Budapest offers sumptuous delights for the eyes and stomach. It was at the turn of the 20th century, after the ancient townships of Buda, Pest and ?buda had combined to form Budapest, that Hungary’s capital started to flourish and expand, forming the current magical city on the Danube.
One of the most impressive results of this expansion was the Great Market Hall. Architecturally stunning and eminently practical, this building showcases both Budapest’s architecture and the unique local cuisine.
The Baroque building was designed by Samu Petz and on its opening in 1897 was seen as one of the most modern and grand indoor markets in the world. Since then it has served as the city’s central produce market, with a restoration in the early 1990s only adding a new layer of grandeur.
However, the residents and tourists who visit the Great Market Hall do not tend to come for the grandeur but for the vast array of incredible food on offer. Strings of red paprika emit a smoky scent, while rows of Hungarian sausages, hams and salamis will leave you drooling. Elsewhere, exotic fruits and vegetables nestle against expensive saffron, dried fruits, home-made honey and bottles of the local delicacy Tokaji Aszú, a sweet dessert wine.
On the upper level there are traditional textile and craft stalls as well as locals eating Hungarian fast food from the caf?s and stalls: fried sausages, black pudding, pancakes, guly?s (spicy stews we call goulash) and the addictive l?ngos pastries, all washed down with locally brewed draught beer.
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With all these amazing ingredients on offer, there are opportunities to produce something delicious with your own hands. A number of cooking courses are on offer, in which a supervised chef’s tour of the Great Hall will give you all the ingredients you need to prepare a three-course feast under expert tuition. You can take one that includes all the cooking ingredients, instructions and recipes. You also get to eat the (hopefully) gourmet meals you have prepared.
A visit to the Great Hall and an enormous feast are just two of the tantalising prospects that Budapest offers for a short break. Early in the year is a perfect time to enjoy the city’s 117 thermal springs, be it via the historic public baths or the numerous luxury spa hotels.
Other must-sees include the Chain Bridge and Danube Promenade, both of which are part of a Unesco World Heritage site, the Art Nouveau Gresham Palace, the elegant pedestrianised shopping street of V?ci utca and the Castle District’s bars, caf?s and restaurants.
In fact, Budapest proffers sensory delights at every turn. Just do not arrive with a full stomach.
Need to know
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Currency Forint (300 to £1)
Population 1,712,210
Area 525 sq km. A union of the hilly Buda on one side of the Danube and the flat Pest on the other, the city lies in the heart of Hungary
Top attractions: Buda Castle, a magnificent complex of buildings that now houses the Hungarian National Gallery
Short breaks Ideal for exploring the old and new, Budapest also offers some surprising culinary delights
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Offer Three nights, 3* B&B, includes one free night, from £255pp. Phone 0844 879 8013 PRAGUE
Currency Koruna (29 to £1)
Population 1.2 million
Area 496 sq km. Known as the city of a hundred spires, Prague is on the Vltava river in Central Bohemia
Top attractions Prague Castle deserves to be explored at length, in particular, St Vitus Cathedral
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Short breaks Prague is a city with a lot to see but so much of it is packed into the historic centre. Always busy, a visit early in the year could be ideal
Offer Three nights, 3*+ B&B, includes one free night, from £239pp. Phone 0844 879 8036