these brands
can also be found in one place
in the modern shopping centres.
There are than 20 major
shopping malls in the city, which
have proved popular with both
locals and visitors. The most
centrally-located mall is Westend Fruit and vegetable stalls at Central Market Hall
City Center. One of Central
Europe’s largest, it has over 350 The three-level Great Market Hall from tiny cubicles inside the
stores, including Massimo Dutti, (Nagy Vásárcsarnok) known market, serious antique dealers
Gap, Nike and Marks & Spencer, officially as the Central Market sell porcelain, icons, silverware,
in addition to a 14-screen cinema Hall (Központi Vásárcsarnok) jewellery and much more.
and a food court with Hungarian on Fővám tér is the largest of all. It is necessary to obtain
and international fast food options. More than 180 stalls display a permission from Gyula Forster
The huge and stylish huge variety of vegetables, fruit, National Centre for Cultural
Mammut on Széna tér (next to meat and cheese, under a roof Heritage Management, located
Széll Kálmán tér) is frequented of brightly-coloured Zsolnay at Táncsics Mihály utca 1
by the better off inhabitants of tiles. The market opens from (Tel (06 1) 225 4800 or email:
Buda, and is easily accessible for 6am–5pm Mon–Fri and info@forsterkozpont.hu),
those who do not have the 6am–2pm Sat (see p142). before you can take antiques
good fortune to live nearby. In many markets you will see out of the country.
More than 200 shops, independent farmers selling Another market well worth
including Mango, Benetton, and fruit and vegetables, as well a visit is the Inner City Market
Gant are housed in the modern as local cheeses, honey and Hall (Belvárosi Piac). Located
Arena Plaza shopping mall. sausages. Some of the best in the middle of the city, it
markets are at Lehel tér (district was built in 1897 and fully
XIII), Bosnyák tér (XIV), Fehérvári renovated in 2014. The market
út (IX) and Fény utca (II). specializes in fruit, vegetables
Delicious hot sausages with and food products, but is more
mustard and fresh bread, or popular for its high-quality
lángos, a flat salty dough fried in street food and buffets.
oil served with or without cream Held every second weekend
or grated cheese, are traditional in two locations depending on
and popular market snacks. the season, the WAMP Design
Beginning at 156 Nagykőrösi Fair gives young Hungarian
út in district XIX, is the Ecseri designers an opportunity to
Flea Market, open on weekends. sell their hand made items,
Outside, a maze of wooden including textiles, jewellery
tables is covered in Communist and kitchenware. There are
artifacts, second-hand clothes also stalls selling homemade
and all sorts of bric-a-brac, while delicacies like artisan sweets.
Delicate lace, an example of traditional
Hungarian folk art
Markets
Markets of all sorts are
an essential part of life in
Budapest, and offer a delight-
fully traditional shop ping
experience to visitors. Perhaps
the most spectacular are the five
cavernous market halls found
around the city. All were built
in the late 19th century and
several are still used as markets. Marks & Spencer, a branch of the British department store

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